Business is good. Been running a few months now, and have met some of the most established record companies down in London Town. There is a lot of inertia involved in starting a new business. You can have a browse HALO TRACKS to see for yourself what we're doing.

We're still experiencing massive growth, and are everchanging to suit the demands. I'm still eagerly awaiting my Masters result too, not long now.

In 'Disko news we have a show next week at The Social Nottingham, bring your dancing shoes...

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I am alive, although I'm definatley ageing. I lost the hearing in my right ear for the last month, and have been living at home, where my house has turned into the house from Forest Gump with more visitors than Mount Arafat during Hajj. Although to escape the noise I only need to turn my head to the left.

The last couple weeks of uni were ace, the climax being The AutoDisko CD launch party.

Welcome to the CD launch party

But thats a long way off now, at the moment I'm writing my second dissertation with the business idea Halo Tracks. So the last couple weeks have been entertaining a moderate word count, which has to start experiencing a growth spurt pretty soon to fit in with some holiday plans.

The plans are currently standing at nine people and a minibus.

In other news, I really want to finish my solo EP. I've got 5 or 6 songs that I'm really proud of and hope I can get them recorded with a bit of soul and not too out of key.

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This evening The AutoDisko performed in the University of Nottingham Battle of the Bands, unfortunately we didn't progress to the next round... Enter perspective...

My Dad and My Niece

HAPPY 0TH BIRTHDAY EVIE-HOPE JOINER
She arrived at 00:59 24/4/2006 weighing 7lb 9.

I can't wait to see her.

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'I hope he had his sandals on because I just read a study that ice is supposedly really cold as well'

hahaha, you can't write that shit!

link to the article.

This evening I bumped into a song that I've always loved, and just found out who it was; Sleeping In by The Postal Service. It is blissfully inspiring.

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This year brings about significant changes to pretty much all of my friends, I wish you all the best of luck with your final years, new uni courses, jobs, travels.

I can't wait to start back at Nottingham, I know things are going to be different now I'm a postgrad, I'm not kidding myself. But I'm looking foward to the changes. Onwards and upwards.

And finally; Happy 21st little Vero. Fancy going to the 'pour-your-own-pint' night at Dogma sometime?

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It is going to be called 'me against the big bad world', as everything is going to be invariably bittersweet. I've just finished what is probably going to be the first track, entitled 'Wonderland'; and its sounding beautiful.

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(my favourite thing about that picture is the little Fire-Dog thats holding on the back)

That is the scene at 3:30 in the morning at 24hr Tesco. Chaz, Soph and I went for a romantic meal (at the Goose Fat and Garlic) and then to Soul Tree for Orange Wednesdays.

Soul Tree is good because even if you're not drinking the music pounds your body with so much volume that you'd end up dancing if you were unconscience. We tried many different dancing styles last night, these included:-

- Capoeira-ish moves
- 'Rage Against the Mosh' style jumping with the Greebo kids
- David Brent Office (err err er errr)

Because of these Bobble Hat and Scarves I was very sleepy-eyed on the sandwich run today, but was still fun.

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- Faster Now
- Talk To Me
- Dressed To Kill
- Anna

And its sounding shit hot.

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Today I had my Graduation Ceremony at Nottingham. During the ceremony us Graduands had a very simple procedure to follow:

1. Wait for your name to be called and walk across the stage
2. Bow to the Vice-Chancellor
3. Shake hands with the Pro-Vice-Chancellor

Unfortunately I set off a little early before my name was read and bowed to the wrong person, I did redeem myself with an excellent hand-shake, and I was allowed to Graduate...

(left-to-right) Al, Ed, Fraiser; the 2:1 crew.

Here is the standard graduation picture with the mortarboard headgear, I had a big plan to set it on fire as I walked across the stage, but I think I'll leave this for the Masters.

Finally this my personal tutor, Professor Chris.

This morning, I didn't use any of my Computer Science skills when I went around in the Sandwich-van, well apart from giving everyone a 'byte-to-eat'... HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA... that was so bad.

Right its off to Coventry tomorrow, next post will be a good'un.

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Last night I uploaded a song I recorded a few days ago. I thought it apt as I wrote the lyrics on the blog before.

Turning Over Situations
(right-click then 'Save Target As...')

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My thoughts are of sadness for the victims (and their friends and families) and of praise for the people of the emergency services. Hearing the moving accounts of everyday people filled me with a great sense of pride in the British public.

