All three demonstrate the kind of song writing craftsmanship that few other bands can achieve this far into their career. In the case of Iron Maiden, fourteen studio albums in, the band members all now in their 50s, there is no sign of them reaching for their pipe and slippers. I’ve been a fan of Maiden since I was just a boy. People told me I’d grow out of them but it’s yet to happen! I guess I’ve grown with them. Their musical style has evolved over the years into less metal, more prog-rock epics. Still, the likes of The alchemist demonstrate that they can still knock out short, galloping numbers they used to. For me, the highlights of their latest album are Isle of Avalon, Coming home and The talisman.

Neil Hannon (The Divine Comedy), who always seemed a little old for his years, is now writing some of his most melodic and diverse material. It’s been a long time since he last had a hit single. Not that this seems to bother him. In fact, being out of the spotlight is probably far more suitable. He now entertains crowds in intimate settings via his one-man show allowing for plenty of room for spontaneous renditions from his back catalogue accompanied by his trademark self-depreciating wit. Hearing the new tracks live was a real treat. It’s hard to pick out any stand out tracks as they are all really strong but if I had to choose I’d probably say that When a man cries and Down in the street below were a cut above the rest.

Belle and Sebastian take much longer gaps between delivering fresh material these days. Yet when it finally appears you really get the impression that they have slaved over every last nuance and detail. I’m quite happy for their latest long player to loop over and over as there’s always some little flourish that i’ll have missed on previous hearings. The melodies are so catchy and the sequencing of the entire album from track to track is perfect. Stand out tracks are I want the world to stop with its northern soul feel, Calculating bimbo which has a really nice warming sound to it; and the title track itself which could have been on last year’s side project, God help the girl.

In 2011 I’m anticipating the latest long player from Elbow and hoping that we’ll see some new material from the Super Furry Animals.

Friday

• The View (pyramid)
• The Earlies (pyramid)
• Gorgol Bordello (pyramid)
• Amy Winehouse (pyramid)
• Super Furry Animals (other) Great!
• The Coral (other)
• The Fratellis (pyramid)
• Kasabian (pyramid) Great!
• Arctic Monkeys (pyramid)

Saturday

• The Pipettes (pyramid)
• Guillemots (pyramid)
• Lily Allen (pyramid) Great!
• Paolo Nutini (pyramid)
• Paul Weller (pyramid)
• The Kooks (pyramid)
• The Killers (pyramid, left early caught a bit of Iggy Pop at the other stage) Poor!

Sunday

• Aqualung (john peel) Great!
• The Waterboys (pyramid)
• The Marley brothers (pyramid)
• Seth Lakeman (jazz world)
• Shirely Bassey (pyramid) Great!
• Manic Street Preachers (pyramid)
• Kaiser Chiefs (pyramid) Great!
• The Who (pyramid) Great!

See my Glastonbury photos on Flickr.

* Not actual design. This is an early prototype design. But it will have all the features and be of the form you see.

I’m designing my own MP3 player because I simply cannot find a device that suits my requirements. Namely – an AM radio so I can listen to BBC Radio Five Live! Mine will have an integrated AM and FM player. It will display RDS info where available.

It will also come with absolutely no software. Users will simply plug in the device to a USB port, transfer folders and files using Windows Explorer, Mac OS finder or whatever Linux file manager they have. The device will then show folders and files as they are named as well as ID3 tag info.

Users will be able to play music in standard and shuffled mode. There will be a decent graphic equaliser that has excellent Bass reproduction. It goes without saying that the sound output will be amazing.

The player will also be a general USB storage device for users to store files of any type. The player will only display the mp3, WMA or Ogg files. It will work on Windows, Mac and Linux machines.

The unit will have a standard headphone socket in the base. There will be a neckstrap attached to the USB lid. The device will be of the same size as a standard USB storage stick.

It will have a back-lit display and be chargeable via a usb port or a supplied AC adapter. A full charge of the lithium on battery will take one hour.

Users will be able to update the player’s firmware via a dedicated support website.

It will come in a range of colours and will be made from plastic and metal. It will be strong and durable. It will have a two year guarentee.

It will not have any means of recording – no internal mic, no line-in. No calendar or games or anything else.

