Orange Awakening

As I’ve mentioned before, my parents are classical music fans and have never really embraced popular music. As a consequence I wasn’t exposed to pop music in my youth and missed out on the music of the 1970’s almost completely. I only really discovered pop music in about 1982 when I started secondary school. I suppose that because of this my favourite genre of music has always 1980’s syntherzer pop, such as Howard Jones, Dépêche Mode and Yazoo. Later I discovered Jean Michael Jarre and later still, Iron Maiden. In fact I didn’t really discover Led Zeppelin until about 7 2008.

I was aware on a German group called Tangerine Dream, but never really paid them too much attention, until yesterday. I was at a lose end music wise and a colleague mentioned that he had been to see (and hear) Rick Wakeman in Birmingham on Tuesday. This lead to a conversion about whether he and another colleague should see Tangerine Dream later this year. I decided to have a quick browse through iTunes and came across a compilation album of their early 1970’s material, so I took the plunge. It’s called “The Virgin Years – 1974 to 1978”.

OMG!!!! It’s awesome and 24 hours later, I’m still hooked. I would describe it as a cross between early Jean Michael Jarre but with less structure and electronic Jazz. It just washes over you in smooth melodic wave after wave of soothing sound.

This is the kind of music that I should be writing. Perhaps I should fire up my home studio equipment once more and unleash my unbridled talents upon an unsuspecting world once more. You have been warned 8-)

 

Regards



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Music: Howard Jones

My parents are from a Classical music background and "Top of The Pops" wasn't their thing. As a consequence I didn't really discover pop music until the early 1980's. It was of course an era of electronic music and I was hooked to the great sound of synthesizers.


Howard Jones was (and still is) one of the great keyboard wizards. I have followed his career ever since. Unfortunately, he no longer gets radio airplay.


Here is his first hit release on 17th September 1983 - "New Song"

I enjoyed that so much that I thought I'd post another of my favourites from 1984 - "Pearl in Shell"

And to end this blog I just had to add this master piece. It was released in March 1986 and reached No.16 in the UK charts, but I understand it made No.1 in the USA. It remains today one of my favourite songs. 
"No One Is To Blame". Enjoy.

Regards



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Music: A Passion of Mine

I come from a musical family and you could say it's in my DNA. My tastes are many and varied, but there are some genres I just can't stand.  I'm not a big Opera fan, despite my heritage. I just don't get all that warbling in Italian or German. Having said that I did take my Mum to the Royal Opera house to see Rigoletto for her 70 Birthday. Don't tell anyone, but it was rather good.

Other styles I dislike include Country & Western, Boy Bands (sic) and (C)Rap. In my youth I used to listen to BBC Radio 1 most of the day, but I became increasing bored with it's constant round of nonsensical chart music. I realised that I was listening to BBC Radio 2 and enjoying. That must mean I'm getting old I suppose.


For some time I've been thinking about writing a series of blogs about the music I love, complete with links to videos. I thought about calling it "100 Favourite Songs" or "100 Favourite Artists", but that would just limit my options. Therefore I shall just call the series just simply "Music:". The only problem is knowing where to start!


While I'm writing this in the corner of my dining room, I'm listening to "Whole Lotta Love" by Led Zeppelin and I'm sure it will be revisited again soon 8-)

Regards



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2 Shows, 22 Years Apart

In October 1988 two school friends and I queued up for over 8 hours in the rain in London's docklands to see a French man play some electronic music. The French man in question was the very talented Jean Micheal Jarre and the concert was Destination Docklands. It was a truly amazing experience and was one of the main reason I started to play the keyboard. I bought a T-shirt that day that still lives in my bottom draw, but I've long since lost touch with those two friends.

Fast forward 22 year and last night the talented Frenchman returned too the Docklands, but this time on the other side of the Thames at the O2. Once more I was in the audience with my good friend Pablos. Mr Jarre remembered his last visit. He said "Last time I was here it rained. This time there is a roof to protect me". His comment bought a lump to my throat and made me reflect on the intervening years.

It was another excellent concert, complete with his signature wild graphics and laser displays. I was positively drooling at his impressive collection of classic analogue synthesisers. Wall to wall Moogs and the like. Electronic porn heaven 8-)

I took quite a few photos of the event, but only with my iPhone. If any of them are useable I'll sick them on my next blog.

Regards
Chris
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Posted from my iPhone

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