Tuesday, April 28, 2009
45(rpm) today
how did that happen, 45 years crawling, walking, riding and always falling on this humble little planet, a suitably overcast day, caramel waffles and a mug of java for breakfast though so it ain't so bad.
I found this wonderful little clip of Lightning Hopkins via the miracle of youtube, it reminded me of living in Ireland in the early nineties, I had to sell all my blues and jazz albums then to put some food on the table, the good times were killing me for sure.
I'm happy to say no records will be sold today and I will eat heartily at the Mountain Cafe in Aviemore for lunch, the times they have a changed.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
a sunny night in Durham
sadly these aren't the beats I am experiencing, though I may take a trawl out later and see what happens on a tuesday in April in this Northern student town.
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Friday, April 10, 2009
Wednesday, April 08, 2009
JOURNALS
I have been a magazine junkie for too many years, "IPC made a mint out of me" to quote my old (and I mean old) friend Nobby Nils. there is something joyful about the printed format that no website will ever capture, it's physical, mental, emotional and doesn't require a phone line, toggle, woggle, gizmo or indeed computer to read.
Over time though the magazine has essentially sold out and now I struggle to part with my hard earned cash for any of the current crop of 'mainstream' mags. However over the last few years a whole new breed of mags have emerged. And with this my interest has once more been stimulated.
This stimulation started way back in 2002 when I had pretty much given up on mags, along came a 'journal' called Waxpoetics. Singlehandedly this little publication has stimulated me back into the world of reading matter. The current crop of reading is what appears below.
ok, here goes,
Cog Magazine issue 5 Fall 2008
this is a relative newy to me, somehow it slipped under my radar, Cog is an occasional journal focussing on the 'fixed' scene, it's a scene I have mixed feelings on but there is no denying that fixed wheel bikes hold a beauty and elegance that few if any geared or freewheeled bikes can come close too. The rise of the fixed scene is indeed an interesting one and what it brings with it is an influx of creative thought and people into our mother sport of cycling, that is one very good thing.
Cog is a large format mag out of Milwaukee, well printed with good colour and very good photography that captures the essence of this thriving scene. it smells great of proper ink, a crucial aesthetic for an independent publication like this.The main feature that drew me to the mag was the feature on small builders, this issue has a nice feature on Circle A, the only other issue I have has a feature on Hufnagel, two builders I could say I have some time for.
Inside apart from the Circle A feature which is good, an awesome Keirin feature, A PDX feature beautifully shot in B&W and lots of courier, fixed fun, all in a all a pretty heady and healthy mix of reading, viewing and dreaming.
Lots of 'cool' people riding equally cool bikes, what's not to like?
Embrocation 3
This comes straight outta the new American cross scene, it's art (they aren't afraid of white space), it's readable, it's brainchild Jeremy Dunn seems to be very well connected to the bike world. Issue 3 is by far the most comprehensive and offers some hard reading into the bargain, previous issues have been a little light in the word content, while looking great they really have been light on readable content.
This issue has a feature on Seven Cycles and another PDX photo feast, a interview with Maureen Bruno-Roy which is complemented with Chris Milliman photos, a nice piece of journalism. Wonderful gritty photos from Belgium and an awesome cover pic which spans both front and back unfortunately they have omitted to tell us where it is, though I suspect Belgium but it is an otherworldly shot, looks almost like a model set with toy riders.
Embrocation is heading to really good place, the content upgrade of issue 3 and a step up in the design certainly are positive unfortunately this is hampered by the exchange rate as this works out frightfully expensive, it's a niche market too but if Cyclo Cross is your passion you will find it intriguing if nothing else. I'm looking forward to future issues.
Waxpoetics 34
Ah, Waxpoetics, I love this journal, I have bought it religiously since 2002 and it seldom fails to disappoint, if it does with content it makes up with the sheer visual feast for the vinyl collector, enthusiast or just plain interested. It has been skillfully crafted creating its own little style tapping into, the wonderful art of the albums it's authors so passionately love. And I think here in lies the key, passion.
Now at issue 34 it finally addresses jazz with a dedicated edition, and full to brimming it is, I'm not going to dwell too much on the content as I literally got it this afternoon and reading hasn't been high on my list of priorities. But on first inspection it looks very good. The first impressions are the Creed Taylor interview which I'm looking forward to and a album cover spread that relates to the feature, I love these album cover spreads, I dunno what it it but the cover art is so much part of the whole vibe of a record and the Creed Taylors CTi label were quick to realise this and produced some beautiful cover art and in a house style that wasn't a million miles away from what Peter Saville would do with Tony Wilsons Factory Records.
I can't believe it is already at issue 34, I have them all at home stacked in order on top of my record boxes, it's turning into a reference library, I regularly dip into an old issue and they still seem fresh and full of info. Great reading.
Rouleur 12
Another relatively new kid on the block, a very design rich publication out of the Rapha empire and already up to issue 12, which is pretty impressive for a 9 quid magazine. There is no denying there are some clever people working on the Rapha/Rouleur projects and fair play to them. The bulk of the content is nostalgia which in times of uncertainty is one fast selling commodity. The layout and print quality is superb and there is plenty of reading in each issue also a great thing. Rouleur also is photo heavy and what a rich selection they seem to find. Like Waxpoetics they seem to be able to find photos that haven't been seen before and even in the new commissioned features the photography can quite often leave you dreaming with the mag open in front of you, if only it were scratch and sniff.
In this issue we have a great selection of reads but the one that stands out for me is the feature on Wolfgang Lotzsch, what a great story and some absolutely amazing photos (none more so than the one of him on the podium with his prize, a pig!) which I doubt have ever been seen and after all he has been through he is still riding, a real inspiring read.
