Culture!!!!!!!
Section 1: Books enjoyed this year
The first point to make is that this was the year of the Kindle!
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| Much used on holiday in France |
Six books stand out in a year of mainly memoirs:
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| Book of the year for me! |
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But I also thoroughly enjoyed the following:
And a few novels:
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| Re-read this one |
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| Read this one every year! |
Plus my 2 monthly subscription magazines:
And some philosophy:
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| Online Logic course |
My Kindle came into its own because I now have access to the Daily Mass Readings of the world wide Roman Catholic Church.
Section 2: Films at the Cinema
Standing like a giant above all other films was this re-showing of Mulholland Drive at the GFT in Glasgow.
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| Momentous. |
The rest were mostly American and mostly seen at the beginning of the year.
Then last month I saw this excellent German film.
And a film documentary about the life and work of David Hockney.
Section 3: Visits to the Theatre.
Section 4: Musical performances
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| P J Proby at the Royal Concert Hall |
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| Andy Fairweather-Low At Biggar Village Hall |
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| Graham Gouldman |
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| Graham Gouldman at the Oran Mor |
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| Golden Teacher at the Oran Mor |
Section 5: Music listened to in 2014
My listening in 2014 was dominated by electronic music associated with either the Optimo Record Label or the Optimo podcasts on Rinse FM.
For the many folk of my age group who still miss John Peel, Optimo are more than worthy successors.
For the many folk of my age group who still miss John Peel, Optimo are more than worthy successors.
Definitely the year of Optimo.
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| Optimo from Glasgow |
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| They always seem such happy chaps |
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| The Internet radio station that broadcast their programmes |
Music I came to through Optimo.
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| Chris Carter |
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| African music mixed by UK DJs |
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| Huntleys and Palmer record label |
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| Golden Teacher from Glasgow |
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| Michele Mininni from Italy |
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| General Ludd from Glasgow |
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| Yet more African stuff |
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| Amadou and Mariam |
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| Golden Teacher mixes. |
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| Golden Teacher again, since my drumming tutor is their percussionist. |
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| Uwe Schmidt |
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| Golden Teacher |
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| Aunti Flo from Glasgow |
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| Leisure Muffin from Canada |
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| Paradise Bangkok Collective |
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| Dissolving Dancefloor from Glasgow |
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| Internet version of iTunes |
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| Anne Clark - performance poet |
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| Factory Floor |
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Also listened to a fair amount of Bossa Nova since it has the same rhythms as Samba music.
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| Luiz Bonfa |
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| Nara Leao |
Old favourites that I still dipped into in between listening to Optimo.
Classical:
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| Christine Schaffer - beautiful voice |
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| Die Winterreise |
Pop Music
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| Hot Chip |
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| Judee Sill |
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| Joni Mitchell |
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| Jesus and Mary Chain |
Electronic
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| Madlib |
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| Aphex Twin |
Other stuff.
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| Welsh Male Voice Choirs |
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| Hoagy Carmichael |
Section 6: DVDs
Watched more or less no TV this year except the comedy panel game "Would I lie to You?"
Four Box sets of DVDs were dipped into on a frequent basis.
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| The League of Gentlemen |
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| The Likely Lads |
