Sinister: random thoughts 2

[Lawrence Mikkelsen]

***LEGAL MAN***
VERY infectious. I can't stop listening to it. Although I don't really think
it is a particularly good way to introduce the general populace to the band.
But ... err ... it's certainly not a sell-out. Unless electic sitars and
lyrics about the legal profession are selling out.

***POSTCARD RECORDS***
Last week Johan talked a little about Postcard Recordings of Scotland. I
quote from Q magazine:
"The Velvet Underground's Sterling Morrison once said that all he and Lou
Reed really wanted was to play like Ike Turner. Only Orange Juice ever
sounded like they knew what he meant. Between 1980 and 1984 the Glaswegians
defined the chaste, shambling tenor of the coming indie guitar wave but did
so with a heart full of Hi-soul."
I think this quote could similarly be ascribed to Belle & Sebastian. I think
merely calling them an "indie" band really devalues their craft of their
songs. All very well to slag them off for taking two years and spending far
too much money on the new album, but I'm sure they would have spent far more
time on "Tigermilk" and "Sinist*r" had they been given the opportunity. I
like to think of Belle & Sebastian as a blue-eyed soul band, as their music
has such an incredible emotional effect on me.

***HEFNER***
Would somebody lik to mail me off-line and tell me more about this band.
Lots of people on the list appear to like them. I've never heard them, and
buying one of their albums would require me to order it from overseas, never
having heard anything. So if someone would like to tell me what they sound
like, what the singer's voice is like (important!), lyrics etc., I would be
much appreciative. If someone would offer to go the extra mile and make me a
mix tape there is no end to what I'd do for them .....

***A CRAP NIGHT OUT***
Oh how I hate pubs. Well, New Zealand pubs, which are quite different from
the English pubs I have been in. Yesterday was my girlfriend Vanessa's last
day at her current placement (she's a doctor) and there was a going-away
thing for her and her registrar. Initially I wsn't invited, because nobody
was bringing partners,  which made me quite happy, because I wouldn't have
to sit around making idle chit-chat about the medical profession with people
I will no doubt never meet again. Anyway, then partners were invited, so I
had to go. We turned up at this new pub in this horrible new suburban mall
type place, which, only a few years ago was farmland. Anyway, I have *never*
been to such a loud, smokey and thoroughly obnoxious place in all my life.
Actually, it competes with the Mogwai gig I went to last year as loudest
thing ever ..... So there was I was, feeling a little too conspicious in
bellbottoms and a Delgados t-shirt, being introduced to all these people
like so

Vanessa (screaming): "LAWRENCE, THIS IS ....(insert name of doctor/nurse
here)"
Lawrence: (quietly) "hi"
Person: "HELLO! SO, YOU'RE VANESSA'S FIANCE, ARE YOU?
Lawrence: "errr ...yes"
Person: "WELL, LOVELY TO HAVE MET YOU."

(now - repeat the exact same conversation over and over again .... sigh)

I came home feeling like my head was going to explode, and listened to Air's
"The Virgin Suicides" to calm me down. Now listen, all 1200 or so of you
..... go out and buy that album. It is the most sublime, dark and wonderful
music I have heard in a long time. Pop music can have a wonderful effect
when one feels like collapsing.

***TBWTAS***
Bought above mentioned album on 12" vinyl yesterday. I traded in a bunch of
crap CDs and got said LP (I don't even have a record player, but I like the
cover so much .....), an Air DVD called "Sleeping, Eating Waiting and
Playing" and Talk Talk's "Spirit of Eden". And I still have $40.00 credit.
Ahhhhhhhh.

***RIDE***
Interesting story about Ride's bass player. Amazing that "Nowhere" came out
10 years ago. How will Mick Cooke play trumpet and bass at the same time???

Well ... time to go and do some work.

Lawrence Mikkelsen
http://www.akn.quik.co.nz/mikelsen/aboutme

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