Late on Friday night I got a text message from our man in Benecassim, David McNamee. It said:

oh my god kraftwed

Although I texted right back telling him to fuck off, on account of me being NOT THERE and stuff, I still think it’s one of the best text messages I’ve ever received. Looking forward to his review.

Posted by Frances May Morgan on Monday, August 9th, 2004
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Posted by Sarah Bowles on Saturday, August 7th, 2004
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That’s all.

If I had a scanner, I’d scan in the sleevenotes of this rather lovely 1985 Rounder Records release. They are like five columns of most informative prose, with acknowledgments. The music itself is so beautiful I want to write a book about it.

I did think to myself as I bought ‘Juju Roots’ this afternoon, dipping into my paying the tax fund to do so, that there was nothing like digging through a record box in Dalston E8 with the hot lunchtime sun on your back and dancehall in your ears, aviator shades and a red sundress on, bag of cheap fruit in one hand and friends on the phone (’Hey, I got this 1930s pre-juju music thing…yeah, I know, it looks awesome…oh my goodness and another piano blues record…’) and a box of giant snails in the shop across the road. I keep saying to people I haven’t had a summer this summer because I haven’t had much in the way of spare time, money, travel or lovin’, but really. I got summer clothes, summer music, exotic creatures, cheap fruit, harsh sunshine. It’s almost Mazunte! Without the sea and the hummingbirds!

Oh, and I got nice friends and a damn fine magazine to get all het up about.

I realised the other day that people actually read this blog sometimes, which totally freaked me out, as I really did think it was just me and a couple other Plan B people. And, um, my parents. My ex even ‘fessed up to reading a few posts, which was a huge shock. I dunno what happened there. One of his trusted male friends must’ve said it was OK or something.

So in honour of anyone who does read this, can I ask two questions?

1) Anyone going to see the Homosexuals tomorrow night? If you don’t know about it already, mail me for secret address.

2) What the fuck has happened to my iTunes?

Posted by Frances May Morgan on Friday, August 6th, 2004
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This week’s obsession with Bill Laswell’s Baselines reaches its peak today as I decide it’s the only thing worth listening to in this weather. Read a review of it on some jazzers’ site that said it was good getting ready to go out music, which kind of tickled me, the idea of avant-jazz fans getting ready to go out to the sound of Baselines. It’s just a funny image is all. I’ll try it sometime, substitute it for my usual getting ready music.

I wonder if all those !!!-type bands have heard this record. As far as I know it’s not on the List Of early-80s NYC Stuff It’s Cool To Sound Like (and correct me if I’m wrong). It should be, for accuracy’s sake; it shouldn’t be, because everyone knows that making a record fashionable in the short-term can kill it in the long term.

Whatever. Get ready to Bill Laswell. There’s a Prophet-5 and everything.

In other news, my hairdresser has just acquired a rabbit called Bu-chan. And I went to see Pelican. They rocked like woolly mammoths cantering slowly over a vast, volcanic plain. They honestly did.

Posted by Frances May Morgan on Thursday, August 5th, 2004
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Is it an insult to music to say it’s good to work to? Because Terry Riley is exceedingly good to work to.

I never would have thought so. I thought ‘music that’s good to work to’ meant stuff like To Rococco Rot, stuff that mirrors the monotony but necessity of what you’re doing, adding a pleasant little edge to it as it bobs along. Never would have picked Mr Riley as the accompaniment to the collation of book proofs and the updating of a features list, that’s for sure; always tried to save him for the finer moments in life. Now I see that just intonation is for all occasions, and semi-sacred music for all-day everyday.

Now I can sort my washing to Shri Camel and clean the bathroom to Poppy Nogood. Lovely. Thanks Terry.

Posted by Frances May Morgan on Tuesday, August 3rd, 2004
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