Head Space Daily Words...

When did Halloween become so big? All I remember as a kid was apple bobbing at Cubs on a Wednesday evening, with kids half drowning themselves to force an apple to the bottom of a deep tin basin, to be able to push their teeth into it and emerge victorious, wet through, with an apple caught in their mouth. I have no recollection of doing trick or treat, although I can recall penny for the guy, for Bonfire Night. I think over time, Halloween has usurped Bonfire Night as the nation's favourite and what with them being only a week apart, maybe people can only do one or the other. The trend is to opt for letting kids harass their neighbours, dressed as ghosts and ghouls, with the threat of 'do something nice for me or else I'll do something unpleasant to you, as well as telling the neighbourhood you're a tight arse.' Perhaps Bonfire Night is now more for the grown ups, hanging on to memories of freezing nights staring skywards, toffee apple held aloft, acutely aware of the the serious disfigurement that a sparkler can cause to your hand, or the threat of a stray firework in the face. Oh happy days...

Head Space Daily Image...

This crazy looking dude could have stepped off the set of a slasher movie. I wonder where he was off to?

Head Space Daily Tune...

Vex Ruffin - Take It

With a name that sounds like it could be a character in a horror movie, this track from Vex Ruffin is part of a free download from Stone's Throw Records. Find it on Sound Cloud or the Stone's Throw website…

Head Space Daily Words...

Today at my youngest son's school, it was Roald Dahl Day. The official Roald Dahl Day is on September 13th, which was his birthday but I believe a school can have a Roald Dahl Day whenever it damn well pleases. The kids could all go to school dressed as a character from one of the books. As I was doing the child minder run this morning, taking both my son and his mate, I ended up walking down the road flanked by Charlie Bucket and Mike T.V. Of course, I had to embarrass them by singing the Oompah Loompah song but that's what dads do, isn't it?

Head Space Daily Image...

Theses impressive crane like structures from a different time, are all around the Docklands area but they blow me away every time I see them. A constant reminder of a bygone era, which should never be forgotten...

Head Space Daily Tune...

Chuck Jackson - All Over The World


This is my latest e bay purchase. Uplifting soul music on 7" vinyl. Yes please Chuck...

Head Space Daily Words...

It was like a cloud party in the sky today. They were motoring across the heavens, in a proper rush to get to wherever they were going. I walked up to South Quay on my lunch, opposite the glass and steel of Citibank and its neighbouring buildings, where two massive boats were stationed. We're not talking yachts here but what to my eyes were luxury mini liners. They were shiny avocado green and cream fibreglass - or some such luxury material - and the word decadent is the only way to describe them. All shiny with blacked out windows. I bet those watery walls have held a fair few sordid parties and witnessed its share of debauchery over the years. And back to work...

Head Space Daily Image...

A mini cruise liner, flying clouds and structures of glass and steel. Welcome to Docklands...

Head Space Daily Tune...

Caribou - Bees


On my way to work, I discovered the Caribou album  The Milk Of Human Kindness on my i-pod. It has completely passed me by but I am extremely happy to have discovered it, as it is a damn fine album and this track is an amazing piece of work - although the video is a random youtube posting. The tune though, is the thing...

Head Space Daily Words...

I was at a do on Thursday and as well as being there with plenty of good folk, whose company was a pleasure to enjoy, there was the guy who verbally abused me for wearing a scarf. As today's youth might say - WTF!! And I would whole heartedly agree with them. I watched the film Moon last night and thought it was very good. It made me think, with the production line of the clones, there to do the never ending graft for Lunar Industries, that there's always someone just like you, ready to step into your shoes, to go through the motions and routine. As the clone who breaks away at the end of the movie showed, you have to have a little bit of hope and determination, or else you may well find yourself abusing people for wearing scarves. Right, rant over...

Head Space Daily Image

Some Bristolian apples from our friends' back garden, from a glorious weekend spent there a couple of weeks ago...

Head Space Daily Tune...

Dee Edwards - Why Can't There Be Love


Here is a tune for the Scarf Abuser (see Daily Words) from Dee Edwards...

Head Space Daily Words...

Recently, gigs have been few and far between, although I have now seen Andreya Triana three times this year. She has an incredible voice and is a great singer songwriter. Her new songs have developed throughout the year and her sound is evolving. One track, when I saw her a couple of weeks ago at XOYO in Shoreditch, broke down into a reggae jam, whilst another flew off into a breakbeat direction. It is mesmerising to hear a voice that is so good, so when Andreya sung a gorgeous accapella intro, the audience was spell bound by the beauty of what they were hearing. She didn't need to break off to encourage the crowd to cheer and whoop. The fact there was awed silence said more about the audience recognition of what they were listening to, than the contrived screams that came at Andreya's command. They broke the moment. Andreya Triana has grown hugely in confidence over the last few years - I have now seen her six times, so I should know. With a tiny bit more self belief, she will be the absolute finished article and she already is an incredible artist. Keep pushing Andreya...

