A Lark Ascending

Has neither the rich social context or character depth of Mankell and suffers from what seems like a rather plain translation; but the story has me intrigued. 1/4 to go and I still can't work out who done it (or what was done).

Maybe we could have that pint! Just thought, I saw EP in a never ending permutation at Cheltenham a few years back with Sanders, Edwards, Peter Evans and others. I think that was my last time. I'm intrigued to hear: John Rangecroft clarinet Neil Metcalfe flute Really taken by their contributions to a couple of his larger ensembles.

Just booked a ticket for this: Evan Parker: 70th Special Birthday Celebration http://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on-book-tickets/music/evan-parker-70th-special-birthday-celebration#.UyibNah_ua8 I'm already booked into a performance of the St. Matthew Passion in Oxford the following day so this linked in nicely. Not seen Evan Parker since the last Appleby wash-out (weather, not music, wise). And I've never been to King's Place so that will be interesting.

http://www.mdt.co.uk/the-garden-of-mr-rameau-les-arts-florissants-william-christie.html A mixture of Rameau and contemporaries sung by young singer nurtured by LAF. Will have to check there's not too much overlap with the plethora of Rameau discs that keep springing up in the garden of my living room. Good lord. Have you seen Mr Christie's garden! http://www.festivalchezwilliamchristie.vendee.fr/Les-Jardins-de-William-Christie-a-Thire/Phototheque-des-Jardins-et-du-Festival-2012

Yes, true on the Ales and the heat. I remember concerts in the evening with the doors open. Not sure how the residents felt! I regularly buy Gem, Barnsey and Golden Hare from Sainsbury's in Worksop as a result of the exposure!

We didn't realise how lucky we were. Unknown bands from all over Europe, regular US stars, a great balance between mainstream and more off-the-wall and a record stall that sold Barry Guy CDs! The recession really did for that sort of programming.

Got the Bath brochure yesterday. I'm afraid there's nothing much to get excited about: http://bathfestivals.org.uk/music/ Jan Garbarek and the Hilliard Ensemble at the Abbey seem to be the star turn. But will they swing (man!)? (Are you allowed to swing in Bath Abbey?....Incense, perhaps, if it is High Anglican.)

You are right. We're not talking masses of exclusive releases. And we have never had it so good in terms of availability and choice of format. Just irritating when you have to buy into one of these premium formats to hear something you want to hear. Can't think of any sensible explanation for putting out an otherwise unavailable recording ('Time Fades Away') in an LP only release as part of a set with 3 readily available recordings other than: a) a desire to produce something exclusive for those who like to own exclusive things; b) Neil's legendary bloody-mindedness. I'll wait. It's probably not that great a record anyway!

No doubt. Which makes it a niche market. Why produce material only for that niche market? Of course I know the answer - it's a marketing strategy like all the other special edition, ultra-hi-fi remasters etc releases. Just wish they'd put out bog-standard versions; those who seek sonic perfection will buy the premium product anyway.

FYI, Neil's releasing Time Fades Away on vinyl for Record Store Day - only available as a 4-LP set with On The Beach, Tonight's The Night, and Zuma. Not sure if this is available where you are. http://pitchfork.com/news/54191-neil-young-reissuing-time-fades-away-for-the-first-time-on-record-store-day/ Thanks. But I get even more impatient with 'vinyl only' nonsense. Music turned into some sort of fetish for people who want to feel exclusive. I bought something on vinyl a few weeks back for the first time in 25 years. Glad to have the music but the format has no interest for me. Pain in the neck transferring into usable mp3s. No issue with things coming out on vinyl - there's a demand for it and the market responds. But given that most people buy on CD or download (or stream), I can't see the point of locking it away in some elite cubbyhole. Grrr!

I know you'll never stop this eternal search for 'the best possible sound'...we're wired as humans to improve things...but at times I'm reminded of that Buddhist thing of eternal rebirth. You never get out of the circle of wanting the next best thing. I'm content with 'very good' sound (I can't tolerate distortion, flutter and wow, muddy remastering but after that...) and I get that off contemporary mp3s. So I wish Neil would just reissue 'Time Fades Away' on mp3; then he can spend the next 20 years perfecting it for those for whom it matters.

