Changing my mood with music Part 2.

One of my first blog articles was about the effect of music on my emotions (‘Changing my Mood with Music’) and I always think about the truth of this fact at this time of year, as I struggle with the diminishing daylight and the onset of winter.

As the amount of light gradually reduces I have to be more and more careful about the music I play, as the wrong album at the wrong time can tip me into a deep brooding place that it is hard to extricate myself from.  I know this is related to S.A.D and is perfectly normal at this time of year and I have to manage my musical choices almost as carefully as my exposure to light.

What’s worse is that I adore that melancholy, introspective, brooding feeling and when I start to feel it, it is hard to resist it’s allure.  There is something about being curled up indoors when it is cold and gloomy outside with a good book and some of your favourite music playing in the background.  You can look past you reflection in the window at the misty autumn/winter light and feel all cosy and nostalgic. 

There is a particular feel about this time of year for sure.  Halloween has just passed and Guy Fawkes night, with it’s smell of bonfires and leaves in the air, is upon us and soon it will be Christmas and New Year and the time for celebration.  In fact up until the New Year I am usually fine with my music and emotions, but once everything dies down and it’s back to the grind of work with nothing to look forward to, it can become harder to keep my emotions in check.

One favourite album for me at this time of year has to be 'The Division Bell’ by Pink Floyd.  I love this album with a passion and it can make my insides ache more than most other albums I own.  It’s searing guitars, thoughtful lyrics and emotive music hits me full force every time I play it.  Yet, I know that if I play it too much and feel it too deeply when I am also struggling with S.A.D it can be a slippery slope to sadness and gloom.

Pink Floyd - The Division Bell

Another powerful album that is ‘dangerous’ for me is ‘The Prayer Cycle’ by Jonathan Elias.  This incredible album is based upon a selection of his poems and has the most emotional compositions behind them.  Elias wrote the score and poems and asks a variety of musicians to interpret and sing his poems over the top.  Alanis Morrissette sings in Hungarian, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan adds his unique and wonderful vocals and James Taylor sings one of my favourite tracks on the album in his distinctive vocal style.  There are sublime strings and choral work that make the hairs on my neck stand up and it is a profoundly moving piece of music.  It is even more powerful if you read the poems at the same time as listening to the album.  It can also make me feel things too deeply and I know to steer clear of it during the winter months. 

There are other artists and albums that have a similar effect upon me, but you get the gist of what I am describing here.  I have learnt to ‘self medicate’ with music and over the years I have found that when I start to notice that introspective, brooding feeling I can stop or slow it in it’s tracks by putting on some upbeat music and singing along full force.

Stamping my feet (when at work) or dancing along also helps and soon those more troublesome emotions have been banished and I am back on top and able to get going again. 

Of course I have music that plays well at other particular times of the year and as spring starts to break out, so too do I break out my spring and summer albums and get in sync with the feeling of that time of year.  These albums are often rock albums from my youth and maybe I’ll mention these in another article at some point.  I am just thankful that I have music in my life that can affect me and also save me as profoundly as it does.

Hypnotised in the Zinc Bar.

Many years ago, when I was 17, I went to New York with a large group of friends.  We went in February and it was freezing cold and I can remember walking around the city feeling as if I was walking in a movie set.  The skyscrapers loomed over me.  Steam rose from manhole covers.  Taxi drivers yelled out belligerent abuse if you dared to try to cross the road when they were driving past.  The Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building, World Trade Centre, Central Park and Times Square all felt familiar as I toured around to view them.  The city felt vibrant and alive and it was perfect for a trip away with my friends.

Our flight out was early in the morning and I remember not sleeping well the night before.  We arrived during the day in New York and hit the streets rights away.  I had already been awake for over 24 hours by this point, but didn’t feel too tired.  We had a meal out and then a few us went to a Jazz bar in Greenwich Village called the Zinc Bar.  We were going to see a guitarist called Ron Affif who I had heard great things about and I was looking forward to the night.  It was late when we arrived, around 10pm, but the music was yet to start so we had a drink and waited.

I remember sitting in a booth watching all the cool cats of New York talking and having a drink and I soaked up the atmosphere.  The ceilings were low and it was dark in there, but it didn’t feel seedy in anyway, just cosy and undeniably cool.   I was starting to flag by this point, but hung on for the music.  I had been awake for a long time by now and I fell jet lagged, tired from all the walking, tired from lack of sleep and exhilarated from the excitement of being in New York and anticipation of the music on offer.  A heady and disorientating combination. 

The door to the bar swung open and the musicians entered, along with a blast of cold Manhattan air.  Everyone looked up and the bar chattered and then quietened down again.  I sat up and thought the night was about to get started, but instead the band headed towards the bar, sat down and had a few drinks.

