Golden years whop whop whop (David Bowie)

Wie geht's?

I'm not really a podcast guy. Listening to a lengthy programme of people talking doesn't usually float my boat.

I'll make exceptions for anything Bob Mortimer is involved in because he's ridiculously funny, and now I've started working through The Album Years podcast.

Each episode is just about the length of my commute so I've done two a day this week.

It's from Steven Wilson and Tim Bowness. If you've read my previous post you know who Steven Wilson is. His friend and fellow musician Tim Bowness make up No-Man (I warmly recommend Wild Opera).

The podcast has our unlikely heroes (a.k.a. self confessed music nerds) discussing some key, non rock canon, albums of each chosen year. It's funny and perceptive and wildly opinionated and I'm loving it.

User guide

Key words: zeitgeist; sonics; interesting; beautiful; linear; canon; no-risk disc.  

I'd suggest you adopt my linear method and start at episode 1, but you can also leap into any year you fancy. Each episode is stand alone.

Steven is the fast talker on the left channel, Tim is on the right.

Bye bye.

Love and peace - Wozza

 

This trip is necessary (Voyage 34 - Steven Wilson)

Wie geht's?

This week, I'm really enjoying reading Steven Wilson's autobiography - Limited Edition Of One.

Haven't heard of Steven Wilson? That's okay - he is a multi-talented musician who works mainly in musical sub-genres away from the mainstream. I've collected all of his records since 1993's Up The Downstair (he works within many musical contexts - this one is from a band he leads called Porcupine Tree).

Although he's ten years younger than me, and he grew up in Hemel Hempstead rather than Auckland, his was a similar home to mine, and we share similar interests and sensibilities. He calls himself a music nerd (see his podcast - The Album Years) who loves lists and has eclectic music tastes.

Having two parents who loved each other, one younger brother who he maintains a distant relationship with, and a father who was an electronics genius: I can relate! Like Nick Hornby, he's another long lost brother.

Anyway, in one chapter Steven describes his favourite record shops (like I did in my last post). One shop he loves was owned by two brothers who were quirky music snobs and it was terrifying buying music from them. Steven loves that, but we differ a tad here as you will know if you have read that last post.

One anonymous reader left me a comment saying it was a fair but brutal summation and I've been reflecting on that comment. I wasn't being fair, and it was brutal.

I may have done the owner a bit of a disservice. He isn't actually as weird as I stated. I think he genuinely loves music and he's no weirder than other music nerds like me and Steven. 

I'm not sure why I said he was obnoxious to deal with either. That wasn't fair and it was lazy on my part.

When buying records from him, it was a bit like Steven describes when visiting These Records in London. It was uncomfortable dealing with someone with an air of music snob elitism.

He always gave me the impression that I was an unworthy recipient of his albums. I guess that's what added to the weird aspect of visiting his shop.

One day, while I was humming and harring over a NZ pressing of an album on Apple Records that he was wanting $50 for he said - you might as well buy it now, you'll regret it and be back later. And he was right, damn it, so I bought it!

Love and peace - Wozza

I am lost within this half-world, it hardly seems to matter now (Genesis)

Wie geht's?

Bit disappointed that the Music Exchange second hand record shop has closed down in Hastings. I drove past it a few days ago and there is a huge 'For Lease' sign in the shop window.

It wasn't great by any stretch of the imagination - records were overpriced and not in great condition generally, the presentation of the bins was lousy and shambolic, the decor was grim, and the owner was slightly weird and obnoxious. 

But it was a record shop in Hastings - a last port of call if I was desperate for some specific record and I couldn't find it anywhere else. And believe me - it would have to be VERY desperate.

It was the sort of place you'd leave and feel the need to take a shower.

I heard today that the owner had retired and his stock bought by a guy who was intending to eventually open a shop in Waipukarau of all places - 15 minutes down the road.

So, as long as they get someone decent to look after the stock, and the shop is clean, maybe, just maybe, not all is lost. Might give Tony in Waipawa a shake up.

He's a lovely guy but there's no EFTPOS at Passisonate About Vinyl, he is also pricey, and his stock is all over the place - hard to find what you're looking for most of the time, and his opening hours are bizarre.

But he has records and it's fun to browse through his quirky shop.

My Top Five (second hand record shops near me):

1. Real Groovy Records (Auckland)
2. Vinyl Countdown (New Plymouth)
3. Tron Records (Hamilton)
4. Slow Boat Records (Wellington)
5. Electric City Music (Napier)/ Passionate About Vinyl (Waipawa)

Love and peace - Wozza

Since the dawn of time...

Wie geht's?

I know I'm rapidly approaching old geezerhood but the fickle nature of popular culture was pretty evident as I watched the pre show previews while at the latest Mission: Impossible movie on the weekend.

One preview was for the Barbie movie. This is the teaser:

At its conclusion I turned to Jacky and said, I bet not many people get that reference to 2001 A Space Odyssey. 

