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Japanese market Panasonic SA-PM50MD CD/Minidisc system. Serious cassette futurism vibes.

I went to Chicken Alley today to divest myself of a Logitech wireless USB/keyboard combination and a whole stack of Revere Ware pots and pans (which will be missed, modern Revere Ware is not as good as the stuff they made in the 20th century, but I just do NOT have room for it.) I checked their CD stack and picked up two things: Peak 90s trip-pop. I bought it when in '96 when I was stoned out of my gourd it was new. It remains one of my favorite albums of the 1990s. The perfect blend of trip hop beats, dubby basslines, ethereal almost shoegaze vocals and a hint of retro 60s lounge. No skips. (I didn't actually need a second copy, but I have no idea where my original one is, and it was fun to play a CD on the ride home.) Kooky, ethereal Icelandic music that defies description. I had it on CD in 2002 and haven't seen my copy since about ...2003. Weirdly, I still have my 1997 copy of _Von_ which has been on many adventures with me. I played it on the home stereo tonight and my (sainted, octogenarian) mother didn't seem to mind it

Orange glazed, pan seared salmon. Scalloped potatoes and steamed broccoli.

Just so pure and classic. Makes me think of my vocal teacher from back when. That vibrato is so gentle and subtle and perfect.

Also for anyone interested, Magnum is running a 20% off Summer Course sale right now with some heavyweights. Just picked up... Mark Power: Picturing Place Cristina de Middel: Stranger than Reality Gregory Halpern: Documentary Sur/Realism Matt Black: The Documentary Commitment Jonas Bendiksen: Curiosity in Practice Bieke Depoorter: Chance Encounters Alec Soth: Photographic Storytelling

Yesterday was an Isao Tomita kind of day: Today is a Vangelis kind of day:

Tarzan by Various Artists (1999) https://album.link/89gxj8dmg0md6 Example: This soundtrack has no right to be this good for a mediocre Disney movie. Phil and Mark went hard on this one.

Some morning Al

Looking Ahead by Ken McIntyre (1960) https://album.link/fdwvwcdwftnxp Example: New issue, originally RVG recording. Some of the hard left/right panning is hard for headphones, but works okay for speakers. And just overall lovely tunes.

The Paris Olympics were last year, a decade ago, or so it feels. So - Metal, Opera, decapitating the aristocracy, and a stadium of Ozzy fans. What's not to like.

Aisles, most recent EP, Obras de Los Jaivas (immediately listened to it a second time, it's great, especially 2nd and 4th tracks), now listening to 2023 album, Beyond Drama and it's great, too. Energetic, modern prog rock with lovely, lovely clean vocals

Who's Sorry Now by Connie Francis (1958) https://album.link/kmwg40gxf7nmt Example: Mic was a little hot back then with some peaking, but she could belt.

Central Heating (Expanded Edition) by Heatwave (1977) https://album.link/fqbsvcbx7srf0 Example: Some cool grooves on a warm day.

Jim Lovell, Apollo 13 commander, dies aged 97 https://www.theguardian.com/science/2025/aug/08/jim-lovell-astronaut-dies

In keeping with the theme of recent deaths: Mozart: Violin Concertos, Vol. 2 by Francesca Dego (2022) https://album.link/9hmfjqg7gqtbm Example: RIP, last week, Conductor Sir Roger Norrington (91). This had been in my queue since last year, but never made it to the top. Sad that it had to be posthumously. It turns out to be his last recording. He was not really a part of my musical journey. He recorded on labels and conducted works that I was not buying at the time they were being released. I have some recommendations from a classical music friend that I will check out in the future.

^^ This for probably the rest of the day - bummed...