James Bell Central

Month: January 2017

  • Here beginneth the Serialisation

    Here beginneth the Serialisation

    Photo by David Bleasdale (CC BY 2.0)

    The last full album I recorded under my own name was in 2013.  Since then I’ve done plenty of gigs, produced an album for someone else, written a lot of blog and social media posts…

    What I haven’t done is release any new music.  Which is odd, considering I consider myself primarily a recording artist.

    So why not?  Well, paying the bills, to be honest.  And it takes so long to organise all the other stuff that I tend to try to get it out of the way first, and then do the fun part (recording music) when I have time.

    Well, I realised quite a while ago that, realistically, I’ll never have time.  Not unless I make time. (more…)

  • ‘Makeba’ by Jain

    ‘Makeba’ by Jain

    Jesus but this flammably catchy song by French songsmith Jain has been raging through my brain these last weeks.  Although… I think I want to recommend the video as much as the song, which is smart and stylish and sassy and just puts a smile on my face every time I’m trying to recover from seeing what new shitstorm has just been unleashed on Twitter today. (more…)

  • Eulogize This: OK Go

    Eulogize This: OK Go

    Another undiscovered gem for this month – this time it’s about an underground band that I and about 50 million people on YouTube are into.

    http://www.eulogizethis.com/ok-go/

  • ‘Intellectual Impostures’ by Alan Sokal and Jean Bricmont

    ‘Intellectual Impostures’ by Alan Sokal and Jean Bricmont

    A slightly unconventional choice for Monthly Recommendation #2:

    A book, also published under the title of Fashionable Nonsense: Postmodern Intellectuals’ Abuse of Science, by two physicists: Alan Sokal and Jean Bricmont.  The beginning of the preface explains it all… (more…)

  • Roald Dahl and the WDT

    Roald Dahl and the WDT

    Here’s a cheering thing.  (And who doesn’t need cheering things right now?)

    (more…)

  • ‘House Every Weekend’ by David Zowie

    ‘House Every Weekend’ by David Zowie

    Monthly recommendation #3.  Another dance tune from 2015 with a great video.  This one topped the charts, so it’s not exactly an undiscovered gem, but in a cold and grey January it just feels to me like the right tune at the right moment.

    (more…)