Insert sigh of relief here

I've finally found a house and housemates for next year. It's not far from where I am now, (and therefore not far from uni/shops/pubs), but has fairly low rent, and this is reduced over the summer (bonus!). I think I'll get along with the people just fine as well.

The second semester of my year has started, bringing with it the usual difficult lab sessions with lots of preparation required, and multi-lecture marathons (6 in one day). It's not all bad, some of the modules are interesting in parts, because they lead on towards third-year modules. And then there's 'Software Development'. This has now been officially designated as 'the sleeping lecture', due to its constant monotony, and the fact that half of it has been done before. Also, it's in the afternoons, giving excellent cardiac benefit.

If you haven't heard it yet, hear this. [grimes]

Album Album Album

Three albums came through my door, so I think I'll try my hand at album reviewing.

I received the Klaxons album, "Myths of the Near Future" first. It actually took me a few listens before I decided I really liked it. Track by track, the opener is brilliant, and then is followed by the first track I heard from them, Atlantis to Interzone and their biggest tune (commercially) Golden Skans. From listening to the album playback on Xfm, I learnt that Golden Skans is a reference to a light popular at raves in the early nineties. Well, they did describe themselves as "Nu Rave".

The rest of the album is a delight with lyrics that make little sense but melodies that work very well. A pity that I like some of the demo versions better than the album tracks, in particular "Four Horsemen of 2012", which sounds much rawer on the demo version.

Speaking of disappointments, I received the Long Blondes album ("Someone to Drive You Home") on Thursday, and noticed that the singles were different to the album versions. "Separated By Motorways" was produced by Paul Epworth in the single version, but not on the album, and actually suffers from it. It's just as danceable, but doesn't have the same kick to it. The rest of the album is still good, but there's the lingering sense they were let down in production slightly.

The third album that turned up was Bloc Party's "A Weekend in the City". It shouldn't have done, as it isn't released until next week, but it does make me feel a little privileged. As I write, I'm on my second listen, but already it sounds good. It's much more in the vein of the softer tracks on "Silent Alarm", and so there's more of an epic sound. Not surprising really, as they used the same producer as on Snow Patrol's last two albums.

Politics and social comment are quite heavily featured, with references to terror attacks and the Daily Mail, and "Uniform" a track about how all the people with their Converse boots and odd hairstyles are just commercialism dressed up as a rebellion. [Looks guiltily at Converse shoes next to chair] Apparently this album is much more a product of Okereke than the previous album, which was more influenced by Moakes and Tong. I can't actually think of anything to say other than go and buy it, because it is good.

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I've finished my exams! [General huzzah] Unfortunately they've already scheduled a lab for Monday afternoon, so there's no rest. Now is the time to sleep, as this was originally drafted at ten to three in the morning after a night at Jesters, and I need to calm down. Urrgh.

Puzzling Signs and Simple Amusements

I saw a shop that said it had "Ladies Prices".

Eh?!? I didn't know we had separate prices. What's so special that needs to be sold differently depending on the alignment of your chromosomes?
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Radio adverts are getting weird. One for improved local bank services includes the line, "OK, I need two pumpkin enchiladas, now!". I feel the need for someone to add, "Stat!" on the end, as it does sound like a very urgent request he's making. Also, the ad telling people about the availability of mp3 on your digital radio, contains this conversation:

WOMAN: You're listening to the football on your mp3 player?
MAN: It's not just an mp3 player, it's a digital radio!
WOMAN [in utter disbelief and confused surprise]: Really?!?

Surely it takes more than an Ipod with extras to confuse people? Though I'm not surprised people are mixed up, what with the sudden change in pricing regulations.

"But the box says £89.99!"
"That's the ladies' price, Sir. You could always buy the model without the radio."
"I suppose so. I'll just have to think of another way to confuse my wife. Maybe a radio... with a built in clock!"
"That's madness! Security!"

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At some point this week, I will be getting a parcel through the door labelled 'Dr [inquus]'. Not because I have a PhD, I simply abused the web form options on HMV. Not as good as when I was ordering prospectuses when trying to choose universities, and there was an option to be posted to as a Rev., and in some cases, Captain.
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I just remembered I have some chocolate-covered brazil nuts. [glees]

Super Happy Fun Stress Time!

Well, I've got exams next week, but wait... What's this?

"Hey, er, we thought we should tell you, we're looking for a six room house next year with persons A and B, thought we'd let you know."

".....[pause of calculation - six bedrooms, seven people]..... I see..."

So now, I've just been told I need to be looking for people to live with next year. Argh....

On the plus side, maybe my room will be better, as currently, following the 'you get what you pay for' rule, I'm not paying much.

I've already had a couple of offers after putting up an ad on the university site, so it's not going too badly. They are a little expensive, and I don't actually need a double bed. Or on-site parking.

Ah well, such is life. Or it's ability to always throw something at you at the last minute.

[pessimists]

Down South

I'm back in Southampton for another term.

Yes, you heard me right, Southampton, where no toilet is safe!

Still, at least he was tidy and made a very professional job of it.... BUT WHY!!?!