That's a good record. Remember seeing it in the late 70s but not jumping. The internet was my friend a few years back.

A couple of nice ones tonight 8.00 In their Own Words: 20thC Composers - http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03xswbn 9.00 The Byrd Who Flew Alone: The TRiumphs and Tragedy of Gene Clark - http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03tdd6k

Your are all wrong. The only way to properly enjoy music is to take into service in your court some fine musicians and a composer to write completely new pieces each week. Only when you can guarantee a fresh cantata every Sunday can you be a true savant.

Spring has never hung me up the most. January wins that one every time.

Savant? Yuch! Well, at least they didn't use 'connoisseur'. They need a John Peel setting on their 'big data' machine. After a couple of things you expect to hear you suddenly get a 20 verse Border ballad or 5 minutes of unaccompanied soprano sax. The strange thing is with all these algorithms, meant to be able to predict what you like from what you play, they still manage to throw up some peculiar suggestions. May that's a malfunctioning John Peel setting.

Thanks for the prompt. It's the only way I get to watch it in High Def in any case ! High Def? Is that something that has to be routed via Japan?

Nice programme on Muscle Shoals on BBC 4 last night . Worth chasing on the iPlayer.

Finished the series last night - really enjoyed it. There are some very large thumbprints with The West Wing - the unresolved relationships that stretch over episode after episode, the cloying sentimentality about America etc. But I loved the characters and was kept intrigued throughout (only the 'We Got Bin Laden' episode left me unsettled - probably plays better inside the US than elsewhere). Series 2 is not out here yet but I'll be renting it as soon as it comes out.

Listen to this from the late-90s and then hear the distance she's travelled. There was a period during the noughties when she appeared at virtually every Cheltenham Festival over a 6 or 7 year stretch, either leading or in other bands. Every year she'd changed and was moving way into the outside world before she went to the States. You'd not credit it now but she fitted perfectly in Brazilian themed bands; was able to craft wonderfully inventive lines that never tried to take over but enhanced the music. I particularly remember a rare UK concert appearance by Guinga (legendary singer from Brazil) with Ingrid on one side and Monica Vasconcelos on the other. A real explorer.

Fascinating 40 min programme from the BBC World Service about the way our brains process music and other things: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01sqlyw Especially interesting on the way our brains respond to an expectation of something being pleasurable (higher price, a well regarded performer etc) and consequently work harder to make it so. Nice bits about improvisation, trying to keep expectation in check and the dangers of commerce manipulating these expectations. Resounds with all sorts of things discussed here - expensive hi-fi, 'higher quality' formats, renowned musicians, 'really listening' etc. Worth a listen (even at 3.00 a.m.!!!! The only expectation I had at that time was sleep and my brain did nothing to realise it).

Same here. And my pond is full of bonking frogs.

They were all reissued on CD in the last few years by Dutton. http://www.duttonvocalion.co.uk/products.asp?cat=377&pg=3 Sorry - you're talking LPs aren't you, rather than availability of the recordings! Don't miss this little beauty either: Two CDs of live/radio music.

On of my favourite records. And I still only own it on vinyl (though it has been CD-r-ised...and mp3'd)!!!!!!!

That is a pity. We could have had a punch-up over Weinberg by the fountain. (I am kidding - I've never had a punch-up in my life; especially with people who get football injuries!) *************** I feel about Villa-Lobos the same way I feel about Arnold Bax. I'm never totally convinced by him but there are lots of wonderful moments I would not want to be without. Celtic Twilight, Amazonian rainforest - not much to choose between them. A couple of weeks back I was listening to 'Forest of the Amazon' and, though enjoying much of it, found some pieces a bit Disney. Found out subsequently that it began life as the soundtrack to an MGM musical; most of the music was rejected so it got rearranged into the larger piece. If I still bought CDs I'd probably have read this on the sleeve notes. *********************** A bit later...just been playing the first 2 piano concertos. Much more enjoyable than I remembered them. Yes, very Rachmaninov in places (not to mention 'Warsaw Concerto'!) but recognisably Villa-Lobos.