Music

Today is the 18 May 2020 and marks the 40th anniversary of when Ian Curtis took his own life so I was pleased to see that Bernard Sumner and Stephen Morris are remembering the event - ‘Moving through Silence’ I grew up in South Manchester and it’s hard to describe how important music and football were during my formative years. I never saw Joy Division play live but some of my schoolmates did (‘He did this weird dance’). However, I have visited Curtis’ memorial in Macclesfield cemetery. ...

I was in a fog, I didn’t notice everything Was coming all apart inside of me There wasn’t anyway for anyone to settle in You made a slow disaster out of me There’s a radiant darkness upon us I don’t want you to worry I was careful but nothing is harmless Baby, you better hurry You were a kindness when I was a stranger But I wouldn’t ask for what I didn’t need Everything’s weird and we’re always in danger Why would you shatter somebody like me? ...

People often write in and ask ‘Norman - just what is this mysterious “Music For Sheep” playlist of which you speak ?’ ‘Music For Sheep’ is my favourite music playlist of all time. It has provided solace and hope during some pretty bleak times. The playlist is ironically named as a tribute to all the social music sharing services like Spotify and last.fm which encourage sharing of your favourite bands, music and playlists. This is a novelty for 12 minutes but, ultimately a bit irrelevant because, as I remarked way back in 2006: ...

This is part 2 of an interview with Kathryn and Daniel from ‘I Am Not Left Handed’. The first part ‘That Was Then’ is available here. This might seem like (another) weird question but then again I am slightly weird myself. I realise you’re a relatively young band but are they any songs of your own that you don’t like and would not contemplate playing live ? Maybe early songs that you have now outgrown. Or are you fiercely proud of everything you’ve ever produced ? ...

OK - let’s get the boring stuff out of the way. How did you all meet and form the band ? Please don’t tell me you posted an ad in ‘Melody Maker’. D: Kathryn and I met in Dublin, we were working on a summer course together. We both played in different bands at the time, I was fronting my own band, Coyote Blue, and Kathryn was playing keys and singing backing vocals with some friends of hers. We’d been staying up late at night with the other counsellors, a few of whom were musicians too, and there were guitars floating around, but Kathryn kept refusing any chance to accept the guitar and play a song. ...