X+Y = M

Have listened to Coldplay's X+Y again. I know I always say I hate the album, and that hasn't changed. It is completely and utterly pedestrian in its conceit, devoid of all bounce, flutter, humour, sadness and love.

Take The Hardest Part, for instance. It's a typical X+Y song, totally banal in terms of sentiment, lyrics, feel, harmony, rhythm. And not even a hint of joy in the way that they play it: it is rehearsed and polished to within an inch of its life. And that mix! When that keyboard (guitar?) line comes in 2'43, right through to the end with the double tracked vocal and tiny vocal harmony... then the piano lead out... it's a perfectly constructed mix. Utterly in-your-face obviousness, all shiny plastic surfaces, no depth... yet strangely moreish, like a Damien Hurst, or a McDonalds happy meal.

Yet, there are roughnesses here and there – a misplaced drum hit that hasn't been digitally aligned; the messy and out of tune lead guitar in Square One; the sloppy cross-fade into Fix You. But the overall 'plastic aesthetic' makes the listener completely intolerant of these mistakes! I keep thinking oh just one more take and you're there. It's a weird conclusion to reach, that tiny bits of roughness are simply unwelcome laziness. There aren't many albums that evoke this kind of reaction... in fact, I couldn't imagine thinking this about anything other than the most Perspex-like pop. Why? Because in most cases, there is a give-and-take relationship between polish and humanity. You put up with the wrong notes because of what would be lost by perfecting the performance. Here, no such give-and-take relationship occurs.

So, what the album lacks most is humanity. And this means the only possible 'tension' (between rough and smooth) is perpetually resolved in favour of the smooth. The album is has no purpose, no journey. It doesn't go anywhere. It is anthemic, yes, but utterly static, and strangely meaningless. A loudspeaker blasting orders into the face of a lifeless shop mannequin.

It is a plastic totem.

Two massive, yellow, plastic arches forming a capital letter M.

Milanese - Billy Electron (Venger Remix) - LYRICS

huh-huh-huh-huh-huh-huh…
yeaah-yeeah-yeaah-yeeah…

come on - come on - come on - come on…

yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah…

imm nash
hahahaha
really-man faaaaaar
fye-yah
wiv night-ah
jopman jossila
yeeeah
wrap them down
woul-bakh
miyaloimikkila bushurduff woosh!
wiya bab mannaaaah
wyahwaah ziffi
roh bagolon

yeaah-yeeah-yeaah-yeeah…

(eesh-eesh-eesh-eesh…)

send him in stone
roar commoh
ivunu waa
you really ook
zeevul zwah
aaaaaaaa-you
laaaaad what you know?
yeeeah

y'ar soolawide
rrrrado-eenawak
ree hee hee
cool man, ree hee!
are you the bag why
ilwiliwuwawaddeh
il vidda
wond wond wond wond

come on - come on - come on - come on…

huh-huh-huh-huh-huh-huh…
yeaah-yeeah-yeaah-yeeah…

some thoughts

1. More interaction. Jay mentioned that we were like three soloists, all working inside our own virtuosic sonic silo. He said that was part of what made us great, and I think instinctively I agree with him. But there is scope for stripping back and unifying things a little bit. (Remember how bass and guitar interacted in Seventh?)

2. Maximum one laptop. (No laptops?)

3. “Backing tracks = unacceptable” ...should we revisit this notion? There is a difference between us being in control over everything and stuff happening without us “triggering” it in some way, but is this ever really noticed by anyone else? If you press ‘play’ ever, you’re already doing something which sounds like a backing track. Does this psychological control-freakery contain and constrain us? (Not saying I know the answer to this)

4. Live drums???????

Tuna steaks with lemon and herb rice and red pepper bravas salsa

2 large tuna steaks
1 cup basmati rice
1 red pepper, chopped into thin strips
Juice of half a lemon
1oz mascarpone
2oz plain yoghurt
A few leaves chopped basil
1oz tomato purée
1 red chilli pepper, very finely chopped
1tsp oregano
1tsp caraway seeds
1/2 tsp sugar
Sunflower oil or other light, non-flavoured oil 
Salt
Pepper

Wrap tuna steaks in foil, cook in middle oven for 20 mins on gas mark 6. When almost done, lightly brown each side for 2-3 mins in a hot sunflower oiled pan and set aside in a warm place. Keep the oil in the pan for the salsa.

While tuna is in the oven, boil the rice until al dente, then drain and rinse through with boiling water. Return to a low heat and stir through the mascarpone, yoghurt, basil and lemon juice and gently warm through. Season lightly and take off the heat. 

Also while tuna is in oven, make the bravas paste by stirring together the tomato purée, chilli, oregano, and sugar. Season well and add black pepper until the chilli and black pepper are roughly equal on the palate.

In tuna oil pan, fry the peppers with the caraway seeds on a medium-low heat for 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Turn up the heat and add the bravas paste, stirring for another few minutes until the bravas paste just starts to brown. 

Put the rice in the centre of two plates, rest the tuna on the rice and pile the salsa on top.  

lyrics

Here is a list of all of the songs I've written:

Chimes
Seventh
Broken wings
The storm
Coldskin
Holding on
Iamthebeater
Four cycles
Open your heart
Tape riser
Your turn
Fake out, shuffle off
Contradiction
Borderline
Don't rush
Dark song
When you're there
Plunged head first
Harpzn
Unprotected
Wake me up
Be careful
Coldfingers
8fold
Secret sound
Another day
Hopeful / lonely
Real when shared
This present moment
Potoo's requiem
Kite
White Walls
Airstrike
Heart suture
Far away
Lightshow
Lydia

LOTS

my 16pf results

Cattell's 16 Factor Test Results Warmth |||||||||||||||||||||||| 78% Intellect |||||||||||||||||||||||||||| 86% Emotional Stability ||||||||||||||||||||| 66% Aggressiveness |||||||||||||||||| 58% Liveliness ||||||||||||||||||||| 66% Dutifulness |||||||||||||||||| 58% Social Assertiveness |||||||||||||||||||||||||||| 82% Sensitivity ||||||||| 22% Paranoia |||||| 14% Abstractness |||||||||||||||||| 54% Introversion |||||||||||| 34% Anxiety ||||||||||||||| 46% Openmindedness |||||||||||||||||||||||||||| 90% Independence ||| 10% Perfectionism |||||||||||||||||||||||| 74% Tension |||||||||||| 38%

Factor low score high score
Warmth cold, selfish supportive, comforting
Intellect instinctive, unstable cerebral, analytical
Emotional Stability irritable, moody level headed, calm
Aggressiveness modest, docile controlling, tough
Liveliness somber, restrained wild, fun loving
Dutifulness untraditional, rebellious conforming, traditional
Social Assertiveness shy, withdrawn uninhibited, bold
Sensitivity coarse, tough touchy, soft
Paranoia trusting, easy going wary, suspicious
Abstractness practical, regular strange, imaginative
Introversion open, friendly private, quiet
Anxiety confident, self assured fearful, self-doubting
Openmindedness closeminded, set-in-ways curious, exploratory
Independence outgoing, social loner, craves solitude
Perfectionism disorganized, messy orderly, thorough
Tension relaxed, cool stressed, unsatisfied

Happy Christmas and a Merry New Year

To whoever is reading this, here's to the good times. 

My new year's resolutions… 

- love, don't fear

- don't be a hypocrite or a liar

- follow the noble eightfold path :)

Everything else, like doing more music, finding a new job, losing weight, etc etc. can happen in their own time. 

Bon voyage