Posted in Paper Chase

Albert Camus – The Fall

Posted on by Michael

The Fall by French philosopher Albert Camus was originally published in 1956, a year before he won the Nobel Prize for literature. The novel takes place in Amsterdam where Parisian lawyer Jean-Baptiste Clamence has moved. He befriends a fellow patron at the Mexico City bar and opens up about his life with its many ups and downs.  Most notably, speaking about the parts of his life where he has not acted charitably. Or even when he does, is it to help fellow men and women or to only gain attention of others..?

It’s a fascinating story that takes place over several meetings, Clamence is charming with seemingly many lives lived. The whole story feels like it takes place in a Brassai photograph – in black and white, at night, and in the cold and damp.  Clamence’s fall from grace, his Garden of Eden, sees him turn inwards and analyze his life and its many events, his many decisions. At less than 150 pages, it’s a quick story but thoroughly thought provoking, a true work of art.  

10/10

Posted in Album Reviews

David Bowie – Never Let Me Down (1987)

Posted on by Michael

After the lukewarm response to his Tonight album, David Bowie kept busy in the mid 80s with film roles and music, Live Aid performance, the memorable “Dancing In The Streets” single with Mick Jagger, etc. When it finally came time to record an album, Bowie chose to work with producer David Richards who he had worked with on “Heroes” and bringing in Bob Clearmountain as engineer for the Never Let Me Down album.

The 80s sounding album starts with “Day-In-Day-Out” clocking in at well over five minutes – punctuated by horn stabs, a good bass groove and call and response vocals, it is a good start. “Time Will Crawl” is a generic yet decent danceable track, sounds like something that would have been played early in the night at the club. Singing in a higher register, the title track brings in a welcome R+B influence.Leaning into rock and roll, “Zeroes” brings in crowd noise with some guitar flexing, “Shining Star (Makin’ My Love)” explores love in the rough streets of drug addiction, includes a Mickey Rourke rap.

Comparing Bowie’s mid 80s sound with other bands of that era like INXS and The Cure, those other bands were producing hits by using the path that Bowie created of mixing rock and sound experimentation within a pop format. It’s a wonder that Bowie himself was not following his own lead instead of the middle of the road dance rock on Never Let Me Down. Having said that, the album does sound more cohesive than Tonight and with a few songs that are actually better than they should be.

6/10

Posted in Album Reviews

Boards Of Canada – Inferno (2026)

Posted on by Michael

The buzz around record stores a few weeks ago was on the new Boards of Canada album that was about to come out, Inferno. The Scottish duo’s first album in 13 years is a cause for excitement, their glowing reputation in the electronica world has never dimmed since their classic debut from 1998, Music Has The Right To Children. “Introit” welcomes the listener before the religious overtones start to appear throughout including on “Age Of Capricorn”, a mysterious track that takes vocals from a church sermon, messages from the ether. Talk of God and religion continues on “Father And Son”.  

“Naraka” goes on a trip through the depth of beats making for a menacing sound. A low rumble through the sinewaves pushes through “Acts of Magic”, a rumble that recalls 90s Leftfield. Tracks like “Into The Magic Land” has a bit of a new age feel, sounds coming from the forest. The new age sound is disturbed on “Blood In The Labyrinth” with an unholy vocal sample. The demonic vocals of “All Reason Departs” are terrifying in dark corners, the organ on “You Retreat In Time And Space” lift you back up into the light.

It’s astonishing that an album like this could make the top ten across the world, but Inferno did. Mike Sandison and Marcus Eoin have created a soundscape that can be serene but with demented vocals and sounds that cut down into the dark depths of the earth.

7.5/10

Posted in Album Reviews

Ride – 4 EPs (2022)

Posted on by Michael

The Smile compilation of Ride’s first two EPs was originally released in North America in July of 1990. The classic shoegaze band then added their next two EPs released from that time period and released them as the 4EPs compilation in 2022. Filled with crashing guitars, “Chelsea Girl” and “Drive Blind” are two early highlights, noisy but tuneful 90s indie rock. “Like A Daydream” adds a 60s psychedelic pop swirl to the band’s ever-growing sound.

It is with the Fall EP released in the fall of 1990 that the band really propels forward with their own sound. “Taste” is blast of super charged joy with a driving beat and fine vocals from Mark Gardener.  To counteract that sound, “Nowhere” is a darker, moodier take.  Ride’s final EP from this period was released soon after their debut album Nowhere.  Today Forever adds the melodic “Sennen” and dreampop of “Today” to finish this collection. 

The EPs were a hit for their label Creation Records with the first three hitting the top 75 in the UK, a remarkable feat at the time. After four albums, the band called it quits before reforming 30 years later.  In the meantime, Andy Bell notably joining Oasis in 1999 and has been releasing solo albums over the years.  Ride’s early track, “Here And Now” describes the original sound as “the train above me sounds like the music in my head”. A cacophony of melodic noise played with youthful exuberance is what really stands out on this compilation.

8/10

Posted in Album Reviews

Kacey Musgraves – Middle Of Nowhere (2026)

Posted on by Michael

It’s been eight years since Kacey Musgraves released her Golden Hour album to rave reviews. Since then she has released a couple of good albums before releasing Middle Of Nowhere in May on her original record label, Lost Highway. Of the thirteen tracks, only one is over four minutes long with all of them breezing by, moving effortlessly between pop and country on a number of tracks.

A pedal steel guitar powers “Back On The Wagon” with the ambiance of a slow trot about a guy who keeps trying again and again and again. The cowboys on “Uncertain TX” just can’t seem to make up their minds but she does find common ground with fellow country star Miranda Lambert on the fun “Horses and Divorces”.

The album starts off with two of the album’s high points. Musgraves sings the title track with co-producer Daniel Tashien, the extra voice is a great addition as she sings, “It’s just me and me, and that’s all I need”. “Dry Spell” is her take at Lily Allen themes, the double entendre lows of being between partners on the catchy as all heck single. The whole thing closes on the heartfelt acoustic finale “Hell On Me”.  At just over 40 minutes, there is a lot to like on Middle Of Nowhere as Kacey Musgraves makes handling the highs and lows of life sound like an easy pop tune.

8/10