Iain Cameron's Diary
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2004-02-10 - 5:50 a.m.

Yes Hallelujah � I first heard it on late nite BBC2 � I think John Cale sang it with some strings � I simply couldn�t believe it. On R4 recently there was a short story broadcast called �Being Leonard Cohen.� The author has a large collection of Hallelujah covers including mine (which is quite uptempo and nonchalant (apparently) with a syncopated Hammond riff.)

I have been listening to Rainy Day and Sundays a lot � another extraordinary piece � especially the colouring with the harmonies. The Carpenters seem to follow on from BB but pose even more problems of interpretation. Is BB kitsch or camp besides being brilliant? How seriously are we meant to take this music? The edge of the questions when you apply them to Karen and her bro.

There used to be a time when there were lots of songs that carried an intensity of meaning for me� for example many on Songs of a Seagull � or Jackson Browne eg Jamaica Say You Will on Saturate Before Using � or a great number of Paulos.

Paul and I have just started a e-m interview on Red Blues - the levels of meaning that he takes into account are extraordinary.

I was really surprised when Sixty Forty caught me that way.

60/40

Will there be another time

Will there be another time

Another year, another wish to say ?

Will there be another time

Will there be another time

Another year, another wish to say ?

When the evening light wants to be so bright

And the morning sound is out of sight

Can there be another word to say

Or do we have to give it all away ?

Many moons have to be found

At certain times you'll hear them pound

You can hear the hell bells praying

Many moons have to be found

At certain times you'll hear them pound

You can hear the hell bells praying

It is for granted hear their saying

We are all enchanted staying

Focussing on running down the drain

And those tears are carved inside your brain

New York Lower East Side fame

In a golden circle game

New York Lower East Side frame

New York Lower East Side fame

In a golden circle game

New York Lower East Side frame

Standing everywhere around

The fastest way to be found

And least of giving it away

To keep it only would have made me stay

Will there be another time ?

Will there be another time ?

The CD Richard Jones� band arrived � Meridian. The CD confirms the impression that I got from the mp3s. The 3 musicians them play astonishingly well on a variety of instruments - the arrangements of the traditional music are so good that you begin to wonder whether its 20th century art music � something to do with the subtlety of the effects they achieve. The graphic design on the CD cover encourages that interpretation. � it looks like mid 70s European �serious� music. I first met Richard through Paul. Richard is an extraordinarily good songwriter � I wonder what became of all those songs.

I was a bit listless today � or reflective might be a better term � a better term but less accurate to be honest. Some money turned up so my first quarter figures will look OK

This good new doesn�t seem to have done much for my sleep pattern.

Nice of Andrew to mention my short episode on Blue Flame � the secret is in the production. He is typically acute when he talks about the pure condensed music on the album � and what a rare quality this is, how much it makes the CD stand out. I think there is a big step change between this album and the earlier Element of Beauty in terms of density.

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