Wednesday 31 December 2014

Playlist:
Hollies - The Air That I Breathe,
Rihanna - Shut Up And Drive,
The Turtles - Happy Together,
Pet Shop Boys - Opportunities (Let's Make Lots Of Money),
Small Faces - Sha La La La Lee,
Ronan Keating - When You Say Nothing At All,
The Kinks - Lola,
Luther Vandross - Ain't No Stopping Us Now,
Pete Wingfield - Eighteen With A Bullet,
No Doubt - Underneath It All,
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - Mary Jane's Last Dance,
Paul Anka - Diana,
George Michael - Outside,
Sun of Jamaica - Goombay Dance Band.

Software for music. Who cares?

A long-time user of OTSAV-DJ software, I find Mixxx, Ableton Live, Traktor DJ, and Serato looking most attractive. All four companies offer great products.

OTSAV-DJ
In 2012, the user interface was totally changed with version 1.90 of the software. Three years later, I am still uncomfortable with the new.

A key element of using software for live DJ sets is its link, known as midi mapping, between the hardware control surface and the computer it runs on. Keyboard and mouse alone are often inadequate, and there is a large, fast-developing choice of controllers available. Sadly, OTSAV provdes mappings for a very limited set of devices, although most others can be used if one is prepared to do some non-trivial programming. For radio work, it's still a highly competent product.

It only runs on a Windows PC, so has its limits.

TRAKTOR DJ
Although the PC and Mac offering from Native Instruments, Traktor Pro 2, is very popular and a competent DJ product, I agree with those who find its interface cluttered and the program complex, tricky to set up and configure. Frequent referral to the manual seems essential.

On the other hand, Traktor DJ running on iPad and iPhone iOS devices makes good use of touch-screen functionality and is remarkably straightforward to use. It quickly became a must-have for review of new tracks in multiple situations and it makes a good DJ backup solution with the addition of Apple's 'Composite AV Cable'.

MIXXX
Like Traktor Pro, the on-screen appearance of Mixxx is cluttered, but it has significant redeeming features which will make it a winner for many.

For starters, its software is free for inspection or modification, free to download, and it runs on all three main computer platforms: Ubuntu GNU/Linux, Windows and of course, the Apple Mac's OSX.

Mixxx has iTunes Integration, so with a good broadband connection, playlists and songs can be made ready to go for a live DJ performance.

As its name suggests, mixing functionality is second to none, with BPM tempo detection and sync, auto DJ and its out-of-the-box support for over 30 hardware midi controllers. It supports multiple audio file formats including MP3, M4A/AAC, OGG and FLAC as well as timecode control and Shoutcast broadcasting.

Definitely one to keep!

SERATO DJ
The interface of Serato between its human users and the underlying technology is uncluttered and relatively intuitive whilst providing impressive functionality. Key to this is its close tie to specific hardware, allowing mutually beneficial parallel development and licensing. In fact, Serato will not run as DJ software without the computer being connected to a mixer, midi controller or sound card from the list of supported devices. On the plus side, Serato DJ is free to download and run with these devices.

Serato is almost a de facto DJ industry standard which runs on de facto music industry standard computers, the Apple Mac series.

ABLETON LIVE
Ableton Live is a music industry leader for producers and performers, including DJs. In combination with a Mac computer and one or two midi controllers, one has a truly outstanding set of tools. (It also runs on a Windows PC, but I would not trust the latter in a critical situation.)

It has two principal views onto music: the arrangement view shared by nearly all its competitors, and the session view, making it akin to a modern DJ software suite.

This will probably become my main attention grabber, perhaps eclipsing the others here.

CONCLUSION?
Yes, I care a lot about music software. As with many areas of life, it's 'horses for courses', and all of the above have a place in mine. For now, at least.

Tuesday 30 December 2014

Playlist:
The Foundations - Baby Now That I've Found You,
Tom Jones - You Can Leave Your Hat On,
Gene Kelly - Singin' In The Rain,
Leona Lewis - Happy,
Kenny Rogers & Sheena Easton - We've Got Tonight,
Hot Chocolate - Emma,
Bo Diddley - I'm A Man,
Del Shannon - Runaway,
Peter, Paul, And Mary - Leaving On A Jet Plane,
The Ivy League - Tossing And Turning,
The Monkees - Last Train To Clarksville,
KLF- Last Train To Trancentral,
Calvin Harris - Summer.

Monday 29 December 2014

Playlist:
Def Leppard - When Love And Hate Collide,
Mika - Grace Kelly,
Jam - The Eton Rifles,
John Lennon And The Plastic Ono Band - Instant Karma (We All Shine On),
Diana Ross - Reach Out And Touch (Somebody's Hand),
Abba - S.O.S.,
Stevie Wonder - My Cherie Amour,
Amy Studt - Misfit,
Marianne Faithfull - Come And Stay With Me,
Bernard Cribbins - Right Said Fred,
Cozy Powell - Na Na Na,
The Village People - Y.M.C.A.,
Suzi Quatro - 48 Crash,
Feargal Sharkey - A Good Heart.

