Discovering Jimi Hendrix

When I was 8 years old my step-father had just moved in with us and there were boxes of books, clothes, vinyl and cassettes and other things laying around the house.  I was fortunate enough to have a large bedroom all to myself, but as we organised the house I had a single bed with a few mattresses stacked on top stored in the centre of my room.

I remember one day my cousin was over.  We were more like best friends growing up and we used to spend so much time together playing out on our bikes or playing in the woods out the back of my house.  One afternoon we were rummaging through one of the numerous cardboard boxes in the house and flicking through the stacks of vinyl.  We dismissed the rather staid looking classical music and sneered at the jazz albums, but as I turned over the various cassette cases an almost magical face peered up at me and my interest was captured.

Wearing a purple velvet jacket and a wide brimmed black hat with turquoise buckles on it the soulful eyes of Jimi Hendrix looked out at the camera as smoke billowed around him.  This was different to anything we had come across up to now.

The album was called ‘Voodoo Child’ and it was another Hendrix compilation album (although I didn’t know that at the time).  I slipped open the case and pulled out a white plastic cassette tape and put it into my simple stereo player.  I pressed play and the raw, powerful introduction to ‘Voodoo Chile (slight return)’ came out of my tiny, tinny speakers.  The effect was galvanising and my cousin and I looked at each other in wonder.  We played the song through and then rewound the tape back to the start and pressed play again.

This time as it played we both bounced up and down on the mattresses in the centre of the room in our young attempts at dancing.  I remember laughing as we did so and loving the music as it rushed through my system.  This was new to my ears and it cracked open my mind in a way that has never been shut since.

We continued to do this for some time.  Playing the song and bounce-dancing and then rewinding it to do it again and again.  We finally tired of this and went downstairs for a drink and to go out to play, but music was now something personal and my own.  I no longer had to listen to my parents musical choices anymore or the music my brothers played.  I had ‘found’ Jimi and it was my own music that no-one else in the family played.  My step-father didn’t even play it anymore, he had become strictly a classical man. 

Later on my real dad said that he used to play Hendrix around the house when I was a baby, but he left when I was 4 and I have no recollection of it.  But maybe it had subconsciously seeped into my psyche and when I heard it again at 8 it resonated within me and connected with me on some elemental level I was unable to comprehend at that young age.

The funny thing was I didn’t even play the rest of that tape until weeks later, but looking back I can see that it was a formative experience in my musical life and the start of something special and the start of my love with Jimi’s music that lasts to his very day.

I wonder if my cousin remembers it in the way I do?  I do know he is an amazing guitarist and tours with his band around Europe and is an incredible musician in his own right.   Who knows if Jimi was an influence.  I must ask him some time.

The depth of the music was hard to comprehend at that first listen and I only fully grasped it years later, but it sunk it’s hooks deep into my mind at that young age and I was deeply affected by the raw, powerful emotions of the music.  I can’t think of any better way to be introduced to an artist or helping in forming your own unique relationship with music that will last the rest of your lifetime.  I still get an urge to bounce on my mattress whenever I hear that song and just maybe one day I’ll give in to it and relive a happy memory.

Disjointed music (or 'Becoming a music camel')

It’s been a very disjointed musical week for me these past five days.

With my new job I have been out on the road and on Monday and Tuesday I was in the car, finding my way around and being guided by my new, shiny satnav.  So I could hear the reassuring tones of the female voice guiding me I didn’t play any music and my journey’s were devoid of my usual musical choices to make the trip go quickly.

I was back in the office on Wednesday and I quickly had my ipod plugged into my speaker dock and had the tunes blasting out.  The only problem was the phone rang constantly and so I had to press pause every minute or so and the music was very broken up and intermittent.  Not ideal!

I also had a meeting on the Wednesday morning so there was a few hours with no music there and before you knew I was at Friday afternoon, finishing up some emails and other items before the weekend and I realised my musical listening had been very limited to say the least.

