Tales of Summers Past

 Good album that. Strikes me this Summer is going the way of the rest, was dark at half eight tonight. Progress on novel halted and creativity generally suffering due to stress of doing objections to this planning for our little field. I learned a few things about SuDS and have arranged to meet with planning officer from council on Friday. The committee seems to want me to speak up for us but we'll see. I read a pretty weaselly thing from LCC's flood officer basically withdrawing all their objections but injecting a bunch of conditions - you'd think they were working for the housing company sometimes. I looked up the guy on LinkedIn and he's been in post only a year, worked three more in another council post so perhaps that's why he's unaware of historical flooding in the area. Anyway, going to try and learn more about all the local drains tomorrow. Well, after taking my mum to have her eye drops. No walk this week and starting to feel lazy and in need of one. Got concrete and drain covers so can start some work when weather nice. Hey ho.

Today is the end of August, Colin informs me that Phil would've been 60. I never remember things and feel rather shit because of it. I'm listening to the remastered version of Excession and feeling all misty-eyed. 

The last few days have seen good progress on the novel, finally got a number of things down that have been whirring around my mind, including a rather silly metaphorical statement from our heroic samurai chick. Yeah, lizards, apocalypse, samurai chicks and (failed) zombies - every cliche you can think of is in there, well every one I could think of. 
This week we have to get skip sorted, remove all the hard core, have soil come and make a flat surface for all the surface grid things.

Thursday, a weird day. Our Clare's killer on front page of the Mail, then heard our letter to United Utils seems to have helped in that they have agreed to look further into the matter and delay the decision. It's something to know people will listen - going to try LCC's new flood guy next. Got back from a good walk up Ingleborough to learn Mark Shreeve has died. That's a real shocker - Mark was a great guy, surely the best out of the UK EM scene, talented and successful and one who was there at the start along with Ian, myself and a few others. I will be playing Redshift albums tomorrow, well, after filling the skip. 

Hot stuff

 Sent in my planning objection letter but don't feel great about it. There's no doubt these companies have done these things many times before, each time having a series of stages they automatically shift through, token concessions that are intended to wear out objectors. Paul across the road is rebuilding his drains at the moment - a common thing round here. I blocked part of ours this morning with wire wool but when we do our dig-out and pipe fix, will concrete around the manhole cover. Prospect of all that work not filling me with joy.

Have written off Sainsbury's for most things now - butter has leapt from £1.75 to £2.15, sushi from £5.35 to £6.00. Aldi even have a Desperados lookalike - Bandido. Slightly cheaper and tastes so close I couldn't tell the difference after a few mouthfuls. 

Saturday, hot and trying to summon motivation to do something. Attic not actually unbearable but I don't think I'll be going up there. Maybe do a bit more writing or some painting, been meaning to grid up that black canvas. 

Sunday and another afternoon of writing. It's flowing very well now the end is nigh and I have pretty much all of it in my mind, or at least the outline. Some things will just happen, as usual, but there aren't any difficulties left (famous last words). Lots of short episodes keeping it snappy too, must remember to go back and add a dash more description here and there. 

Tuesday apparently. I seem to have missed Monday this week but never mind. With Tim's help pulled up half the decking and had some good news - the hole next to the drain does not go through to the drain itself - so the debris I've seen doesn't appear related. Not going to try anything other than filling the hole - so no pipe digging and replacement right now. If it's needed in the future then fine. 

Wednesday, another good one - we got the rest of the decking away, Tim a star with a crowbar. Clear plan ahead and good vibes. Sunny, beer, smokes, Tim dropped the lovely bong. Heh. 

Thursday Tony and I attempted a half-hearted walk in the Place Where Rain Lives (Ingleborough). Clagged in, we quite early and came home. 

Friday I did a thing that I spoilt at mixdown by adding OT drums/loops. Can fix though. Saturday was a good Headshock sesh (Vindalonda) with both mixes good enough to use. Having the GR-1 there takes us different places than the Mellotron, plus putting the Microfreak through the RC-505-ii lets me try out a few solo bits before committing to recording. Everything working nicely, although I seem short of one MIDI thru in the area. Will have a think about that. 

Sunday I plan to finish taking down the shed and next week is fixing hols in concrete, sorting proper drain covers and doorsetp, ordering skip and cutting those pieces of decking into suitable chunks. How splendid!

Seize her, August, us.

 Yeah well, it's Wednesday and I've been testing the latest Super 6 firmware. Some good progress and some old gripes still in place but, my, this is a fantastic synth. I can just sit and play it and nothing else matters. Could easily do a gig of it with, say, only some kind of looper to fill with lush guff. Colin and Tony here tomorrow. 

Now a bit stoned and gonna do some novel stuff as the ideas that have been ruminating need writing down. Onwards pardners!

Cambridge was nice, food and company excellent. Will see about growing some blue meanies as they provided a pleasant buzz on Saturday night. FOPP is in Cambridge (owned by HMV) so got some books and CDs. 

