Lost the plot, but in a good way-Fever Ray-Elvis Costello Spike-Greek Islands
Strange times at the moment. I have lost the plot but in a good way. My body clock has been slipping for some time, but since the parents are away and I have the house to myself I have lost sync with society……
I no longer have a regular sleep pattern, just a few hours here and there. Everything now revolves around music. I’m finding myself sat there at 8am with headphones on, on my 5th hour of editing cellos of some such craziness. Its working for me somehow, I just overlaid 4 tracks of baritone ukulele over a track which have changed the whole vibe and flow of the piece. It now sounds like I’ve had some South Americans hijack my track. I’m really buzzing of it.
I don’t think my doctors would approve of my current lifestyle. I have to go and see the M.E specialist in two weeks, they won’t be impressed with my body clock antics. I am however doing really well physically, and am now doing a half an hour walk when I get up, then another 45-50 minute walk at 4 or 5am. I am physically quite strong now. Not enough to cycle or rum, but getting there. I’ve lost a whole stone in one month. Starting to look like my old self again
I’m also plotting something quite insane. I haven’t had a holiday in eight years, and I used to travel every year all over the world. These days I sometimes find getting to London difficult, so it is a huge risk, but I have to roll the dice this time. And my destination is the Greek island of Amorgos.
I went to Greece backpacking and island hopping when I was 18 (check myspace photos) I recently saw a friends holiday photos of the Greek Island Amorgos. I don’t know what came over me. I got this huge urge to go there. I didn’t think about anything else for about a week, it feels like the right thing to do, emotionally and spiritually. It just feels right, and I have to go.
As you probably know, I’m finishing up an album of older songs now, the next album is already written and ready to go, but in the last 3 years I’ve written between 60 and 100 new songs. All of which have had the lyrics and chords transcribed from Dictaphone, but not worked on. I need to focus on them for a month away from distractions. I need to hone them, ferment them and try to see what is good, and what is poor. It always takes me time to knock songs into shape so I’d best start now or they‘ll be lost in the mists of time. I’m really proud of this batch of songs, incredibly excited.
I was getting my old beaten up travel guitar out, all ready to go. Just got to wait for my passport to be renewed. And I’ll be on a plane(fingers crossed)
On a tangent here I have just got back into Elvis Costello - Spike. When I first got it years ago, it took a long time to get into. Many different styles of music on the album, even trad jazz. I recently listened to it, and found it utterly mind blowing. I have to say it is one of my all time favourite records now. Amazing songs, and mixed by Kevin Killen so sonically it is superb….
I went to see fever ray a few months back. Really liked it, but it was so dark on stage I couldn’t make her out. It was about 4 songs in until I clocked her. She was draped in cloth, dressed as a monster, and I thought she was part of the set. Good gig once she was on my radar, and the new material is excellent, can’t wait for the next record..
Skopje signing off!!!