Tuesday 16th June
So you have had two long reviews about music from me, please excuse a few moments of navel-gazing if you can. During the last weekend someone I respect the opinion of very very highly indeed spent quite a bit of time trying to convince me to stop writing this blog daily. Their argument was that I am spreading myself far too thin and doing nobody justice (myself included) with what I manage to write under such a hectic schedule. They then went on to suggest a different course of action that would definitely be even more energy and time-sapping than what I am achieving now, but that is besides the point. They left me thinking, and self-consciously then asking the opinion of just about everyone else I spoke to (the subject of this blog seems to come up in nearly every conversation I have these days!)
The fact I have been continuing to post since the weekend obviously reflects my decision to carry on, but it has not been without serious consideration and self-appraisal. Let me first try and explain why I am doing this in the first place… Besides the tongue-in-cheek response to Brian’s criticism that I didn’t write enough that gave me the spark to start this I am writing daily mainly for my own benefit. Simply, I am a naturally lazy and also heavily overworked person that needs a rigorous schedule to be able to create anything. The need to post here daily means I post something, rather than next to nothing. Before writing here every night I was managing about one post every six weeks. I need the heavy schedule to be able to do anything.
But why do anything if it is that hard? Well, because writing this here has lead me to enjoy music more. How come? Because I am listening better, spending more time properly concentrating because if I know I will have to write a few words on the music later on then I tend to concentrate better so that I get it right. When I take the time to do this the rewards from the music are far greater, and I become happier. I have also attended twice as many concerts since I began this in January than I did in the equivalent time beforehand. That is no coincidence. Certainly there have been more than a few posts when my tiredness has lead to me writing a good amount of crap that probably wasn’t worth publishing, and this is something I do need to address, but overall the daily schedule has lead to me enjoying music so much more. Also, I am not really writing all that much more than I used to. I have pretty much ceased contributing to I Hate Music, where I used to post two or three times a day in often fruitless and energy-sapping arguments. I am just concentrating my efforts in one place. Even things like the Gig Calendar, which may not be read by many people (I haven’t really checked) is just a slightly more public way of me organising myself (with Phil’s support) to know when upcoming gigs are taking place. The calendar would exist anyway, I might as well put it up online.
There are also between 175 and 250 hits here every day as well still, so I guess people are still reading. When I asked around musicians at the weekend to see what others thought I received generally very positive comments, and certainly while there was quite a bit of concern for my state of health (I’m fine, anyone that has known me for the past decade will know I am always flippin’ tired!) people definitely seemed to want me to continue, at least for now. People also seemed to enjoy the informal approach I take, setting my listening against the day I have had etc… rather than trying to write formally each day. I am glad about this as it certainly works for me this way.
I do need to feel able to resist writing at length when I am not physically up to it though, and maybe you will see a few more shorter posts here as a result. When I began this I only really intended to write a paragraph or two a day, I have already far exceeded what I thought I was capable of. I also intend to take on board some of the other criticisms and suggestions that my friend had about the blog. More on this in future writing. For now though I am certain that it is best to continue, perhaps with a little more focus when there is time and less throwaway rubbish when there isn’t.
Anyway for a really well written, interesting alternative to this blog go see here.
and while I am plugging things, Sebastian Lexer has a new website up and running that includes a few free downloads. I haven’t heard them yet (Soooo much exciting new music here right now I have no idea where to start) but I would hazard a guess that they are great…
Thanks for listening.
I for one am grateful for your blog Richard – as I commented on Saturday, it is a place where one can read about interesting music / sound & even when there is critique one never comes away feeling negative but rather bouyed up by the general creative atmosphere that is reflected.
…good lord. Sorry, was transfixed there for a moment by the size of Keith’s pint glass in that photo. Superb. I’ve clearly lost my sense of scale… that or the Cafe Oto where REALLY looking after you
I have to chime in with JrF to be honest. Even when it’s fairly transparent that you don’t like something you’re reviewing, it’s devoid of anything hysterical or over the top in terms of criticism. It’s one of the most even-handed music blogs I’ve read. Worth mentioning too that the blog has on several occasions led me on to investigate recordings I wouldn’t have necessarily come across otherwise, so I think some recognition there is well deserved.
