I had a beer-fuelled pub debate recently about the demise of the 'proper' rock LP. Namely, a record that's about ten songs long, isn't a concept album or some sort of thematic set piece, and just delivers a snapshot of a band's development at a moment in time. The internet has done some great things for music, but alongside the somewhat double-edged swords of convenience and accessibility it also allows appalling self-indulgence to occur - the sort of nonsense which was once available only to the really rich and famous act who had money to throw away. But, in the midst of a market saturated with the over-egged and terribly serious products of fevered, suffering musicianship come Pensioner. Emerging from the churn of musicians which makes Dundee look potentially more incestuous even than Glasgow, Pensioner seemed to rise from the ashes of a number of bands some time last year. They brought with them that most elusive of all things in the music world - a sense of humour. This is evident from the earliest listen to their music, which is infectious and enjoyable in no small part because they're having a blast playing it. There's also a more immediately obvious comic outlet in the absurd song titles which bear virtually no relationship to the contents. After all, why should having grandiose, odd or ludicrously lengthy titles be the preserve of instrumental post-rock acts? But, despite daring to have fun and not being ashamed of raising a smile in public, it's absolutely important not to write-off Pensioner as anything less than one of the most exciting emerging groups in Scotland at the moment, and "Yearlings" is a fitting opening to this career.
For all the simplicity of this concept, Pensioner are a tricky act to pin down. There are moments during "Yearlings" - not least early favourite "Gadgie Weddin'" - where it's possible to close your eyes and imagine that you're listening to something which Dischord Records would relish releasing - tight turns in mid-song, cascades of noise vying with spine-tingling melody, and a vocal range from a downbeat indie-drone to a hardcore howl of rage. In particular, the rhythm section appears capable of technical shifts and time changes which probably shouldn't be possible - and certainly shouldn't attempted by the uninitiated. No-one is doing this kind of thing these days - and those who are trying even parts of this heady mixture of elements aren't doing it nearly as well as Pensioner. The trademark song titles reach a peak of silliness - and a neat musical in-joke - with "Annannannawidecombe". In yet another variation of pace and tone this is nearly jangling indie-pop with a comparatively playful mood dominating. But there is a dark lyrical undercurrent here, indicated not least by the curious line 'on this peninsula the broken bodies lie'. The track builds and grows, finally strengthening into an epic ending. Next, "Sports Science" kicks off with a menacing intro and progresses with slashing guitars and a sinister bassline which support a genuinely unhinged sounding vocal. But even here, where Pensioner appear to be at their darkest and most serious, there are sudden bursts of deft, joyously complex guitar work, the melody ushering in a simple but swooning chorus. The track is coupled to "Daniel O'Dickhead" which marks a distinct change to chiming melodies and a snare-drum shuffle. These are two distinct but interconnected songs, and it's certainly not just a case of having too many bizarre song titles to spare.
Of course there is risk when you're dealing with a pretty straightforward band set up of guitars, bass and drums that things will begin to sound a little similar - but Pensioner pull off a neat touch in the sequencing and variation of this material which many similar bands seem to miss entirely. "Like, Epic" was an early taster for this record, and contains enough time changes and weird shifts of rhythm and volume to keep everyone on their toes. Here, Pensioner are beating those early 90s American acts at their own game, with solid drums and sinuous bass. Then, when you think you've got the measure of things, it all goes quiet and suddenly the band have become a pretty convincing post-rock act - producing a delicate but still driven instrumental coda to the track with neat guitar lines delicately weaving around the energetic rhythm section, before the inevitably noisy ending. This would have been a pretty incredible piece of music in it's own right, but as another aspect of an already fine track it's almost too much. The record closes with the dizzyingly complicated but remarkable "Massive Ferguson" which enters as a slow-burning anthem before switching up a gear to become a jittering, angry rant of a song - then down-shifts again resolving into a chugging indie-rock standard. It's a fittingly diverse and complex closure to an album that is full of clever tricks, neat shifts and surprising turns. This could of course all be just a little showy - a bit too much of a portfolio of the possible for the band. However, it doesn't ultimately work out that way at all, and the whole album hangs together as perfectly crafted collection of songs which have clearly benefited from lots of live performance, and the opportunity to tighten up into their technically precise recorded form.
