it's that time again - sharpen your spurs - let the accusations fly - to be summarised amongst pages of abuse as arrogance and self importance .. who do I think I am ? writing my own thoughts in my own blog .. ?

[pauses]

well the live videos I've been posting recently appear to be generating some interest - thanks for all the positive comments and messages .. and in answer to a few arising questions - I will post more .. it's something constructive for me to do whilst contemplating what my next move will be ...

surprisingly I much prefer myspaces video features to youtube - the playback / sync and quality - appear to be far superior ...

it does take me some time to prepare for live renditions of miserylab - each song was originally written and constructed from layers of mono guitars - and no chords .. the live versions are the complete opposite - one guitar with reinterpreted melodies constructed from chords ..

it's probably quite obvious to most of you that I have been contemplating the possibility of performing live - and I have been offered a number of gigs ..

I do tend to think that I'm defeated before I begin - the practicalities ? .. I'm not in a position to put together a live band - though again I'm deeply flattered by those of you who have already offered your services - [ whether in jest or not ] .. rehearsal and travel costs would be difficult to finance .. my only other option would be to perform much in the way that I do in the videos - but going on my experience with rosetta stone - the moment you introduce an instrument that isn't be hit or plucked by a human being - you immediately open yourself to a barrage of criticism ... couple this with my complete an utter fear and despise of society and it begins to look unlikely ..

but who knows for sure ?

all this leaves me asking myself - 'where next ?' .. the answer in the short term is - I really don't know ... a conversation I had with a friend recently presented a few interesting points - although the advance in cheap technology and access to communication networks is a good thing from the perspective of allowing anyone the means to produce music and reach out to people via the internet - there is also a downside - quality control .. unfortunately this means as a 'new artist' - I find myself lost in a digital swamp surrounded by the enthusiastic but somewhat artistically deluded .. it's clear from my own own experience the 'dues' I paid during my time with rosetta stone count for nothing ... my supposed demographic simply is not propagating - and hasn't flourished beyond where it was at the time I released 'function creep' ... Is this a problem - I don't even know that it is ?

so do I just write album number four ? .. is there any excitement generated at that prospect ? - is it just to be expected because there's nowhere else for me to go ? ..

I still receive messages from people referencing the arrangements of my songs - predominantly about the linear approach and repetitive drum machine .. opinions are very useful to me - especially as I work alone .. and I took a great deal onboard prior to writing 'function creep' .. personally I think that complex programming and over-production would spoil miserylab - but I'd like to know what you all think .. is anyone craving a heavy polished and eclectic sounding album ?

incidentally does anyone comment on myspace ? .. or have all of you ended up on facebook ? [smiles]

click this link if you wish to subscribe to miserylab myspace video .. MLABTV

while I'm here - isn't the UK wonderful at the moment ? .. unregulated financial institutions bailed out - immoral members of parliament squandering public money - high unemployment - tax avoidance by the rich - violent policing - and a rise in fascism ..

dark times ...

porl