Direct Line Pink Floyd, Gizzard Studios, Sparks Concerts and Parsley's Birthday Cockney Knees Up

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PARSLEY'S COMMLOCK
Media watch : Direct Line Home Insurance adverts reference Pink Floyd
If you're wondering about the music and slow motion 'destruction' adverts currently promoting Direct Line, they are a very thinly disguised reference to the haunting Pink Floyd track used during the explosion in the film 'Zabriskie Point'. It's a powerful film moment and it's fascinating to see it being used to jog the psyche of people that are presumably in their fifties now, and ripe for the insurance market. Clever stuff.

Studio tip : Gizzard Studios, Bow/Hackney Wick (www.gizzardrecording.net)
I've been recording with Ed 'Shadoogie' Deegan for many years. He's a Doctor Who fan, and an extremely patient and professional recording engineer. I reviewed his previous studio location in Stoke Newington, but since then he has moved out to Hackney Wick/Bow way. The new location was saved from demolition for the 2012 Olympic village by being next to a 'listed building' church.

Ed has a spacious recording room with Hammond X with wooden Leslie, Vox Jaguar, upright piano, and an excellent Premier drum kit. He knows how to get the best out of traditional and digital recording methods and he's also got a very wide understanding of lots of different types of music.

He amazed me during some recent recordings with some guitar licks reminiscent of Eric Clapton at his best. In the same session he did some fantastic bass soloing. With the excellent set up at Gizzard and Ed's skills, you'll be well placed to get the best out of your music.

Concert tip #1: Sparks 21 concerts of 21 albums
In May and June this year, Sparks (brothers Ron and Russell Mael) will be performing 21 concerts on 21 nights. Each one will showcase one of their albums, culminating in them premiering their new album.

30 years ago when cassette recordings were killing music (allegedly) I remember that 'Propaganda' by Sparks was one of a few albums I had on cassette, which invariably meant I listened to it when I was in the bath. It's a great album, and it slightly annoys me that its predecessor 'Kimono My House' is the one everyone remembers, because it was the one that launched them in the UK. It's certainly great too, and no doubt that album's concert will be rammed whereas some of their others may be less well attended - quite undeservedly in my opinion.

I did see them a while back playing some old songs of theirs in 'synthi' arrangements. Being a guitar-bass-drums-keyboards person, I found that quite frustrating. Happily I hear their more recent concerts have restored the original arrangements. Mind you, I guess it will be quite tough going for their supporting musicians to learn so many songs, unless they are going to be different each night.

In the late seventies I was a big fan of the band 'Radio Stars' who featured Andy Ellison (formerly of John's Children) and Martin Gordon. Gordon is a really nice chap who played bass for Sparks when he was young on the 'Kimono' album. He left them, I understand, because the band members were rather secondary in those days. I'm not sure if the Mael brothers have changed their attitude towards their fellow musicians since then.

I'm not sure their producers (including Todd Rundgren, Giorgio Moroder and Muff Winwood) fare much better. Ron gave a rather barbed anecdote about Tony Visconti making them listen to his rendition of the bass line of Bowie's 'The Man Who Sold The World' (which Visconti played on) before recording with them. I also heard, but I can't confirm, that they initiated a tribute album to themselves but hi-jacked the project before it was complete!

The venue for the first 20 concerts is the Academy in Islington, which I've heard is not great, as it forces you to avoid going to the toilet or risk losing a decent view of the stage. Anyway, I'm afraid that's quite irrelevant as I'm already wetting myself with excitement at hearing some of my favourite songs performed live by this top combo.

Concert tip #2: Chas & Dave and Smashing Time at the 100 Club Friday 04/04/08
Lord Freddie Valentine has for some time been trying to get me to join him for a right old Cockney 'knees up' with Chas & Dave. I'm going to succumb on the 4th April when my friend Jim Bishop's band 'Smashing Time' support them at the 100 Club.

Pardon me the shameless plug, but I'm going to use the occasion to celebrate my birthday from a few days previously. I'll begin at the excellent Ed's Diner in Old Compton Street for a milkshake before the show. Afterwards, I'll adjourn to the Dirty Water Club in Tufnell Park for late night sixties-style dancing.

Do feel free to join me. Birthday presents are always welcome, even if they are records you want reviewed in this column!

parsley@gardenrecords.com [www.gardenrecords.com]