It's not for everybody as it focusses unashamedly on the road scene and as I mentioned primarily nostalgia but if you love bike racing you will find something in there to warm the cockles of your heart.
Rouleur like Waxpoetics looks like it will be around my life for some time as for COG and Embrocation we will see how they develop and how the exchange rate affects the price.
Overall though they all offer insights into specific worlds/scenes and deliver it with passion, the crucial ingredient.
Death to the magazine, long live the Journal
Over time though the magazine has essentially sold out and now I struggle to part with my hard earned cash for any of the current crop of 'mainstream' mags. However over the last few years a whole new breed of mags have emerged. And with this my interest has once more been stimulated.
This stimulation started way back in 2002 when I had pretty much given up on mags, along came a 'journal' called Waxpoetics. Singlehandedly this little publication has stimulated me back into the world of reading matter. The current crop of reading is what appears below.
ok, here goes,
Cog Magazine issue 5 Fall 2008
this is a relative newy to me, somehow it slipped under my radar, Cog is an occasional journal focussing on the 'fixed' scene, it's a scene I have mixed feelings on but there is no denying that fixed wheel bikes hold a beauty and elegance that few if any geared or freewheeled bikes can come close too. The rise of the fixed scene is indeed an interesting one and what it brings with it is an influx of creative thought and people into our mother sport of cycling, that is one very good thing.
Cog is a large format mag out of Milwaukee, well printed with good colour and very good photography that captures the essence of this thriving scene. it smells great of proper ink, a crucial aesthetic for an independent publication like this.The main feature that drew me to the mag was the feature on small builders, this issue has a nice feature on Circle A, the only other issue I have has a feature on Hufnagel, two builders I could say I have some time for.
Inside apart from the Circle A feature which is good, an awesome Keirin feature, A PDX feature beautifully shot in B&W and lots of courier, fixed fun, all in a all a pretty heady and healthy mix of reading, viewing and dreaming.
Lots of 'cool' people riding equally cool bikes, what's not to like?
Embrocation 3
This comes straight outta the new American cross scene, it's art (they aren't afraid of white space), it's readable, it's brainchild Jeremy Dunn seems to be very well connected to the bike world. Issue 3 is by far the most comprehensive and offers some hard reading into the bargain, previous issues have been a little light in the word content, while looking great they really have been light on readable content.
This issue has a feature on Seven Cycles and another PDX photo feast, a interview with Maureen Bruno-Roy which is complemented with Chris Milliman photos, a nice piece of journalism. Wonderful gritty photos from Belgium and an awesome cover pic which spans both front and back unfortunately they have omitted to tell us where it is, though I suspect Belgium but it is an otherworldly shot, looks almost like a model set with toy riders.
Embrocation is heading to really good place, the content upgrade of issue 3 and a step up in the design certainly are positive unfortunately this is hampered by the exchange rate as this works out frightfully expensive, it's a niche market too but if Cyclo Cross is your passion you will find it intriguing if nothing else. I'm looking forward to future issues.
Waxpoetics 34
Ah, Waxpoetics, I love this journal, I have bought it religiously since 2002 and it seldom fails to disappoint, if it does with content it makes up with the sheer visual feast for the vinyl collector, enthusiast or just plain interested. It has been skillfully crafted creating its own little style tapping into, the wonderful art of the albums it's authors so passionately love. And I think here in lies the key, passion.
Now at issue 34 it finally addresses jazz with a dedicated edition, and full to brimming it is, I'm not going to dwell too much on the content as I literally got it this afternoon and reading hasn't been high on my list of priorities. But on first inspection it looks very good. The first impressions are the Creed Taylor interview which I'm looking forward to and a album cover spread that relates to the feature, I love these album cover spreads, I dunno what it it but the cover art is so much part of the whole vibe of a record and the Creed Taylors CTi label were quick to realise this and produced some beautiful cover art and in a house style that wasn't a million miles away from what Peter Saville would do with Tony Wilsons Factory Records.
I can't believe it is already at issue 34, I have them all at home stacked in order on top of my record boxes, it's turning into a reference library, I regularly dip into an old issue and they still seem fresh and full of info. Great reading.
Rouleur 12
Another relatively new kid on the block, a very design rich publication out of the Rapha empire and already up to issue 12, which is pretty impressive for a 9 quid magazine. There is no denying there are some clever people working on the Rapha/Rouleur projects and fair play to them. The bulk of the content is nostalgia which in times of uncertainty is one fast selling commodity. The layout and print quality is superb and there is plenty of reading in each issue also a great thing. Rouleur also is photo heavy and what a rich selection they seem to find. Like Waxpoetics they seem to be able to find photos that haven't been seen before and even in the new commissioned features the photography can quite often leave you dreaming with the mag open in front of you, if only it were scratch and sniff.
In this issue we have a great selection of reads but the one that stands out for me is the feature on Wolfgang Lotzsch, what a great story and some absolutely amazing photos (none more so than the one of him on the podium with his prize, a pig!) which I doubt have ever been seen and after all he has been through he is still riding, a real inspiring read.
It's not for everybody as it focusses unashamedly on the road scene and as I mentioned primarily nostalgia but if you love bike racing you will find something in there to warm the cockles of your heart.
Rouleur like Waxpoetics looks like it will be around my life for some time as for COG and Embrocation we will see how they develop and how the exchange rate affects the price.
Overall though they all offer insights into specific worlds/scenes and deliver it with passion, the crucial ingredient.
Death to the magazine, long live the Journal
Friday, April 03, 2009
Peace be with you Buddy
I'm hoping that Buddy finally will find the inner peace he so rightly deserves.
We will all miss him.
Thursday, April 02, 2009
house on the road
it was a long day and then some, tomorrow will be longer again, see tomorrows entry tomorrow. stuck behind a house on wheels in roadworks, bad bad bad.
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