Septum

Posted on 19 February 2023 by pws

The first piercing I ever had done was my septum. If you don’t know, it’s the bit of skin at the bottom of the nose, between the nostrils.

I had it done at a place on Holloway Road, this being the nearest place to my home at the time, now long gone, and, i suppose, the least intimidating looking of places.

And it hurt. And it makes your eyes water. In fact, many nose piercings do.

The first jewellery was very thin and small, small enough to flip it up into your nose to hide it. I know some people do stretch their piercings, but I didn’t. The natural weight of the jewellery made it stretch and now it’s 5mm, and that is where it likes to be.

Having never had a piercing before, I was very self-conscious about it. The healing seemed to take a long time, and often I thought I had made mistake. It wasn’t how I wanted it. But getting a piercing teaches you patience, and it is definitely something you get used to.

Many piercings hurt, of course they do, someone is sticking a needle into your flesh. But it’s only for a second or two. Some piercings heal quickly, others take months.

And apparently, the septum piercing is the second sexiest piercing.

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Twelve British Songs… II

Posted on 9 February 2023 by pws

Thunderclap Newman

Something in the Air

1969

John “Speedy” Keen had worked for and been a big pal of The Who’s Pete Townsend. He formed a band with guitarist Andy McCulloch (later Wings) and pianist Andy “Thunderclap” Newman.

Something in the Air is perhaps best remembered for its instrumental break, plonky piano, orchestra and complex rhythms. Townsend played bass.

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King Crimson II

Posted on 6 February 2023 by pws

It’s worth mentioning perhaps that over the KC history there are gaps, periods of years where Fripp believes KC has nothing left to offer, he’s bored, wants to do other things, whatever.

At various times Fripp has done enormous numbers of solo concerts, with Frippertronics and Soundscapes, collaborated with Eno, Peter Gabriel, the Roches, Blondie, Toyah, Bowie, Andy Summers, David Sylvian… it’s a long list.

And he’s made solo albums, formed new bands, one of which was called Discipline. As they played, it became clear this was really King Crimson, so off we go again. The gap was 1974 to 1981.

With Bruford, Tony Levin and Adrian Belew there are three fine albums. Not prog, no Mellotron, mostly.

Red, blue and yellow covers give us Discipline, Beat and Three Of A Perfect Pair.

Discipline is a great album, Beat has its moments and the second side of the yellow one is wonderful.

And, after some success, they split. 1984.

By 1994, KC were back, as before plus Pat Mastelloto drums and Trey Gunn bass and stick. This band released one album and a number of side ProjeKcts.

Levin and Bruford left, and the four piece produced two more albums, the construKction of light (2000) and The Power To Believe (2003).

Both have their moments, but they seem excessively electronic. Indeed, Pat M has re-recorded some of his electronic drum playing as ‘normal’ drums.

And thus KC split.

Until 2013, when a new beast was born. Ultimately a seven piece, Mel Collins, Tony Levin, Robert Fripp and Jakko Jakszyk (guitar and vocals, flute and keyboards), plus Pat Mastelloto, Gavin Harrison on drums and Bill Rieflin drums and keyboards, later replaced by Jeremy Stacey. For a time they were an eight piece.

This band is still touring, at least in theory. Seeing the three drummers across the front is a sight not to be missed. There’s new material, but no studio album. This would seem unlikely and perhaps not what this version of the band is about.

But there are some live recordings. Maybe Live In Vienna is the best.

For varous reasons there’s a concentration on the older material, which sounds fresh and familiar at the same time.

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