Having said that, I don’t think anyone would quibble if you wanted to slow the pace or a move to a change of frequency… at the current turnover, you’ll do yourself a mischief if you’re not careful squire
Logging in from the village of Poo.
fwiw, as long as you’re enjoying the posting, I say full on ahead. If it gets to be a chore and you think there’s nothing more to be wrung out, that’s another story. In a similar way that I don’t mind hearing an “excess” of releases from a musician I enjoy, if nothing else, deriving a fuller picture of the person, I’ve no problem reading daily ramblings from a writer I enjoy, even if it occasionaly sinks into…whatever you occasionally sink into here.
More information is always welcome. If it’s too much or of little interest on a given day, I’m entirely capable of skipping it.
That said, discontinuation of your blood oath to post each day, in case you didn’t read the fine print, results in weekly deliveries of one jar of Marmite to my home address.
It occasionally sinks into Poo….
OK well if I ever needed motivation to carry on doing this I just got it… you will never get your hands on my Marmite Olewnick!
—
Phil, I should say that that photo was taken by Al Jones not myself… but yes I love the way the foreshortening makes the pint look like a gallon bucket as well.
Richard wrote:
“spending more time properly concentrating because if I know I will have to write a few words on the music later on then I tend to concentrate better so that I get it right.”
it’s interesting, I did this this past week in order to try to better write up the Annette shows on IHM, and at times, I found that it really interfered with my normal style of macro listening, and not in a good way. in other words, I listened to the individual parts/people more in order to demystify them more to myself, but at the cost (to an extent) of my ability to enjoy/comprehend the set as a combined whole. so, for me anyway, it’s not something I’ll do too often in the future,
That picture of Keith is what’s known in the trade as a “Big Pint” picture. It’s been a recurring theme for me and some friends for years, viz: http://freespace.virgin.net/will.rjackson/albigpint.jpg
Is that a pint of orange juice and lemonade??
It does look like it but it is in fact lager. Not much choice at All Tomorrows’ Parties…
Hey, mang. First, this blog is indispensable. Period. Second, I have to tell you how difficult it’s been to avoid reading what you’d written about the recent music, for fear that it would influence my own thinking in writing a review. My own review’s complete and I’m copying yours to text so I can read on the plane tomorrow. Looking forward to that! It’s lights out for me, early flight.
Thanks again, so much. You make fantastic company and our hangs were the polish for a very nice trip, Richard. Only the chicken was unfortunate.
“During the last weekend someone I respect the opinion of very very highly indeed spent quite a bit of time trying to convince me to stop writing this blog daily. Their argument was that I am spreading myself far too thin and doing nobody justice (myself included).”
I understand your friend’s concern, (what makes me think it was Keith Rowe?), but I think anyone that knows and respects you Richard will forgive you the occasional bout of ‘thinness’. I admire what you are doing here, even though you have set yourself an almost impossible task. I sometimes disagree with your critique and opinions, but that makes for some interesting ‘comments’ and debate, and for some interesting conversations when I occasionally see you. I’m sure others here have a similar experience and will agree. I particularly remember having my opinion completely changed by the ensuing debate about ‘reasons for running a record label’. The comments and variety of opinion on that particular debate were particularly informed and enlightening.
One other thought; this is the only site I regularly post on, the main reason being I know you and quite a number of other contributors. I also know you to be very, almost painfully, sincere. And those things are important to me. So I’m glad you are going to continue. I think you have also inadvertently helped promote and stimulate interest in the current London scene – something I’m sure we are all grateful for.
I was going to send this as a personal email, but decided here was more appropriate.
Cheers!
Wow, thank you guys that was unexpected and very touching. Graham, one of the things that has made me especially proud of the way the blog has gone is the fact that the likes of you, Mark, Ben, now Michael Pisaro feel able to post here. That makes me very happy.
Al, that was chicken?? Oh…..
“someone I respect the opinion of very very highly indeed spent quite a bit of time trying to convince me to stop writing this blog daily”
Richard, the opinion of whoever tries to convince a writer – and a skilled one at that – to stop doing what he’s doing is not worth of any respect. Unbelievable how certain people keep looking into their arses instead of appreciating a valuable service – not to mention that, supposedly, one’s entitled to to what he wants in his own blog/website.
