Blue and PRS Visit

Golly gosh coming42has voted "Blue" as one of his favourite albums - well i too bought "Blue" by Joni Mitchell back in the seventies ,and whilst i have that one on CD i also have "Ladies of The Canyon" in beautifiul gatefold vinyl, purchased in Seaford from a charity shop over two years ago for about £4 - and it is in pristine condition.

It is true our tastes our very different (generally) and whilst his taste in music is very mainstream, i suppose you could say, overall, mine's more experimentalist and avant-garde. Sometimes crossing over towards mainstream and beyond. I wouldn't have considered Led Zeppelin as being mainstream (Zep 4 is a corker of an album anyway) but latter day Pink Floyd after "Meddle" as being more mainstream. The Tracy Thorn album is lovely short and sweet (and i am not talking her recent release either). The new Nick Cave venture Grinderman clocks in at 40 minutes and Ben Frost's "Theory of Machines" at just over 38 minutes for a CD - but all three are at just the right length and none overstay their welcome. 

Interestingly both the Grinderman and Ben Frost CD's are not in standard CD jewel case format and both look closer to the look, feel,and  artwork found on vinyl. Infact neither is in a digipak format,and the Ben Frost one is a tryptych which folds outwards with CD in the right pouch and the booklet in the left pouch.

But when it comes to artwork vinyl still holds up against all competitors. At least with some companies producing CD's there is a modicum of thought gone into the packaging. Some examples which come to mind would be the  Albert Ayler box set on Revenant or any Revenant CD for that matter,those Finnish underground music CD's on the Fonal label,and any well annotated compilation such as those Old Hat recordings.   

Anyway lsst night i took a train over to Hastings for a PRS live vist to "Venue M" - it was a local big band jazz group playing  music in the mainstream of jazz and some bebop tunes such as "Tanga" by Dizzie Gillespie, and a real thumping groovy version of "Theme From Sesame Strreet" (which the Free Design covered). It was quite a good evening and i arrived home about 12.30.

Bank Charges (Rolling On Again)

This was grabbed from  www.moneysavingexpert.com c oncerning recent comments on bank charges.

"It’s like someone slapping you across the face while they pat you on the back! Angry bank customers may rightfully cheer that the mighty OFT thinks the banks have robbed us; but this toothless tiger may make this worse rather than better for some.

The Money Should Be Given Back Automatically without Question

Assuming the banks wilt and follow its opinion, they’ll start paying back SOME of bank charge cash they’ve unfairly grabbed, but only if asked. This is out of order. Breach banks’ rules and disgustingly they suck cash straight from our accounts, without letting us dispute it; no other type of company has this dangerous dark power. So it’s shameful that while they’ve unlawfully grabbed our money, without ever asking, we will have to ask to get it back. It outrageous and means many £billions will stay in their coffers.

I’m very proud that 1,500,000 template letters have been downloaded from my website to bully-back the banks over the last few months, with many getting £1000s back. Yet what about those without web access, the illiterate or innumerate, or those with mental health issues, large numbers of whom have tragic massive debts? The banks don’t care who they profit from, so why should they escape giving it back to all?

The OFT doesn’t have the power. But politicians do. Are they listening? I say get up off your green benches and stop the banks earning out of apathy, ignorance and confusion. Make ‘em automatically give every unlawfully taken penny back.

What will the magic number be?

Yet there’s another nasty shock. Up until now, everyone who pushes hard has got all their bank account penalty charges back, often without the need to go to Court. There’s a risk the OFT’s opinion will make this less likely. Remember, this isn’t about bank charges being wrong, but that they’re too high. In the UK, you’re not allowed to fine people for breaching contract, but you can recoup costs.

Yet, go beyond your overdraft limit or bounce a cheque/direct debit and does it really cost a bank 35 quid each and every time for its computers to print off an automated letter, stuff it in an envelope and post it? Of course not! The Professor of Banking who investigated it says even taking ‘structural costs’ into account, it’s at most £4.50.

