Vinyl Time

Picture the scene, it's Saturday just before noon, the breakfast dishes are done and the kitchen cleared up. Number one son is away with the better half fucking up packing some poor unfortunate's shopping in the aid of school funds. Leo is sitting at the "pooter" watching Remembrance Of The Daleks which will keep him engrossed for as long as I let him sit in front of the thing.

So,  I find myself at a loose end with nothing to do. Well there is the washing machine to load, the hoovering to be done and a few other things that I could be doing but nothing urgent.

During these rare occasions I retreat to the dinning room and put on something that I have not got round to listening to or something that I haven't listened to in ages.  It will always be on vinyl, as well,  it just feels right that when I've got the time I sit down and give an album the attention it deserves moving only the once to flip over the vinyl. After which I will go back to whatever mundane tasks need to be done happy in the knowledge that I have just listened to something the way it was intended to be listened to,  no skipping, shuffling or repeating.

On Saturday I found myself in a quandry. I had the urge to hear Pissing On Bonfires/Kissing With Tongues but that would mean playing a cd and this was 'Vinyl Time'. I decided that as I could not think of anything else I wanted to hear more, I would break the rules this once. I did toy with the idea of playing All Creatures Will Make Merry as this was re-released on lovely red vinyl last year but no, Pissing On Bonfires it had to be.

And for the next thirty eight and a bit minutes I sat on my chair and immersed myself in what is still  an amazing listen even after being heard by these ears tons of times. It feels as fresh now as it did when I first purchased it on a whim and waited ages for it to come.

If there are any of you out there that don't own a copy of this absolute gem get yourself over to Song By Toad pronto and purchase it and as much of the label's back catalogue as you can afford. Then mibbe one day they will be able to afford to do for Meursault's debut what they did for the follow up and release it on vinyl which would spare me the dilema of breaking the rules of 'Vinyl Time'.

Meursault - a small stretch of land

A Small Stretch Of Land

A beautiful song for a Sunday, nothing more need be said.

If you don't own anything from Meursault, you can sort yourself out here.  You really should you know.

Meursault - A Small Stretch Of Land

Meursault In Mono

Off to see Meursault tonight, as part of a Song By Toad Showcase in Glasgow.

This is a gig that I have really been looking forward to as the latest album, All Creatures Will Make Merry is as good if not better than the debut. I've only seen a couple of people in Mono before but I think that the intimate atmosphere will suit the band.

Meursault - Song For Martin Kippenberger

A Live Review Of Sorts.

I don't do concert reviews as I tend to spend my time just enjoying gigs as opposed to getting the set order correct and being in review mode, however Tart has asked me to report back on her 2 favorite bands, so I will. If you wish to find out details of running order etc you should have no trouble as there were at least 4 people, who to me looked like weans sitting on the pews of Queen's Hall furtively making notes in little pads all the way through

I made Edinburgh from the other side of Manchester in just over 3 hrs, not bad going. There I found that the doors did not open at 7 as on the tickets and found myself queuing to get into a gig for the first time in many a year.

The first band who's name I cannot remember did absolutely nothing for me, they weren't bad or anything just not my kind of thing. So sorry, I'm sure they're all great people but just not for me so I didn't pay very much attention to them but still kept quiet.

Meursault, on the other hand were guaranteed my undivided attention and for the rather short 25 minute set they did, they did not disappoint, they exceeded my expectations, especially A Small Stretch Of Land which was quite beautiful. I will need to investigate further because this short set has just whetted my appetite and will need to see them do a full set.

One thing though, why the fuck do people persist in talking all the way through the support act at gigs? I have come to hear the bands, all of them even the ones I don't particularly like and couldn't give a flying fuck how drunk you were last night or who you got off with. If you have no interest in the band stay in the fucking bar. It is the height of ignorance to stand/sit and talk all the way through.

The feirt bunnies were given a rapturous welcome and indeed the crowd sang along and clapped out of time with the music so much so that at one point L thought that she was at a Runrig concert, having never frequented one I don't know what she was on about. The band were excellent and the 3 new tunes for the album which according to Scott is completed albeit with at least one song still untitled were very promising and I look forward to hearing in full as soon as possible. One grumble though, I did not like the version of Backwards Walk, always one my favorites, it lost all of the melancholy. Apart from that and the arseholes talking all the way through Meursault a wonderful night was had by all.

Frightened Rabbit - My Backwards Walk (Daytrotter session)

Finally I May Get To See Meursault Live

Tonight I'm off to see Frightened Rabbit as part of the music bit of the Festival but I'm more excited about finally getting to see Meursault, well I may get to see them. My boss decided to arrange the team meeting for today which would have been all well and good in the past as they were held in Edinburgh however the changes that were made whilst I was on holiday resulted in me joining a new team who have their meetings in Manchester, bugger. Not taking any chances on cancelled flights by FlyMaybe as soon as the meeting is over I will be on the M6 and trying to beat the Manchester to Edinburgh land speed record.

Frightened Rabbit - Heads Roll Off

Meursault - Nothing Broke

I had one of those strange moments today when you start to question whether your iPod has become a sentient being.

I had reason to be in the West End of Glasgow for work today and decided to visit the Oxfam music shop on Byres Rd during lunch, as you do. Just as I was turning into the car park above Somerfield, Dear John by Eugene Kelly came on the iPod.

For those of you not familiar with the song, it's subject matter is the disgust that Kelly feels about the transformation of Glasgow's best book shop (John Smith's on Byres Rd), into a corporate coffee house.

Eugene Kelly - Dear John

Before I was aware of this song I used to rant to L every time we were up the West End about, how the demise of John Smith's was a criminal act and that the weegies would soon rue the day they turned it into a coffee house, etc, etc, etc. John Smith's was not just the best book shop in Glasgow, the 2nd floor also had an extensive vinyl section.

On several occasions I was able to pick up limited editions when Fopp up the road (still an indie at the time with loads of vinyl) let me down, New Paths To Helicon 7" being one.

Mogwai - New Paths To Helicon

On another subject Mathew from Song By Toad sent me what is possibly the most beautiful bit of music I have heard so far this year, Nothing Broke by Meursault. It is an acoustic 5 track ep which is limited to 300 copies, so if I were you I would go here and order a copy immediately to avoid bitter disappointment and resentment later on, Mathew may even send you a lovely postcard along with the cd, mine's was of Gannets.

I haven't mentioned Meursault yet here and I'm not sure why not. I bought the album last year and flogged it to death for ages as it is one of the most original albums I have heard in ages. A possible reason is due to the fact that I haven't yet caught them live, every time I hear they are gigging I've got something else on. A case in point being tomorrow night, the 7th May when they will be at the Bowery in Edinburgh, bugger!

Meursault - Red Candle Bulb