Back to normal now, hot though so probably not much studio action. RC-505-ii has a nice update fixing a lot of bugs so fingers crossed it sorts mine. Sent my Blofeld off with Tony to sort the dicky switch. May walk this week if we can find somewhere we won't melt. 

Friday, too hot to do a lot. Did some novel stuff, getting where I'm skirting around the various end chapters now, may start several at once. Anyway, progressing nicely. Too hot for studio so trying water pipe thing and listening to random stuff, including Archive 81, that thing I did recently but haven't listened to much. Anyway, I like it. Wrote my letter to the council this morning, Pat printing for final checks before we send in. Been trying to grasp SuDS. 

Hmm, Friday afternoon and the smokey writing has borne fruit. Is that E correct? 

July, July, Time Doth It Fly

 Yeah, another month races to a damp conclusion. We had our two day heat wave and somehow survived. Had a short heavy rainstorm and watched the drains fill rapidly and now we're in a kind of limbo waiting for Synth DIY to come and go so I can begin digging up the decking and seeing what's beneath. Definite signs of rattage still, which is too close to the house for comfort.

I've been struggling with this weird cold Pat brought back from down south. Did almost nothing yesterday and feel pretty lethargic today. With Tony away, hopefully Tim and I will get out somewhere local this week. What else? The novel is up to the point I need to write the big final chapters but I feel like I'm holding back so maybe some pieces aren't quite settled in my head yet. I have to maybe start writing anyway and be prepared to ditch it as the ideas sometimes clarify after I've written them out. 

Still getting the occasional stabbing pain in my ankles first thing in the morning. 

Twas a good musical day, did three versions of same track

Martin in hospital - don't know what's up yet, thought he'd been quiet. 

Saturday afternoon still no word from Martin. Bit of a loose end but had a nice time playing piano. Was gonna tackle MPC but defeated after a couple of aborted attempts to do something.Thought I'd made a kinda starter project somewhere but buggered if I can find it. I'm actually starting to miss the simplicity and functionality of the Mac sat unused in the other room. Anyway, might do some writing.  

Read the Audion interview and review of the Plau recording. Came out OK, which is a relief as I was never sure they liked me very much. Andy G wrote a very nice intro which made me feel rather good as Andy was there right at the start, helping get everyone going with their music collections from his place at Lotus Records.  Anyway, https://audion1.bandcamp.com/album/audion-70-multimedia

Oops it's August now. Colin and Tony coming in a few days so probably no time to scrawl these diary entries. Just hope I have enough weed!  Then it's a long drive to Cambridge, beer, curry and nonsense, such larks. 

Hot few days

 Managed to calm Pat's panic and desire to hoard water, at least I hope so. Can only imagine it comes from the Daily Mail Online and I can't help remembering the start of Covid when I was in Scotland and she didn't have my chilled influence. Meant to be hot again tomorrow - dogs don't understand but otherwise we get through. Today I did some painting, a tiny bit of novel and completed Billy Summers - a Stephen King that flowed beautifully. Even had a good ending, although I guessed it as he maybe gave one hint too many.  Prepared two more large canvasses, one black which I'll grid up, the idea being that stuff emerges from the darkness in that one. Painting small is not my forte though, mostly because I've no feeling for precision. The big pale one is for some splashing around and trying out my new wax crayons. 

Studio wasn't actually too hot to work in but didn't consider it. Should crack on with novel now I've got it all set in my mind but I delay in case better ideas come or just because  I'm lazy. 

Gotta do the patio, rats seem to have found it their new home and decking is such a pain to get under. The collapsing drains need doing but Tim has said he's done his and will help. Tony also said he'd offer his practical skills so I guess we're gonna look at that in the next few weeks/months. Some guy came around and offered to replace our decking with some other kind, for over £8k. I want to strip it all down to ground level instead, get some nice sitting out furniture and maybe one of those sail things over the top for when it rains or is too sunny. A plan eh?

The Audio interview is coming in a few days and I just read through the questions and wrote my alternate versions. Dunno if I'll answer them though. 

The questions I might have asked
-------------


20 QUESTIONS WITH PAUL NAGLE


1. You've been doing this from the first days of cassette distribution, before the term Berlin School was even coined and you still haven't stopped. Why on Earth not? In all that time, have you learned anything at all and, if so, what?

2. You don't appear able to settle on a style to make it easy to recognise your stuff. Have you ever heard of the phrase jack of all trades, master of none? Do you think this vagueness helps or hinders your plans for world domination?

3. You used to do normal things like tunes and chord progressions and had at least a rudimentary go at arranging your work. Now it's just a kind of weird soup in which pretty much anything can float to the surface. What happened?

4. You have produced an awful lot of solo work (and I do mean awful), but also a massive amount of collaborative work. Couldn't you find another hobby?

5. Gear – it has all the answers, right? I mean, you check what gear your heroes use, get the same, happiness and adulation follows, if I understand the process correctly? Tell all!