After a while Ron and his band mates headed towards the tiny stage area, which was more like the corner of the bar.  I was sat right next to this area and watched avidly as they set up.  They double bass player tuned up, as did Ron and the drummer hit a few testing beats and tightened a few knobs on his drum kit.  Then without so much as a ‘hello’ the band started playing and everyone was transfixed.

The music was raw and compelling from the word go.  The drumming was intense and the guitar riffs Ron pulled of soared up and down the fretboard.  I was still absolutely shattered by this time, but it was amazing to watch such skill at such close quarters.  That is where things got a bit weird for me.

The drummer was a big intense black guy who sat at his kit like it was a child’s toy.  He stared around the audience with laser like focus and his look was hypnotic and electric.  I was feeling fuzzy from lack of sleep and the music washing over me and when the drummer turned his gaze upon me it felt very powerful.  He just stared into my eyes as he frantically played some sublime jazz and the experience was full-on and formidable.  I couldn’t look away and it honestly felt as though he was hypnotising me.  When he finally looked away I felt wrung out and exhausted, but managed to stay until the end of their first set and part of the way into their second.

We finally staggered out of the bar after 2 in the morning and hailed a cab to take us back to our hotel.  I recall looking out of the window up at the skyscrapers and feeling shell shocked and yet strangely exhilarated.  It had certainly been a unique evening and a powerful introduction to this fast flowing and addictive city that has stayed with me ever since.  I have yet to return to New York, but when I do I will be making a bee line for the Zinc Bar.  The experience may not be quite the same, but I can always go along and hope.

Music for the long haul.

After coming back from holiday recently I thought how the one thing that made the long haul flight so much more bearable was having my music with me.  If it wasn’t for my Ipod and headphones to drown out the incessant drone of the engines I think I would’ve arrived at the destination a gibbering wreck.

I was delighted when the stewardess came round with the flimsy, cheap and crackly airline headphones that I could pull out my Bose and slip them over my ears.  The sound isolation from them is pretty great and I immediately noticed the volume of the engines diminish to a bearable level.  That’s before I used them to watch a film or play some music.

One immediate benefit was that I could have the volume set lower on my ipod or on the film as the sound isolation was so good.  I could hear more details and not struggle to hear dialogue in the in-flight film and it was much less harmful to my hearing in the process.

As the flight wore on I was able to retreat into my music and go into my own space.  I chose my favourite albums and played these and then put on a playlist and let the music drift over me.  Sometimes the only time I was aware I was on a flight was when I was offered a hot towel or drink!

It was nice to look out over the cloud tops as some particularly stirring music played and I was able to think about various thinks and plan my holiday before I arrived. 

Having my music also helped me to get some sleep.  I can never normally sleep on a flight due to the small seats and excessive noise, but having my music to focus on really helped me to drift off and get a few hours sleep.  I also deliberately added some natures sounds CD’s onto my ipod to see if these would help with sleep and I am glad to report that they did.  I had a rain and thunderstorm CD and after I got over the initial urge to urinate it worked really well to mask the sound of the flight and relax me enough to get some sleep.  The sounds of Humpback Whales was less effective!

I also enjoyed plugging into the in-flight entertainment list and listening to an album that had just been released or from an artist I didn’t know that well.  It was a good way to try out some new music before I bought it and helped stave off the boredom.

Music has the ability to transport us to another time or place and you’ll never need this more than on a long flight.  I was able to tune out the noise and disruption of the flight and enjoy my music and before I knew it we were coming into land and I had reached my destination.

I have another short flight coming up soon for business purposes and I can guarantee I will have my ipod and headphones with me again to keep me entertained for the duration.  If you have to fly I can think of nothing better than  playing some of your favourite songs to get you though to your destination in one piece and feeling more refreshed than if you had had to contend with the noise and bustle of the flight without them.  When music blocks out engine noise and screaming children I can certainly think of worse ways to spend a flight!

Exploring new music genres.

A friend recently gave me a Soul music compilation that she found in a charity shop and which she thought I may like.  It had a selection of artists music across three CD’s and although I had many of the tracks on specific albums, it was good having them in one place as an easily accessible compilation.

It got me thinking about these compilation albums and how they can be a good introduction to various genres of music.  It is a good way to dip your toes into the waters of music that may be new to you and if you find a track that especially moves you, you can go off and find more music by that artist.

They are also good for people like me, who already have many of the tracks, but who sometimes only wants a quick burst of a particular genre and doesn’t want to be limited to just one artist.  I guess we can make up our own playlists these days, which I do, but it is also nice to have the choice taken out of my hands and it’s also great finding the odd new gem hidden amongst the tracks I already know.

Of course there are also some terrible compilations out there, where a cheap label has cobbled together some music from some obscure artists to make a quick buck.  If you start off with one of these, not only will you not find much to further explore, but you may also be turned off of a genre of music completely.  It’s worth paying that little bit more for a compilation that has access to a wide range of labels and respected artists so that you get a good cross section of music and which gives you a fair representation of what the genre has to offer.