I’m thinking next week won’t be much better.  I am out and about Tuesday and I’m staying away overnight Thursday to Friday.  The only saving grace is that I’ll take my ipod and headphones on the train journey and I can play music as I work and hopefully I’ll get a chance to play some music as I drift off to sleep at the hotel.

I hope this is just a hectic settling in period and when things calm down I will be able to get back to work and play some music to soothe me through my day.  If not, then boy is that a huge sacrifice for a new role!  But I guess it is one I am willing to make.  As long as at the weekend I can blast out my tunes and restock my musical hump, like a camel replenishing it’s water supply before heading into the desert.  It may just be the only way I’ll survive.

Music in a London Museum.

Last weekend my wife and I went up to London with two friends for a day visiting some museums.

We travelled in by tube and emerged from the clatter and bustle of the tunnels below into a mild, sunny day in South Kensington and the day stretched before us.  We strolled up and started our adventures by entering the hallowed building of The Natural History museum.  The architecture of this building is stunning enough, but the delights inside were also captivating and soon we were marvelling at dinosaurs and blue whales.  We then strolled over to the V&A and were amazed at the items in the great Cast Courts where lifesize casts of Michelangelo’s David stand alongside Trajan Column.  These contrasted with the intricate detail of the netsuke and other exhibits in my favourite Japan hall.  Finally we walked over to the Science museum where we enjoyed the Hawking room, but more importantly played like children (or perhaps even more raucously) in the ‘Who I am’ exhibit where games and interactive experiments help you explore your body.  This is just a small snippet of the days event, but as you can see it was varied and jam packed and by the middle of the day we were starting to wilt, which leads onto the musical aspect of the day.

When we arrived at the V&A we were already pretty tired from shuffling around and gazing into cabinets and reading notes and signs.  So we headed straight for the grand café near the outdoor paddling pool.  With tea and cake we settled into the impressive surroundings.  Huge, sparkling balls of light hung suspended from the ceiling, beautifully decorated tiles lined the walls and vast stained glass windows depicted various scenes as the light streamed through.  It is an extraordinary room at the best of times.

Cafe at the V&A

 As we took our first sip of tea a musical tinkle and flourish grabbed our attention and as we peered around a young gentleman started playing piano for the assembled customers.  He started off easy and played a medley of tunes that you could recognise and sit back and enjoy.  The music reverberated off the tiled walls and rung out sweetly.  After the applause subsided he started playing a fast, intricate classical piece.  His fingers flew over the keys and I sat mesmerised as his fingers bounced higher at the end of each phrase as he became more involved in the music.  He continued playing the whole time we were there and it certainly added to the atmosphere.

It was so soothing to sit there in the grand surroundings, with the gentle murmur of conversation in the air and the piano playing around us.  It almost gave you a sense of what life was like in more refined times where this was the norm and not the exception, although my jeans and t-shirt may have dented that illusion somewhat. 

After being revived by the tea, cake and music we headed back off and continued our day of fascination, being left awe struck and having fun, but it was a memorable, peaceful sojourn in a busy, hectic day.  If you ever visit the V&A then head to the café for the stunning room decoration alone, but if there’s music playing then that may just be the icing on your carrot cake.

The Beatles versus The Rolling Stones

I have often heard it said that the best way to gauge someone’s musical tastes and leanings is to ask them one key question.  Beatles or Stones?  So it was with this thought in mind I posted this question up as a poll on my blog and also encouraged discussion via my Facebook page.

First off the overwhelming results after 14 votes were, 11 (78%) voted for The Beatles and 3 (21%) voted for the Rolling Stones.  But it was only after reading and joining in with the online discussion that I started to understand why.