It's pleasantly challenging to be writing about a good rock record in a year which has so far been the preserve of the quieter, more reflective artist....and please be in no doubt, this is a great rock record - noisy, energetic and dynamic in equal parts and with a sense of the bands now legendary live performances captured and preserved in the recording. A huge amount of respect is due to Olive Grove Records too, for daring to buck the trend and for getting behind an act which falls well outside the at present rather restricted comfort zone of Scottish music. This is a powerful, slow-burning album which is packed with enough surprises to keep you coming back to Pensioner. It's easy to forget in fact that this is a debut - and the fact that this band may have even more, yet to be revealed tricks up their sleeve is both daunting and exciting in equal measure.
Pensioner - Gadgie Weddin'
Another Bank Holiday, and another trip - albeit unplanned - to Paignton! Having heard that 67029 'Royal Diamond' was working the diagram today, I decided having little else to do, that I'd have another trip to the seaside. Down to the station in plenty of time to see the shiny, silver machine drawing in to the platform. A fair few fellow cranks on board too, as we set off southwards.
Decided to wander further into town this time, so after arriving headed up to the gardens near the Palace Theatre to read in the sunshine for a while. Noticed that things in this part of town seemed worse than elsewhere, with many of the smaller shops closed or closing down soon. Also strange to note that very few of the smaller tea rooms and cafes were open here. Read for a while and munched the sandwiches I'd packed, just like the old days. As the clouds closed in and the rain started to speckle the pathways in the gardens, I headed back to the station.
Like many of the seaside towns I seem to end up visiting, Paignton feels like it needs a boost - something big to catapult it into the 21st century, but not so big it loses it's charm. The train back was full - a mixture of locals and trippers. There is a market to be had...but is anyone sticking around to chase it?
Competition? Answers on a Postcard... 18 years ago
Posted in Railways on Saturday 3rd May 2008 at 11:18pm
It was all going to be so efficient - companies would compete on key routes, and impartial regulator would decide on services for the good of the network and user, and new rolling stock would pour into the market. Well, finally, fifteen years after the Railways Act promised a bright future of competition - and despite the meddling of DfT and others, this week saw the third Open Access operator begin to run trains - Wrexham, Shropshire and Marylebone Railways. It's been an eventful first week, and today wasn't going to be any different, as I decided to try out the new service. The first challenge was fitting a trip into the Saturday timetable, with four awkwardly timed (for us) trains from London to Wrexham and back. Settled for a later than usual start at 08:16 with a run up to Paddington, fairly uneventful and mostly early running meant time for breakfast, to chat and generally to enjoy the promising morning. It also allowed time to make the transfer to Marylebone - although this wouldn't have been necessary. Arrived to find the service shown as delayed almost an hour before it was due to leave! A locomotive breakdown had necessitated fueling a substitute loco, and as time slipped by it was touch and go whether the train would leave with the new loco and stock, or with that of the next incoming service. Time slipped by, and so did the alternative option to travel on a Chiltern unit to Leamington and change a couple of times for Wrexham. However, a small core of us stayed firm - we'd come for the loco-hauled service and we'd wait for it to run. A few knowing smiles from the gateline staff showed they knew our game, and we were left alone by the large British Transport Police presence at Marylebone due to football, and this being the only place Birmingham trains were arriving.
Finally the service was called, and we walked out to the new platform 4 to wait for it's arrival. The staff waiting for the train were clearly relieved and pleased to be running, and there was a fine atmosphere as the recently repainted 67014 slipped into the bay, with three immaculately turned out blue and grey coaches bearing Wrexham and Shropshire branding. Taking us forward would be 67024 - the replacement engine we'd waited for. Until the modified Driving Van Trailers are ready, these services will continue to use pairs of 67s. Soon on board, settled into a comfortable coach and away from London, well over an hour late. As we moved through the suburbs, alternating bursts of good running with slacks due to speed restrictions or local units ahead, tried to recalculate the journey ahead? Once we'd called to pick-up at Banbury, we had a better idea of timings. Should we leap and Tame Bridge Parkway and risk a couple of hours at New Street, or could we press on into Shropshire? It was clear we were now unlikely to make it to Shrewsbury, where we'd originally planned to turn for home. The staff onboard made up for this with excellent free coffee, friendly service and a genuine interest in what they were doing. A promising start for this new company.
At Leamington Spa we took the line for Birmingham rather than the single-track via Kenilworth. A number of these services, and reportedly all of them at weekends, run fast through Birmingham New Street - making a mockery of the idea of fair competition. We crawled through the southeastern suburbs of the city, passing Tyseley and travelling via Small Heath South Junction and Bordesley Junction to reach Proof House. We came to rest in platform 9 of New Street for some minutes, the driver out of the cab and showing some dismay at the signal check. The doors, of course, stayed locked. Off again, taking the line for Bescot at Soho and reaching our next stop at Tame Bridge Parkway. Calculations showed Telford Central was possible, so we nervously sat tight as we pressed on, getting inevitably stuck at Crane Street Junction before our next pick-up only stop at Wolverhampton. On the move again we passed Oxley, teeming with stored Adelante units, until recently working locally for First Great Western. Stuck behind another local service we crept into Telford with eleven minutes to spare before our train back to New Street. Time for a quick picture in the afternoon sun, then over the bridge to head home via a packed and stiflingly hot Voyager ride which left me tired and cranky.
