Dragon!

This has been my favourite Sugarcubes song since it was on the old Potterrow jukebox (second best jukebox in Scotland - almost official) on the B-side of Coldsweat. My friend Alan used to put it on because nobody else knew what it was - I used to put on This Mortal Coil's version of Sixteen Days for the same reason. One of the endearing idiosyncracies of this particular jukebox was that it didn't show what track it was playing, which made it an entertaining game finding out what some of the more obscure songs were just from hearing them. Both the above tracks have the advantage (from this point of view) of sounding nothing like their A-sides. You'd hear everything on the machine eventually if you hung around long enough (and we used to hang around there a lot) because it would play a random track when it was bored. Hence the figuring-out. I worked out Sixteen Days when I accidentally played it once instead of the B-side of the next single over.

Anyway, having decided to see whether anyone's transcribed and translated the lyrics from Icelandic - a fool's errand, surely, if ever there was one - I find that, wonderfully, someone has. Triffic! And it's not actually about a dragon, either. It's about having a helicopter-gunship. Isn't it great when life turns out even cooler than you'd thought?

If you haven't heard this song, incidentally, I heartily recommend it. It doesn't sound like the famous 'Cubes songs - it's more like Art Phag or a more deliberate NoMeansNo (not that either of those are particularly close). Lead bass and Einar screaming. What else could anyone want?

I've also got (via Emusic) an album by The Hope Blister, Ivo's post-TMC covers project with a fixed lineup. The first track has only just started, but I'll keep you posted.

Also, for the benefit of anyone who doesn't read mickmercer's LJ, there's this book online by the Pistol's original producer and soundman, Dave Goodman. Fascinating stuff, with loads of interesting inside dope and anecdotes about their performances, recordings and life generally. And about the Blue Post's unsuspected (by me, anyway) crucial role in punk history.

I was also quite pleased to read that some bright spark has managed to persuade stem cells to become spinal (alpha-?)motor neurons. Only in vitro, but it's a good start. This whole stem-cell thing might yet get somewhere.

meme.

01. Name: Graham Clark
02. Age: 36
03. Where on earth do you live?: On the surface.
04. What makes you happy?: Fast drugs, loose cars and hard women.
05. What have you been listening to lately?: A continuous whining noise emanating from my throat.
06. If so, why? If what, why?
07. Interesting fact about you: I have enough iron in my body to make a six-inch nail, which I've used to stick a calendar to my kitchen wall.
08. Are you in love at the moment?: No, love, I'm at work at the moment.
09. Favorite place to be: At home.
10. Favorite quote:  "A mind is like a door. If you leave it open all the time, there's no point in having one."
11. Will you post this in your LJ?: Only in a spirit of perversity.
12. Tell me why I should read your LJ!: Because you're very very easily amused.

John.

What with all the stuff about it being the anniversary of Richey Edwards' disappearance, I've been thinking about John a lot today. I still miss him and I feel terribly guilty about not going over and talking to him when, as far as I can work out, I saw him last.

My dad told me a story on the phone a couple of months ago about his extended family. I don't think I've run through it here. I will, but not until I've checked that I remember the details properly.