Saturday 27 December 2014

Playlist:
Hilary James - A Song And A Jig For Good Measure,
Capercaillie - Tobermory,
Chris Flegg - A Song Of Peace,
M J Hibbert And The Validators - We Can Start Having Fun,
Emile Benoit - Sally's Waltz + Wedding Waltz,
Pauline Alexander - Farewell My Heart,
David Francey - Long Brown Hair,
Wingin' It - Sidhean Mor,
Ladysmith Black Mambazo - Akehlulek'ubaba (With God, Everything Is Possible),
Celtic Fiddle Festival - The Trip To Durrow + The Abbey Reel + The Maid Behind The Bar,
Sharron Shannon, Mary Custy, Eoin O'Neill - Kevin Griffiths,
Blazin' Fiddles - The Shoemaker.

Thursday 25 December 2014

Playlist:
Astrud Gilberto - The Girl From Ipanema,
Robert Palmer - She Makes My Day,
Crazy Cavan & The Rhythm Rockers - That's What Makes Me Cry,
Melanie C - Next Best Superstar,
Wilson Pickett - Land Of 1,000 Dances,
Lulu - To Sir With Love,
Kim Wilde - Kids In America,
A-Ha - Stay On These Roads,
Village People - Sex Over The Phone,
Sam Brown - Valentine Moon,
Texas - In Demand,
Steps - Tragedy,
Atomic Kitten ft. Kool & The Gang - Ladies Night,
Simple Minds - Alive And Kicking.

Wednesday 24 December 2014

Playlist:
Olivia Newton-John - Banks Of The Ohio,
George Michael - A Different Corner,
James J Turner - This Christmas,
Curtis Stigers - I Wonder Why,
Melanie - Merry Christmas,
The Troggs - Wild Thing,
Motorhead - Hellraiser,
Human League - Mirror Man,
Ricky Martin - La Vida Loca,
Jan & Dean - The Little Old Lady From Pasadena,
The Thomson Twins - Hold Me Now.

Tuesday 23 December 2014

Playlist:
Barry Mann - Who Put The Bomp?
Frank Sinatra - Strangers In The Night,
Juicy Lucy - Who Do You Love?
The Stranglers - Golden Brown,
The Killers - Human,
Johnny Kidd & The Pirates - Shakin' All Over,
McFly - Shine A Light,
Esther Phillips - What A Difference A Day Made,
The Shamen - Ebeneezer Goode,
PM Dawn - Set Adrift On Memory Bliss,
The Rolling Stones - Start Me Up,
Neil Diamond - Love On The Rocks.

Monday 22 December 2014

Playlist:
La Belle Epoque - Black Is Black,
A-Teens - Mamma Mia,
The Tremoloes - Here Comes My Baby,
The Beatles - Michelle,
The Judds - Girls Night Out,
Erin Bolland - All I Want For Christmas Is You,
Bee Gees - Stayin' Alive,
Deacon Blue - I'll Never Fall In Love Again,
The Pogues with Kirsty MacColl - Fairy Tale Of New York,
Boney M - White Christmas,
Frankie Lymon and The Teenagers - Why Do Fools Fall In Love,
Lily Allen - Not Fair.

Solstice !!

At 2203 today, the old solar year ends and the new begins. Happy New Year! It's the winter solstice.

To me, this is the significant seasonal event. It is immutable. We cannot change it. Everything else derives from religious tradition, mechanical clocks, commercial opportunity and powerful people.

We might think that, as the days are getting longer again, the mornings will become lighter. Interestingly, this is not the case, as the BBC explains http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-30549149. The averaging-out of day length to 24 hours exactly, suiting the mechanical time-keeping we all rely on, means that for two weeks before the winter solstice, evenings get lighter, and for two weeks after the solstice, mornings continue to get darker.

I started off by saying "Happy New Year". Notably, different traditions around the world have a different date for New Year. So ... Seasons Greetings! May 2015 bring peace, hope and security, and most of all, love.

Saturday 20 December 2014

Playlist:
Oonagh Cassidy - Right There,
Tommy Sands with Moya and Fionan Sands - Young Man's Dream,
Ceili Moss - 5/4 - 4/4,
Canterach - There'll Never Be Peace Till Jamie Comes Hame,
Cara Dillon - As I Roved Out,
Session A9 - Lady Montgomery,
Chris Flegg - Cool Frog,
Ladysmith Black Mambazo - Imbube,
Mike Donaghy - The Wall,
Blackbeard's Tea Party - Landlady,
Jock Tanson's Bairns - The Hieland Soldier.

