Barry
Rank: Trio
Posts: 195
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Post by Barry on Jul 2, 2014 16:42:57 GMT
We used to keep chickens here, and ducks. There is no substitute for eggs "fresh from the chickens bottom" as my daughter rachel used to put it. However we were always in surplus and I am clearly a lousy trader, so I used to eat a lot of egg. Now - with high cholesterol, I am afraid that, one egg is un ouef! Well well, a sense of humour too Very punny. Keep eating the eggs, stuff the cholesterol measurements. Because Ronnie has some sort of pre-diabetic condition (the hexperts still can't agree ) we have taken over her treatment and gone the high protein, high fat and low carbs route combined with gluten free. I still have the occasional gluten fix as I can't give up the sunday croissants but we both feel 100% better. I no longer have stomach problems and Ronnie has stopped having the regular blinding headaches she used to suffer. A friend of ours, who is definitely diabetic, has seen the results and joined us. His readings have almost reached normal. His 'hexpert' just says she doesn't understand it but keep on doing what you are doing. I'm sure there is no such thing as a universal solution but it makes sense to me to eat a diet that is based on the way humans developed. Ronnie is a moderator on a diabetes forum and its clear that the official line is way out of date and that many people are now self treating and it seems to be working for the vast majority. Sorry, can't remember if its Martin or Chris that is diabetic, what do you think about this?
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Barry
Rank: Trio
Posts: 195
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Post by Barry on Jul 2, 2014 0:06:17 GMT
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Barry
Rank: Trio
Posts: 195
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Post by Barry on Jul 2, 2014 0:02:45 GMT
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Barry
Rank: Trio
Posts: 195
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Post by Barry on Jul 1, 2014 15:20:48 GMT
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Barry
Rank: Trio
Posts: 195
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Post by Barry on Jul 1, 2014 0:03:02 GMT
Glastonbury 2014 – How was it for you?
Once again, courtesy of the BBC (and of course Michael Eavis) I enjoyed this years Glastonbury – and I have to say enjoyed it more this year than I have for the last couple of years.
Clearly I wasn’t able to watch all of the acts on TV from the comfort of my armchair, but with judicious consultation of The Radio Times and with much channel hopping and the use of the “red button”, I was able to see most of the acts I wanted to see. There were some noticeable exceptions: acts I wanted to see but couldn’t, which was disappointing, but over the weekend, in the company of many bottles of good beer, I was able to follow much of Glastonbury.
The sound was provided by channelling the audio channels of my Freeview box through a Mark Levinson ML10A preamplifier, a Quad 520f power amplifier into Bowers & Wilkins DM2A speakers.
So the following is my own, very personal take on this years Glastonbury. In roughly chronological order the acts I watched/heard are as follows:
Friday
Lily Allen provided a good start to the weekend with Allen singing many of her songs off her previous albums plus material from her new recording. Very enjoyable, apart from the distraction caused by the backing dancers ‘twerking’. I have to say I was slightly disappointed by Elbow. I found their set quite average, but then I have yet to find out what everyone finds so wonderful about them. I was also disappointed with Rudimental – not really my cup of tea.
As consolation I thoroughly enjoyed Rodrigo y Gabriela. The up-beat “flamenco”-style guitarist-duo never fail to put a smile on my face, and they were excellent as always. The same could not be said for Crystal Fighter – quite tedious, so much so I actually switched channel to watch Paulo Nutini, which is saying something! Actually I enjoyed Paulo Nutini much more than I expected: he seems to have found a better outlet for his fine voice, now he has got over his previous ‘lounge lizard’ style.
Sadly, I was unable to find either Arcade Fire or Blondie on any of the channels, which was a big disappointment for me. However Haim made up for that. Having seen them on ‘Later’, I was expecting much, and indeed much was delivered. What impressed me was the originality of their work. Pop it may be, but it was “feel-good” pop and that can’t be a bad thing. Excellent!
Interpol were a group new to me. I found them to be interesting and might investigate further. I’m afraid I gave MIA short shrift, as I really don’t like rap. Another group I wanted to see was Fourtet, a sort of ‘world music meets electronica’ combination. Having heard their only recording to date, and not being able to make up my mind about them (rather like my reaction to Yeasayer), I wanted to hear more, but again I missed them! All the more disappointing as the group that was shown, Metronomy I found to be nothing more than annoying electropop.
