Sinister: goose bumps, fits, malaria. These things she gives me.

[Lawrence Mikkelsen]

Hello list,

Sorry in advance is this is a little incoherent and ranty. I'm feeling funny
(for reasons which may become apparent) and don't really have any way of
getting a lot of this stuff off my chest (for other reasons which may also
become apparent)

But firstly, good news re:
***BELLE AND SEBASTIAN***
If David H's little story is true (and I have no reason to doubt this,
unless he is a compulsive liar or something) we will finally get an official
release of what is (IMHO) the best (so far) B&S track ever written, "The
Loneliness of a Middle Distance Runner".

Which makes me happy.

The other thing which made my ears prick up was Mick McMick's (I think)
comment that Jeepster were paying for the recording of the film score B&S
have been recording, which means there is a *reasonable* likelihood it may
be
released. I mean, they wouldn't hurl all that money away if they weren't
expecting to gain something from it, right?

I love film scores. Air's "The Virgin Suicides" was one of my albums of the
year, and the news that old faves Suede (remember '93 anyone?) are also
writing/recording a film score makes for exciting possibilities in 2001.

And still on the B&S thing, what the hell ever happened to the book of sheet
music, illustrated by Alaisdair Gray which was promised, like, at least 18
months ago?

***RECTOR***
I'm really surprised Stuart didn't win, or for that matter that he *didn't*
win by so many votes. I really thought he'd be the obvious choice. Still, I
remember when I was a student, and I thought when I got to uni it would be
this land of cool, well read indie people who liked good music.

And then discovered I was *still* an outcast, and that most of the students
were into Dire Straits or Rage Against The Machine or something.

I started uni in '93, and "Killing In The Name Of" was a big hit. Everytime
you walked past the student pub you were almost assured of hearing "fuck you
I won't do what you tell me" blaring from the balcony. Hideous stuff.

And then this Christian band started covering it, changing the lyrics to
"bless you I'll do what you tell me"
which was very funny.

This is the same band who used to cover Hot Chocolate's "Everyone's a
Winner" and change the lyrics to
"Everyone's a winner baby
that's no lie
making love to you is such a thrill
when you're married"

And who said Christian rock was crap?

***PEACOCK JOHNSON***
Had an abusive mail, and then a matey matey e-mail from the fine fellow. Am
*extremely* sorry for the offence I caused him by stating he didn't exist.
He most clearly does, and I am sorry for all the harm Stuart D has caused
him.

Hope he gets his comeuppance.

And knowing Mr Johnson, I think he will.

***MY EMOTIONAL PROBLEMS***
------------------skippable-------------------------------
My grandfather is dying, and its really screwing me up. I am his only
grandson, and my mum is his only child, and I feel really really horrible. I
have a very small, (I guess you could say nuclear) family, and we're all
very close, and I'm just not coping very well. I feel sick all the time, and
can't work properly, and just find myself dwelling on it all the time.

Vanessa (my girlfriend) is, however, going through crap stuff with her
family, and is also really strung out, and I don't think either of us are
being terribly supportive of each other, and the whole situation is
horrible.

Don't know what to do, and I just find myself callously wishing he'd just
die, because he's miserable and suffering, and I hate how our whole family
has to just live with the fact that we *know* he'll die soon, but just have
to wait and wait.

My poor grandmother, they've been married for 62 years.
--------------readable again-----------------------------------

Back to lighter stuff.

***POP***
Got the new Lucksmiths album, "Why That Doesn't Surprise Me", which is very
good. For anyone who doesn't know who they are, they're an Australian
folky-pop three piece who (I think) supported B&S on a European tour a few
years ago. Anyway, the new album is great ... a lot more produced with
horns, strings, melodica etc. Highly recommended, and available (cheaply)
from http://www.candlerecords.com.au

Was glad to see that Stuart Murdoch was getting back into Television and The
Smiths, because they are two bands I've been rediscovering a lot lately. The
Smiths have been my favourite band for nine years now, and every six months
or so I go through a big revival. I also just got the Television live album
"The Blow-Up", which is fantastic, especially for the 15 minute versions of
"Little Johnny Jewel" and "Marquee Moon". I'm not normally into
self-indulgent guitar playing, but Tom Verlaine is amazing.

Would love to be in the UK at the moment. B&S live, and those two Hefner
gigs last week. Man ... I love Hefner so much. They were one of those bands
(like The Go-Betweens, The Smiths and B&S before them) who I fell in love
with instantly, and had all the albums and most of the singles in a matter
of months. Just got "Half a Life" 7", but can't listen to it because I don't
have a record player. (sigh)

***SILLUSTRATIONS***
They are BRILLIANT!
Thanks everyone.
I will have to think of some lies I can tell on the list, so that I will be
the subject of one.
OH PLEASE CAN SOMEONE DO A SILLUSTRATION OF ME?
(Man that's sad ..... I just love the idea of being immortalised in cartoon
form.)
Umm ... if you do, there is a picture of me on my site (URL below)

Anyway, this is super long, so will go.

Sorry for ranting, and take care everyone.

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


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