Thursday 18 December 2014

Playlist:
Glen Campbell - Galveston,
Robbie Williams - She's The One,
Blondie - Call Me,
Middle Of The Road - Soley Soley,
Cliff Richard - Never Mind,
Dolly Parton - Applejack,
The Chiffons - One Fine Day,
The Walker Brothers - The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Any More,
Dr Hook - The Cover Of Rolling Stone,
Sam Brown - Valentine Moon,
Transvision Vamp - I Want Your Love,
UB40 - Cherry Oh Baby,
David Soul - Silver Lady,
Brandi Carlile - Late Morning Lullaby,
Kenny Rogers - For The Good Times,
Robert Plant and Alison Krauss - Let Your Loss Be Your Lesson.

Wednesday 17 December 2014

Playlist:
Paloma Faith - Can't Rely On You,
The Beautiful South - Perfect 10,
Paul Young - Wherever I Lay My Hat,
Dolly Parton with Alison Krauss - Just When I Needed You Most,
Robert Plant with Alison Krauss - Please Read The Letter,
Tommy Steel & The Steelmen - Singing The Blues,
The Temptations with Diana Ross & The Supremes - The Weight,
Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick And Tich - Xanadu,
Free - All Right Now,
Bob Marley & The Wailers - Buffalo Soldier,
Bananarama - Venus.

Excluded from influence or power by gender?

For over a century, various attempts have been made to close the gender gap and achieve gender balance on elected bodies. There has been some success. The percentage of women members of the world’s most equal parliaments gives encouragement. For instance, Rwanda has 56% and Sweden 46%. In Scotland the figure is 35%.

In 1893 New Zealand became the first nation in the world to grant universal, male and female adult suffrage. In 1928 the UK government passed the Representation of the People (Equal Franchise) Act giving the vote to all women over the age of 21. From the late nineteenth century, women already had the franchise in local government, school boards and health authorities. Their successful performance there won widespread support for the parliamentary vote.

In the UK as a whole, the record is pitiful. Successive goverments have failed. Political parties have failed. However, this is an area where individuals acting in concert can succeed. Every time an election takes place to fill a vacancy on any panel, list, or group which has less than 50% female members, just vote for the qualified female candidates. This can be applied to Parliaments, local authorities, management boards, leaderships, short-lists, everything and anything.

And don't stop doing this until the pendulum swings the other way and men are in the minority.

Tuesday 16 December 2014

Playlist:
Roy Orbison - Pretty Woman,
Rod Stewart - Hot Legs,
Madonna - Who's That Girl,
Electric Light Orchestra - Evil Woman,
Pet Shop Boys - Domino Dancing,
Lighthouse Family - High,
Abba - Dancing Queen,
The Hollies - Long Cool Woman In A Black Dress,
Toni Basil - Mickey,
Cher - Bang-Bang.

Monday 15 December 2014

Playlist:
Los Lobos - La Bamba,
Bay City Rollers - I Only Wanna Be With You,
Jimmy Somerville & Bronski Beat - Don't Leave Me This Way,
Daryl Hall & John Oates - You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'
Johnny Nash - Wonderful World,
The Beatles - Revolution,
Dave Clark Five - Glad All Over,
B*Witched - Rollercoaster,
Labelle - Lady Marmalade,
Kajagoogoo - Too Shy,
Dodgy - Good Enough.

Saturday 13 December 2014

Playlist:
Capercaillie - In Exile [1998 Remix],
Red Hot Chilli Pipers - Gimme All Your Lovin',
Coaltown Daisies - Falling For Artemis,
Chris Flegg - Old Ben,
The Unthanks - At First She Starts,
Kenneth J Nash - Eden,
Kenneth J Nash - Slow Burn,
Kenneth J Nash - Carol Ann,
Skerryvore - Blown Away,
Vatersay Boys - Tam Bain's Lum,
The Gary Forrest Ceilidh Band - Brittania Two Step,
Capercailllie - Barra Clapping Song.

Thursday 11 December 2014

Playlist:
Boyzone - When The Going Gets Tough,
Boy Meets Girl - Waiting For A Star To Fall,
Rosemary Clooney - Mambo Italiano,
Cliff Richard - Stronger Than That,
Showaddywaddy - I Wonder Why,
James Blunt - You're Beautiful,
Leo Sayer - When I Need You,
Queen & David Bowie - Life On Mars,
Snap! - The Power,
Sam Brown - Valentine Moon,
Kate Bush - Babooshka,
Abba - Knowing Me, Knowing You,
Tony Orlando - Knock Three Times,
Ryan Adams - La Cienega Just Smiled.

