– a period throughout which the wealth of nations was scattered like sand, and the blood of nations lavished like water

Creasy, Battles

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The Beach Boys – “Our Prayer”
20/20

This track was originally meant to be the opener for the unreleased Smile album. I don’t think a lot of people heard it, but it’s such a wonderful example of their particular brand of harmony that I end up listening to it more than their actual songs. Wilson re-recorded it for the solo remake of Smile, and I’m not entirely sure which version this is – not that it really matters. It’s worth one minute of your time whether it’s new or old. I was reminded of it by the intro to “You’re Not Supposed To.”

He faltered not nor feared,
But quickly went his way;
His road was rough and weird,
Or so the stories say.

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

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Dinosaur Feathers – “Family Waves”
Fantasy Memorial

Something about this music feels familiar, but I absolutely can’t place it. That’s odd, because this album is musically adventurous, listenable, and plain fun – all things I like. Best I can come up with: imagine if The Lovely Feathers spent a year in the South Pacific with Hot Hot Heat. It’s that sunny and bouncy, yet doesn’t cross over into sheer pop because it’s a bit weird too. Also: I guarantee this album is going to go big. (pre-order at Insound)

Alexander Graham Bell, some tetrahedral kites, and other.

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Sam Jayne And The Simpson Sound System – “Darker Still”
Living Bridge

Another track from the excellent and eclectic Living Bridge compilation, this song is actually similar in tone to the TK Webb track posted yesterday. For some reason its six minutes seem to pass by incredibly fast for me. If you haven’t given this album a listen, you really, really should soon. (Insound)

The chief corner-stone suddenly found wanting in the glittering fabric of Mr Titmouse’s fortune, so that, to the eyes of its startled architects, Messrs Quirk, Gammon, and Snap, it seemed momentarily threatening to tumble about their ears, was a certain piece of evidence which, being a matter-of-fact man, I should like to explain to the reader, before we get on any further. In order, however, to do this effectually, I must go back to an earlier period in the history than has been yet called to his attention. I make no doubt, that by the superficial and impatient novel-reader, certain portions of what has gone before, and which could not fail of attracting the attention of long-headed people, as not likely to have been thrown in for nothing, (and therefore requiring to be borne in mind with a view to subsequent explanation), have been entirely overlooked or forgotten. However this may be, I can fancy that the sort of reader whom / have in my eye, as one whose curiosity it is worth some pains to excite, and sustain, has more than once asked himself the following question, viz.—

How did Messrs Quirk, Gammon, and Snap, first come to be acquainted with the precarious tenure by which Mr Aubrey held the Yatton property? —Why, it chanced in this wise.

Samuel Warren, Ten Thousand A-Year (just try making sense of it in one go)