Up above the streets and houses

You don't need to be Columbo, nor indeed Sherlock Holmes, to deduce that my favourite building in Nottingham (and the one I have photographed literally hundreds of times) is the former Home Ales Building in Daybrook; last year I curated a limited edition photobook comprising nearly forty images (choosing the final cut was a nightmare, I can tell you). However, for some reason there are a couple of glaring (to me, anyway) omissions from Vol. 1 (that's right, I'm working on the next collection as we speak) - namely any photos of it in the snow or with a rainbow in the background.

However, this evening in the midst of a tremendous downpour the sun came out in force and swathed Nottingham in a spectacular light and provided a rather splendid arched spectrum. Quick as a flash (see what I did there?) I hotfooted it from one end of NG5 to the other and fired off a few shots; some of them may go in the next book, some of them may not. The one above certainly will.

Don't suppose there's any snow forecast tomorrow?

Matt Berry - Rainbow (2018)

Matt Berry · Rainbow

Going Down!

Comic actor Matt Berry (Toast of London, House of Fools, The IT Crowd etc.) isn't frightened of recording studios. Not only does he write and perform a lot of his own TV themes, he has also, over the years, knocked out six albums on the Acid Jazz label. Like I say, no musical slouch he.

So, I guess, it was only a matter of time until he decided to record some vintage TV themes (and by vintage I mean seventies) and give them a couple of coats of jazz funk.

Tony Hatch would, I know, be very proud.


I read a review of the album recently which said you only have to take one look at the sleeve to know you want to own it, hear it & devour it.

Here is Berry's take on Are You Being Served? Bet you can't listen to it without thinking of Mrs. Slocombe's pussy at least once.

Bigger than the Beatles

Thomas Walsh - he's bigger than the Beatles

I have a knack of calling my Single of the Year before the first cuckoo of spring. In fact, if you trawl through this year's back issues I think there were a couple of early contenders who could've been back in the clubhouse before the clocks went forward.

No matter, it's not over till it's over.

Don't you just love bands who leave it late in the day to release a 45 they know will turn heads everywhere it's played? It's like rocking up at the Palace for your gong - half an hour late; the Queen pretends to be pissed off, but secretly admires your chutzpah. Pugwash left it till the arse end of October to join forces with Matt Berry on 'What Are You Like', the second single from the exquisite Silverlake. And it's a top drawer, top deck, top-loader of a song that top trumps all in its wake. (Even Beck's 'Up All Night' which had been sitting pretty until Thomas Walsh and his Dublin cronies came along and gatecrashed the party.)

Pugwash (feat. Matt Berry) - What Are You Like