mostly david ephgrave

While sorting through some old things today, I stumbled across a cassette of early Big Day Out demos I haven't heard for years and, after putting magnetic-tape-to-tape-head using my first HiFi (which I rescued from my garage last week), I discovered they're still bloody good. The songs were recorded using our friend, one-time band manager and adopted-father-figure Martin Goodrich's 8-track in around 1997ish, and sound remarkably polished considering our tender age and the technical limitations. The joy and energy bursts from the speakers like the band are playing in your front room today and, while there are inevitable Britpop-style musical quotes we'd soaked up at the time - like the odd Oasis-Esque vowel sound - something sparkling and original still comes out the other side of it. And the songs - which are unashamedly out-and-out pop - are catchier than coronavirus. (Too soon?) Before I sound smug, I should point out the driving force at that time wasn't me, but ...

A little later this afternoon I'm set to walk into an Oasis album cover. Don't take the above statement too literally; I'm not planning a spot of very specific slapstick with a record shop display-stand (I'd have to find one still trading to do that). I will, however, be walking past the location where an Oasis cover was PHOTOGRAPHED. I spotted it the other day whilst passing through Soho on the way to a casting. I often do a spot of window-shopping whilst on Berwick Street; plenty of funky (yes...'funky') vinyl shops to be found around those parts - if only to contradict my above statement. It also keeps me well clear of Soho's 'sexy places'. Standing proud in the centre of one of the window displays is a copy of the LP, '(What's the Story) Morning Glory?' - and blue-tacked to the familiar sleeve is a little slip of paper, bearing the legend "YOU ARE HERE". (www.reckless.co.uk) There was a time when I'...