Don’t expect the OFT to say the same though, it has been talking to the banks and wants their co-operation, so they’ll agree, when asked, to pay back some of the cash without a fight. And that means a compromise; last year when it talked about credit cards charges it said £12, but rumours are the banks big buck arguments may’ve swayed it upwards to around £15, so follow the OFT’s route you’ll probably only get half your cash back.

Let me fire a warning shot at the banks… this type of compromise figure ain’t on. The OFT doesn’t rule the Courts, so people can still fight you there, just as many have done since the credit card charge opinion. If the figure set is too high, this can and will happen and you'll find yourself losing in court just like you do now.

Charges should be set around a fiver and past charges should all be automatically refunded, except for a fiver per charge. Banks can afford it. They’re likely to have grasped £38 billion profits this year. This is astonishing: it’s more money than adding 10p to the rate of income tax would earn. This year’s profit increase alone is £5 billion. So this bunch of bankers can afford to give back the massive £1.7 billion per year they’ve stolen in charges.

If you’ve had bank charges, reclaim right now, before this is announced, the sooner the better."


Advice which I have already taken.

Buggers

Well got my money from UKFS but only what was on the playclaim,so minus the extra hundred they still owe me for a job plus any compensation, so i will be writing again. Ditto, my bank as well, if they don't give a reasonable offer. Yep, I am in fighting mood!!

Also i am not accepting any more "anonymous" comments esp. the geezer or lass who said "Shoddy - you should know" so be warned, unless you are already an LJ user, comments will not be allowed to be posted.

Lovely Jubbly

Well it has been a lovely day for a street survey - just hope it stays that way tomorrow as i will be in London doing two surveys (the magazine one) and starting another road users satisfaction survey (this time in Wimbledon) and whilst in Wimbledon will pick up a cheque for £86 from Plus 4 for work done last month.

Part-exchanged 3 old NMC classical CD's today in Hove at Fine Records for an almost near mint Peddlers LP "The Fantastic Peddlers" (Fontana 1967). Also completed my full Virgin loyalty card (ha ha) by getting "Ballads of The Book" compilation (Chemical Underground Records) for nothing.This was reviewed in the current Wire magazine in the compilation section.

I have reviewed the Peddlers LP on my WEIRDSOUNDZ site.

The Annual Festival

Looking forward to the Hawk And A Hacksaw gig in May,but hte rest of this year's Brighton Festival looks decidedly pale by comparison - which is a pity. That gig is not featured in the main Festival guide,maybe the fringe guide will be far more interesting. Meanwhile, shall look out for the Polly Shang Kuan Band LP coming soon as it features ex-members of Leopard Leg (without Rowan).

The Mid Week Playlist

Well decided to have an interim playlist so here goes -

1/ Joanna Newsom - The Milk-Eyed Mender (Drag City CD)
2/ Joanna Newsom - Ys (Drag City CD)
3/ Yo La Tengo - Electr-o-Pura (City Slang CD)
4/ Free Design - Raindrops (Siesta CD)
5/ Grinderman - No Pussy Blues (Mute CD)
6/ Ben Frost - Theory of Machines (Bedroom Community CD)
7/ Scott Walker - Scott 2 (Fontana CD)
8/ Trevor Wishart - Anticredo (Hyperion LP)
9/ Pavement - Wowee Zowee Deluxe Reissue (Domino 2CD)
10/ Various Artists - My Mind Goes High Psychedelic Pop Nuggets From The WEA Vaults (WEA CD)
11/ Billie Holiday - Lady In Satin (Columbia CD)
12/ Bobby Conn - King For A Day (Thrill Jockey CD)
13/ Radian - Juxtaposition (Thrill Jockey CD)
14/ Pere Ubu - Why I Hate Women (Glitterhouse CD)
15/ Mark-Anthony Turnage - Blood On The Floor (Argo CD)
16/ Nick Drake - Bryter Layter (Island CD)
17/ The Peddlers - The Fantastic Pedldlers (Fontana LP)
18/ Various Artists - Ballads Of The Books (Chemikal Underground CD)
19/ Pet Shop Boys / Dusty Springfield - What have I done To Desreve This? (Parlophone 7")
20/ Boredoms - Super Roots (Very Friendly CD)