Wow - 2 weeks since I have blogged, longest gap yet I think. Had a short break in New England which was spectacular, bought some new music which included David Gray's new album.

Steadily ploughing through what seems a mountain of things I have to sort before I leave my job on the 23rd and start my own business.

No time for anything especially music which is too bad. Did listen to Aerial through the ipod whilst flying to New York which seemed appropriate to it's title and the fact that CD 2 is all about birds and the sky.

The album is ASTONISHINGLY BRILLIANT and BREATHTAKINGLY BEAUTFUL! Would even apply flawless [the track about the washing machine is a little dodgy but brave]. Her voice is stronger than ever but somehow her voice is secondary to the beautiful music she is making.
And if CD 2 does not put you in a good place then nothing will.
Her trade mark signatures are there particularly in the piano pices. I, for one, do not care if it takes another 12 years till her next CD, this album will keep me going ... I feel it's her best ever.

Faves [in order]:-
Pi
How To Be Invisable
Joanni
Somewhere In between
Nocturne

'Stars in our hair'
Nocturne
Sea of Honey

Did you watch this last night anyone?

Was a little frustrated about the first part, gave me the feeling that the whole thing was going to be White Stripes orientated!

Love Peel anyway but the more we hear of him the more I love. To have a record box stashed under his desk, a beat up box of absolutely essential must listen too's!!! Even if it did have Sheena Easton in it.

I was amazed by the casualness of some of the interviewees. I just would not be able to stop myself from playing every single track, a couple listlessy thumbed through them and others just didn't touch them but all of them seemed genuingly pleased to be in 'the box'!

Was given Peels autobiography for my Birthday so hope to tuck into that asap.

Have to say that I just don't think I will be getting to sorting any music out till Christmas now which is an utterly depressing thing to admit. Even more frustrating is the fact that I gave myself this year to do it in. Just want to get it on a databse and faves onto my ipod so I know what I've got. I've completely lost one Chris Rea double CD and it takes me about 20 minutes to find anything.

Still haven't listened to Aerial by Kate Bush but have loaded it onto ipod. I fly to New York tomorrow to stay with a friend [another music fan] for 6 days so have the ipod and 2 issues of Mojo to catch up on so I'm sorted for the flight.

Thank god for musc eh?

This is the first time I have even looked at my blog in several days and I have missed it. Some tough stuff happening at the moment at work and in life so have been busy on other things.

Kate Bush's CD came out on Monday and I haven't even listened to it yet!!!! UNHEARD of for me! Thing is I am being a little precious about it and am trying to get a quiet hour to really chill and concentrate on it. Maybe this weekend.

Today is my birthday and my partner gave me her card and in it are tickets for Chris Rea's Farewell Tour next April at the Symphony Hall in Birmingham. I was blown away!!!!

I love presents!

Seems to be the month for some of the greatest to release a new album, Bush, Bacharach and Wonder. Always nerve wracking because you just don't want them to have lost it.

Manged to listen to Wonders A Time To Love CD whilst going to and from Oxford yesterday. I first wish to set the scene. I was in my teens when I first heard 'My Cherie Amour', not his best I agree but even this track made me think that there was 'something different' out there. Then I heard Innervisions and never looked back. I have everything he has done and even rate The Secret Life of Plants as one of my faves even though it had mixed reviews. I saw him at Wembley for The Hotter Than July tour.

So when I Just Called To Say I Love You hit the charts, it was all over for me I'm afraid. And working in hospital radio where it gets requested almost every week, doesn't help.

SO I still had a bright enough torch to buy the CD outright before I read any reviews and I am not dissapointed.

Yes, he is older, more mellow, happy and so there is a lot of slush tracks. Get past those and he still has it in bucket loads, his lyrics are as strong as ever and his voice is superb, rich, best I have heard it I would say.

The whole CD is worth getting for the first and last tracks alone. Opening with the rivetting If Your Love Cannot Be Moved and ending on a drum driven title track which you just want to go on for ever and ever.

He still falls back on 'isms' as per Pastime Paradise but the title song refers to this and so he gets away with it. Moon Blue is slow and pure magic, Shelter In The Rain is A Bridge Over Troubled Water for 2005 and everyone should read the lyrics to So What The Fuss.

Not up there with Songs In the Key of Life or Innervisions but strong and lyrically arresting, I shall visit it many times!

We have time for racism
We have time for criticism
Held bondage by our ism's
When will there be a time to love