Automaton Review

So I went to see my favourite band on Friday, which also happened to be my 40th birthday (thank you, send money not gifts) and the release date of their 8th album. I've been asked a few times for my opinion on the album so I figured I'd do a track by track account.  

Shake It On:

"Dear fans, we've moved on. It's time to join us or jump out!"

This song is the absolute perfect way to open this album. It's an indicator of the musical direction the album is going to take, but without laying it on too thick like Automaton. They're taking you into the electro groove gently, but with energy. I heard the whole thing live first and it's a banging opening song for a gig. I get more of the guitar and strings in the album version that I couldn't catch when that wall of gorgeous sound hits you live. 

Automaton:

When I first heard it, I was happy because it didn't sound as bad as I thought it was going to be. But now I've heard it enough to know that I'm not keen. It's an experiment, like Feels Just Like It Should, but it doesn't work for me. The only bit I like is the bridge. That's funky as hell and I could groove to a whole song of that guitar! And it amuses me that the whole album is meant to be based upon the premise of this song and the rise of the machines etc, but this is really the only song on the album that tackles this subject! The rest of it is songs about girls and grooving! Where's the continuity?!

Cloud 9:

Utterly brilliant. So sweet. Typical Jay Kay fluff lyrics but I like what it means. It's another way of saying he's (we've, they've) moved on, but in the form of a love song. 

Superfresh:

Now my normal rule is that track two is the killer track and I'll love the whole album, but I guess you can't follow a funky number like Shake It On with Superfresh. I fucking love this song!! I could shake my backside to this all day. Heard it live first and that was so awesome, but blasting out the album version in my car has been a revelation. So funky. Strings. Bass. Guitar. Singing. Backing. Percussion. All perfect! I don't even care what it's about, though the lyrics to me are kind of similar to the vibe of Mr Moon. Should be longer. 

Hot Property:

It's actually a nice follow on from Superfresh, so in that sense I like it because it hits you with that solid beat and bass line before it revs up. Nice disco electro funk. I really like the low bass and keyboard in the middle too, yes it does sound like 'You Should Be Dancing' but I think that's a good thing. I get the feeling from the lyrics and bit of Russian that this is some kind of in joke between Jay and Maria. I know he talks in an interview about some female boss stuff, but I think this is him talking about her. She's the boss bitch. And he's cool with that. 😊

Something About You:

This is what I call a 'Frankenstein song', in that I think this was probably bits of different songs and ideas that have been stuck together. Some bands, such as my other love Crowded House, do this often with great results. This song is not a good example. It mostly sounds like other songs and I don't think a song should sound like it's been thrown together badly. The 'candy crush' lyric sticks out every time I hear it so that's dated. The only piece I enjoy is the last minute. Otherwise I believe it belongs on the album because it fits with the sound.

Summer Girl:

Like a lot of the songs on this album, Jay's preoccupation with trying to be a 21st century Roxy Music is apparent, but this one makes it so obvious. Yes fans will like it because it's floaty and summery. It's just a bit 'throwaway' for me. Oooh, a song about a pretty girl and a fling in summer? How novel. That's never been done before! (Sarcasm). Rhyming Limoncello with fellow is typical Jay cringe (though it will never be as bad as the whole of Cosmic Girl!). I can just imagine the band playing this on a rich guy's yacht in Italy while a bunch of models do that awkward side step dance they all do because they can't dance in those heels (and none of them are there for their dancing skills!). Again, not filler but not the best track on the album. Just nice. 

Nights Out In The Jungle:

At the first hearing, I think: "Oh yes! Take me on a dirty adventure, boys, and don't spare the bass lines!" Then I hear the 'monkey' noises and the jungle style percussion, and my heart sinks. Then eventually (!) Jay starts doing that rap singing nonsense and I'm out. Sorry, but no. After three listens it dawns on me that this is some pastiche of Rapture by Blondie, and that annoys me more than the monkey noises. Should've been an instrumental.

Dr Buzz:

Heard this live first. It's not that it bores me musically, more that I've heard it before and probably from better Jazz Funk artists. Plus a song about smoking weed so the world doesn't seem so shit doesn't really do it for me. Jamiroquai are better at social commentary than this. Percussion is good. 

We Can Do It:

Hated it the first time I heard the sample. Hate the whole song. It sounds like Jay is struggling to sing near the top of his register and it doesn't go anywhere. If anyone tried to sing this to me as some sort of seduction technique, I'd leave the room. The only song I can accuse of being real filler. It will always, always get skipped. 

Vitamin:

Oh God, it's beautiful. It's zippy and light, especially after an album of heavy bass. Brings a smile to my face. About as close to the original sound of the first two albums that old school fans beg for. I also like the fact that he pronounces vitamin two different ways. The sax solo I can take or leave. Strings and backing vocals are sublime. Beautiful bass groove. Love it. 

Carla:

When it starts, the keyboard reminds me of something Stevie Wonder would enjoy playing. I can imagine Jay had been writing this song in his head for months. So personal and pure. When he sings her name and elongates it, I am convinced by his love for her. Such a lovely way to end the standard version of the album. The live version was great, pretty similar to the album version. 

