A Lark Ascending

Sorry to hear that. R.I.P.

Tastes clearly vary - I started at The Yes Album and love the run up to and including Tales of Topographic Oceans (I've reconciled myself with Relayer after being horrified by it when it came out). I went backwards to the first two Shawn mentioned which I also came to love. The only one I really like after that was a very late one - 'Magnification' - where the songs are as strong as the golden era. In the orthodox history of rock Yes tend to get dismissed as part of the 'pretentious prog-rock era'. Yet that's not how it sounded at the time. They grabbed my ears because they sounded so fresh compared with the standard blues-rock of the early 70s. Critics go on about the length of their songs and the 'self-indulgence' of the solos but what attracted me was the sheer colour of the melodies, the drama of the arrangements (the build up at the end of 'Starship Trooper', the grand organ entry in 'Close to the Edge', the deft way they shifted between electric and acoustic sections). It's often overlooked how these chaps were coming out of the melodic pop of the late-60s and mixing it in with the longer formats of the early 70s. Far from being dinosaurs they were one of many cutting edges. Of course it's hard to sustain that when the money comes rolling in. Squire was central to that overall sound - someone mentioned the melodicism of his bass which I think is spot on. But don't forget his vocals - he may not have been a front man but the layered harmonies, often shifting into harmonically unexpected places were a central part of the band sound. I recall reading that they were very taken by groups like The Association and The Fifth Dimension. You can hear that in those arrangements. 45 years on and I still get a thrill from those records. Yes, the dew of nostalgia has added to their sparkle but there's plenty of other music I cared for then that makes little impression now. But those records still excite.

Very sad. Yes were my favourite band in my mid-teens from The Yes Album to TofTO...hard to explain just how fresh and exciting those records sounded as they appeared; Squire was a vital part of the band with that beefy yet agile bass approach. RIP

Add glasses (and hair [though remove the facial stuff]) and you have me!

I'd never really got on with headphones until I bought these about 4 years back (quite happy with ear phones for iPod). They are noise-cancelling which was the reason I spent a fair amount on them. They've been the best equipment buy I've made in recent years (apart from the iPod Classic!). Although they don't knock out all extraneous noise you lose most and once the music is playing you notice nothing else. I generally use them in the early morning with the iPod so I can listen to anything without fear of disturbing neighbours (I'm in a terraced house); but also in the garden, cutting out any annoying kiddypop coming from across the way. I also take them camping - lots of intrusive radios etc on a campsite. They sound great to me - but I'm far from an audiophile.

The 'Classic' Slum! They don't make slums like they used to. Though, I imagine IDS has plans. Vaguely recall seeing it in the days when I spent time in university bookshops.

Been listening to these over the last week or so. The second is a single disc recorded in the studio in 1989 and 1993. As the title suggests this has a strong 'folk' (using the term in its widest sense) feel. Mainly short tracks (nothing longer than about 6 minutes), some overdubbing. Reminds me in places of John Surman's solo ventures into that area. Distinct themes though exciting improvisations too. The first is a collection of mid-90s concerts, using some of the themes from 'Folks' but broadening them out with more extemporisation. Fabulous stuff and you get bagpipes too! If you want to hear a thrilling example of Dunmall on bagpipes, go to 40 minutes in here:

The Old Dreams New Dreams band were my route into Ornette Coleman. Though I'd add the Jarrett American Quartet even before that with the Dewey Redman connection. That's where I first heard that angular writing alongside the lush Romanticism at the other side of the band's personality.

Just restoring this one that got lost in the restructuring earlier in the week. http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/ng-interactive/2015/jun/22/american-civil-war-photography-interactive I find the Devil's Den one especially disturbing.

The last time I saw Paris there was a WH Smith that was a million times better than your average WH Smith in the UK (W.H. Smith is the main stationary/newspaper/book shop you find in nearly every British town). It seems to still be there, not far from the Louvre. http://www.whsmith.fr/ I suspect there are other independents. One of the best places I've been to for English language books outside English speaking countries is Sweden. Every book shop had a large English section. Didn't have to worry about using up my holiday reads.

