April seems like a culmination of a few deadly months.  It feels like a wave just systematically took away part of our childhood.

Peacock in flight in April 2016 (Photo by Lettie taken on iPhone 6)

Peacock flying in April 2016 (Photo by Lettie)

April…

Cover of Woman The National Home Weekly Week ending April 14 1951 published by Woman High Holborn London WC1 Telephone Temple Bar 2468 (100 lines)

I am very pleased to say on our label Halcyon Records and my dear friend and at times collaborator Anthony Phillips and James Collins we are releasing a track called ‘Halcyon Days (Days to Remember)’ in about four weeks’ time for digital download through Cherry Red.  Rune Ness who has done the most stunning videos for me in the past, now on Vevo, is doing a film for the song and it looks great.  You can see the stills at www.halyconrecords.co.uk.

This was designed by Rune Ness.  Please check out his wonderful site by clicking here.

I can’t remember the last time I picked up my guitar. I miss those hazy, lazy, crazy days when the summers went on for ages.

In the South of France some years ago

I’m also releasing on May 20 another track on Claps Records called ‘Hungry’.  The track by the fantastic Italian Tartana based DJ Giacomo Donati features myself on vocals.  Keep an eye out for it.  So pleased to be releasing these tracks on Claps Records.  It’s a completely different sound for me.

Munchhaufens Abenfeuer marked 2 June 1926 Nr 4923 Serie 325

My hope is when me and Mark’s album comes out in the Autumn (fingers crossed!) I will perform a little again.  I have, instead spent more time creating films (which he hasn’t seen and will probably tell me he doesn’t like but since January he’s not be around much so I’ve proceeded without him!)

They are personal and haven’t cost a penny except for some old transfer of 16mm film because they are all made by me and I’m free (!!) I’ve been grappling with Final Cut in a very basic way.  More time has been spent thinking about the films as ideas do not come so easily.  I have been collecting footage for quite some time.  I’ve done about five now.

I turn to April which is now ending.

Dance and Dancer. April 1956 This month’s full ballet Guide Edited by Peter Williams Vol 7 No 3

Film Review by F Maurice Speed Macdonald & Co publishing 1951-52 (cover shows Debra Paget and Louis Jordan in the film Bird of Paradise

I’ve created my own deadline.  Perhaps that’s what I should do every month. Above are some of the things I bought off Cliff under the Westway who pointed out that Fiona Hawthorne had done a sketch of him so I went looking for it down the Portobello Road.  I found it.

Quick sketch of Cliff under the Westway by Fiona Hawthorne hanging on the wall up the Portobello Road April 2016

He didn’t mind me taking a photo of him one Sunday morning.  He’s not on the internet so if you are interested in magazine ephemera he is there only on Sundays.  I just can’t get over what great things I find down there.

Cliff under the Westway April 16 2016

Here are some rather weird images I have found recently at the Bloomsbury Postcard Fair.

Unknown postcard

On back is written Frances Jones of Gainsborough Lincs Possibly on 6th Birthday

Unmarked unknown postcard

This is great this postcard…

A Curious Love Letter undated unmarked on the back

I just can’t believe what beautiful things we used to create on paper.

Contents of Novelty unmarked postcard

I saw Jah Wobble at the Dingwalls with Mark and BJ Cole who did an album with him some years ago.   I have seen BJ Cole play a number of times.  He’s a legend but he wasn’t playing that night.  It brought back memories of my support gig for Peter Murphy at that venue some years ago.  Jah Wobble was fantastic.  Never had I fully understood the power of the bass until that gig.

Jah Wobble 14 April 2016 (Photo by Lettie)

The Dingwalls seemed so clean.  I remember watching The Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club in what I imagine was a smoky filled dive that stank of beer and reefa outside. Last week the venue was packed with young guys probably every bass player in London and the familiar balding heads of blokes who never forget their heroes  ….

Jah Wobble Dingwalls 14 April 2016

I also went to see Rich Hall who, whilst picking out members of the audience, found out that the guy at the front who was seated on his own (cause his mate couldn’t make it) was a Mojo Magazine journalist.  He was excellent as he always is and what a great band so I hope he wrote a great review!

I spent a lot of my twenties in the bars.  Even though I was in a band, I wasted a lot of time.  But maybe nothing is a waste. I always had time to watch a good film and was a pilgrim to the local video shops wherever I was – in Acton, Video City in Notting Hill, Brixton and now my local library.  I’ve been watching the films of Pressburger and Powell. Beautiful, dreamlike and full of colour.

From Film Review by F.Maurice Speed 1951-2 Two scenes from Tales of Hoffman – London films Powell and Pressburger

I also watch a lot of film noir.  Gloria Gaynor used to stuff cotton wall in her mouth so she could get that perfect pout.

Unknown undated little book of magic tricks

Over and out for now… x

Unmarked postcard