Possibly an escaped art student from Winchester going for a Marcel Duchamp style. Or he's a collector, and was too embarrassed to ask.

It was acceptable in the 80s....

"...It was acceptable at the time"

Electric synth-infused funk (you can tell I've been reading music reviews) from a scottish bloke called Calvin Harris. You can hear the tune here.

[dances]

Goodbye 2006

It wasn't too bad actually. University-ing all year, going to some gigs which were good, but at the same time getting very tired. Almost losing a tooth, and then my eyes swelled up and I needed surgery. Messy.

Christmas was good, I now have a digital radio with which I can listen to such stations as Xfm, Virgin Xtreme (which isn't particularly extreme, or much beyond being a generic indie/rock channel) and Panjabi Radio, where I can't understand the difference between a prank call, a request phone-in and an interview. Good for an alternative listen though.

I was also given Nicholas Nickleby, yet another example of why Dickens is a good writer. And a couple of albums - Empire (Kasabian), Black Holes & Revelations (Muse), and The Warning (Hot Chip). I would recommend both the Muse and Hot Chip, particularly the latter, if not simply for Over and Over.

Which brings us to the end of another year, and another unread blog post. [joys]

Back in the 'ford

It's Christmas, and so I can now enjoy the comforts of home back in Watford. No boiler in the corner of the room, no limit on internet use, and I don't have to bother with all that business of going to lectures. It is a bit colder than Southampton, but there isn't as much wind.

Downsides - I now have to search for presents for people who don't know what they want (I don't know what I want either), write two reports on lab sessions, and see if I can actually understand the mysterious art that is analogue electronics. All I have to help me is the internet, and some books that are written how the lecturer talks - tangled prose full of, "Let us suppose that..." and, "Alternatively...". I don't want alternatives to things I'm already not sure about, it's like being taught how to use imaginary numbers without knowing how to count.

Actually it's not quite that bad, but it does cause furrowed brows. There is no easy way to do it all, it's guesswork, experience, and knowing an awful lot of clever tricks which aren't particularly obvious.

[sigh, grumble etc.]

What do I say?

How do you start a conversation with people? I'm fairly sure all the conversations I've been in with people I don't know were the result of introductions or they talked to me.

Worse is the fear of talking to people who I know (I've met and talked to them a couple of times), but I can't seem to start a conversation outside of a dark, smoke-and-alcohol filled room. It may just be I'm in a hurry for lectures. But I avoid them, I don't know what to say. It does feel wrong to stride past them on the way to campus, but I can't face them somehow.

I shouldn't post this late, sleepy time awaits. [snore]

House Music

Ah, House Music. How can it give so much joy with such a simple premise? A couple of bars of chords on your synth, or just nab a sample from some old 80s tune, and you have yourself a floor-filler. Marvellous.

I went to the Cube (the Southampton uni club) and the Cut-Up Boys were there. It was like an odyssey through house. Pity about the turnout though.

When we got there, we asked the security guard how busy it was. "It'll be busy when you get down there." He was not wrong. We may as well have gone clubbing in the desert. It did pick up a little eventually, but it was still at about a tenth (or less) capacity.

Un-necessary post #2

I really should have tried to write more regularly. Even though nobody reads this.

In summary, I saw Mr Scruff, The Young Knives and Cansei de Ser Sexy. All three very good artists/bands.

2nd year electronics is a lot of hard work.

And I can't remember anything else significant/interesting that happened during the last three months, so I won't bother writing about it.

In other news, Marching band play Radiohead.

Monkeys and Aphex Twin

The marvellous and confusing flurry of musicalish noises that issues forth from Mr Richard D. James is often confusing. Occaisonally he makes something quite listenable, and his most famous tune of this nature is 1997's Windowlicker. Unnerving video by Chris Cunningham here.

A combination of that tune and a very creepy bicycle safety film from the 60s gives this.

Share and enjoy. And fear...

House!

I went to visit my new student house this weekend in Southampton. There was trouble with keys to start with, I went to collect mine and walked to my house, ready to open the door. My other housemates had just turned up there, and I said, "I've got my key!", all smiles and eagerness to get into my new abode. They went off to collect theirs, and I opened the door. Or tried to.

Thank you to the people across the road, laughing at me sitting on the wall, unable to get into my house. I know where you live. Fortunately, the landlord cut me a new key at no extra charge.

Looking at my "boxroom" and comparing to the others, my chest of drawers is much smaller, and I have less floorspace. And then there's the boiler, ready to either poison me with carbon monoxide, or blow me up in the event of it breaking. There's also the window that is an entry point of choice for thieves - "Remember to lock your windows, there was a burglary last month. They got in through the back." Well, now I feel secure.

In other news, it's too bloody hot. Though you probably know that. Unless you're somewhere cold, in which case I say well done, and wrap up warm.

Blog?

Oh no, it's happened again. Yet another blog has been created. And it's probably going to be self-obsessed and tell everyone who doesn't want to know about whatever happened in the author's day, and nobody will care.

What a great start...