I appear to have purchased a lot of singles recently so maybe we should have a closer look.....

Abrasive Trees - Now You Are Not Here

Every new song from Abrasive Trees seems to add something new to the musical palate - This time its the amazing vocals of Jo-Beth Young. Its a song about losing a loved one, but still manages to sound both somber and celebratory. As is the way with this band, its a song that doesn't follow any traditional verse/chorus/verse structure but chooses its own speed an direction. So looking forward to seeing this played live in October

Coldplay - Coloratura

I fell for it - Someone said they had gone all Pink Floyd on us and I bought it. To be fair, the single is over 10 mins long, quite spacey and there is a short sort of Gilmour style guitar solo but it's not enough. This still sounds too much like Coldplay to warrant repeated plays

Iron Maiden - The Writing on the Wall

It wasn't until Bruce Dickinson started singing that I realised this was Iron Maiden! It may be that I've not kept up with their output recently but there was a reassuring 'chug-chug' to all Maiden songs which is missing here. It's still a decent meaty hard rock song but not enough to have me pre-ordering the album

Guns & Roses - Absurd

This was surprise - The song has been knocking around since the Chinese Democracy sessions and even played live but now recorded with Slash, Duff and Axl it's been renamed and actually released.  It's an odd track, more in keeping with the Spaghetti Incident punk feel. Axl's vocals sound like they were shouted down a megaphone which makes him unrecognisable until the occasional scream. Definitely a band looking at new directions which is so much braver than retreading the past even if it won't be considered a classic track.

 Hannah Ruby - Lights Out

And lets end with something different. From the very 80's synths and percussive handclaps this is a very modern glossy pop song with the lyrics adding a darker undertone. The occasional layered vocals and the staccato beat are great and it's well worth 4 minutes of your time to listen to this.  

 Seems to have been a few years but it's time to have another rant about the Eurovision Song Contest

As ever certain sections of the UK is up in arms as because "Johnny Foreigner" dared to give us nul points - Well the hard truth is it's our own fault. Once again we send along an insipid song that was forgotten the moment the next entrant sang. It was all just so safe and middle of the road. The vocals was adequate but the tune just wasn't memorable and as for the staging all we did was hang two trumpets from the ceiling!

There is no point taking part if you don't enter into the insanity of the Eurovision - Look at the other Countries and what they did:

• Iceland looked like one of those religious cults that stalk airports but with a funky tune (4th) 
• Finland resurrected the spirit of nu-metal for some strange reason (6th)
• The Russian entrant began like an oversized cross between a dalek and a babooshka doll (9th)
• Ukraine coated the singers arms in green feathers and had a recorder solo (5th)
• It's best not to even think what Germany was trying to achieve with the big foam finger (25th!)
• Even France decided to try something different and tried to recreate the spirit of Edith Piaf (2nd)

All of these efforts were so much more memorable than the UK entrant. It's almost like we don't want to embarrass ourselves but isn't coming last with no points really embarrassing?

There will be those that say "Europe just hates us for leaving the EU" but of course they ignore the fact that those famous EU member states of Australia, Israel and Russia also gave us no points

Final point - What the hell is the talentless Amanda Holden doing on our expert jury? There must be thousands of artists, songwriters or producers who would be more qualified and less likely to make a giant ass of themselves with lame jokes about why everyone doesn't speak English 

So what should the UK do? 

Firstly maybe ignore the so called music critics - As Italy proved the public really, really like rock music, so maybe we give that a try one year. Just a thought

Secondly if someone like Bill Bailey offers to write an entry then accept. Immediately. Now.

I still enjoy the Eurovision and as long as other countries continue to embrace the lunacy it will still be the best music TV of the year.... Rant over.

  Moment of Pleasure - 5

Guns And Roses - Paradise City (1 min:19)

And a really silly one to end on...

Once that whistle sounds I just have the urge to do my worst Axl Rose impression where he snakes across the stage, twirling the microphone stand .

I think part of the fun is that a whistle is a really strange thing to hear  in hard rock but in the context of this song it just seems so right. Makes me smile every time

 Moment of Pleasure - 4

Sepultura - Roots Bloody Roots (0 min:22)

This is the one most people will look at and think it's not for them and most will definitely not consider it pleasurable.... 

Over the years I've listened to a lot of extreme metal but the ferocity and anger with which Max Cavalera roars out those three words of the song title is something special.

It's just such a statement of intent that it still thrills me whenever I listen to this song

 Moment of Pleasure - 3

Marillion - 100 Nights (3 min:05)

Now we are getting more obscure. This is the closing track on the Holidays in Eden album but it's my favourite example of something that Marillion have perfected over the years

There is just a momentary pause where Steve Hogarth sings "we close our eyes" and the track snaps from quiet to loud. And yes, it's even more impactive if you do close your eyes in time with the vocals 

It's a trick Marillion do really, really well - See Neverland, Splintering Heart or Somewhere Else as other examples of their impeccable timing

 Moment of Pleasure - 2

Heart - Alone (2 min:04)

Let clear this up quickly, it's not the drums I'm choosing here! 

The bit that gives me the goosebumps every time is just prior to the second chorus when Ann Wilson absolutely lets rips - The power in that voice is phenomenal

There are a lot of great female vocalists and some might be considered to have better voices but Ann is still one of my all time favourites 

Moment of Pleasure - 1

Going to just try something different for a couple of weeks so I'm going to post about some of my favourite moments in music - not full songs or feats of musical dexterity but literately just those single moments in time that make me happy....

Pink Floyd - Shine On You Crazy Diamond (3 min:54)

Just a really obvious one to start with. It's those four notes that Dave Gilmour picks out after that amazing extended intro. I think its just that it builds and builds to what appears to be a very simple bit of guitar.

I'm a complete and utter non musician but I would consider learning to play guitar just to replicate those four notes.