6. Anyway, gear. What's your favourite and why? You have to know as you used to review it, correct?

7. You've often blown hot and cold in a live situation – sometimes not too bad but on other occasions you've totally sucked. What's the story?

8. It's important to record and release everything, correct? Every random thought, gig, sketch and journeys down blind alleys. I mean, everyone else does so that's the way. Do you have any concept of quality control? How come you sometimes release something on a Friday afternoon and kill it on Saturday morning?

9. Do you make life deliberately difficult (i) for yourself (ii) for everyone else? And don't give me that 'artist is meant to suffer' shite; why can't you just do neat, nicely organised things where we can hear the first minute and predict the next five (or twenty)?

10. Most believe you peaked in the 1980s, so why don't you restore all the old tapes and remind us how truly awesome you were back when you had a couple of synths and a tape machine? You did tunes and even played in major keys, just to unsettle people. Now it's bloody drones and misery or pounding techno or fecking pop songs, you bastard. I want my Duncton Wood and I want it now!

11. You've often teamed up with more talented, gifted, hard-working musicians who have something to say and the ability to say it. I feel I should ask a question but I'm starting to feel like a BBC interviewer talking to Jeremy Corbyn. Deny it, you scum!

12. Yeah but, seriously, how come your collaborations are soooo much better than you by yourself?

13. Do you do anything else except music?

14. How are you so prolific? And more importantly, why? When will you stop?

15. You did a recent CD on Groove, which was a surprise. Tell us how you made it and, more importantly, what gear it used. Go on.

16. What's the deal with all your online personas? Or is it personae? Who are you, really? How old are you, why aren't you taking more care of your garden and drinking real ale all day?

17. Tell us some profound shit about art, I dare you. Or life, I really don't care.

18. Remote collaborations – do they work? Are they the future? Is everything a compromise? Are we all doomed?

19. Have you got any plans? At all? Any remaining ambitions? Anything you'd like to get better at?

20. Could you please recommend some music that would make our dull lives fleetingly better? Is anything you've been involved in worth hearing? Go on, it's the last question and it's not like this is going to waste paper!


No walkies this week  - Tony working on van as he's heading off tomorrow. Studio beckons.

Oh yeah, I played with that AI thing but haven't got anything like as good results as Tim.
Used one of Tony's photos for an album cover then snotted the album when I sobered up. Yay!

A few days by myself

 Yeah another short period of alone-ness, this time without the dog, which already feels like a bonus. Drinks with Tim in the sun, all very pleasant, trying to decide whether to try the studio tonight or plough into writing stuff. Feeling very mellow, had a nice pad thai, heat 6 this time and juat about perfect. Tim reckoned 5 was too much. 

Bough some cheap single malt (Glen Moray) which tastes lovely, so a surprise win there. Meant to get very hot Sunday/Monday so I'll have to hide inside again. 

Well, on Friday I had a fab time in the studio (tossed off an album which I will shortly delete) and later I knocked up some words that don't stink. For entertainment I'm watching Archive81 on Netflix, which is spooky and has a great soundtrack. I think some of its menace has leaked into my music-making. Saturday, Pat's home with an extra pooch. They're running around quite a lot and hopefully won't do that for the next three weeks. Anyway, my few days of chilled solitude are over and Pat's already worrying about the next few days of very high temperatures. Oh well. 

July, all downhill from here

 Hehe yeah. Pat somewhat tetchy today even though I took Broc out this morning and she had afternoon in Chorley mooching around. We weren't particularly late and I made tea (Gousto) but still an atmos was floating around like an unhappy maiden aunt with a delicate tummy. Think she away in just over a week, which will be a more chilled time all around. She taking Broc too so plenty chillage on tap. 

A sunny Saturday afternoon, think we had something good going, will have to listen later. Must copy some projects for Tim to play with in Logic. Can't remember today's project name, sorry. Maybe later. 

Wednesday now, had a pleasant afternoon with Tim in the sunshine, made the last of the Goustos and it was another good one. Been working on the novel a fair bit, generally fixing and improving existing sections rather than going for the big finish I know I have to write. Aware of some gaps here and there that can be filled when the mood takes me but getting quite happy with the tone and flow and character interaction. Just listening to a new Polypores thing done on an SP-404A (always fancied having a go on one) and it's really good, far better than any of the modular stuff to my elderly, hairy ears. And it's PRS day on Friday :)

OK was a decent enough PRS payment, not sure quite how it's settled at this constant rate, can only assume all those Nightmare Neighbour programs are being repeated indefinitely. Could treat myself to something but can't think of owt I need. Picked up John's Wasp Deluxe on Thursday along with my DFAM and MS20 knob caps. I think black looks better than the green. 

 Yeah it was a claggy walk well on top of Skiddaw it was - everywhere around was clear. Friday was spent doing novel things but I did find time to try the new set of Super 6 waveforms (much fun there).

https://soundcloud.com/smokyfrog/quasimodos-tinny-tits

Meant to be a heatwave soon. Maybe today.