Ghost libraries

Lovely short piece about ebooks in the November 3 London Review of Books (I am only currently one issue behind in my reading, which for me is pretty good going, but anyway you don't read the LRB for its topicality ...) by James Meek. It is only short and you can read it in full on their website, but some choice quotes below.

Once there were private libraries; then there were public libraries; now there is the ghost library, where poltergeistic fellow readers may not only be reading the same book as you at any moment but actually underlining the page of the book you are reading seconds before you get to it. They may be next door; they may be in Kamchatka; they may be anywhere, so long as they have Kindle and wifi.

The lightness of the ebook medium, literally and figuratively, holds a terrible allure and an insidious threat to the heavily booked-up among us. How many marriages, seemingly held firm by the impossibility of moving several hundredweight of vinyl or CDs out of a family-sized home, have already foundered post the digitisation of music? How many more will break if apparently inseparable and immovable matrimonial libraries become something that anyone can walk out with in their pocket?

The last paragraph is particularly lovely, but I will let you read that for yourselves.

Song for Sunday

Lanterns on the Lake – Keep on Trying

Band/artist of the week: British Sea Power
Song of the week: The National – Terrible Love

Song for Sunday

The Audreys – Don't Change a Thing

Band/artist of the week: British Sea Power
Song of the week: The House of Love – I Don't Know Why I Love You

Song for Sunday

My Bloody Valentine – Sometimes

It is twenty years this month since Loveless was released and I would still say it is probably my favourite album ever. Certainly one of my essential Desert Island Discs. Twenty years ago I was living in Durham and although I don't think I actually got a copy until sometime in 1992 (probably prompted by the review in Select magazine) I do remember being told to switch it off many times by friends and neighbours not convinced of its genius. The stories about the album are legendary (how it almost bankrupted Alan McGee's Creation Records and if it hadn't been for Oasis it probably would have gone under) and the band never made another album despite signing for Island Records for a large sum of money.

The only time I got to see them play live was the legendary Rollercoaster tour a few months later with Dinosaur Jr, Blur and The Jesus and Mary Chain at the Glasgow SECC. Blur were just about to take off and most of the cool kids were there for them. The Jesus and Mary Chain were slightly over the hill and the less said about Dinosaur Jr the better. I am sure that not everyone would agree, but basically My Bloody Valentine ripped them all to shreds. They were second or third on the bill and it was like standing behind one of Concorde's engines when the pilot opens up the afterburners. To this day it the loudest concert (loudest anything!) I have been to and it was a thrilling, petrifying, bowel churning, glorious forty-five minutes (twenty of which they spent playing the same chord). Most people thought it was the ideal time to risk the SECC's bar, I thought it was awesome.

The anniversary seems to have gone by pretty much unnoticed, apart from a nice article by Scott McDonald here. But that's okay, give it another twenty years and I am sure everyone else will finally be convinced of its greatness.

Band/artist of the week: Mogwai
Song of the week: Portishead – It's a Fire

Song for Sunday

M83 - Midnight City

Band/artist of the week: M83
Song of the week: Bruce Springsteen – You're Missing

Song for Sunday

Little Birdy – Stay Wild

Band/artist of the week: Holly Throsby
Song of the week: Low – Anon

Song for Sunday

Califone – Funeral Singers

Band/artist of the week: Dead Letter Chorus
Song of the week: MGMT – Time to Pretend

Song for Sunday

The Grates – Sweet Dreams

Band/artist of the week: Mogwai
Song of the week: For a Minor Reflection – Impulse

Song for Sunday

Laura Marling – Sophia

Band/artist of the week: Dead Letter Chorus
Song of the week: Dead Letter Chorus – Yellow House

Song for Sunday

Dead Letter Chorus – Yellow House

Bank from our early spring holiday in the sun to a chilly and dreary Melbourne (I have a cold already!), so in need of a bright blast of summery, poppy, catchy escapism. Dead Letter Chorus don't disappoint and I would be surprised if you aren't humming the nonsense chorus for the next week. It certainly worked in our house today – the rest of the family came back from the Lion King all singing Hakuna Matata in unison. A couple of plays of this soon knocked that on the head ...