Now I've listened around 8 times, in all, I think this is a great album. So much better in terms of execution and production than Rock Dust Light Star, it flows and there are some proper banging Jamiroquai tunes on it. I am especially happy with Shake It On and Superfresh. Other songs will take many more listens to appreciate (except We Can Do It, that can go fuck itself). Was it worth the wait? I would say so, yes. We've all moved on, we all needed that time to change and grow otherwise they, the band, and we, the fans, wouldn't have evolved. 

Ez

Xx

Sending your baby to the wolves

Today was Fran's first day at school. I honestly didn't think it was going to be a big deal, for her or me. Social media has a tendency to magnify the idea of certain milestones being 'significant', and we as good little worker ants follow the convention. Plus Reception is Nursery +. It's just uniforms and longer days. As for Fran, she's never fazed by these big changes. 

Then the day came. We walked all the way down, Fran running/skipping happily through the greens of Greenwich. We arrive at a good time. The playground is full of parents and children; excited, crying, an air of nervousness acknowledged by the smiles and chatter of the staff. Then the bell rings. We're told we're leaving the children to go into class on their own. Fran looks for us and waves. She says, "Goodbye." She looks a little afraid but fine. We quietly shuffle off, back up the stairs, put Charlotte in her chair, slowly walk back up the hill towards home. All the time I'm trying to figure out what just happen, and why I feel like everything has changed in an instant. With a look. 

A friend writes on my status that when she took her child to school the first time, a stranger said she was 'sending her baby to the wolves'. Then I realised. It all made sense. Another friend asks me how I felt about taking Fran on her first day. I write the following with tears in my eyes:

"... I wasn't too fussed until I saw her face amongst the sea of faces of these children, cutting the ties to their parents for the first proper time (nursery didn't feel like any sort of separation). She looked ok but a little nervous. Some kids were bawling. We walked away quietly, got some bread from the shop on the way back, fed Charlotte at home, had our breakfast then Stu went to pick her up (half days for the first week). I sat down and read a comment from one of my friends about putting her out into the world. And I cried. It's true. You spend so much time either loving their cuteness or wishing they would fuck off and leave you alone, and as soon as you cut the proverbial cord you realise how vulnerable they are and you've put this little person out into the big wide world, and for the first real time... You're not there to protect them. These teachers, this institution, these classmates, they're going to mould and shape them into individuals you won't recognise, they'll be burnt by rejection and bruised by anger, they'll experience joy and friendship and learn so much, and have this wonderful adventure without having to hold your hand. Very awesome and very scary."

She had a great day. She played a lot at school, then had lunch with Daddy and they went to the park and played with some friends. 

I lost a baby and gained a small independent satellite version of... I don't know. My child? A child? Francesca. 

This is the first of many adventures. 

Question

Why did the writer stop writing?

Because she didn't believe in her own words.

I'm back. Watch this space...

At last!

I'm apologising for myself and to myself for the horrible procrastination I've encased my life with. So stupid. So, so, so dumb. 

https://www.facebook.com/1Judi.love/videos/913147175462921/

I saw this video and I cried. Everything in this video speaks to and from my heart. Well, maybe not the 'God' thing, but everything else is bang on. Thank you Judi Love. I am ready. Already started thanks to my Prince Epiphany (more on that another time). But it's time. And it's mine. 

I'm done

I'm fed up, down and I want to start everything over again. I'd talk to someone but I really don't think moaning helps, plus I'm tired of talking. Nobody gives a shit what I say anyway. Oh well, suck it up princess. I'm the only one that can make me happy. Just don't know how. So lost. So fucking lost. 

I know I should have posted more this year, but I didn't. So there.

I'm in the bath. The place for pretty much all epiphanies. Just ask Archimedes. 

My mother once, in one of her spontaneous lectures, told me that in order for me to be a success in my life, on my own terms, I would have to fight harder than those with privilege. I would have to fight twice as hard as a man because I'm a woman. I would have to fight three times as hard as a man of wealth because I came from a poor background. And I would have to fight four times as hard as a white man of wealth because I'm black. It seems like I have forgotten those words all these years, sat here bemoaning my 'luck', being grateful for any little scrap of joy sent my way, creating a world for myself where I'm not happy with what I have or what I've become, but convincing myself this is my lot, and it is enough. 

It's not. I'm better than this. I have too many dreams to fulfil, too much responsibility to myself and my family to be average or below. It's time to fight harder. Why the hell have I been so fucking lazy? Argh!  Anyway, as the saying goes, "The best time to plant a tree is 40 years ago. The second best time is today."

Thanks Mum, for popping by and reminding me of that. 

Future & Present

Every second you're getting older, marching towards an ultimatum. Whether you like it or not, whether you choose to do everything or nothing, time will always, always move on. I'm even older now than the person who wrote the word 'Every' at the beginning of this paragraph. Talking to people, experiences, spending time in my own mind, have lead me to a conclusion we all know but often ignore. It's all about living in the now, giving very little thought to what has been unless you're being asked to recall something. Plan by all means, but work in harmony with your 'Now' self, and the world as it is now, in order to find the love, happiness and balance you are looking for.

Here is a short note to my younger self:

1. Really, truly do not give a flying fuck what anyone else thinks. They are not your maker.

2. Hard work always gets results.

3. Be confident and value yourself.

4. Do it! Real regrets only come from not doing something.

5. Stop eating so much fucking mayonnaise.

6. It won't always be easy. Suck it up, embrace the feeling and then let it go.

Write a note to your younger selves, live the purpose of that note now, and take all the words with you to the future.