A Lark Ascending

Just received an e-mail about recent releases. It also mentions that some Emanem releases are being made available as downloads here: http://www.subradar.no/label/emanem Just a few at present. Described as 'CD Quality' with more promised as time permits.

I'd have thought publishing would make a big difference. In which case Ellington can't have done too badly.

Was there a version knocking around at that time? I didn't know that. MG Oh yes!

I did not know that. Assumed it was an early 70s creation.

That song is indelibly imprinted on my mind from the 70s. The power of advertising! Probably explains why I drink PG Tips too!

It's there on the UK version of Spotify. One of the things that makes it stand out is that all the tracks are originals (and excellent ones). Much as I love the classic songs they do seem to get recycled an awful lot.

Glad you both enjoyed it. It was the demonstration of the harmonic differences between samba and bossa nova and that section about the lyrics sung in English not 'grooving' that caught my ear (works the other way, though; I always wish Brazilian singers would not do covers of American/English songs in English!). Saw Monica earlier in the year in great form with her current band. She has a tendency to drift off-key in places but her feel for the music is tremendous. If you don't know her last record 'hih' do track it down. Some beautiful collaborations with Robert Wyatt - it works superbly. .

Due in a couple of weeks: http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2013/blues-season-bbc-four.html

Hope all works out and you get your wife back home soon.

Nice little programme I caught by chance on the BBC World Service this morning (around 4.00 a.m. for god's sake!), narrated by the wonderful Monica Vasconcelos: "The Secret History of Bossa Nova" http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01kxlbw Nothing new or ground breaking but an enjoyable telling of a familiar story. Seems to be just on today; people able to get the BBC iPlayer can listen at leisure.

Here's a review of 'Masses' to whet your appetite. I think it conveys the overall nature of the music quite well: http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/hhjw And one of 'Live': http://www.theguardian.com/music/2003/jun/20/jazz.artsfeatures And one of 'Amassed': http://www.nthposition.com/amassedbyspringheel.php This site here seems to fill out the history a bit. It seems to be translated from the Italian so it reads a bit odd in places: http://www.scaruffi.com/vol6/springhe.html

I don't know. You blink and it's nearly over. This Thursday on BBC 4 'Britten's Endgame' http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03hj038

Yes, a fair price but it could have been cheaper without all the fripperies (no, he didn't play on any of the records). Just thinking about the brick-a-brac that seems to be the standard pull-in of these sets to get the fan who has everything to buy it all again. Surprised there wasn't a recipe book for things like spotted dick, jam roly poly and bonfire toffee. A free cane for fagging? A Billy Bunter annual? The 3 original discs + first oddities disc make a nice package and it's a good idea to include the original sleeves. The rest seems more like fluff, more related to the myth-making. But that's how they shift these things. Don't get me wrong, I like a good boxed set as much as the next record obsessive. But I can't be doing with all the clutter.

Merci. Mystery solved.

As I don't know the 90s drum'n bass stuff I can't compare. But I suspect what you have here is very different. The duo provide the electronic textures but it's the soloists that occupy the foreground.

I know very little about Indian music but do know the names on both the original and later Shakti records are players with enormous reputations in their own classical/folk areas of focus. And from what I've read they have enormous respect for the way McLaughlin works within their traditions. The first time I saw Remembering Shakti in Birmingham (some of the tracks on the first double CD came from that concert) the audience was half ageing prog/fusion rockers, half Asians who I suspect were there for the Indian musicians. Every now and then the Asians in the audience burst into applause at some achievement that the rest of us were clueless about. It was an interesting meeting of cultures. Not a Shakti record by name but one I'd recommend involving some of the same musicians and definitely similar in spirit: A perfect Sunday morning record in this house. There's an interesting interview with McLaughlin about Shakti in the November Jazzwise. Remembering Shakti are playing the London Jazz Festival in about 10 days. It's sold out.

Ah! Now it makes sense. Starting to regret all those posts of lefty Holst and Tippett records. Must make me a suspect.

How odd. It's happened for several years. Everywhere else works much as normal. Can be slow in moving from page to page and especially slow when posting. Maybe it's a mismatch between the board and my broadband connection. It's no great deal - just wondered if there was an explanation. Mark - give it time. In a few years you will be wide awake at that time!

Winter between 7 and 8, summer between 6 and 7. Assume this is around midnight in the States. Does some sort of maintenance or back-up take place? Not complaining. Just curious.

What is this all about? Now I'm a fully paid up Nick Drake admirer of many years standing. Love the 3 records, have a couple of non-album collections, the Humphries book, even one or two records of interpretations of Nick's songs (though I've never detoured on my way from Birmingham to Cheltenham to his grave). It's called the 'Tuckbox' edition (some sort of Public School allusion).

A new edition of 'Bitches Brew' has just been announced: "Bitches Brew: The Mono Radio Luxembourg Edition" Carefully remastered so the music drifts in and out of audibility with other radio stations seeping in. Lots of crackle and distortion. And Kid Jensen's DJ-ing interspersed between tracks. There might even be adverts. Just like some of us heard it first time. [The special gift presentation pack packaging includes a replica late-60s transistor radio that can be connected directly to your amplifier or by streaming from your computer]

Love those initial 3 records. Also like the Remembering Shakti groups of recent years - caught them a couple of times 10+ years back.

Thank you. At least I'm doing one thing right to protect my health.

My move from music "ownership" through CD or download into streaming is only bringing my music consumption into line with my other cultural consumption. I watch several films a week, either in the cinema or through streaming or DVD hire - nothing is "owned". But it's with my reading that your capitalist model is defeated, Bev. Nearly all the books I read come from Manchester Public Libraries or University of Manchester Library - for free! I'll have to take lessons from you, Bill. In a couple of years my income will dramatically reduce. Having said that, I think I've got enough unread books on the shelves to keep me happy for a while.

Afraid not.