Jacky's reply: what reference?

When I asked a couple of teachers at school - no one knew the classic Kubrick movie. My hairdresser? Nope.

I feel my survey is pretty comprehensive!

One of the greatest films of all time, and in 2023 it's all but forgotten.

Except, it seems, by me.

Which begs the question: why in the blue blazes did the Barbie people decide to base their teaser on it?

Blowed if I know.

Love and peace - Wozza

There in my heart, there is you (Caravan)

JFP, New Plymouth 9 July, 2023

Wie geht's?

As I've been spending a lot of time in New Plymouth recently watching Jacky and her sister deal with their mother's passing, the relationship between brothers and sisters has been on my mind of late.

Bear with me as I extrapolate...

My brother and I are yin yang - two opposites joined within a circle. The opposite circles within the big circle could represent our parents - as they were separate people, yet, fused together, we all contributed to a whole, cohesive image.

I continue to realise how special my childhood was. At the time of course you know no better - it's just how life is as you grow up. But life and experience, and hearing others' versions of childhood makes me realise again how privileged I was. I like to quip to Jacky that I have lived a charmed life - and so I have!

Ross and I were very close as children, but we are very different people and we went down different rabbit holes after I left home. Of course, we will always have a healthy brotherly bond but we don't figure in each other's lives beyond the surface. 

Sisters though. That looks way more complicated from where I'm sitting.

To my mind, Jade and Samantha are not so much yin yang, rather they join together to make one side (the yin), while Keegan and Adam join to make the yang. Jacky and I are those separate but together circles within the circle. Together we make a whole, cohesive image.

Sibling rivalry is fascinating and complicated. As brothers, Ross and I were treated exactly the same by our parents and our interests were so very different that we didn't clash that much. Apart from brotherly spats and fights when we were kids (i.e. Ross would get frustrated when I beat him at sports and do things like throw the bat at me), I can't think of a single instance where we have clashed as adults.

As for my own children, the same holds true, I believe. As children we aimed to treat them the same, but they battled it out for pecking order and the middle two had some intense moments. Since adulthood though, I can't think of any such moments. I guess the rivalry between the four is ameliorated somewhat by living in completely different countries, but still, they support each other and get on well as adults.

In times of trouble, I know I can count on them for support and love. It's reciprocal too: I am exceedingly proud of my kids and love them unconditionally.  

Love and peace - WNP

Please believe in me when I'm gone (Hamilton County Bluegrass Band)

Wie geht's?

This week we were faced with the task of emptying out a loved one's house after they had passed away. 

Thanks to the demands of the Housing Corporation, it had to happen quickly. They gave us a week and, although it was a tight deadline and sooner than we had anticipated, we managed to do it with a day to spare.

It was a family effort by G Brian, the sisters, the brothers-in-laws plus Jade and Kerry.

For me personally, it brought back memories of clearing out my grandfather's house before he went to live in the Masonic Village, and of course, what my brother and I had to do at Maygrove, when our dad died.

In Pat's case, most of the household items were donated to the Hospice Shop in New Plymouth, but the cherished keepsakes luckily found a home with Jacky and her sister.

We were pretty amazed there were so many! Jacky had previously believed that many things had gone missing but Pat somehow kept a remarkable treasure trove of items over the years, despite many moves 'up and down the line'.

I loved seeing the inscriptions in a few books from her childhood, and a magazine from St Philomena's College in South Dunedin. 

Recently, she had told me about a copy of David Copperfield that she'd won at school as a speech prize when she was nine, and there it was in a pile of books!

Thanks for trusting us with these legacy items Pat; know that they have found good homes.

Love and peace - WNP

Dream of only me, where I am, what I am, what I believe in (Neil Diamond)

Sisters and brothers-in-law raise a glass
to Pat. 

Wie geht's?

Me? Doing the best I can in New Plymouth.

Sadly, this week marks the passing of my mother-in-law Patricia Mary Smith. She was a feisty 83 years old when she passed away at home on July 9th, 2023.

We are all defined by many things. One is our relationship to other people. Pat was a true people person. 

Among other things...she was a daughter (to James Joseph Bulman and Dorothy May Bulman nee Dooley)

She was a sister (to Marg and Bonny)

She was a former wife (to George Brian Smith)

She was a mother (to Jacky and Michelle)

She was a mother-in-law (to me and Gavin)

She was a grandmother (Nana Pat to Keegan, Adam. Samantha, Jade and to Lee, Kerry)

She was a great-grandmother (to quite a few!)

She was principled, staunch, spirited, cannie, prescient, generous, stubborn, kind-hearted, fierce. 

She was a mainlander, and a battler to the end. 

She was no fool, nor did she suffer them.

I will be forever grateful to her because she brought two wonderful women into the world. 

Her legacy is in them.

Rest in peace, Patricia Mary Smith (nee Bulman) 16 September 1939 - 9 July 2023

Farewell, and until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand.

Love and peace - WNP