Pete Hartley: sometime dramaturg, perennial scribbler
The most extraordinary aspect of the Deadlines album is the cover. It's not the arresting image that makes it exceptional, but the fact that the action depicted in the picture is not artificially composed. It really is a shot of a man in a telephone kiosk filled with water. The booth was a specially strengthened … Continue reading Reviving Deadlines
Pregnancy is perpetual. There are countless births every millisecond. The Earth is always with child. Our ground is antenatal again. The unspoken garden draws breath to speak some more. Imbolc Imbolc was an important celebration in ancient times. It was originally a pagan festival in honour of the goddess Brigid. She is associated with fertility, … Continue reading Imbolc
Dave Cousins and I disagreed over the worthiness of the Strawbs album Nomadness (see my earlier post Rehanging the Gallery), but I think we would be in harmony regarding Burning for You. He says in his autobiography “'Burning for You' is my least favourite Strawbs album.”1 It is my least favourite too, at least of … Continue reading Guttering
Unearthing thoughts on Plough Monday.
The previous three pressings had an autumnal or winter feel to them. This album always sounds like summer, even when the song is a tragic or sad one, or even about the prospect of a hard, hard winter. Many of the tracks were written quickly during the warmer months of what in the UK was … Continue reading Deep Cuts and shallow scars
A review of Lieutenant Kije by Yuri Tynyanov as translated by Nicolas Pasternak Slater.
The mother of all new years first-foots the garden.
Twelve tips to kick-start creativity and keep it flowing.
A wander through Nomadness When I told singer-songwriter Dave Cousins that Nomadness was one of my favourite albums he cringed. It had been recorded at a difficult time. The Strawbs' popularity was waning, even on the far side of the Atlantic where it had recently burgeoned. They had parted company with keyboard player John Hawken … Continue reading Rehanging the Gallery
An appreciation of: Preston Catholic College The Last Intake 1977-1982, The End of an Era by Jim Clune and Adrian Gawain Jones with the Old Boys of '77. Plus an added personal perspective.
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