By attacking public transport the terrorists took advantage of our social freedom; they now lose theirs, yet tomorrow we still have ours. Londoners have experienced terrorism before and they don't let it get in the way of life.

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The Politicians.

The fate of millions of Africans is in the hands of 8 white men in suits. Well done, you're going to have talks about the problems you caused (and are still causing). The dumping of produce in Africa should never have been done in the first place, you're not heroes because you are graceous enough to stop it. It is like a persistent thief who is hailed as a hero because they decide to not steal from you anymore.

The Rock Stars

How wonderful they are playing for free. No wait, after a festival a bands album sales that week will typically go up 500% (not including the profile of TV / radio coverage). I think Africans will be very pleased to be contributing to helping record company poverty.

The People

Most people that wear the stupid wristbands and applaud Bono's self-glorified speeches do not have a clue about what the campaign is really about, I mean what are the 3 targets for the G8 on Africa? Most of them read Heat and spend too much time in the mirror. The Live 8 gig is supposed to show the leaders of the G8 that we want to help Africa... erm no, it only shows how many people want to see live music, if it was simply a protest march, then they'd be about 10% of the number of people (not as impressive to the G8 leaders now, eh?).

I would like to conclude that I do very much believe in the 3 G8 targets for Africa, I'm sceptical about if they'll be met and if they aren't what kind of spin we are going to be subjected to (which will make the summit look like a success whatever happens).

I just think the whole 'Make Poverty History' campaign isn't as black and white as its banner...

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Of course there are so many works that mean nothing to me, but I have several imagines, quotes, lyrics and songs, that are just stuck in my head because they are both perfectly thought out and perfectly executed. Its quite depressing when you hear a song lyric which says exactly what you wanted to say, but you never found the words. I mean my language (including on this blog) is littered with sayings by other people which I have found struck a chord. Maybe this is why intelligent people always know so many quotes; they are intelligent enough to know not to compete with the true intellects.

One of the ideas I had (which is hinted at in Heaven dvd) is that songs make a soundtrack of times you've been a part of. You can't choose them, they just happen. And even though its not written about / for you it can seem personal; at midnight in a packed club a girl will throw her hands around their friends and proclaim 'Its my song'! Or a couple will have 'their song' which defines some moment for them. This is when a song is just right.

My greatest interest is in the art of song-writing, that and the fine art of falling apart.

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We were very much at the mercy of the Tube, which kinda sucked as there were massive delays. So I tried out the timer on the camera; 'strike the pose'...

... and the camera was facing too far up!

Cath completely out-shopped me at the Stables, with a poker-dot dress and shoes. I did try on several overly-retro jackets & cardigans and the obligatory comedy hat, but just couldn't make them cool. It was awesome being back on the Camden scene, I have missed the gangsters that approach you and declare 'weed, ganga, marijuana???' if you say 'yes' they'll take you down a side street, steal your money, beat you up and give you a wedgie...

Spent the evening watching Glastonbury on TV; Jon you lucky bastard going in your Camper. Alex you unlucky bastard in your tent (now a small indoor pool).

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I read a really moving book yesterday, My Father's Rifle by Hiner Saleem. Its about a young Kurd growing up in Kurdistan (what became Iraq) in the early 1970s. Many people speak about how evil Saddam Hussein was, but do they really know why? There was so much before the horrific chemical attacks in 1987. I feel people are ignorant to how his regine effected the every day person and the history behind the division of the land and Saddams rise to power. Its very heart-breaking throughout as the Kurds have everything taken away from them and were forced to fight, thinking that America and Europe would be right behind them. And yet the Ba'ath party had a pretense of uniting the Arab nation.

My friend (and AutoDisko drummer) Ben has started a blog, recommended reading simply because there's a photo of me on it! (click for vanity)

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Joe, Chaz, me and Phill

Obviously people always look different during professional photo shoots...

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I've been buzzing over the last couple weeks, because of the serious amount of rock and roll that happens whenever the Disko's are all over the scene. Quick brief of the line-up:

- Marky-Mark Disko; Guitars and disko moves
- Ben Disko; Drums and awesome 'I don't think so' backing vocals
- Auto-Alex; Pumping bass and synth riffs... Pure disko

I sing and play a few synth lines; I just pretend I'm in The Killers, sssshhhhh...

On a related note; there is a huge house party at my Student house tomorrow, naturally we'll be doing a set in a state a little worse for wear... next post will be a good'un!

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