Golwg and me!

New CD's Newydd

Painted from Memory
Elvis Costello & Burt Bacharach: Painted from Memory
Not a new CD but one which I have owned for years. However, I have been guilty of ignoring a classic! Work has taken me down to South and Mid Wales a lot recently so I have been taking CDs with me and this just tickled my fancy. Am I old or did I miss something when I first bought this CD? It is superb. Excellent songs, passionate, well crafted and produced with care and a real attention to detail. This should be in your collection. GUTO
Steve Eaves: Moelyci
LP ddiweddaraf Steve Eaves - ond mae hi allan ers 'steddfod Wyddgrug. Dwi'n credu fod Steve Eaves yn un o dalentau mawr y Gymru Gymraeg ac mae'r casgliad hwn yn cadarnhau hynny. Mae 'na ambell i gan sy'n gignoeth o ran cyfleu profiadau bywyd - ond rhywsut mae'r gerddoriaeth yn llwyddo i leddfu natur ddirdynol y geiriau. Campwaith. Some of you might have noticed that I commented on a session with Steve Eaves that I enjoyed recently. I was surprised to find that I could comment on this CD with the cover and product details available on-line. It's a great CD. In many ways a raw and emotional collection but none the worse for that. Recommended whether you understand Welsh or not. Guto
Low-life
New Order: Low-life
Again, this is me indulging in retrospection and as we say in Welsh 'hiraeth' for my long lost youth. As my review of the Smiths LP on vinyl indicated I prefer vinyl to CD and this classic cut from the mid 1980's has been tempting me for a while. Yes, I have a battered copy on vinyl but a remastered analogue version on heavy duty vinyl finally persuaded me to part with my cash today. What can I say. It's as I remember; brave, confident and typical mid 80's New Order. The worse part of this is that all the 1980's LPs released by New Order are now available on remastered vinyl and the quality of this pressing and appeal to my much younger alter ego means that I will have to keep away from the record shop if I'm to avoid parting with too much cash! A great record! Guto
Let's Change the World With Music
Prefab Sprout: Let's Change the World With Music
One of my all time favourite groups who simply disappeared in the early 1990's despite a run of classic albums. In my view there are few song cycles as perfect as 'Steve McQueen' released in 1985 and 'Jordan The Comeback' from 1990. And then, with a single exception, Paddy McAloon, the band leader and songwriter simply walked away. Or so it seemed. In fact he is a happy family man living in County Durham and still producing and writing music on a daily basis. This record is a superb confirmation of his talent and the fact that most songs date back to the early 1990's (but never previously released) tells me that the McAloon vaults, if opened, probably contain hundreds of gems which can be compared with the work produced by Prefab Sprout in their pomp. A great CD. Guto
Southpaw Grammar (2009 Expanded Edition)
Morrissey: Southpaw Grammar (2009 Expanded Edition)
Oh yes, I'm sad enough to have bought this expanded edition of an LP which was panned upon release ten years ago. The easy comment to make is that Morrissey has never reached the heights of The Smiths in his solo career. I disagree but this LP was considered to be so bad when released that even I, a big fan, could not be persuaded to buy it. Ten years later I gave it a try understanding that it has been re-produced, the track listings changes and four songs excluded on the first release included this time. The result? A triumph if you enjoy Morrissey at his miserable best! Guto
Strangeways, Here We Come
The Smiths: Strangeways, Here We Come
Not on CD but on super heavyweight vinyl. This LP, and this comment is controversial, is the best effort of The Smiths. A great record which never fails to take me back to my student days and the walkman on the Cambrian Coast Railway as I travelled home on the odd weekend from Aberystwyth. It's a nostalgic buy in many ways but my old vinyl version has seen significant playtime and the opportunity to get this album on pristine vinyl was too good to miss. It also comes with a free MP3 download - what's one of those? :-) Only joking! Guto
Working on a Dream
Bruce Springsteen: Working on a Dream
The latest from 'the boss". Not his best but with his back catalogue that would be difficult! My own favourites from his past would be 'Darkness on the Edge of Town', 'Nebraska', 'Live 1975-1985', 'Tunnel of Love' (oh the memories!) and 'The Rising' from 2001. This is a good rather than great album from one of the most influential figures in popular culture over the past 25 years. Guto
Lungs (Lep Version)
Florence & the Machine: Lungs (Lep Version)
I bought two new CD's this week. This one by an artiste in her early 20's and the other by an individual who is almost 60. Both are great but this is the more challenging listen. Think of early period Kate Bush or Fiona Apple in a bad mood! Worth a listen. Guto

11/15/2009

Welsh Language weekly Golwg have again given me page 5 and a picture on their front page. I'm happy to communicate through any medium open to me but when Golwg give me coverage on issues relating to Conwy (such a the lack of Proact and React funds being spent with local businesses) it's a surprise that the Weekly News and the Daily Post ignore the very same issues.

Golwg is a weekly Welsh Language publication serving the whole of Wales. The weekly News sells in Conwy County and the Daily Post claims to be the paper for North Wales. I'm surprised that a lack of support for local businesses (still no investment in Conwy despite Gareth Jones AM promising to deal with the issue) seems not to be a story for our local press.

Guto

Posted on 11/15/2009 at 05:34 PM | Permalink

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It's nice to see that Golwg has been forgiven for it's various transgressions in the past.

Posted by: blogmenai | 11/15/2009 at 06:25 PM

Page 5 of Golwyg! Wow!
(sorry - I couldn't resist!)

Posted by: "Not Max Clifford" | 11/16/2009 at 02:14 PM

Max - you're forgiven. But I did make the point in my contribution that it was not my priority publication. Then again, you take whatever is on offer!

Blog Menai - forgiven? No. Any paper with columns by ex-plaid MP Wigley, the plaid MP Adam price and now wannabe plaid MP Angharad Mair will have difficulty in claiming to be impartial.

Posted by: Guto Bebb | 11/18/2009 at 09:27 PM

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