Recent Posts

11

Everything Else / Re: So... tell us a joke!

« Last post by Master Ray on May 21, 2026, 08:01:40 PM »

A care worker at a nursing home sees an old man named Eric sitting by himself, never seems to talk to anyone, he seems so isolated and she feels so sorry for him, she wants to help him and goes over...

'Hi Eric!  We've got lots of things to do today... would you like to go outside and play a little crown green bowling?'

Eric says 'Nope.  Tried that once.  Didn't like it.'

She says 'OK, that's fine, at least you tried it.  How about we do a jigsaw together?  It'll be interesting, keep your mind active?'

The response is 'nope... hate jigsaws, tried one once, didn't like it'

The care worker is getting slightly exasperated by now but preservers.  'What about chess?  That's a great game, I'm not very good at it but I bet you can show me how to play properly, a clever guy like you!'

Inevitably, he says 'No.  Don't like chess, tried it once, didn't like it'.

She says, 'OK Eric, no problem.  What would you like to do?'

Eric says 'Nothing... my son is coming over later, that's all I need.'

The care worker nods and says 'That's great.  Can I just ask... is he an only child?'

12

Everything Else / Re: So... tell us a joke!

« Last post by Master Ray on May 21, 2026, 08:00:49 PM »

A shepherd and his new girlfriend, a lovely woman he met in the pub a few weeks ago, are engaged in pillow talk after their first time in bed together.

The girls asks the shepherd how many partners he's had.

He starts counting and falls asleep.

13

New Model Army / Re: NMA Genre (Genre fluid?)

« Last post by Mara on May 21, 2026, 05:54:41 PM »

Yeah, I totally agree. Some of his and the bands arrangements remind me of J.S. Bach 

14

New Model Army / Re: NMA Genre (Genre fluid?)

« Last post by Henning on May 21, 2026, 01:31:24 PM »

Perhaps a bit unusual but classical music - especially the more recent 20th century one - is is perhaps another 1 or 2 %. I remember talking a lot about Arvo Pärt and other composers with Justin when we tackled the strings on the song "Winter". He's quite a wide range of musical interests.

15

New Model Army / Re: Do you think NMA's music "speaks" to young Rock/Folk fans?

« Last post by Master Ray on May 19, 2026, 10:53:55 PM »

If you're looking for a full album by The Triffids then 'Born Sandy Devotional' (from 1986 and the one that got me into them first) and 'Calenture' (from 1987) are generally considered to be their best but you can't really go wrong whatever you pick.  Hope you like them!

I just listened to "Born Sandy Devotional," I quite like it. It's an '80s band that sounds different from The Sound and The Chameleons, indeed! there's  something of Nick Cave and Gun Club in their music. maybe? I like the way they alternate between the singer's tracks and the few songs with the female vocalist. I'll give the second album you recommended a try then.

Glad you liked it!  Clearly there's a Nick Cave influence seeing as they're both from Australia.  Ever heard anything by The Saints?  Another Aussie post-punk band that are well worth checking out, not hugely successful at the time but became much regarded in later years.  And another band that changed their musical style drastically over the years...   

16

New Model Army / Re: Do you think NMA's music "speaks" to young Rock/Folk fans?

« Last post by Guillaume on May 19, 2026, 07:36:12 PM »

If you're looking for a full album by The Triffids then 'Born Sandy Devotional' (from 1986 and the one that got me into them first) and 'Calenture' (from 1987) are generally considered to be their best but you can't really go wrong whatever you pick.  Hope you like them!

I just listened to "Born Sandy Devotional," I quite like it. It's an '80s band that sounds different from The Sound and The Chameleons, indeed! there's  something of Nick Cave and Gun Club in their music. maybe? I like the way they alternate between the singer's tracks and the few songs with the female vocalist. I'll give the second album you recommended a try then.

17

On The Road / Re: 17 May -- Istanbul

« Last post by Guillaume on May 18, 2026, 10:24:45 AM »

Wonderful way to go in Istanbul:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4IAQwR3kj8

18

New Model Army / Re: NMA Genre (Genre fluid?)

« Last post by Master Ray on May 16, 2026, 11:31:19 PM »

Any halfway decent band doesn't give a fook about tying themselves to any particular genre.  NMA have dipped in and out of any style of sound if it was to the benefit of a song in question... and all for the better.  I mean, can you imagine if they'd decided that the Vengeance / No Rest For The Wicked era was what they were sticking with and were still replicating those early tunes in the 21st Century?  How utterly shite would those albums be (although, I suspect, that there would be a certain level of the fanbase who would love such a thing...)   

Sometimes it doesn't work.  Let me refer you to my very fave Metal band ever, Paradise Lost.  Love this band... they started out as full on doomy sludgy rock with Cookie Monster vocals, started doing more melodic (but still very heavy) stuff, then had a couple of pretty successful albums with Icon and Draconian Times, cleaner vocals, catchy choruses but still fine and heavy musicianship. People forget that they were once tipped to be massive on the Metal scene, like playing arenas and stuff...

... and then they decided that they'd bring on the electronic side of things, make an album called One Second that was somewhat keyboard-y and then a follow up that sounded exactly like Depeche Mode.  Don't get me wrong, I'm a huge fan of DM, I was all over that album... but it killed them for a while, commercially and critically a huge failure!  They made a succession of records that gradually brought back the heaviness (including last years Ascension which is one of their finest albums ever) but they're no denying that changing their style stuck a stick in their spokes.

Should bands amend or flat out change their style?  I would say so... if they've got the nerve.   

(oh, and it's not just two people... Shush pops in here occasionally...  )

19

New Model Army / NMA Genre (Genre fluid?)

« Last post by huwcamden on May 16, 2026, 09:56:17 PM »

Genre is an  all important narrative for most artists as it enables them to be pigeonholed for maximum commercial gain! NMA are well known for crossing multiple genres and defieing precise definition..which is a good thing I would say so just for fun really I'm wondering what your venn diagram would say over all these long years for NMA.
I'm saying:
30% post punk
30% folk rock
15% Goth rock
15% Heavy metal
5% Rap
5% Prog rock
....I have a feeling the only replies will be from 2 people but that's cool...your opinions as musical historians and men of impeccable musical taste don't go unnoticed here!

20

On The Road / Re: 17 May -- Istanbul

« Last post by CelticFlavor on May 15, 2026, 09:53:01 AM »

We are in Istanbul and staying in the Cihangir district, near Taksim Square, if anyone wants to meet up.
We are also planning to visit the Asian side of the city on Saturday and will definitely check in at Karga…
🤘😎