Clicks and Klangs - its what everyone is gassing about
From Simon Smith
I thought I'd keep you up to date on the Connect 4 contest. (I know you want
to know this) [see last month's mailbaggage
for the background - Graham]. After the parents' team lost seven-nil to the children
last week we decided (as we make all the decisions) that it would be fairer (on
us, the adults, that is) if we had the children on our side...only problem being
that then we had no-one to play against. So this week we had "girls" versus "boys".
I'm very pleased to report that the boys won 4-1.
I was interested in your articles about Howard Devoto and Magazine. I studied
Fine Art (Painting) at Manchester Poly with John McGeogh. I remember we all crowded
into the student union bar to watch their debut on Top of the Pops. When we were
in the third year there was a funny looking kid with ginger hair called Mick Hucknell
in the first year...
Much enjoyed tonight's radio show (3.3.01) - something for all the family...I
just hope my kids don't grow up thinking an evening spent listening to Syd Barrett,
Television, The Fall etc is their generation's equivalent to an evening spent
watching Saturday Night at the London Paladium... Best wishes Simon Smith
Many thanks for the Connect 4 update and kind comments. I plan to force
my children to listen to Eric Clapton and Kula Shaker just to give them something
to rebel against.
From Julie D. Fitzwater
Subject: Press release - TUFF
Attached please find a press release for the band TUFF. TUFF was no. 3 on MTV
and is a straight up rock n' roll band and would probably be encompassed or defined
in the "80's bands" genre. Please contact me if you are unable to open the attached
file. Thank you.
I was unable to open the attachment since I specifically seek to protect
myself from accidental exposure to the horrors of anything that is "defined
in the 80s bands genre", and would rather eat my own ears than listen to
any of it. Many thanks for your advance warning.
From Slam Buckra
Hey Graham, is this "Clicks-n-Klangs" yer thangy? Pretty darn cool daddy-o!
You be one busy fella! CONGRATZ on another job well done!
Thankyou.
From Eric
Probably a tired question, but are you the Graham Johnston that had a part
in the film 'Shadow of the Vampire'?
Clicks and Klangs is great, by the way.
No, not me - I'm John Malcovich.
From philT
Terrific, wide ranging Faust special - thanks.
From Steve Townsend
I seem to remember one of Monty Python's LPs in the '70s featuring concentric
tracks but I could be wrong - anyone know? Also do you have any info on Birth
Control as I've never heard them before and 'Gamma Ray' is an amazing tune. Clicks
and Klangs is an inspiration - keep it up!
You can try Birth Control's own web-site,
but it's a bit messy and their English and German pages get all muddled up with
each other. That's the best I can suggest other than getting a copy of Steve and
Alan Freeman's Crack In The Cosmic Egg.
The Birth Control site does have some hilariously ridiculous big-rock/metal
Winamp skins, if you're that way inclined.
From Eric
Just a plus, as a reader I'm very impressed with exposing me to Faust. The
world may know them as 'Faucet' but nonetheless they are SO COOL to this North
American listener. I haven't even heard them yet. I did see a stupid American
movie called 'Still Crazy' about an old British Rock Group that takes it out on
the road one more time. It wasn't all that bad. I liked the scenes on the tour
bus. I laughed really hard when the drummer cut a fart.
I'm really enjoying the new reissue of 'Blind Faith'. Did you get the same
in Great Britain. It's a double CD with lots of bonus jam crap. Even though the
extras aren't all THAT great the remastering IS great. It's funny how the music
of the past keeps grabbing us by the ass. That brings me back to Faust. I haven't
listened to them yet, or even read about them; but I know I will. There's a lot
of music out there. Maybe more than we can listen to. But the day will come. Oh,
and it will come soon. I'll listen to your Faust and it will feel good. There's
so much I want to do, baby. Please take me there. There's nothing I wouldn't do
to feel your love.
OK, now I'm scared.
From Jeff
Is there a reason for Gogaga's mysterious disappearance? It has been "temporarily
disconnected" for almost a month now. Will it be coming back anytime soon?
I have no idea, I'm afraid, it's a shame if it's gone for good, but you're
probably better off listening to this month's featured site / radio station, WFMU,
instead.