Fairport’s Liege and Lief. I thought I already had this tbh, but nope. The 1,001 Albums list threw this up earlier this week. I’ll have a bit of that, I thought. Fairport is a band that has always been around for me. There is a direct link going all the way back here to the much missed John Shaw and Here Be Dragons in the Fair City. They’re not exactly cutting edge, but they fit like a good pair of slippers. Sandy Denny is stunning on this album.

Sydney is not feeling too well today. But Syd is best when he’s a little bonkers. I’ve always loved Terrapin. The Marc and the Mambas cover is worth a listen. There’s obvious comparisons here with Bowie of the same period. Syd pours his heart out. It’s almost a Pink Floyd Unplugged - which sounds like a very bad trip, but somehow The Madcap pulls it off.

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

A remarkably ambitious album - especially so for what at the time was a jobbing indie toilet band back in 1993. And you know what? They just about get away with it. I love the New Order pastiches on Wishing I was Skinny and Barney. The cod reggae attempts are brave, if nothing else. Giant Steps offered optimism as to where toilet indie could go back in 1993. Sadly flag waving hijacked the possibilities.

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

You need to listen to this album LOULDY. Despite the racket, it’s also tuneful in places. Big Me has always been a personal fave. This Is a Call great calling card to kick start all things Foos. A rare example of me liking something that feels like I ought to be wearing double denim to truly appreciate.

⭐ ⭐ ⭐

This feels like an important album. It also rambles in places. The songwriting is crafted, the musicianship is outstanding for a band that was still so young. Sandy Denny sounds delightful throughout. It gets a little dark in places. This was the late 60’s and bad drugs, natch. Somehow the Dungeons and Dragons elements are seen off with more uplifting, almost soulful songs.

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

This is rather spectacular - a new track from Hen Ogledd with Scales Will Fall. The Latino horns as the track builds suggests something exotic. It turns out they’re from Wales. Clocking in at just over eight minutes, it was the perfect soundtrack as I got my head down to tap, tap tap away with some work emails. The new album lands on 20th February. Hat tip to the always excellent Late Junction for this January find.

To the Table of Dreams! …on Friday lunchtime. It’s been a while since we played an outdoor game of wiff waff. I’m calling this VERY early, but spring is starting to shoot up around us. I’m looking forward to hopefully nine months or so of outdoor table tennis, no wind, no rain.

And yep, we’ve had bloody loads of rain over the past few weeks. Just ask my roof - assuming ti could talk - and the repairs that are now needed. The positive effect of all the downpours was that The Table of Dreams was clean and almost looking box fresh. GAME ON.

We were both a little distracted with other shit going off around us at the moment. Which meant that concentration when it came to scoring was all over the bloody place. Let the record show that I was BATTERED 5-0. I’m always battered 5-0 tbh. But the odd point here and there may have gone a little astray.

The FUCK OFF dog that was out for his morning constitutional was most certainly not a little astray. What a unit! I’m not sure of the breed, but I’ve never seen a dog as large as this. He wasn’t fat, just big. The very friendly owner assured that he is still a puppy. The current daily diet is eight cans of food. TUCK IN, Bonzo.

The game of table tennis continued. But it was still a stop / start affair. I was caught short. I had to have a mad bathroom break to the nearby public toilets midway through one game. I returned more at ease with myself, but still lacking in skill.

A very dirty album. It sounds like there’s a lot to be said, but I’m not quite sure what the overall message is. It’s a rambling mess. Tunes are absent. The production is deep and fuzzy. It leaves you feeling as though you need to scrub your nails after listening. Old Nick has mellowed in the years that followed.

⭐ ⭐ ⭐

Energy! Rawness! Rock ‘n’ Roll with cardigans! The Sonics were a new one for me. It’s quite a find. It’s an album that’s impossible to sit still whilst listening. I bet the live experience is where the real action was. It’s no masterpiece in terms of production, but that’s not the point. The Sonics sound like they genuinely believe in what they’re doing. Half an hour later and I was a convert.

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

This sounds very dated now. It’s a sugar rush of an album that is very smooth. Almost too smooth. The vocals are sharp, she can clearly sing. It’s still a bit of a timewarp listen.

⭐ ⭐