Head Space Daily Image...

Andreya Triana performing at XOYO...

Head Space Daily Tune...

Andreya Triana - Everything You Never Had (Joe Goddard Remix)

Here is a remix of an upcoming Andreya Triana track. I prefer the original to be released version but can't find it on line. This version still shows off her voice nicely...

Head Space Daily Words...

Today was my youngest son's 9th birthday. It's pretty cool when your birthday actually falls on a Saturday. It doesn't get much better. In fact it is the holy grail of birthdays and when it happens, you have to make it a day to remember. His presents included FIFA 14 for the PS3, a DVD of the movie All Starz and a copy - on vinyl - of the latest Arctic Monkeys album, A.M (see Daily Tune.) Following a morning of FIFA action, came the party, with several mates, at the local swimming pool. A splashing good time was had by all, then back to ours with four friends for a sleep over. The evening's agenda consisted of a FIFA 14 tournament, followed by a lights off viewing of All Starz in the front room, accompanied by copious amounts of sweets and a hot dog each. It really doesn't get much better surely!! At this moment, they are all in bed but hyper, with my son planning at 11.02 precisely - the time he was born - to come downstairs for two bowls of sweets, take them back to his room and conduct a midnight feast. There will be several extremely tired little boys tomorrow morning. Only a swimming lesson and a football match to confront before midday. They'll be fine...

Head Space Daily Image...

Here is the rather splendid cake, hand crafted by my good lady wife, to celebrate our youngest son's 9th birthday. Respect the Smarties...

Head Space Daily Tune...

Arctic Monkeys - No. 1 Party Anthem

In salute of my youngest son's birthday, and his receiving a copy of A.M, the latest Arctic Monkeys album, I bring you No.1 Party Anthem...

Head Space Daily Words...

Tempers can certainly flare on the rush hour train. All those bleary eyed commuters, ready to get annoyed with one another at the drop of a hat. Last week, a woman with a European accent became extremely frustrated at a British woman's over politeness, in not wanting to push down the train to make some space for those attempting to get on board - something she could easily have done. This led to a heated exchange, resulting in the British woman making a comment about Eastern Europeans, to which the other woman replied, "actually, I am French." Priceless. You could have cut the awkward silence with a knife. To ease her spontaneous, yet inadvertent racism, the British woman quickly pretended to bury her nose in a book - probably a copy of Pride and Prejudice. Classic. On this morning's commute, I got on the wrong side of a fellow traveller, when my copy of Metro happened to touch his back. The second time this occurred, I sensed he might turn round and pin me against the side of the train. He managed to take a deep breath and count to ten. The commuter train is certainly an arena for grumpiness - often simmering discontent that will never be aired - that will accompany you on your journey, to then be forgotten once you disembark. My own commuter grump this morning, was with a woman standing in front of me, applying make up. We aren't talking a bit of lippy, or a touch of eye liner here but an all over face painting session - the full works. This is not meant to come across as sexist but seeing women applying make up on a train can really wind me up. You don't find me searching for a suitable area in the carriage to have a quick shave, expecting people to allow me the space to lather up and the elbow room to swipe the blade across my stubbly chops. I tell my kids that if they want to do things before school, to get up earlier, which is advice this lady needs to hear. A train is not a make up parlour or a shaving salon - it is a mode of transport. Having said that, commuter grumps can never be allowed to linger - once you depart the carriage, all is forgotten.

Head Space Daily Image...

Where concrete meets water at Millwall Dock...

Head Space Daily Tune...

Orange Juice - Rip It Up

I've been listening to the Orange Juice album a lot this week and a damn fine piece of work it is too...

Head Space Daily Words...

Tomorrow I am meeting up with an old friend to go and see Andreya Triana at XOYO in Shoreditch. It will be the third time I have seen her perform this year and the sixth time in total. You would be right in thinking that I enjoy seeing Andreya Triana play live. She has an incredible voice and is a great performer, being both funny and entertaining. Check out one of her recent tracks in today's Head Space Daily Tune. She has released one album so far, with another due imminently, but she takes her first album way beyond the recording, when she sings it live. I hope she hurries up and releases her second album, as the new stuff sounds like she has moved things along big time - more confident and more expressive. Anyway, I'm meting up with a close friend tomorrow, who bought these tickets to see Andreya as a gift for my 40th birthday, which was in August, so it will be good to catch up, have a bite to eat, a few drinks and enjoy the show...

Head Space Daily Image...

The view from the DLR, passing close to Canary Wharf...

Head Space Daily Tune...

Andreya Triana - Song For A Friend

Beautiful recent track from Andreya Triana, with a real touch of Donny Hathaway about it...