A slightly softer sound to this album compared to the last. More atmospherics, less mad drum ‘n’ bass mayhem. Yet still worthwhile, especially as it won’t scare your friends away.
Journal articles
Lantana
A gripping thriller with plot changes and twists to spare. (twist ‘n’ grip, and spare change, do you see?) It probably deserved a wider release than it got.
Beautiful Garbage
Magnificent, catchy pop music with artfully roughened edges, yet polished to a gleaming finish. I could listen to it all day long, and in fact have done on several occasions.
Mink Car — They Might Be Giants
A few excellent songs on this album, and it’s well worth a listen. But overall it lacks the magic of some of the older albums.
The Australian version comes with a bonus track, Boss of Me, which would improve the album by its absence.
Byron Bay — Australia
Laidback, sunny and groovy. We stayed in a beach house and played tennis and cooked outside and swam every morning and didn’t want to leave.
Doctor Sally — P. G. Wodehouse
My first Wodehouse. So quaint, yet so hilariously clever. I want to read more, but he only wrote about 90 books so I’ll have to pace myself.
Blow
A fun movie with a sad ending that nevertheless left half the audience wishing they were drug dealers too. (Though we saw it in Byron Bay, so maybe they already were.)
Sydney — mon Amour
When I arrived back in Australia after four years in Scotland I had a lot of re-acquainting to do. Here are the top ten things I didn’t think I’d miss about Australia, but am glad to see again.
10. Hype.
You thought Edinburgh’s Hogmanay was big; check out Sydney 2000!
9. Clan Analogue.
Oz techno/experimental/weirdo music collective.
8. Tim Tams.
Chocolate-coated iced chocolate biscuits for dunking in coffee
7. The Simpsons.
Scotland — A Tour in Words
A number of things struck me about this fair land during the first month I was here. Maybe they’ll strike you too. They’re in rough chronological order.
Edinburgh buildings
Most buildings in the Old Town near our flat are very old.
Our flat was built in 1595. They all look old and weathered but very cool.
Beer
This means ale here. I started asking for lager (Staropramen, from Prague, is delicious), though I’ve developed a taste for beer now