Wednesday 10 December 2014

Playlist:
Duane Eddy - Dance With The Guitar Man,
Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers - One Way Love,
Level 42 - Lessons In Love,
Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes - The Time Of My Life,
Mr Mister - Kyrie,
Justin Timberlake - Cry Me A River,
Placebo - Pure Morning,
The White Stripes - Seven Nation Army,
The Scorpions - Wind Of Change,
Skerryvore - We Can Run.

Tuesday 09 December 2014

Playlist:
Queen - Don't Stop Me Now,
Stevie Wonder - I Just Called To Say I Love You,
Judy Collins - Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues,
Rihanna - Umbrella,
Baltimora - Tarzan Boy,
Bonzo Dog Band - I'm The Urban Spaceman,
Joan Armatrading - Love And Affection,
Donny Osmond - The Twelfth Of Never,
Cher - Just Like Jesse James,
Skerryvore - Oblique Blend,
Dead Or Alive - You Spin Me Round (Like A Record).

Skerryvore in Tarbert, Friday 19 December

See Skerryvore on Friday 19th December at Tarbert Village Hall, Campbeltown Road, Tarbert, PA29 6TX

Doors 20:00. Support to be confirmed. Skerryvore onstage from 22:00 - 00:00.
(over 14 only; under 18 with an adult)

Tickets £12 in advance, (£15 on the door), available from
H.D.Ferguson & Son, 15 Argyll St., Lochgilphead, PA31 8LZ,
Hyslop’s (Butchers), Bannockburn Buildings, Barmore Road, Tarbert, PA29 6TW and from www.skerryvore.com

(picture by Kris Kesiak)

Monday 08 December 2014

Playlist:
Ike & Tina Turner - Nutbush City Limits,
Madness - Wings Of A Dove,
All-4-One - I Swear,
Billy Joel - It's Still Rock 'N' Roll To Me,
Odyssey - Native New Yorker,
The Doors - Break On Through (To The Other Side),
Def Leppard - Let's Get Rocked,
Frankie Goes To Hollywood - Relax,
Sinead O'Connor - Nothing Compares 2 U,
4 Non Blondes - What's Up.

Saturday 06 December 2014

Playlist:
Saga - When You Wore A Tulip, Take A Glass,
Chris Flegg - French Row,
Bob Dylan - Rollin' And Tumblin',
Eddie And Luc - Dolina Mackay,
The Gary Forrest Ceilidh Band - Cumberland Square Eight,
Outside Track, The - Fishcakes and Brandy,
Coaltown Daisies - In Your Wake (I Call),
Krista Detor - Belle Of The Ball,
Lewis Fergusson - A Flower In The Dark,
Bessyl Duhon - Love Bridge Waltz,
Jennifer & Hazel Wrigley - The Whorl Reels.

Thursday 04 December 2014

Playlist:
Shania Twain - UP!
Del Shannon - Runaway,
Deborah Harry - French Kissin' In The Usa,
Foundations - Build Me Up Buttercup,
Shirley Bassey - Kiss Me Honey Honey Kiss Me,
Belinda Carlisle - Leave A Light On,
Blondie - Hanging On The Telephone,
Andy Stewart - The Road To The Isles,
Swinging Blue Jeans - Good Golly Miss Molly,
Sam Brown - Valentine Moon,
Elvis Costello - A Good Year For The Roses,
Neil Diamond - Forever In Blue Jeans,
The Kinks - Dedicated Follower Of Fashion.

Wednesday 03 December 2014

Playlist:
Derek & The Dominoes - I Can't Stand It,
The Fratellis - Chelsea Dagger,
Lady Gaga - Bad Romance,
The Wanted - I Found You,
Rednex - Cotton Eye Joe,
Raplph McTell - Streets Of London,
Paul Nicholas - Dancing With The Captain,
Ozzy & Kelly Osbourne - Changes,
Adamski & Seal - Killer.

Tuesday 02 December 2014

Playlist:
The Beach Boys - Good Vibrations,
Mika - Grace Kelly,
Christina Aguilera - Candyman,
Robbie Williams - Candy,
Leona Lewis & Avicii - Collide,
Def Leppard - When Love And Hate Collide,
Nelly Furtado - Powerless (Say What You Want),
Britney Spears - Oops I Did It Again,
The Supremes - Stoned Love,
Elvis Presley - Way Down.

Monday 01 December 2014

Playlist:
Mac & Katie Kissoon - Sugar Candy Kisses,
Human League - Together In Electric Dreams,
Paul Young - I'm Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down,
Melanie C - Northern Star,
Sheryl Crow - Anything But Down,
Billy Paul - Me And Mrs. Jones,
The Doors - Light My Fire,
Bette Midler - From A Distance,
Gilbert O'Sullivan - Clair,
The Beatles - Yesterday.