Friday night’s viewing was rounded off with the Keiser Chiefs; who sadly in my opinion seem now to be “past their sell by date”.
Saturday
Unfortunately I missed Lana Del Rey, but was more than made up by seeing Robert Plant. Performing many of his songs as solo performer, post Zeppelin, plus some Zeppelin favourites made an excellent start to Saturday’s viewing.
However this was short lived with Jack White. Performing material from his new solo album, I thought he was awful: tedious, shapeless garage/grunge having no structure or message. Very disappointing! I used to like him when he was in the duo White Stripes, but didn’t like any thing he did after that with The Raconteurs. I expect I’m in the minority here but I found his set simply awful and only mitigated when he played some bluegrass /country which allowed the electric violinist to be heard.
Have to say I didn’t watch much of Metallica, for the simple reason I don’t much care for heavy metal.
Manic Street Preachers were more to my tastes, so to were Pixies, the latter I though to be quite good.
Jake Bugg was excellent. This young singer songwriter in the mould of Dylan has much going for him. I shall watch his career with interest. Goldfrapp showed how electropop should be done and were much better than I was expecting.
Being a bit of a boring old fart Brian Ferry was exactly what I was looking for. Singing songs from his back catalogue, both with Roxy Music and from his solo career, Ferry can still sing; though I do wonder for how much longer? Nonetheless an excellent set. His backing musicians particularly impressed me, especially the drummer.
Anna Calvi didn’t do much for me, whereas I was much more taken with John Grant. This singer/songwriter pianist is new to me and I would like to hear more.
Again MGMT did nothing for me, but I found Sean Kati (+ Egypt Bo) with their catchy African rhythms more to my taste, despite the now obligatory distracting “twerking” dancers.
Sunday
Much to my surprise I watched more of Dolly Parton than I thought I would. Country and Weson is not my thing at all: I find the lyrics mawkish and sentimental. But watching Dolly Parton I could well understand how she has become a C&W legend. She certainly knows how to put on a good performance, work the stage and work the audience.
Ed Sheeran was, for me, the acceptable sound of rap. I thought he was really good, especially when singing the Nina Simone song ‘Wo Daddy Now Have Me Good’.
The Black Keys were excellent as always. Whereas Kasabian I found disappointing (but then I have never thought much of them
The soulful crooning of Sam Smith was pleasant enough, and with time will possibly become much better. The female singer in Foxes had a good voice but didn’t seem to be distinctive enough for them to stand out. Bombay Bicycle Club a largely acoustic pop group were great fun.
Sadly three of the groups I wanted to see on Sunday, I missed (or couldn’t find). These were The Wailers (for obvious reasons), Yoko Ono Plastic Band (to see if they had improved at all) and London Grammar.
So that was Glastonbury 2014 for me. It might appear as if I was disappointed more often than not. Well if I was, performances from Robert Plant, Brain Ferry, Haim and Jake Bugg more than made up.
How was it for you?
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Barry
Rank: Trio
Posts: 195
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Post by Barry on Jun 25, 2014 1:09:51 GMT
Thanks Chris.
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Barry
Rank: Trio
Posts: 195
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Post by Barry on Jun 25, 2014 1:08:30 GMT
It was pretty warm here tonight before I lit up the valves! It's quite humid here - does the air density have an effect on the sound quality do you think? Of course; both temperature and pressure have an effect on the velocity of sound as well as the attenuation, though I doubt if anyone would notice. Simple rule of thumb: in the summer switch off the valve and pure class A designs, and use a good class AB alternative. (this looks like a suitable 'smiley')
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Barry
Rank: Trio
Posts: 195
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Post by Barry on Jun 24, 2014 21:07:15 GMT
It could be the area, Tim, but I found almost all of the jurors I mingled with at Winchester good and decent people. We all felt the pressure, but we very much considered the impact of releasing this scrote into the public to find another victim. If I compare what I saw in the last two weeks with the procedure we've all seen on TV in South Africa with Oscar Pistorius, where there is only a judge, then I vote to keep our system. Agreed, I did jury service over thirty yers ago, and was impressed by the fact that my fellow jurors did take their responsibilities seriously. I thought that most would want to come to a quick, ill-considered, verdict so they could be out quickly and have time to nip down to Waitrose or to pick up the kids from school. But no, the evidence was fully discussed and, eventually, a unanimous decision reached. I'm a great believer of trial by one's peers: "12 true and trusted men". The thought of trial by a meritocratic 'oligararchy' fills me with horror.
