Ah yes, music: long a bone of contention with those who have to share a house with me! One of my happiest moments in Spring 2002 was when Lindsay shouted at me "Turn that music down Daddy!" - in the same tones that my Dad used to use to me. To have hacked off both the older AND the younger generation gives me an obscure pleasure.

As I write this, headphones on, listening to 'A Plague of Lighthouse Keepers' by the mighty Van Der Graaf Generator, I find myself pondering the fact that listening to music is, for me, an increasingly solitary pleasure, although Kirstin has been known to tap her feet to the Tailgators. I don't find it odd that the likes of VDGG are not regarded by most as light entertainment: I do find it odd that I am the only person I know to find beauty there.

So these pages will indulge me somewhat by exploring some of the by-ways of my interests. And if you find it odd that VDGG rub shoulders with the late, great Dave Van Ronk and the genius that is Jake Thackray then you're obviously someone who has not had to share a house with me! It is also the page where most of you find out that the name of the website is a smart-arse reference to a song by Quintessence. In fact I can think of only one of my friends who is likely to recognise the source and to have heard it and the last time I asked him he wasn't on line (if you ever read this Ian let me know!)

My intention is that these music pages will eventually be divided into two themes, both supremely self indulgent: one will be to pen short notes on artists of whom I am particularly fond, the second will be more a reflection on that which has been my principal pastime for nearly thirty years. As yet the second of these has not been started, but you can find the notes on artists here: