Return from Durlach to the Mill -Jan 2014

Tonight was Schauburg Kino and original English version of “All is Lost” with Robert Redford the only actor on screen dealing with a 31 page script. Absolutely brilliant and would never have thought that it would have captivated me so much. Mesmerising performance and he commands the screen with a powerful and intense presence reminding us of just what a movie star should be. An master class that should be seen by any aspiring actor.

After seeing ” The Hobbit -Desolation of Smaug” on Saturday it was so refreshing to see a real movie and not an exercise in CGI. Not that I didn’t like it but left the cinema feeling od’d like too much Chinese food in one sitting. It just got too much towards the end and I was struggling to keep up with the movement on screen despite it being in 3D and IMAX. JC Chandor’s direction together with the photography and camera work on “All is Lost” is worthy of major awards whereas “Smaug” may take the box office receipts but lags seriously behind in cinematic merit in my opinion. It’s like comparing “Call of Duty 4” to Kubrick’s “Paths of Glory”. As I said it’s not that I didn’t appreciate “Smaug” but felt sick after munching on eye candy for too long!

The week here has been hectic and full on during the days as I set up the year.Back home to architects meetings, publishing meetings and a short session with Steve Vantsis engineering for French band “Lazuli” , one of my favourite outfits at present. I’ve worked with them a few times in the past and met up at Chez Paulette at the end of the European tour where they asked me for a contribution to their new album. With French dates in the blender for the Autumn it’s a great opportunity to cooperate and mutually promote our albums.

The week after is a trip down from the forest to the spires of London and a full 5 days in discussion with lawyers, accountants, publishers, agents, EMI- Warners and other assorted deities
to unravel and organise the business end of my creative spectrum.

Typing interviews on e mails with bleeding fingers, setting up the international side and furthering touring ideas all came into the equation this last week and being away from the demands of home gave me the space to concentrate and think ahead out the box.

I’d thought that over the holidays that orders would slow down but that’s not proven the case and despite all the raised eyebrows at my direct distribution methods with “Feast of Consequences” the album has been flying out the studio. Resolving the MPO manufacturing issues in the last week or so combined with closed plants has put us slightly out of phase and the unrelenting orders through the website means that I am on the edge of selling out the standard versions. We have enough for a week or so at current rates but it’ll be 2 weeks before the reorders arrive. I have decided with Elspeth not to take them of the system but just to let you know if you are ordering in the next week it might take a little while longer to fulfill them. Your patience is appreciated on this!

I’ve initiated a sale on the 2013 tour t shirts with 30% off individual shirts and 50% off when bought with some other items including versions of the new album and other titles. More details will be up on the site next week!

Tonight is packing the case and getting ready for the train at 8 tomorrow! There’s a new WMF frying pan and a sauce pot that I picked up this week as well as a freshly home baked loaf from my princess. 4 weeks till I return for Valentines day!