It will have 2GB of Flash Drive storage.

It will be called the “Aye Pal”.

It will cost £80.

The album kicks off with part one of two acts of the apostle. A strange choice for the opener which plods a bit but manages to evolve by the chorus. Track two, another sunny day, is typical jangly Belle and Sebastian. Very melodic, catchy, uplifting and one of the best on this release. A potential single but would need to be censored for bad language (the referee gives us fuck all). White collar boy is a Marc Bolan clone track – even the singing style but enjoyable nevertheless. Dress up in you is another highlight with a laid back feel to it whilst Sukie in the graveyard has a funky beat and an American football organ vibe to it.

We are the sleepyheads is a great track with a flower-power swinging london type female vocal. funny little frog and to be myself completely are the two northern soul style tracks that were first explored on Dirty Dream no.2 on the boy with the arab strap. It took me a while to get into to be myself completely as it always does with the songs sung by guitarist Stevie. However, also typical, it’s now one of my favourites. Funny little frog wont help the band get away from their twee image but it is a strong track and a joy to hear appear so far into the album. The last two tracks, for the price of a cup of tea and mornington crescent are a bit of a let down and not especially interesting. This has been the pattern on most B&S albums save for the last three amazing tracks on fold your hands.. and story telling. I have the feeling that mornington crescent could have benefited from a wider 70s style production with some more bass and echo. In fact most of the album’s production in a little too compressed for me. More breathing room would have been nice. One thing about their early productions, whilst perhaps a little underpolished, they did capture a real vibe. That said, the life pursuit is a very good album and well worth the cash. You can even get a version with a free 30 minute dvd of their recent performance on BBC Scotland for a couple of extra quid.

Last night at 10pm I was treated to BBC Music Scotland’s The Music Show whilst the rest of the country had to endure Have I got News for You. Belle and Sebastian were the subject of this 30 minute special where they ran through a bunch of new tracks from their forthcoming new album “The Life Pursuit”.

The new material is very strong. I’m not too sure of the number occasional vocalist Stevie sang. As a general rule I prefer Stuart’s voice but Stevie’s songs usually grow on me eventually. “Wandering alone” and “Black and White United” from Storytelling have even become two of my favourite B&S songs over time.

The show had a 70s Old Grey Whistletest feel too it. Even the audience were dressed in tank-tops! I remember the band sending out a group e-mail referencing the TV show with a call to action for fans to turn up in 70s Brady bunch gear. Looks like it paid off.

B&S are certainly doing some good promo work in the lead up to the new album. They played a decent set on Radio 2 on Monday’s Mark Radcliffe Show. Stuart Murdoch also pronounced that the new Southampton-based Delays song “Valentine” is the best song of the last twelve months!

Anyhow, there’s a taster of a few B&S tracks from The Music Show on BBC Scotland so go and have a look.

Discuss.

As well as being treated to a couple of new numbers, the band did an on-the-fly cover of Elvis Costello’s Oliver’s Army. They played their second album If you’re feeling siniter almost in entirety. Not my favourite album but it sounded much better live than on record and I can understand why they’d want to play so much of it as it proves how bad the production on that album actually is.

Leader Stuart Murdoch was highly entertaining, jumping into the crowd to check the acoustics of the new concert hall and engaging in amusing banter between songs. The band really involve the crowd – even inviting people onto the stage to dance to the final number.

With such a huge back catalog it was inevitable that a few favourites were omitted but that doesn’t matter because the band bear repeated viewings live. I’ll certainly make more effort to see them again soon.

Read the review from The Herald: Belle and Sebastian, Perth Concert Hall – The Herald.

I almost wept with joy on hearing the opening bars of Breathe. The classic line-up, the classic sound. Completely brilliant. Roger Waters seemed to be having the time of his life and said it was “Quite emotionally to be playing with these guys”.

Apparently it was he who approached David Gilmour. Gilmour himself didn’t look as joyous and had to be coaxed into the group hug at the end of the set.

Well done Floyd for putting your differences aside. I wonder if this could lead anywhere or will it be the last time we see all four them together on stage.

Full story: Pink Floyd reform for Live 8 show.