Also turned up this afternoon was the Russian language Songs of Romance by Pyotr Tchaikovsky lead by pianist Mstislav Rostropovich.

Leigh
I make music, some folk don't particularly like it - oh dear, whatever shall I do..? Generally a third rate musician, writer, promoter, weatherman and gentleman - what more could you ask for?? These are my thoughts...
Also author of The Formula 1 and Motorsports Archive Centre

Canada has had something of a chequered history when it comes to modern music. For every Galaxie 500, Arcade Fire, Broken Social Scene, Venetian Snares, Metric and Women, there in turn rises the lamentable and awful Nickelback, Celine Dion, Joni Mitchell, Rush and Bryan Adams; then there are Montreal's Elephant Stone.
There are something things in life that need to be said, feelings that need to be aired and truths revealed. Following a somewhat harrowing and volatile Friday afternoon in work, here one such truth - an open letter to Heart FM...Dear Sir or Madam,
As an office-based enforced listener, I would just like to remind that today is Friday November the 20th, yet for some bizarre reason your station is proceeding with this frankly obscene obsession of playing Christmas songs.
Admittedly, I thoroughly believe that it would be fantastic if a law was drawn up that forbade the playing of Christmas songs outside of December 1st and January 6th; however that would be wholly unrealistic as it would introduce an unwarranted block on your rights as a broadcaster.
Regardless of that fact, I don't recall ever hearing Halloween songs in the middle of September - do you? I would appreciate it if you (and others at Heart FM) would cease this frankly wrong notion that people are jolly before December 1st and therefore kindly ask you to refrain from playing such seasonally heartfelt meandering crap for another 12 days at least.
Could you please do us all a favour and cease this aural profanity?
Yours sincerely,
Leigh O'Gorman
Squire
I really, really need to respond to e-mails and other media much faster. Over time, correspondence and requests for reviews and stuff come in and I take note and mumble something along the lines of "this afternoon..."
Coming together in the deaths of 2008, I have been led to believe that Mulligar band, Arrow in the Sky, musings lean towards to the folk-rock spectrum - something that, even I must admit, made me shudder my shoulders.
Galway based band, The Ralphs, have just independently released their debut single - the double A-side Waste of Time/Gunfire. Apart from the two leading songs, the single also includes two others tracks, firstly "Dead Ends" and then an extended version of "Waste of Time" closes the CD.
Often when things heat up in the world of Formula 1 and the IRL, a tendency to just sit back, relax and watch what happens sets in as I am very well aware that things move very fast - often too fast to assert any sort of reliable thought or opinion.
A faint synth opening subtly leading to delay soaked drums that sit obediently under wandering guitars as the opening drifts into the first verse, before powering into the into the second part of the first phase. By the way, this The Dirty 9's - and it happens to be rather good.
This was originally one of a six-pack picked up in the late 80's and tonight, the last one cracked under the pressure of a nice cup of tea.
Conor Furlong's new album, Playing with Fire, was released on Friday November 13th. Featuring some soaring pop-rock tunes, the singer-songwriter has crafted an interesting album with 10 new songs - led by the single, Wrong.
Dublin-based indie band, Autoban, will be staging a Christmas party at the Academy 2 in Dublin on Saturday December 5th and are quite determined to make it somewhat memorable.
...has a new entry. I have yet to hear Stereophonics new album and am not really pushed to either as their previous pub-rock musing's have consistently failed to rouse any interest.
Something that should be burned into people's mind's is that any happening that takes place on Friday the 13th is a risky venture; that it should take place on Friday the 13th during the Month of Dead Souls is indeed asking for large amounts of trouble, only to be relieved by excessive amounts of Valium and Nembutal mixed with cheap red wine and crumbled up biscuits.
The Irish Music Industry has recently received a severely unexpected shock when news trickled out the Irish music was to be broadcast. On television. It is well known that Irish music and television have got something of chequered history as seen recently with the cancellation of Channel 6's Nightshift and the showing of RTE's lamentable Raw Sessions.
Don't go away yet folks, because the good people at Analogue Magazine have produced the debut of a cracker of a bi-monthly web series, called (funnily enough) Analogue.
Next weekend, First National Music (FMC) will be hosting a free music conference weekend at the Riverbank Arts Centre in Newbridge, Co Kildare (Ireland). Starting the weekend off on Saturday November 21st at midday, will be the National Music Industry Clinic - a talk focused on career's in the music industry with a panel of experts; including Keith Jonson (IMRO), Alison Curtis (Today FM), Angela Dorgan (FMC) and Alexi Vokos (The Delphi Music Company) amongst others.
T'is Tuesday November 3rd in the Old Blue Last in London as Kap Bambino return to launch their new single Batcaves. Having never been to the venue before, i can only compare to the upstairs room in Whelan's, Dublin or maybe like a tiny version of Cargo.
Irish electronic band, Le Galaxie, will be playing their final Dublin show of 2009 at Whelan's on Wexford Street on Wednesday November 18th, with support from the ever reliable Ambience Affair and Neosupervital.*the 5-10 year test:
If a country has such an international event, then rather than scoff it immediately, a certain amount of time is given in which a grassroots level of drivers may develop - if there is not even a blip on the radar after 10 years, then the project may be deemed a failure. There are obvious exceptions to this rule (i.e. - Spain) but they are very rare indeed.
I initially started The Formula 1 and Motorsports Archive centre about two years, but back then I was up to my eyes in college work and had no time to maintain it in an efficient manner. However, every so often I have managed to get a few motorsport related posts up onto Easy Music... and I have finally got round to transferring them.
Dublin electronic-rock foursome, Channel One, will be releasing their long-awaited debut album, Sound to Light, tomorrow evening at the Button Factory (formerly Temple Bar Music Centre), Dublin. Although they have moved on somewhat from their edgier days towards a more considered spacial sound, the Dublin band still pack one hell of a punch in a live setting.
Tomorrow (Friday) marks three years since the debut LPX EP, Easy Music for Difficult Ears, was released - three fucking years!! Since that time, Easy Music... has gone on to mean and represent many different things for me - initially it became this blog (which is 2 years old next Wednesday by the way).
It is 6:22am and the sun is slowly brightening the sky on this cool November Monday morning and only one day after the 2009 Formula 1 season finishes, I rise to the news that Bridgestone are quitting Formula 1 cold from the end of next season. After what will be fourteen seasons (seven of which will have been contested without opposition), they are to concentrate purely on their "development of innovation technologies".
Sometimes in London on a night like Halloween, there is simply not a whole lot to do that is going to interest me too much. Parties don't interest me as I'm not much of a social mingler and having spent so many years going to gigs and clubs on my own, I have gotten used to my own company - plus the conversations tend to be better too.
Last up were Cold in Berlin - formerly known as Death Cigarettes. Of all three artists that were caught tonight, Cold in Berlin showcased the advantage of a good front-person as (name of nameless person) writhed around the stage with a haunted energy to add to the ferocity of the musicians behind her.
Every-so-often, there are periods in music that deem to lose themselves in times gone passed. During this decade alone, there have been throwbacks to the New York punk scene (The Strokes), the post-punk scene (far too many bands to mention) - even the Kooks are a lighthearted version of the La's.
*I was actually meant to post this on Monday, but things have been busy, busy, busy...