“to to”? …. “to DO” !!!
That’s a mite unfair Massimo. Keith just made a friendly suggestion, and explained why he felt that way, proposing an alternative at the same time. That is fine by me. I respect his thhoughts a great deal and will follow through on some of his suggestions, just not the main one.
“They then went on to suggest a different course of action that would definitely be even more energy and time-sapping than what I am achieving now”
as a matter of genuine interest, what is the ‘different course of action’? the alternative?
I’ve often thought there is room for a UK based forum, (yes, ironic that I think physical space and location are important in reference to cyberspace), and I was hoping that either you or Mark Wastell would be the people to do it. It would be interesting to have a forum that attracted a greater proportion of artists/musicians. What do you think?
“I’ve often thought there is room for a UK based forum….”
This has occured to me once or twice too recently. Great idea. Not sure how it could be kept UK specific in practice, but I’d certainly welcome something as outlined in Graham’s post.
why would you want to keep it ‘UK specific’ exactly? that seems like an awful idea to me, another step towards scene segregation.
Nat Catchpole and maybe a few other people tried starting a londonimprov forum a while back, but it didn’t last very long due to minimal participation.
Graham’s original words were “UK based” rather than “UK specific” Phil, there is a subtle difference. The only real benefit I can see in having a UK forum is that it could quite possibly be more polite than others, which is a good thing, but beyond that I can’t see there being enough people that would be interested. I also thought of the LondonImprov site when I first read Graham’s words, although that was a good few years back now and internet communication has moved on quite a bit since then.
A forum involving more musicians would be great but I fear that even if it started well it would only be a matter of time before it went the same way as every other large-scale open forum. I did think very seriously about starting something up just before Christmas but I decided against it because of the pressure it would place on my already non-existent time. I would be happy to help out others if anyone wanted to make a go of it though.
“why would you want to keep it ‘UK specific’ exactly? that seems like an awful idea to me, another step towards scene segregation”.
‘UK based’ were my specific words; to reflect, maintain and stimulate what is going on here. Anyone in the world could post, and with the amount of international musicians and interested visitors passing through London/UK I’m sure that would happen.
No scene segregation, quite the opposite in fact. Opening up a real community is the way I see it.
Quite understand anyone’s apprehension – I wouldn’t want to do it myself. When Nat Catchpole attempted a similar thing the scene in London at that time was very fragmented. And, as Richard said, communication has improved somewhat since then.
But maybe it is best to leave well alone, Richard is probably right about the degeneration of large scale forums.
yeah, my ‘UK specific’ was in response to Phil, not you, Graham. that was his term.
Yes, “specific” was a poor choice of phrasing on my part, my thought being much along the lines of Graham’s subsequent post. Apologies for the inadvertant de-railing.
yes, a forum that is open minded, rigorous at times but always with a sense of respect and acceptance – all of which can sound a bit ‘woolly’ but I think this blog proves is totally possible & massively more positive – would be great. I thought about it too, even got as far as setting up the basic code but whilst I would like to dedicate the time needed I just know that should the same issues as elsewhere arise it would affect me way too much.
I’m also aware that it would take someone like Richard, who has the respect of so many people & has a much keener ability than I do to know when to let things go if they get silly would be the best start – BUT, I wouldn’t wish the stress & negativity that might occur on him at all.
I quite like this blog format actually – makes it feel more relaxed & a bit more like folks with a mutual respect exchanging thoughts.
no forum is not without its share of required babysitting. Some more than others. but we know this already.
If there’s serious interest in something like this, I’d suggest the wetting of feet with a Google group to assess interest level and participation. Overall, though, I suspect that progress among musicians and within scenes begins behind close doors and over beers, rather than in an open forum. My $.02
it might well (though does that mean us tea-total folks have to stay indoors
) although I would say that there are experiences online when the sheer interest someone is expressing about certain musics spills over to the readers.
Forum wise what I miss most (after leaving ihm) is being able to tell folks things that are going on / being released etc & hearing the same from others.
I’m not sure that any artistic / musical progress comes from forums & the likes per say – it comes from the people involved feeling able to create & having the time / space to work. A positive or rigorous post on a good site can sometimes add to those feelings though, just as a nice slice of toast can
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