Tag: Martin Stephenson

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Melancholy
Gladsome Humour and Blue – title of a Martin Stephenson album. I think I finally understand what it means. That suspend state we all fall into at one time or another, where nothing is important and everything matters. You retreat just far enough for safety and take solace in the quiet things.

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Friday
Cakes at 10:30, meetings and GMP training, then a 2003 kickoff. A fun packed day!

I’m relying on the Kylie calendar on the wall next to me to get me through until 5pm.

Update: Also relying on “The Best of Martin Stephenson & the Daintees” which I picked up in FOPP yesterday for £5. Reviving memories of student days, drinking with Mr.Stephenson in the bar of Queens Hall Edinburgh, and the walkabout at the gig in Strathclyde yoony.

For those who don’t know:
In 1982, four scruffy kids came busking into my record shop with a song called “Roll on Summertime”. In my vivid imagination they sounded like Ry Cooder – and these were New Romantic times. They signed to Kitchenware Records as the Daintees. During the next ten years, four albums and constant touring Daintees came and went. Martin Stephenson, their songwriter the only original member from the busking session, became one of the most dynamic, idiosyncratic, eclectic and well loved performers and writers to endure the 80’s. A great test for one so generous of spirit in such a greedy decade.

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The past remembered
I was reminiscing with a friend today on the way home from work. We chatted about school pranks, and mis-doings, and, I’m quite glad to say, the mood has invaded my evening.

Musically I was finding Scottish bands around this time, The Humpff Family, The Silencers, Love & Money, The Kevin McDermott Orchestra and the like.

So it was to these bands I turned this evening, starting with the latter’s ‘Bedazzled’ album. Curious Daylight evoking memories of long lost loves, Hole in the Ground transporting me back to my bedroom as a teenager. Then onto Love & Money – Dogs in the Traffic. Looking for Angeline whisks me back to Dumbarton Common in the Winter, my new personal CD player in my pocket, melodies singing in my ear.

The Silencers – Blues for Buddha, and Scottish Rain, glorious, moving, evoking deep memories of laughter and happiness with friends gone and friends present.

I’m smiling.

And I’ll be re-jigging the CDs in the car in the morning (Martin Stephenson anyone?)