Gone West

'In my beginning is my end' wrote T.S Eliot in his Four Quartets poem 'East Coker', and I really don't know about that - but it would be true to say that 'Near East Coker is my holiday destination'.

There will be no jaunt SW France-ward for us this year, austere times and all that, and whilst I will miss the southern sunshine I will not much miss the 14 hour drive; instead tomorrow we pootle westward in England for a quiet week where the zider apples grow and an American poet's ashes rest. 

Late Summer, the golden light, lengthening shadows and a decent pint - you know the sort of thing.

Now the light falls
Across the open field, leaving the deep lane
Shuttered with branches, dark in the afternoon

Well, hopefully not that dark T.S - I'm looking for at least one barbecue and some nice sunsets.

Catherine Howe - 'In The Hot Summer' (1971)

Will Tweet anything that grabs me - and see you back here in September x

'French' Connection

The sample and the sampled...

A Tribe Called Quest - 'Luck Of Lucien' (1990)
Billy Brooks - 'Fourty Days' (1974)

Breaktastic.

L'Heure Souriante

I am eating moules tonight, with big hunks of French bread.

So Mrs H'll be on the salad*

And yes, I have started on the rosados.

I absolutely bloody love this.

Les Négresses Vertes - 'Face À La Mer (Massive Attack Remix Full Version)' (1993)

*unfortunate food poisoning incident, Ibiza 2002

Oui, C'est Ca

Françoise Hardy -  'Voilà' (1967)

Will The Doctor See Me Now?

Last night I had a dream about Nina Simone.

I was at her concert, walking the aisles of a huge arena-type venue.

There were many blocks of seats facing different directions and at least four grand pianos, each a different colour, on separate stages, so you couldn’t tell where she'd perform. This was distressing.

I wandered into a labyrinthine backstage area, blundered into a small room. Standing in it was Nina, waiting to go on stage.

Shocked, I apologised for intruding, told her I was lost. She said 'Think nothing of it'.

She said she’d be performing just out here, and pointed beyond the curtain.

I thanked her, kissed her hand and walked out to a block of seats sunk into a posh restaurant area, waiters in white tuxedos serving tables.

They said this was an exclusive viewing area carrying a $50 supplement. Feeling shabby, and not having $50, I shuffled away. Maybe I’d walk up to the back. A long way away, but at least I’d be facing the stage.

Suddenly Nina appeared. She gave the waiter a note. She said a young (sic) Englishman had come by, lost, and could they seat him in the restaurant area?

Realising it was me, the head waiter beckoned me to a table near the front. Would I like a drink? I ordered a gin and tonic. 

The lights dimmed. 

Nina’s performance began.

Nina Simone – ‘I Want A Little Sugar In My Bowl (live)’ (1974)

[I have just ordered this album on vinyl, using vouchers kindly gifted for my birthday. It's coming from France. I hope it arrives not-too battered].

Yeah Baby

William De Vaughn - 'Be Thankful For What You've Got' (1974) 

[Acknowledgements to Robert Elms, who spun this on BBC Radio London this afternoon].

Nostalgia

Almost a billion people on Planet Earth have no access to clean drinking water.

Which rather puts the Lack Of Opportunity protestations of those who went 'free shopping' for HD TVs, DVD players and Nike trainers in London this week in perspective, for me.

Also, it appears that for most people at last.fm, Weekend are 'a punk/shoegaze/psychedelic band from San Francisco, CA'.  When surely as far as all sensible persons are concerned they are 'a group formed in 1981 by ex-Young Marble Giants’ vocalist Alison Statton, with Simon Booth (guitar) and Spike Williams (guitar & viola)' (I wrote that!).

Truly, the world is a mess.

Weekend - 'Nostalgia (81 demo)' (1981)

Peace Piece

All I feel like posting today.

Bill Evans - 'Peace Piece' (1958)

Come On And Do The Congas

From Cuba out of New York City baby - another from an ancient cassette.

No school like the old school, dos cervezas por favor.

Daniel Ponce - 'Oromí ' (1987)

I Dream Of Places Far Beyond...

Bebel Gilberto - 'August Day Song' (2000)