The joy of the lyric
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 ~ Comments Off
So, I posted a photo from it but I wanted to mention the Emiliana Torrini gig I attend last week. The venue, Oran Mor, is quite small and intimate, occupying the top floor of an old church and holding maybe 400-500 people, tops. The stage wasn’t set very high and, upon taking to it, the diminutive Ms. Torrini admitted she was a bit taken aback that everyone was ‘right there’.
Musically she’s a tricky one to pigeonhole. Her Icelandic roots make the leap to Bjork a bit too obvious and she’s certainly more grounded in traditional songwriting arrangements than her Icelandic counterpart, but that’s not to say it’s all acoustic guitars and winsome melodies. Her last album covers such tracks as well as a reggae tinged number as well as bringing a pop sensibility to things. It makes it her most accessible album and probably accounts for the range of ages in the audience.
But it’s her turn of phrase that caught my ear when I first chanced upon one of her tracks, and allows me to suggest that she’s not far short of Mr.Garvey (Elbow) for a nicely visioned lyric.
A good gig then, an excellent venue that was small enough to be intimate, and a pretty slick set from the band. Her voice, whilst sounding quite delicate at times, can certainly hold it’s own against 5 and 6 piece band, and her desire to give the audience the background story to most of the songs was endearing.
Not sure how she’d fair at a larger venue and whilst I hope she continues to build her fanbase (she’s released three albums so far) part of me hopes she sticks to this size of venue as it seems perfectly suited to her sound.
Perspective
Monday, June 29, 2009 ~ 3 comments so far
Is it wrong that a little part of me is a tad disappointed I didn’t quite manage to clock up 80 hours at work last week?
Is it wrong that when faced with a proper cooked dinner, served at approximately the normal time for said meal, that I wonder how on earth I’m going to eat it and couldn’t I just have a roll and ham, then some crisps, then some chocolate, then some more crisps, a few digestives (or whatever else I can find lying around)?
Is it wrong that I’ve spent a large part of today wondering what I’ve forgotten?
Is it wrong that because I’ve been working so much I’ve now got even more things to do? Things I didn’t get done at home, and things that cropped up last week at work that I didn’t have time for (and this week I’ve only, currently, got one morning and one afternoon to myself as it is).
And is it wrong that I’ve spent the last hour daydreaming of retiring early and going to live on a beach somewhere?
No, I don’t think it is either.
Taking a break
Tuesday, June 23, 2009 ~ 1 comment so far
I’m in the midst of a hectic, hectic week so I’m taking a wee break from this here blog. I’ll be back at the weekend. (Of course I won’t be completely silent)
Until I return, here is a picture of Oll-E doing what he does best and what I’ll manage little of in the coming few days.
New Bathroom
Sunday, June 21, 2009 ~ Comments Off
With only one minor hiccup, our new bathroom is now complete and usable and already stocked with new towels and other such things. It’s not big, or flash but it’s been long overdue and leaves only one more major job to get done before we have the entire house properly modernised.
Colour and smiles
Thursday, June 18, 2009 ~ 1 comment so far
The sun was shining when I left work, a great brilliant light, dazzling me as we started to commute home. I’d been in a foul mood shortly before but there is something about that light that lifts my spirits no end. Even sitting in the traffic jam in the one way system in Paisley I was still smiling away to myself.
Looking up at the skies, in the direction of home, there was nothing but grey clouds, big deep dark clouds that threatened rain, and the closer we got the darker they grew until the first few big fat spots started to fall. My smile vanished, my mood returned to grey.
It didn’t turn into more than a quick deluge but it was enough to soak the roads and, driving with the sun behind us, brought a wonderful, beautiful effect of nature into play.
Not only was there a bright and vivid rainbow overhead, but from the spray of each car in front of us a tiny fragment of colour flashed and glinted. It was quite mesmerising and beautiful.
At one point it even looked like the car in front of us had driven THROUGH the end of the rainbow, such was the brilliance of the colours. The smile was soon back on my face as I tried my best to capture this wonderful moment so I could repeat it later, but sometimes words just aren’t enough, nor are photos (Louise did try with her mobile phone though).
It’s a shame, I’d loved to have shared it with you.
So, with a spring in my step I fair bounded through the front door to find that our new bathroom has progressed well. Tiles on the walls, shower installed, units built and installed, new radiator in place and the new counter top basin in place, with the taps installed on the right of the sink.
Arse.
We asked for the taps to go on the left.
Fucksticks.
The countertop was the last one in stock, the nearest other place that does them is in Edinburgh, but hey, that’s not my problem but will, no doubt, delay the job. The bathroom certainly won’t be finished tomorrow, and even Saturday might be pushing it.
Wankfucks.
Still, that rainbow was really something.
Dust covered
Wednesday, June 17, 2009 ~ 2 comments so far
Home last night to view the latest bathroom work and we now have gyproc’d walls, floorboards and a bath. A great big, deep, long, WHITE, bath with centre mounted taps.
We also have a very dusty cat.
Whilst part of me knows that cliches are such because they are, usually, true, there is no doubting the fact that curiosity is very much in the nature of a cat. I think he’s explored every single inch of the stripped out bathroom that he can reach, including clambering up onto the windowsill to stick his head up the gap where the pipe work disappears into the loft and if he’d been able to I’ve no doubt he’d have clambered up in there.
He’s obviously a little stressed too with men in the house all day, thumping and crashing about, not to mention all the new smells and that big climbing frame that is currently in the hall (the stack of boxes containing tiles, sinks and other bathroom parts).
Oll-E does two things when he’s a bit stressed, he sleeps a lot and becomes a right wee sook *.
Whilst most nights he’ll sleep, well anywhere he wants really, including the occasionally venture onto the foot of the bed, last night found me lying on my side with a small black furry creature, purring loudly enough to wake the dead (but not Louise) curled up in the gap between my stomach and the edge of the bed.
Which is very cute but makes rolling over a tad tricky!