jon

You're absolutely right, there was categorically no resistance to Hitler from any of the German populace. Definitely not. How daft of me.

I'm going to let your last post stand on its own merits. You clearly have a very...interesting perspective on things, and a quick browse through this site seems to confirm that you tend to hang by your own noose, so I'll let the ignorant rubbish your spouting speak for itself.

I'm sorry, what? So those Germans who stood against the Nazi regime in Germany were idiots? They should have just been quietly complicit in genocide? I'm no lefty tub-thumper, but you're being absolutely ridiculous.

To quote someone earlier, wind your neck in. You are not the authority on the quality or otherwise of music. As for refering to me as "you people", I think that's about as ignorant as it gets. I have written and recorded literally hundreds of songs, some in expensive studios, some at home and some on my travels. I have never been afraid to expose flaws (I think often the most beautiful music is flawed), and how dare you question my ability to play or write? You stick to your soundscapes, I'll stick to my tunes. You'll notice I didn't have a dig at your music, despite you having a dig at mine. So, to reiterate, amazing technological breakthroughs in sound manipulation are one thing, decent music is quite another. Also, where did I imply that Alex Empire was representative of all electronic music? Do you think I think that McFly are the standard for pop? Furthermore, I'd suggest that banal music exists in all genres. God knows that's true for electronica.

Sorry, only just saw this. Yes, I was in Baillie & The Fault for about a year, yes we did the Idlewild gigs, yes I have now left and yes, I do have a new band. Phew, I'm like the TSB.

Puritans, Puritans everywhere. Chris is right of course. For reasons of time/budget etc, I doubt anyone hasn't used studio trickery to correct something. Is it really any different to dropping in for a solo if you messed it up the first time? It certainly doesn't make you Cher. This programme sounds like yet another way to make music sound even more banal than the majority of stuff on MTV now. There is NO SOUL in 99% of the pish that is on the airwaves as we speak, and that is due in no small part to studio twiddling and producing any element of grit out of recordings. Call me a Luddite if you will, I don't give the merest of fucks. I don't care about any of the rest of it, if you want to reduce songs to mere audio maths then go ahead, but I like a bit of dirt to my music. If you can't hear a singer's actual voice, how in the name of sanity are you supposed to believe a word he or she is saying? Fuck that. A good song is a good song. If it has been recorded in a bucket, it's still a good song. Insanely hi-fi pish is still pish, regardless of the technology behind it. I love it how people presume that electronic music is somehow more high brow than rock and roll, that it is somehow the adult option and that those who don't get it are somehow neanderthal. I'd rather listen to McFly than Alec Empire any day of the week.

Why I oughta...

Why is that insulting? No-one is suggesting that we should all start waving the red fist of Ulster/chanting IRA slogans, but as far as football is concerned, what on earth is insulting about aspiring to win Cups and League titles? Surely that's the very point? I'm as disgusted as the next man with the Old Firm and what their supporters bring to Scottish football ("Rangers - The Quintissential British Team" was one of the charming banners at Hampden for the United game, surrounded by red hand flags), and you can ask Chris H among others about that, but what you are advocating has nothing to do with that. It's just the sullen acceptance of perpetual failure. So, to reiterate, I would love to see United challenge Rangers and Celtic domestically. I think that anyone who doesn't think the same about their club is being daft, or at least cutting off their nose to spite their face.

I'm sorry to harp on about this, but are you seriously saying that you don't want your team to aspire to toppling one or both of the Old Firm? That you actively support the ongoing domestic dominance of Rangers and Celtic? That it is some how bigotted to want your own team and others to aspire to be better than (or at least as good as) the Old Firm? If you are, I think you're talking nonsense frankly.

I think that, without the chip on the shoulder, the term "New Firm" was coined when both United and Aberdeen were challenging the hegemony of the Old Firm in both domestic and European football. It certainly doesn't mean that all clubs can aspire to is to be the Old Firm, simply to challenge their dominance. Which I'm pretty sure every United, Aberdeen or any other club's fan would love to see.

Ooh, touchy. I'd take the New Firm over the Old Firm any day of the week. Although the Dons are shite, eh Chris?...

Not band related, but my wee homage to Mr Cuomo is up on Myspace.com

Thank fuck. Was gutted on the drive home from Hampden last week, but after freezing both bollocks clean off at Tannadice on Saturday, I reckon we're back on track. 3rd place should really be ours for the taking. Hibs are shite by virtue of being Hibs and Motherwell are clearly in the middle of bottling it.

Seconded. My flat is an old 60s council number in Leith, with brick walls, large rooms and proper floors. They're throwing up some godawful new block over the road, and I am 100% certain the owners there will not be able to say the same. All modern houses/flats are shite until proven decent. And even then, probably still shite. They built the "Coalhill Living Complex" (shite new flats) round the corner from me in about a week, and the exterior walls were rusting within ten days. Interestingly, all bar one of the flats are still for sale.

Ace! I live in Edinburgh, so it would be a case of posting it up to you, but if you can raise the volume and give it a tone makeover, I'd be well chuffed! It gets no use at all just now because I can't get a decent sound out of it (it'd go in front of either a Thunder 50 or a JCM 900), but if you can make it sing, that could all change.

This all sounds really interesting. I've got a DS1 that I've had for years but I've always felt it was a bit too fizzy and that, even with the level at full, it doesn't have enough volume. Is this something you could sort out?

Nae probs!

Oops, forgot to say, the four tracks on Myspaz are available for download should the mood take you.

Thank you very much! We're working on our set as we speak, and more songs keep coming along so fuck knows what will be in the set when it's ready. Thanks for taking the time to have a listen - it's really appreciated!

Aw thanks, I like that track too.

Thanks guys! We're looking to head into the studio in the near future, and we'll be getting on stage at some point soon too.

There are now also four tracks up on MySpace.com - Curators - UK - Indie / Rock - www.myspace.com/curatorsmusic

Hello folks, My new band (Curators) have our first "band" recordings up on Curators <curatemusic> - 5 tracks recorded live in my flat this afternoon. With one mic. Aren't we lofi?... Feedback is much appreciated!

Curators <curatemusic> 4 live acoustic tracks. Come feel my hangover...

Hugely satisfying night for those of us of the Tangerine persuasion! Must say, I thought that the Dons looked pretty poor, but I did think we were excellent.