"...the most beautiful circuit in the world is a real economic tool, which gives work to a significant amount of people and a lot of publicity and a dynamic and qualitative image of Belgium all around the world..."They also go on to say that:
"...they are for the continuity of the circuit... and we will fight to preserve it. We are sorry for the people that don't agree to be integrated into local life.The petition to help save the wonderful Spa-Francorchamps circuit can be found here - petition. Meanwhile, a lap from Fernando Alonso...
If like us, you like the circuit of Spa-Francorchamps;
If like us, you are conscious of the historical and touristic heritage of our country;
If like us, you are proud of your area;
If like us, you want to fight the crisis and react to the criticisms;
If like us, you like the track and want it to survive;
Then please sign the petition"
...which brings me to the next band, The Collectable Few. When watching this four-piece, I could not help but think "I've seen this band a thousand times before" and once again, they same old story reared its head. They are a rather decent band - they are very tight and together, seem at ease with other and the audience; unfortunately they are utterly predictable in every other sense.
Former Doctor Who producer, Barry Letts, has sadly passed away last Friday at the age of 84. Letts had been actively involved in the show from 1967 through to 1981, but was the show's main producer during the Jon Pertwee years.
I got a mail the other day from Karen Walshe of Dublin Electronic Arts Festival (DEAF) regarding their 2009 line-up. The festival, now in its 8th year, showcases some the most innovative and intriguing electronic artists from Ireland as well as the wider reaches of the world. Bad Boyfriend - Talulah Does The Hula from jessie ward on Vimeo.
"...not content with sorting my own tour, my label have me recording my own adverts on Spotify...";suck it up you shithead and while you're at it, stick it to the man. Problem is, Frankmusik was bought and sold and long time ago and you may find that his every move and word is orchestrated as it would be had he been in an actual boy-band.
It's those bloody flashing lights that are doing my head in. In fairness though, there is a niggling doubt as to whether the advertisers really want their motion boards to be on the blink (literally) - it is quite clear that they are knackered to all, but the most energetic four-year-old.
Irish electronic band, Sleep Thieves, will be releasing their debut single City Lights this coming Friday (September 18th). The single, which is due to be a download only issue was recorded in their rehearsal rooms by guitarist Derek Murphy and was mastered by Chris LeDantec at Grand Canal Studios.
Beri and di Renzo's great plan was to have the Autodromo di Monza ready for the 1955 Italian Grand Prix, but they very nearly didn't make it in time. Construction began in March of that year as the remaining sections of the old oval from track built in 1922 was demolished and replaced; however the project was severely delayed and continuous circuit development problems meant that the track was completed only two weeks prior to the Grand Prix; however difficulties refused to go away.
The following year Jim Rathmann took the prize with a minor Formula 1 field present and with Fangio and Maurice Trigtinant in USAC machines while a young rookie called AJ Foyt would replace Trigtinant to make his European debut in the second heat. Nightmares of what might happen should a driver get it wrong or suffer a failure on the steep section were very nearly realised in the final heat as the steering column of Moss' Maserati failed 20 laps from the end.
Without wishing to question the talent of Sebastien Bourdais, something has always struck me as troubling; but let it be known first, that these particular troubles are irrelevant!! However, this must be asked - what true worth are attached to Sebastien Bourdais' four Champ Car titles?