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Barry
Rank: Trio
Posts: 195
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Post by Barry on Jun 24, 2014 20:55:16 GMT
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Barry
Rank: Trio
Posts: 195
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Post by Barry on Jun 20, 2014 19:53:01 GMT
Well that's my evening's listening sorted.
All in all, a bad day for music.
RIP Horace
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Barry
Rank: Trio
Posts: 195
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Post by Barry on Jun 20, 2014 17:17:44 GMT
Sad to learn today of the death of Gerry Goffin. Along with lyricist and one-time wife Carol King, Goffin and King wrote a whole stream of successful hit tunes performed by Diana Ross, The Everly Brothers, The Shirelles, Bobby Vee, Whitney Houston, and Gladys Knight and the Pips amongst others. www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-27934624
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Barry
Rank: Trio
Posts: 195
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Post by Barry on Jun 20, 2014 17:09:04 GMT
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Barry
Rank: Trio
Posts: 195
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Post by Barry on Jun 19, 2014 18:30:47 GMT
I feel the same about Beefheart's 'Trout Mask Replica'. I have tried to listen to this on several occasions, but simply cannot see (or hear) what the fuss is about. To me it just seems to by a lot of discordant noise, with no structure or message.
Yet it is often placed in those lists of the 'Best Top 10 LPs of All Time'. There is anecdotal evidence that Beefheart had just bought himself a new hat, and refused to remove it during the recording session. This meant he wasn't wearing headphone, so he couldn't hear himself during recording. Another explanation for the odd recording is due to th excessive influence by Zappa who (I believe) produced the album.
Either way, I believe the reason why Trout Mask Replica gained such plaudits was because it was by Beefheart and therefore must be good, regardless of the fact that I suspect few, if anyone understood it. Emperor’s New Clothes?
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Barry
Rank: Trio
Posts: 195
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Post by Barry on Jun 18, 2014 15:27:49 GMT
I have a penchant for this: Enigma – ‘Le roi est mort – vive le roi’At the moment listening to these: Sixto Rodregez ‘ ‘Cold Fact’ and ‘Coming from Reality’
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Barry
Rank: Trio
Posts: 195
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Post by Barry on Jun 17, 2014 18:39:28 GMT
Hi there,
My name is Barry, frequent poster on the Art of Sound forum.
Been interested in music and audio reproduction for over forty years, and have now reached the point where I am quite content with my system as it stands.
As regards my tastes in music, I used to say that it was easier to say what I don't like, than to list what I do like. That hasn't changed - so I like all types and genres of music except: big-band jazz; contry and western; heavy metal; trash metal; rap and hip-hop.
At the moment my system(s) comprise the following:
System 1 Vinyl playback: EMT930st with 929 arm and TSD15 cartridges (or Denon 103 cartridge) or Thorens 124/II TT with either Breuer Dynamic 5A arm and ADC25 cartridge, or SME 3009/II or 3012/II arm with Ortofon SPU GM or SL15E cartridges or Decca Mk. V or mk. VI cartridges (I like to dabble with cartridges!)
CD playback: Sony CDP X930
Tuner: Quad FM4
Phonostage(s): Mark Levinson ML25 (used with ML26 preamp), or Quad 44 (used with Mark Levinson ML28)
Preamp(s): mark Levinson ML26 or ML28
Poweramp(s) Mark Levinson ML2 monoblocks or (modified) Quad 405-2
Speakers: Quad ESL 57.
System 2 CD playback: Sony CDP X720
Preamp: Mark Levinson ML10
Poweramp: Quad 520f
Speakers: B & W DM2a
There are numerous other pieces of kit lying around, but not used.
Well that's about it. If You want to know more please feel free to ask.
Barry
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