Yesterday's LJ with Fiona...

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  • ian russell
    • Dec 2024

    Yesterday's LJ with Fiona...

    ...prompted me to consider the many differences between two musical instruments; the theramin and the Rolf Harris' stylophone.

    In conclusion,

    musical virtuosity: Theramin

    musical effect: no discernible difference

    As this took less time than anticipated, my mind turned to enquire as to which of all musical instruments was the most ridiculous. After some consideration and research I came up with the armpit euphonium, much championed by the late Spike Milligan RIP, but here, in the spirit of the world music forearm (geddit?), I give you Afghanistan's very own Neil Young,

    Al ''Tooting-Car'' Moon!

    (round of applause)



    and I hear Robert Plant's bassist has already indicated an interest in recording a world fusion duet...

    *

    Incidently, at the time of the untimely death of Clarence Clemons, Radio 4 cast their net wide and dredged in Johnny Walker, of Johnny Walker 70s fame, to wax sagaciously about the saxophone, and other unguitarlike oddities, in pop music. Walker himself regretted not hearing more Glockenspiel (?). Someone off-mic suggested the ''mouth organ'' (!) to which Walker rather derogatorily mentioned the ''Jew's Harp'', though not intentionally, I'm sure, in any anti-semitic way.

    He was thinking of The Who single, of course, and the one time he was last resort to host TOTP; Savile OBE being incapacitated through a lack of gin, Blackburn suffering chronically from ''bad hair day'', and Edmonds having both jumpers in the wash*. Though how he came to be thinking of the Glock isn't clear and no one on the Today programme had the wit to ask.

    (*btw, I enjoyed very much the inclusion of the Washing machine ad in last Wednesday's programme. It sits well with last year's recording of a fried egg.)
  • Lateralthinking1

    #2
    How about gravity harps, the gameleste and the sharpsichord?

    Bjork unveils a series of newly-invented instruments as she uses the first date of her world tour to launch the Manchester International Festival.


    You've got to have the right hair for them though.

    Comment

    • ian russell

      #3
      As well as a standard album and tour, the project involves a series of iPad and iPhone applications that let fans play with and create their own versions of the songs.
      You see what fun we iPad users get up to. (see other post).

      I had been looking at the apps by Brian Eno, after listening to an interview with him on another app. Can't remember what they're called at this moment - Airspray?, Woofle? - but, apparently, they allow you to make up your own Brian Eno tunes! There's also a toy piano app I've got my eye on.

      Comment

      • Lateralthinking1

        #4
        Sounds good Ian but the Ipad. Isn't that technology? I don't do that. (Ditto personal accessories - no jewellery, briefcase, umbrella, mobile phone or watch). If though you can get a good follow-up to My Life In The Bush of Ghosts, I would be very interested to hear it. I might do mine sometime with seaweed and a wind chime.

        Comment

        • ian russell

          #5
          Oh, you're Danny Baker. Sorry, I hadn't realised.

          The Pope tweets now. Think what you're missing.

          Comment

          • Lateralthinking1

            #6
            Oh yes. This is all new to me. His followers are fascinating:

            20 May - "Popey has had a word with the man upstairs about the Rapture tomorrow. He is using GMT not US times so 6 O'clock it is".

            13 May - "What Keith Allen film? He lives by me".

            4 May - "Soon your cat will be selling its body to fund this vicious habit. I hope you are ashamed".

            Danny Baker was never my bag but this one's got a bit of boogie in it I feel. - http://twitter.com/#!/popebenedictxvi

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