music Archive

  • Magnatune is a record label which only publishes online. You can't get music from them in CD format but you can make yourself an account for either downloading or for streaming their artists. For me, this is where I get my fill of early, medieval, renaissance, baroque and lute music. (At this point, I predict half of you have stopped reading and the other half have pricked up your ears. There's plenty of other music and genres from folk to industrial and metal available. Keep reading.)025 November, 2011

    Magnatune: Get Your Early Music Here

    Magnatune is a record label which only publishes online. You can't get music from them in CD format but you can make yourself an account for either downloading or for streaming their artists. For me, this is where I get my fill of early, medieval, renaissance, baroque and lute music. (At this point, I predict half of you have stopped reading and the other half have pricked up your ears. There's plenty of other music and genres from folk to industrial and metal available. Keep reading.)
  • <p>English has definitely become the lingua franca of the world. I was appalled at the ability of the participants at this year’s Eurovision Song Contest to speak not only very good English but current everyday, infomal, even colloquial English. (Unlike like my still formal and rather stilted French.)</p> <p>Gone was the dual English/French repetition of every statement by the the hosts (although the scoring remains bilingual). Most countries sang in English and those who did not sang in their native lingo. The only real clanger was Latvia whose entry only served to prove that Google translator is not foolproof:</p> <blockquote><p>“What </p></blockquote> […]44 June, 2010

    Operation Cultural Imperialism: Complete

    English has definitely become the lingua franca of the world. I was appalled at the ability of the participants at this year’s Eurovision Song Contest to speak not only very good English but current everyday, infomal, even colloquial English. (Unlike like my still formal and rather stilted French.)

    Gone was the dual English/French repetition of every statement by the the hosts (although the scoring remains bilingual). Most countries sang in English and those who did not sang in their native lingo. The only real clanger was Latvia whose entry only served to prove that Google translator is not foolproof:

    “What

    […]
  • <p>Lately, I’ve become entangled in a number of debates with others about the quality of various films and novels. Only now have I realised that I approach these media in a manner which seems completely at odds with the way other approach them. Therefore, it’s time I explained myself.</p> <p>I have a couple of fixed ideas on what makes a movie, novel or short story good. These have developed out of a cloud of different inputs such as: </p> <ul> <li>four years of studying film and literature at university,</li> <li>a strong interest in learning other languaes and reading foreign literature,</li> <li>a strong </li></ul> […]428 August, 2009

    I Feel a Manifesto Approaching…

    Lately, I’ve become entangled in a number of debates with others about the quality of various films and novels. Only now have I realised that I approach these media in a manner which seems completely at odds with the way other approach them. Therefore, it’s time I explained myself.

    I have a couple of fixed ideas on what makes a movie, novel or short story good. These have developed out of a cloud of different inputs such as:

    • four years of studying film and literature at university,
    • a strong interest in learning other languaes and reading foreign literature,
    • a strong
    […]
  • <p></p> <p>Saturday, Peter Ball and I saw Nouvelle Vague at the Brisbane Powerhouse. Wow! Does the awesomeness ever stop! If you ever get a chance to see these guys, do it. </p> <p>For those who don’t know, Nouvelle Vague are a French band who take punk and new wave songs (early 1980) and re-interpret them as bossa nova, the dominant hip style of the French new wave (early 1960s). “New Wave” in French is “nouvelle vague.” Geddit?</p> <p>Among the classics that got the bossa nova treatment were:</p> <ul> <li><strong>Love Will Tear Us Apart</strong> (Joy Division)</li> <li><strong>Guns Of Brixton</strong> (The Clash)</li> <li><strong>Making Plans For </strong></li></ul> […]022 December, 2008

    Nouvelle Vague in Concert

    Saturday, Peter Ball and I saw Nouvelle Vague at the Brisbane Powerhouse. Wow! Does the awesomeness ever stop! If you ever get a chance to see these guys, do it.

    For those who don’t know, Nouvelle Vague are a French band who take punk and new wave songs (early 1980) and re-interpret them as bossa nova, the dominant hip style of the French new wave (early 1960s). “New Wave” in French is “nouvelle vague.” Geddit?

    Among the classics that got the bossa nova treatment were:

    • Love Will Tear Us Apart (Joy Division)
    • Guns Of Brixton (The Clash)
    • Making Plans For
    […]