I’m off to see Erase Errata, and American Analog Set or The Dirtbombs over the next few days. I might blog about them.

Icy German electro-pop, especially Ellen Allien‘s new album Berlinette and Lali Puna‘s album from a bit back that I’ve only just managed to find, Scary World Theory.

My New Groin-Height Speakers, especially listening to Venetian Snares through them.

Secretary, with some reservations I can’t be bothered detailing here. “Less twisted than most romantic comedies because it’s the man who ends up losing his independence” (discuss).

Here’s some good film news.

And here’s some very bad film news. If you can’t be arsed reading the article, what it boils down to is this: Less money / support of arthouse cinemas in the areas where that support is needed most. If there’s a place in the country where those cinemas can survive without BFI funding it’s London, where there’s enough people to provide an audience for just about anything. Whereas if you live anywhere else but still want to see something different, you’re on your own. Let them watch cack.

Just been to see the Delgados and I realised halfway through their set that, in a sneaky quiet way, they’ve become my favourite band ever. From jangly indie pop when i was a teenager with energy and enthusiasm to their more mature epic stuff they do now, I can’t imagine me in the last [let’s not count] years without having heard their songs.

And yet it’s not like other bands, where I’ve heard a song, been grabbed by it and played through all their albums in the month after. Since Peloton, the albums (even the singles) haven’t had immediate physical/ emotional appeal to me; they get played once then left aside for weeks at first. I’m still fuzzy on the titles of the songs. But the occasional play of each was enough to put little hooks into my head and make it imperceptibly essential, part of the repertoire of noises that my mind sings to itself when there’s not anything else on. Then I realise how good the lyrics are. No flashy wordplay but so many resonant phrases that I can’t shake off. “No-one can depress me more than I can,” “for the eyes to see through all that I do,” “there is no dignity in losing a friend.” etc. A lot of it maybe is the context I first heard the songs in but there has to be power in the songs to make them still carry the emotional weight / force that memory alone doesn’t.

What I’m trying to pay tribute to is the way that the Delgados have written albums full of songs that haven’t just stuck with me, they’ve got better as the years have passed. Looking at the whole of my record collection, they are the one band I’m confident that I’ll still be listening to (with a nostalgic tear in my eye) when I’m 70. There’s lots of things I could live without: the delgados are not one of them. They are very special to me and the gig tonight was special too.

And I promise I will go out and get Hate at the weekend.

Good technology: Bikes! On the way home last night the air was crisp, the road was dry, the chain was freshly oiled and I could zip around as I pleased. Don’t like that street, stop turn and go this way instead. MInd full of nothing but wheels and legs.

Bad technology: Passwords and Email! Anyone who’s sent anything to “moviemaster at diskant dot net” recently, or even just replied to a message from me that seems to have been ignored: I didn’t get it. I’ve only now realised there’s a problem and until I can remember the password that wasn’t being used I can’t get those emails. So anything important: please resend it, to “chrish at diskant dot net”. That address was delayed but is now working ok.

Damnit! I was really looking forward to those stolen Nigerian IMF loans too. How’m I going to pay for the condo this month?

Not as a soldier, as a volunteer human shield. His name’s Stephen, he’s 31 and in certifed good mental and physical health. He says he’s going because he’s not prepared to live in a world where people stand by and let evil things happen. I said I thought he was crazy but it came out sounding more harsh than I intended. Benevolently Crazy beats Malevolently Sane in my book and it’s not him I’d rather see on a bridge under bombardment.

15th February is a Global Day of Action (and not just Europe and North America, either) against the coming war and, obligingly, Tony Blair will be here at the SECC in Glasgow. Do come along and say hello to him.

That’s better than what happens most Tuesdays….

I saw, for £3 at West 13th, Scatter a glasgow band who act like a collective and have a toy trumpet, double bass and electric mandolin. They sound like early Velvet Underground in a free jazz mood but not so free and hostile as to be molesting your ears. Atmospheric, moody and not like anything I’ve heard for a while. I’ll be hunting out their next gig and there aren’t many Glasgow bands I’d say that about.

I also saw Vialka (I think it’d be fair to call them Slovenia’s Finest) who I was even more impressed with. Having gone along purely on the basis that if someone’s come from the other side of Europe to play, it’d be rude for me to not wander down the hill to see them, I was pleased to find that they are Very Good Indeed. They look like The White Stripes, one bass one drumkit two uniforms, but they sound a bit like God Is My Co-Pilot, Kenny Process Team, Fighting Red Adair and a (tiny bit like a) minimalist Melt-Banana, i.e. spiky off-kilter indie punk or whatever it’d be called, fast and tight with added showmanship. They present the ‘Tonight We Show You Fuck’ Show with a lounge-y opening tape, amusing banter and a football rattle to help you know when to applaud (this wasn’t necessary as they went down a squall – good crowd tonight too).

They are playing Newcastle (Head of Steam), Leeds and London before going home. You Really Should See Them. [Even if the music wasn’t reason enough (it is), they finish the set in their underwear.]

Michael Moore Personal Appearance at the Cameo Cinema

“We are delighted to announce that Michael Moore will make a personal appearance at the Cameo on Monday 25 November. After a Q&A session in Screen 1 before the 9pm performance of Bowling for Columbine, he will sign copies of his new book “Stupid White Men” in the Cameo Bar.”

(the Cameo’s in Edinburgh, by the way)

Yesterday, a colleague at work showed off his 13 week old son. He was so happy, his partner and he recently got a mortgage on their first house.

Today, that colleague had a visit from his boss who is based in London. I met him coming down the stairs as I arrived. He’d been fired before he’d taken his coat off.

The boss called us around and said “as of this morning [x] has left [the company]. I can’t discuss it for reasons of confidentiality. Any other questions?” No-one dared ask questions. Not even “do you mean you fired him?”

Later the boss went round us all individually, “listening to our concerns” and chatting more generally like she hadn’t just travelled up for one day to fire a man I have a lot of respect for.

When she came to me I chatted about how I had been slightly deaf in one ear since I caught a cold last month, “oh, so it must sound like I’m throwing my voice,” she replied.

I hate myself for having kept my head down. Every few months they come up and fire someone, pour encourager les autres-style. The only defence I can think of is to leave before it’s my turn. Way to build a successful company you callous bastards.

The christmas lights have been up in George Square since at least Wednesday. No wonder I’ve been cold in the mornings.

Better put a link here too. How about an Escher picture using Lego? Or settle arguments using Googlefight.