The restrictions which cynically ensure that Wrexham and Shropshire's service isn't a competitor for Virgin and Arriva are going to make this operation a challenge, and technical issues like today's failure won't help either - but while the staff retain their air of genuine concern for service and interest in customers' needs, this operator will be winning the battle by other means than short journeys. The popularity of the much missed South West to North West trains shows that for many people a direct train with no changes is often as attractive as an early arrival. If Wrexham and Shropshire keep their spirits and level of service high, they'll become popular and well used.
The Search for the Summer Timetable 22 years ago
Posted in Railways on Monday 3rd May 2004 at 8:05pm
Bank Holiday Monday. A good day to get out of Weston, but no idea where to go. Even thought about going nowhere and conserving funds. Got up, had coffee and read mail. Noted that the Summer National Railway Timetable was out. Thought about a run out to Bristol to collect it, perhaps extended to Reading or Banbury. Up and out of the house in time for the eerily quiet 0829 which is normally a jammed 221, but today was a sparsely peopled 220.
No sign of the timetable at Bristol. No problem, would hop on the 0910 to Reading and check there. Weather changed from filthy to utterly disgusting. No timetable at Reading either, but I was assured they had it at Paddington.
Decision time - checked price of a One-Day Travelcard, which was pretty reasonable. Weighed up against the odds of finding a timetable at Banbury or Oxford - which were slight. Headed for Paddington again!
On arrival, the weather had unbelievably worsened. To add to my miseries, no timetables at WH Smiths. The weekend Circle Line possession was still in force, so hopped a Hammersmith & City and headed for Farringdon. I had only vague plans now. Maybe exploit the Travelcard on some of the lines out of London Bridge? Lucked out with a Thameslink via London Bridge (getting the curve south of Blackfriars as a bonus!). Rain really chucking down now. Out to Plumstead via Lewisham, and back via Greenwich. Stumbled here, thought about getting to Victoria or Bromley South - but no clear idea. Back to Lewisham - missed the Victoria service by minutes. Couldn't bear half an hour in soggy Lewisham.
So, new plan - onto the DLR - first ride of the Lewisham Extension. Lots of curved concrete tunnel, a shame the old V-shaped Island Gardens station is gone, it was always a pleasant oasis for lunchbreaks! Change at Canary Wharf for Stratford, then a gruesome 315 to Liverpool Street. Still no timetable!
Back on the H&C to Kings Cross St. Pancras. Strange security alert which no-one seemed to be bothered about! At last, WH Smiths have stacks of timetables. Quickly purchased one, and headed out to the St. Pancras Interim Station.
I was unprepared for the sight of the shell of Barlow's trainshed surrounded by building site - I was equally stunned by the brutal concrete and steel Interim Station. Wandered in, and up to the platforms. All pretty bleak. Left when security took too much of an interest in me. Didn't fancy explaining myself to the large, angry and bored looking goon! Back to Kings Cross Thameslink, then to Cowcross Street for a coffee - and a chance to fill in the card to get a free timetable update in September! The sun decided to come out now.
Headed back to Paddington a little earlier than I'd planned. Despite the change in the weather, I was tired and a bit bemused by my own random wanderings. I had lots of ill-formed plans and not enough time or energy to fulfil them - a truly London feeling. Decided I needed more time another day. Headed back via a brief stop at Reading. Once again, didn't get a seat on the 180 - but Anthony Head (of Buffy The Vampire Slayer/Little Britain fame) did - in first class of course - much to the delight of a procession of female fans who found repeated excuses to wander by. For information ladies, he got off at Bath Spa.
Lost::MikeGTN
I've had a home on the web for more years than I care to remember, and a few kind souls persuade me it's worth persisting with keeping it updated. This current incarnation of the site is centred around the blog posts which began back in 1999 as 'the daylog' and continued through my travels and tribulations during the following years.
I don't get out and about nearly as much these days, but I do try to record significant events and trips for posterity. You may also have arrived here by following the trail to my former music blog Songs Heard On Fast Trains. That content is preserved here too.