Band/artist of the week: Malcolm Middleton
Song of the week: Malcolm Middleton – Total Belief

Song for Sunday

King Creosote and Jon Hopkins – Bats in the Attic

Song for Sunday

R.E.M. – World Leader Pretend (live on the Green Tour 1989)

So, farewell R.E.M., one of the greatest independent rock bands of all time splitting up after 30 years. To be honest my overriding feelings were nostalgia for a time around when this was recorded rather than grief that there wouldn't ever be anymore new music from them. My interest levels have waned since Bill Berry left the band in 1997 and, although I have always been interested to hear what the latest record sounds like, there hasn't been anything that matches up what they produced in late 80s and early 90s. Ironically their last album Collapse into Now was probably the best thing they had done for a decade, with a few songs that would probably sneak into an all time top 30. The time I saw them at the Glasgow Barrowlands on the Green World Tour is still probably the best concert I have ever been to and that will always be how I'll remember them. Anyway, enjoy the retirement guys and thanks.

Band/artist of the week: Mogwaiwww.mogwai.co.uk
Song of the week: New Order - Bizarre Love Triangle

Song for Sunday

Sigur Rós – Festival (Live)

It has been a while since we had any Sigur Rós on the blog. New live album is on the way and this reminds me that I should get their Heima DVD out of the cupboard again for another viewing.

Band/artist of the week: Mogwai

Song of the week: Mogwai – Mexican Grand Prix

Song for Sunday

Buffalo Tom – Wiser

Band/artist of the week: Mogwai
Song of the week: Trembling Blur Stars – Kidney Bingos

Song for Sunday

Ernest Ellis and the Panamas – Great Sky

Band/artist of the week: Zomby
Song of the week: Mogwai – George Square Thatcher Death Party

Song for Sunday

Gemma Hayes – Back of My Hand

Band/artist of the week: Zomby
Song of the week: Zomby – Vanquish

Song for Sunday

Unknown Mortal Orchestra – Ffunny Ffrends

Band/artist of the week: Glasvegas
Song of the week: Glasvegas – Daddy's Gone (live)

Song for Sunday

Glasvegas – Shine Like Stars

Band/artist of the week: Mogwai
Song of the week: Bent – So Long Without You

Song for Sunday

Jordie Lane – Not From Round Here

Band/artist of the week: Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu
Song of the week: The Streets – Empty Cans

Cadel's suitcase of courage*

Well I was wrong about Contador and wrong about the Schlecks, but at least I was pretty close with Cadel. It was probably the most exciting Tour that I can recall – wide-open and tremendously exciting right from the first stage.

Cadel winning was more of a relief than anything else. I did wonder if he would always be one of those riders remembered for the almosts, what-ifs and second placings rather than the big win he deserved. It seems a bit unfair to say that about someone who has won the World Championships and perhaps that day in Mendrisio did mark the turning point in his career. After that he certainly seemed less awkward and more confident about his own talents, happier and willing to take risks.

The win hasn't been as big a deal in Australia as I thought it would be. Obviously it will make a big difference to Australian cycling, but in this sport obsessed society it is unlikely to change much in our sporting landscape. Personally I'm quite happy about that. I don't want the big commercial channels muscling in on the coverage and cocking it all up like they do with the Olympics. Everyone who has watched the Tour over at least a few years knows what a huge achievement it is and how hard it is to win the greatest annual sporting event in the world.

My green jersey predictions weren't too bad. I got the winner and no-one could deny that Thor had a great Tour. I would be surprised if Rojas figured in anyone's predictions for the sprinter's prize but he put up a great fight even though he couldn't compete with Cavendish's all out speed.

My top two maillot à pois predictions failed to fire and I was happy to see Sanchez take the top spot. He is a great climber and worthy winner of this jersey. Finally, hats off, as they say, to 'little' Thomas Voeckler and his superb tenure in the yellow jersey. Unfortunately I think that's the last time the big teams will ever let him get in a breakaway, however, with a bit more investment in the team and bit of good luck he could well be a genuine contender for the yellow jersey in Paris next year. After Cadel, of course.

*Thanks to Paul Sherwin for this bon mot from the Alpe d'Huez stage

Song for Sunday

Morning After Youth – Lived

Band/artist of the week: The National
Song of the week: Ash – Uncle Pat

Song for Sunday

Fulton Lights – Staring Out the Window

Band/artist of the week: R.E.M.
Song of the week: Lucinda Williams – Still I Long for Your Kiss

Song for Sunday

R.E.M. – ÜBerlin

Band/artist of the week: Lucinda Williams
Song of the week: Lucinda Williams – Still I Long for Your Kiss

Song for Sunday

Little Scout – We Are Walking Out


Band/artist of the week: The National
Song of the week: Mogwai – Death Rays

Song for Sunday

The Swell Season – Drive All Night

Band/artist of the week: Malcolm Middleton
Song of the week: All India Radio – Rippled