Most people felt that whilst certain Stones songs were excellent in their own right (the most notable mentions were ‘Jumpin Jack Flash’, ‘Gimme Shelter’ and ‘Sympathy for the Devil) they were happy with a ‘best of’ collection to satisfy their Rolling Stone craving without wishing to delve much deeper into their back catalogue.  But the consensus seemed to be that The Beatles made more albums you could happily listen to in their entirety many times over with a fresh perspective gained each time.  Also it was suggested that as the bands sound changed more over their career that there was more music available to cater for a wider selection of moods and emotions.

Revolver

I’m unsure about the veracity of some of these opinions, but I have to admit I am a Beatles man myself.  There music seems more complex, whilst also being more accessible and while I do enjoy the gritty sound of the Stones I find myself becoming bored after a few albums.  A ‘best of’ collection often suffices and then I’m happy to move on, much like the views expressed by others online I suppose.

It is quite possible and dare I say it after some of the opinions I have read, acceptable to like both bands though.  I guess we may all have our preferences, but we can easily enjoy both.

Some expressed a preference for the Beatles for their political stance and said that Lennon’s views attracted them to the bands music.  Others suggested a better question would have been ‘Beatles or Beach Boys’ as their sound was more comparable.  Others suggested the Beatles are better due to their superior album production values and cited George Martin as a huge element in the bands success and appeal.  Some said The Rolling Stones music was for more rebellious types and the ‘Beatles V Stones’ question was often asked to quickly and easily judge new friendships.  It was also suggested that the Stones had more swagger and attitude and that the Beatles were a little sterile in comparison.  It was said that considering the Rolling Stones lasted longer than the Beatles the latter band achieved comparatively so much in a short space of time and their music still has impact and sounds timeless today.

Exile on Main Street

So as you can see the thoughts and opinions were pretty varied and made for enjoyable reading.   There is plenty to mull over and comment on if you have any thoughts yourself, I would love to hear your take on it.

I guess the best way to end things would be to paraphrase Mick Jagger.  When asked in ‘65 whether his group was better than the Beatles, he diplomatically stated that "they do what they do best and we do what we do best".  You can’t say fairer than that!

Listening to music closely.

I listen to music for most of the day.  On the way into work, a great deal of the day at work, on my journey home, when I surf, write and work online in the evening, doing household chores, when in the shower and shaving and often before I go to sleep.

But I also make sure I take the time out at least once a day to really listen to music.  It is easy to drift along and do things with music in the background, but I also like to fully focus on music when I can.  To just sit back, do nothing else and listen to the melody, beat, rhythm, lyrics and emotion behind a song. 

I don’t need to spend prolonged periods of time doing this, but I do need to connect with music on this deeper level at least once a day.

I did this today with one of my favourite tracks from a band called Death Cab for Cutie.  The song is ‘Transatlanticism’ from the album of the same name.  This song starts off gently and gradually builds in power.  The guitars and drums gradually get louder and more emotive and the repeating riff worms its way into my psyche.  There is a phrase at the end where the lead singer sings over and over ‘I need you so much closer’ which leads into the line ‘So come on’, which gives me goose bumps and makes me feel the song deeply.  Especially with that riff underneath and the building drums.  It is powerful, sublime stuff and I can heartily recommend you sitting back and giving yourself over to this song if you get the chance.

Music is great for getting us through certain tasks or through a long day at work, but I also like to pick those particular songs that have a deeper connection with me and giving them the attention they deserve.  This way I allow them deeper into my life and let them affect me on a more fundamental level.  It doesn’t take long to do, but taking the time to play and fully engage with music is a key part of my day and who I am.



For some people music is just fluff to enjoy at an odd moment or to always play in the background, but I love it that I can make it a more profound part of my life and let it affect and shape the person I am and who I want to be.  This may sound a touch too deep and even a little melodramatic, but music has this effect on me and I am grateful for it.  Why not find a song that moves you deeply and sit back and listen to it as closely as you possibly can, hear the nuances you may have previously missed and let it touch you on a deeper level.  There is nothing like it.