TOP OF THE STAIRS MUSIC

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Free and always there, check it out.

Have to have yet another moan about BBC R2. They are now in Glenn Campbell mode - heard 3 tracks today and that was just in the day time and they played one track twice. I know that it's good that they push a certain album but it's done without any finesse, just in your face, or ears, all the time.

Did enjoy listening to Rob Brydon though, he's a natural on air.

Leant how to play poker this weekend, something I have always wanted to do. We thought we would like to get in the modd a littel with the help of some background music so we piled on the soundtracks to Get Shorty, Confidence and Ocean's 11. Worked a treat - 3 of the coolest soundtracks out there.

Caught a great movie which seemed to miss the 'really good film, should be seen by everyone' radar - You Kill Me with Ben Kingsley as a drunk assassin. Very, very funny but in a low level, easy pace way.
http://www.youkillmethefilm.com/

Weekend not as expected due to the rain, sorry, trying not to mention the weather! So Saturday saw me messing in my back room office like a teenager and teaching myself the awesome Garange Band programme in Apple's iLife. Excellent if somewhat complicated but after trawling the web for recording and editing software when I changed over to the Mac, I need not have bothered as there it was, sitting in the Dock waiting to be clicked. Can now do a lot more hospital radio work at home.

Still going through the CD collection to see what I can migrate to itunes and make more shelf space [to inevitably house further CD's I am sure], listened to some Level 42 tracks. Still stand up in fact so much I played it twice. Now got 1,973 tracks on the ipod. Considering I have had my sturdy, white box for over 4 years, guess it's taken me a while and I know I am lagging behind. Bought a Bose sound dock for my new loft room, the sound quality is excellent and worth the money. On the few summer nights we've had I have used it outside which is cool.

Catch the CD on the current issue of Mojo called Roll With It, some killer blues tracks on there.

My sis has come up with the idea of us compiling a CD of the cheesiest tracks we like and then listening to them over Christmas, the kind of tracks you love but just don't like to admit it. I'm going with it for the crack. Aint No Mountain High Enough by Diana Ross will leak onto there I just know it.

Taped the Olympics opening ceremony, wasn't too sure it was going to hold my attention but of course it did. It was measured and masterful, executed with jaw dropping precision. It all looked like a Playstation game. The costumes and pyrotechnics were as you would expect. The music, as stange as it was to Western ears, was compelling and made for a atmosphere of 'other wordliness'. A triumph I would say in spite of the political background.

Afterwards I flipped over to BBC4 and watched the glorious Joan Armatrading at this years Glastonbury. I have never been quite sure of her voice but as time goes on it is very commanding and more than anything, unique to her. She looked and she said she was having fun and she was playing that guitar real well. As well as the old stuff she did tracks from what I consider to be one of her finest albums; Into The Blues, best track: Something's Gonna Blow.