I love the odd Power Ballad compilation here, or an Eighties collection there and the next day I will quite happily press play on a Blues selection, followed up by some Soul that gets my fingers clicking in one moment and my insides aching the next.  It’s like having your own radio station, without the DJ.  Which leads me on to my next point.  With Internet radio now you can easily find a station that specialises in one style of music and which plays some of the well known hits to whet your appetite.  You don’t necessarily need to buy a CD compilation to achieve the same goal anymore, although I personally still like to.  But, this way you can find some new music without the cost and then you can go off and buy some specific tracks or albums based on your recent musical finds.

Some people suggest the internet will be the death of music and it certainly is throwing up some challenges for the music industry.  But for those, like me, who still like to buy their music, it is a wonderful way to find new bands and music before you go out and buy some more from them to round out your collection.

Next time you see an inexpensive music collection of a genre you’re not especially familiar or comfortable with, give it a try.  You never know you may find something to further explore and some music that moves you as deeply as the music you already own.  The best way to enjoy your music is the constantly stretch yourself and try new things.  You’ll add some new music into your life, but you’ll also enjoy your existing collection more as you hear it from a fresh perspective.

Music News: October 2011 Archive

October 2011

21.10.11 Stone Roses sell out reunion tour in 14 minutes.
The Stone Roses sold out their recently announced reunion tour in 14 minutes today.  Two outdoor shows with 150,000 available tickets sold out as fans swamped ticket websites.  An extra date has been added due to the unprecedented demand.

http://music.uk.msn.com/news/stone-roses-sell-out-in-14-minutes

13.10.11 Gibson Guitars have 'rainforest' wood impounded.
Gibson, one of the worlds foremost Guitar builders, has had a shipment of Rosewood seized under the Lacey Act with an estimated value of $500,000.  This is the second time in three years that US government investigators have been to the guitar manufacturer to question them about their wood sources as most Rosewood is from restricted rainforests.  The company denies any wrongdoing and claims it is a misunderstanding.

http://www.nme.com/news/various-artists/59785

06.10.11 Music world mourns the loss of Steve Jobs.
Sadly Apple founder Steve Jobs has passed away after his long fight with cancer.  He is credited with reviving the computer companies fortunes and revolutionising the way we listen to and access music.  The ipod and itunes were his major music related achievements, but he is also well know for the iphone and ipad, both of which have changed the way we communicate and access our media.  Numerous artists have commented on his death and impact on their creativity and Trent Reznor from Nine Inch Nails said "Thanks for the tools, the inspiration, the possibilities... Miss you already Steve."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/6music/news/20111006_jobs.shtml

05.10.11 Gorillaz to release compilation album in November.
It was announced today that Gorillaz will release a 15 track Singles Collection on November 28th.  Gorillaz, which is comprised of Damon Albarn, the artist Jamie Hewlett and a variety of collaborative musicians has been going for ten years and this collection will celebrate that.  The track listing will be:-

'Tomorrow Comes Today'
'Clint Eastwood'
'19-2000'
'Rock The House'
'Feel Good Inc'
'DARE'
'Dirty Harry'
'Kids With Guns'
'El Manana'
'Stylo'
'Superfast Jellyfish'
'On Melancholy Hill'
'Doncamatic'
'Clint Eastwood' (Ed Case & Sweetie Irie Refix)
'19-2000' (Soulchild Remix)
http://www.nme.com/news/gorillaz/59618

05.10.11 Adele cancels US tour.
Adele has announced she will be cancelling her US tour due to a haemorrhage on her vocal cords.  She was due to perform for 10 dates starting this friday.  These cancellations come after a string of cancellations on her UK with ill health and exhaustion.  The singer said she was "heartbroken" and "I apologise from the bottom of my heart, sincerely I do."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/15179395

05.10.11 System of a Down drummer says new album will happen at some point.
John Dolmayan, the drummer from metal band System of a Down, has said the band will record a new album when the time is right and when they can beat any album they have made previously.  Expectations have been high since the band came off hiatus to play some festivals this summer.  Serj Tankian, the lead singer, has a solo project to finish and promote next year and then the band may be able to move forwards with a new band project. 

http://www.nme.com/news/system-of-a-down/59621

04.10.11 Second posthumous Michael Jackason due for release.
It has been announced that a second posthumous album will be released by Michael Jackson on November 21st.  The album to be titled 'Immortal' will feature demos, outtakes and reworkings of old favourites. 

http://www.metro.co.uk/music/877530-michael-jackson-posthumous-album-immortal-due-out-in-november

03.10.11 Pete Townshend to launch inaugural John Peel Lecture.
Pete Townshend is due to give the inaugural John Peel lecture at an event to be held on 31st October and hosted by BBC 6 Music.  The lecture will assess the state of the music industry in the internet age.  The aim is to have a different artist give a lecture each year and the series is named in honour of the Radio 1 DJ who passed away in 2004.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-15125589