Author: Ian France

  • Supernature

    Album: Supernature Artist: Goldfrapp Year: 2005 Genre: Electropop Run Time: 43m Rating: 85.26% Review: The angular crunch of 2003’s Black Cherry was somewhat of a surprise for many, following the folktronica of Goldfrapp’s debut. Supernature takes the electropop of that follow up, and camps it up to 100. It’s a wonderful album, where dance beats…

  • Anagram Dictionary – some answers

    Answer time! Have you done better in any of the questions? Please comment below to tell me! Or just let me know whether you enjoyed them or not.

  • Moanin’

    Album: Moanin’ Artist: Art Blakey and The Jazz Messengers Year: 1959 Genre: Hard Bop Run Time: 41m Rating: 82.36% Review: Originally released as Art Blakey And The Jazz Messengers, this is a fine jazz album, featuring some tight playing and excellent tune writing. Only a series of extended drum passages spoil the flow a little.…

  • Trans-Europe Express

    Album: Trans-Europe Express Artist: Kraftwerk Year: 1977 Genre: Robot Pop Run Time: 43m Rating: 89.16% Review: Such an important album in the history of dance and electronic music, this 1977 gem combines proto-versions of ambient pop, tech-house and synthpop. As well as being an inspiration to many, this is a damn fine listen. Highly recommended.

  • Anagram Dictionary – hints

    A couple of weeks ago, I set you the challenge of working with an anagram dictionary. I promised you a few hints. Here they are: Answers in a couple of weeks. Good luck!

  • A Message to my Teacher Colleagues

    I love that if you look up images of teaching and teachers, what comes up is invariably that of a blackboard, despite that technology being out of date by about 15 years. Today is the day most schools break up for the Christmas holidays. A few will have gone yesterday, but most are in today…

  • What does it mean to be Centred?

    When I began my Centred program of self-development, I spent quite a long time considering what I meant by the word “Centred”. The word came to me in a flash of inspiration whilst I was trying to distil what I wanted out of my journey of improvement, but I wanted to be sure that I…

  • Doolittle

    Album: Doolittle Artist: Pixies Year: 1989 Genre: Alternative Rock Run Time: 39m Rating: 83.60% Review: One of the most highly-regarded alternative rock albums in the canon, Doolittle proves its worth at every turn, with strolling basslines and squalling guitars. There’s a surprising amount of slowness, but it never feels this way, thanks to Black Francis’s…

  • Anagram Dictionary

    This puzzle is taken from a Martin Gardner book I read years ago. It’s a favourite of mine. I want you to imagine a dictionary. Not an ordinary one, but one geared for anagrams. Each entry is an alphabetical list of letters, with any words using those letters listed afterwards. Some entries are straightforward. ANV,…

  • Crappy Carbonara

    This recipe comes courtesy of my son. In some ways, I’m mortified that my first recipe post is a bastardisation of a classic (and beautiful) dish, but in others, I’m proud that this comes from him, as he’s a self-confessed lazy cook. Frequently eating straight from the pan, and adept at throwing everything in a…