WIBLTTW No. 2 (What I've Been Listening To This Week)

1. The Magic Numbers

This is a band I listened to a lot as a teenager and hadn't put on in yonks, until last week. The British group of brothers and sisters have such a unique sound, and their latest single 'Ride Against the Wind' doesn't disappoint, unlike is often the case when groups don't release anything for a while. Rediscovering the Magic Numbers led to a huge playlist being created with the Zutons, Razorlight and others that were also staples on my iPod at the time. All I'm waiting for now is for the Magic Numbers to do a cover of 'California Dreamin'.

2. Kinobe - Slip Into Something More Comfortable

This is an absolute CHUNE which I must play every time I set foot on a beach. Since I'm lucky enough that most of the beaches I go to now have beautiful sand, turquoise water, palm trees, sun and all that good generic beach stuff, this song is the perfect soundtrack. (I also enjoy listening to Groove Armada's at the river, which has a similar vibe). Don't get me wrong though I miss the more wild beaches in England and really look forward to going home and having them on my doorstep, just with a different song playing through my headphones...

3. John Cooper Clarke

John Cooper Clarke was for a long time just a cool looking character I saw on the TV every once in a while. He was a poet and I knowed it, but I had never thought to have look or listen to his poetry. The first poem I listened to, as I'm sure many others did, was 'I Wanna Be Yours' which is a down to earth love song, I guess, which is romantic without being soppy. I don't like soppy (well I say I don't like soppy). Other favourites of mine are 'Twat' (best lyrics ever) and '(I Married a) Monster from Outer Space', but I still have a bazillion more poems to listen to and add to that list of favourites. JCC is not your typical poet so give him a listen even if you're not a poetry person.

Hope you enjoyed reading what I've been listening to this week!

Tchau for now!

Shut the bux up!

Adam Buxton. The man is a genius, as well as a comedian, writer, actor and podcasty person. I was first introduced to him thanks to my buddy Robert Tiberius Jaques, with his 'Countryman' sketches, in which he performs the role of an eccentric guy roaming the countryside in search of creatures and other things that are not there or better said, things which only he is able to observe or interpret. That was an unexpectedly long sentence. Anywho, after that it took me a few years before I revisited the world of Count Buck-u-lees, and my re-entry came when I fancied a wee listen to one of his wonderful tunes, the one in question 'Ratatouille (The Rat Control The Cook!)'. Through this my eyes were opened to a whole metric shit-tonne of other songs by Dr Bucks, with favourites of mine including his potential 'Spectre' theme which I find genuinely captures the essence of the James Bond movie franchise, and the classic, 'Moby Song' which is a kind of a musical Where's Wally. 

'Ratatouille (The Rat Control The Cook!)' by Adam Buxton

Delving further into YouTube, I discovered the weird and wonderful realm of Adam and Joe, Adam's partner in comedy for many a year and a childhood friend of his. Many podcasts were played from back in their days of BBC Radio 6 but the best discovery was the even more weird and wonderful 'Adam and Joe Go Tokyo', which originally aired on BBC three. The eight episodes were filmed on location in Japan and show all cornucopia of the famed Japanese eccentricity whilst Adam and Joe try their chances at becoming famous over there. When I make my return to that island in the north sea/Atlantic that call home, this summer, I'm looking forward to binge watching the regular Adam and Joe Show on Channel 4, which I've seen a few clips of. One of which you can see in Figure 2:

   Figure 2: Room For Change sketch from 

Most recently, I have been religiously listening to The Adam Buxton Podcast, where his truly interviews a whole host of cool people (about half of which I am unfamiliar with because I am not that cool). As well as learning about the cool people and finding new shows and musicians as a result ,the jingles must not be left unmentioned because they really are SUTIN ELSE. If you're interested in discovering more about Sir Buxton, there is all manner of stuff on the YouTubes, but I would like to give a special mention to his 'BUG' prog's, which he has most kindly uploaded to his channel (Adam Buxton). Check them OUT.
     
To summarise, I want to say a few words about what Adam means to me. Watching and listening to Adam (and his shiz with Joe too) is like getting together for a laugh with your friends, because his many catchphrases really make you feel like you are part of sutin and they are bloody hilarious. His podcasts may be with all da celebs, but he's just a lu'ly, lu'ly family guy at heart and always a joy to hear. I currently have a list of people I'm waiting with bated breath for him to do a podcast with but I will try to remain patient.

Well, that's it for this post so to quote the man himself...

BYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE.