Today I woke up and the first thing I did was listen to Obscure Alternatives (1978) by Japan. It’s a strange album of glam, punk, and R’n’R with that fantastic Mick Karn bass playing and David Sylvian still singing in his peroxide sneer phase. He hates it, I’m sure, but I love him both ways, the thoughtful arty sophisticate with a captivating voice and his early version, all swagger and lips. With this kind of start to the day, my next stop had to be the record store, but then the plant screamed out, I have aphids!

Off to the garden shop, I took a limb from the plant and showed it to the friendly man in the shop. He sold us a spray that would deal with the problem and the aphids’ days were numbered. We headed off to the record store and picked up the new Emma Anderson, Slowdive, The Coral and House of Love (1990), McDonald and Giles (1970) and The Beatles‘ Now And Then, a lovely 12-inch on red vinyl. Aren’t records wonderful?

Sarah arrived today from Texas, she’s here to help with many things, tour managing the shows, helping with my projects and hopefully finding time to do some recording. She also brought a lot of merch with her, so we have some vinyl and CDs to sell at the Spanish and Portuguese shows. She also came bearing gifts, an early Iggy Pop radio broadcast and tea.

Olivia cooked for us and talked us into watching Agatha Christie’s 4.50 from Paddington (1957) as a 1961 black and white film directed by George Pollock called Murder, She Said starring Margaret Rutherford as the first Miss Marple. They don’t make ‘em like this anymore. Fabulously entertaining, witty, intriguing, funny, with a whodunnit script and great music by Ron Goodwin.

Music today was Japan – Obscure Alternatives, their second album, released in 1978, quite a journey to Tin Drum (1981) and beyond.

Music Of The Daze