September 2007's list

Music

Editors - in the days when they wore loose jeans

This month has been devoted totally to the awesome goodness that is Editors (not the) whose addictive tunes and passionate delivery have made me swoon in musical delirium. Thanks to the fan forum on the official website(yes, yes, I go to forums now, let’s leave it at that) and their plethora of hardcore and tech-literate fans, there is an abundance of live footage and live recordings of the band’s performances for one to covetously download and savour. (Especially when yours truly has little chance whatsoever of seeing them live).

So, when I'm not skulking on the interweb, I'd be enjoying some of the gems below:


1. Fall (live video recording Pukkelpop Festival 2005, Belgium; London Calling 2005, Netherlands)

On record, 'Fall' is hypnotic, morose and almost ponderous. Played live, it’s a different animal altogether – intense and oozing dangerous sexiness that climaxes into a frantic scream of guitars.

A favourite version is the one at Pukkelpop in 2005. The band is all decked out in black, there's moody blue lighting everywhere. Vocalist Tom Smith stares fiercely out to the crowd, Russell Leetch nods in a trance to his bass, guitarist Chris Urbanowicz (looking like a cherubic Johnny Depp)mutters to himself and bites his guitar, Ed Lay strains while he bangs his drums, then everybody goes mental at the outro.

Special mention goes to their performance at London Calling where Tom gets so excited he head-butts Chris in the chest, and gets promptly shoved away by a non-plussed Chris. Brilliant.


2. Open Up (B-side 'An End Has A Start' - single; Bonus track 'An End Has A Start' - Japanese album edition)

The opening guitar chords sound like any other ordinary indie song you might have heard before. Then the piano kicks in, signalling to you that perhaps this one might be something different. When Tom starts singing, you start paying attention. Then a simple upbeat drum track gets your foot tapping on its own. By the time the hummed chorus and mournful guitar pealing in the background is in full swing, you are definitely hooked.

Tom's voice never really lifts out of the lower depths that he sings in but the sombre tone intoning 'Chin up sweetness, there is a space in my heart for you' makes it seem all the more honest.



3. Let Your Good Heart Lead You Home (B-side Blood - single, 2005 edition)

Another brilliant example of how you don't need to have words in your chorus to make it recognisable - just the beautiful pealing of Chris' guitar, genius boy that he is.


4. Colours - (The Back Room cuttings)

One of the more cheery and direct Editors songs from The Back Room era, in my opinion.


5. Crawl Down The Wall (The Back Room cuttings)


6. Forest Fire (B-side Blood 7" vinyl 2005)


7. Release (B-side Munich 2005)

Books

1. Drinking Midnight Wine - Simon R. Green. There are books which I adore and cherish like old friends and never get tired of reading again and again. There are some that I am awestruck by. There are many that I am indifferent to and likely would not be able to tell you the ending of the story a week after I read it.

And then there are the rare occasions where a book will inspire such hate that I curse the author for the time of my life that I will never get back. This is one such book.

Why do I hate this book so much? Well, let me ask you - Have you met a person who in the first second you meet him (or her), you think he's alright but in the next five minutes you find out in agonising detail what a total dickwad he is and you are surrounded by his sycophants who think he's the dog's bollocks but you can't escape because your boss has got you nailed to the floor to brown nose this tosser and short of chewing your leg off, you have to stand there and listen to him go on about what an absolute hero he is?

No? Well, how about a novel peopled by a bunch of useless and purposeless wet blankets led by a protagonist so annoying and whiny you want to punch his smug face in even if what you'd be doing is essentially punching a paperback novel? What about a plot so ridiculous that even in the unreal world of the fantasy genre you find it hard to suspend your disbelief?

Absolute garbage!