Polished this off in a week. Very good analysis of the way the 'scandal' was manipulated by the press. The writer is a toff himself and assumes that any opposition to extreme inequitable wealth must be based on envy...but otherwise, very impressive. Excellent Vietnam based novel by someone who was there. Stumbled on his Profumo era recent novel a few weeks back. If you like Cold War era thrillers, worth a go. Still on the Blake book but that is proving tough going. Somewhat formulaic with every publication getting a brief description, explanation of the engraving and list of the price of sale at various points and number of copies surviving. Not that analytical on Blake's view of the world....that may come later.

The 10 best independent bookshops in the world – readers recommend The only one I've been to is Shakespeare and Company in Paris. Never even knew about the one in Bath...though there is another excellent independent there as an alternative to Waterstones (http://www.toppingbooks.co.uk/) Love the idea of the bookshop 'somewhere on the London canals'. Where I just can't be bothered with record CD/shops these days I still love a long browse in a book shop.

One thing you have to give Morrison is his hard work. He seems to be forever touring. A lot of his peers who are still active only appear every few years for a tour at ludicrous prices (sorry, that should read tickets that fetch the market rate). He might look like he's resenting every minute but he must love the job. Quite likely. The British music press is notorious for its build 'em up, knock 'em down antics. It can deal with the newly emerged but really struggles with the developed career. You get the impression that many of the journalists bought 'My Generation' and took the lyrics as gospel.

A different perspective: Napoleon’s dream died at Waterloo – and so did that of British democrats

Going back will be fun!

Unusual sites awarded listed status Some real peculiarities here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-33135431

Excellent book. Harper is very good on wider context - his McLaughlin bio is probably even more slanted towards background over individual biography.

Thanks, jb! Cambridge? Oxford? Milton Keynes? I took the picture myself. It is in Amsterdam. I didn't dare to go closer to him, but he was clearly not afraid. He likes the surroundings of bikes it seems and there are LOTS there. So, is the heron common to be as tame in Britain as this one? Sorry ,since I took the pic with my phone, it isn't really a good picture. Pigeons are usually more tame, bold even, but this heron was fun to watch. Don't see many herons, though I saw one in Cornwall by a canal a few years back. They are rumoured to raid fish ponds.

Venice underwater: Good set of pictures here: http://www.theguardian.com/cities/gallery/2015/jun/16/history-flooding-sinking-city-venice-in-pictures

Utterly gripped by Spacey's Iago. Though I'm wondering if Mrs Underwood might not be his match...Lady Macbeth. (I like the soundtrack too...very effective)

Zhejiang, China: Agricultural terraces shot through low cloud from above http://www.theguardian.com/news/gallery/2015/jun/10/milan-expo-photo-highlights

I haven't been able to get into this one. Something about it grates on me. I don't like the bad sound, for one, or the pervasive audience noise. But I also just don't hear Dunamll click with the Americans. The ones I've heard that I really like are the Mujicians, Ghostly Thoughts, Babu Trio & Sextet on SLAM, Remembrance with Elton Dean, Deep Joy on DUNS, and the duos with Tony Bianco. I think about half of the Brit contingent of this board were at the concert this line-up did at Cheltenham some years back. Though we never spoke to one another!

I had a few Lovano's in the 90s when I reconnected with jazz after a long affair with classical. I was buying a lot of newly released US jazz then - there weren't many UK releases and in pre-internet days outside of ECM it was difficult to get any sense of European jazz. The law of diminishing returns set in and I gave up following him by 2000. However, a few years ago I bought this: Not only is it a tremendous record but I love Lovano's playing on it. Must go back to those 90s discs.

'Essential' Always thought it meant your kidneys, heart, brain will fail without it. Seems to mean 'I like this record.' 'Word!' That one seemed to come out of nowhere a few years back...I gathered it meant 'I agree'. Always had me visualising someone well into middle age trying to compensate for the bald patch by trying to be dawn wiv da kidz.