Celebrated Dublin contemporary guitarist Chequerboard, AKA John Lambert, launches his new album Souvenir on Thursday 13 April at the National Concert Hall as part of its new Metronome series.
John released his debut album Gothica in 2002, followed by Penny Black in 2008 on Irish indie label Lazybird to universally positive reviews. His third album, The Unfolding (2013), mixed by legendary producer Ken Thomas (Sigur Ros, Cocteau Twins), received similar acclaim.
Metronome is a new collaborative series in The Studio at the NCH - a gallery for sound, it presents emergent music, new projects and new artists. Find out more here.
FILM
I’m going to start with an admission, which is that the film that I’m going to recommend is one that I’ve yet to see although it's not for love of trying, it seems however that the last few months of my wife Katie's pregnancy with our second boy Rua is not a good time to coordinate an outing the cinema. The film in question is North Circular by Luke McManus. Luke is an old neighbourhood friend, not to mention a great raconteur and a film maker with a real love of cinema as on display for one in his music video for Lankum's Cold Old Fire. So, when I heard that he had made a film about the nearby North Circular Road filmed in black and white exploring the history, music and streetscapes along that route I had earmarked it as my first choice for a cinema dash (and still do). The 5-star reviews it has since received mean it is still being screened months after its premiere. It’s still showing in the Lighthouse cinema currently. Go, for me.
MUSIC
As an avid listener of ambient music, it can sometimes feel like there is way too much of it out there, endless oceans to wade through in search of passing warm currents or flickers of colour from the seabed. Every now and again, though, there are albums that transcend the genre.
Inspired by a series of window views from the Hara Museum of Contemporary Art in the Shinagawa ward of Tokyo, Hiroshi Yoshimura’s 1982 album Music for Nine Postcards is just that. What makes this album so special is mysteriously hard to pin down, I can only put it down to the music being infused with the natural warmth, curiosity, playful and generous nature of its composer.
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BOOK
Wayward is the autobiographical story of English singer-songwriter Vashti Bunyan's journey leaving behind the trappings of the music scene in late 60’s London to trek for over a year through the English countryside all the way up to the deserted beaches of the Outer Hebrides in a horse drawn wagon with a dog, guitar and partner. Not quite the idyllic tale one might imagine, there are endless challenges to overcome as the beauty of the story presents itself woven into the harsh relatable life lessons learnt, hopes dashed, expectations adjusted but ultimately one person's uncompromising music defying all odds and emerging to a new adoring audience after nearly 30 years forgotten.
TV
If you have a soft spot for dating programmes but find the rats in a lab atmosphere that they can emit depressing, then Japanese dating show Terrace House is the perfect antidote. Rather than finding ways to trap and taser people mentally the contestants simply share a house together for a period which they dictate, during which time they get to know each other by thoughtfully navigating each other's emotions while learning about each other's way of life respectfully. Perhaps it's just me but I think there's more drama and heartbreak in observing a quietly developing crush than a hundred drunken jealousy-fuelled snogs.
GIG
Just launched into its 14th season, Kaleidoscope is a monthly music series run by cellist Lioba Petrie in the basement of the Bello Bar in Portobello. The night is a revelation for anyone who likes to hear some of the best musicians in the country as if they had just shown up in your living room. The tagline for the night is ‘Music for curious ears’ which sums up the variety of music on offer. The format is four acts from wildly different backgrounds performing relatively short sets keeping everyone on their toes. From harpists to string quartets, sitars to barber shop trios, part of the beauty of it is what you discover unexpectedly. Next gig is in Bello Bar on Wednesday April 5th. Well worth the absurdly affordable ticket price.
✨ Kaleidoscope Night Live at Bello Bar
— Kaleidoscope Night (@KaleidoscopeDub) March 12, 2023
Wednesday April 5th
8.30pm
Featuring @dolcewalrus @HarpAisling #MoynihanTrio @SoThisIsLiz #Ikigai
Tickets 👉🏽 https://t.co/8snW7O7izL
ART
I’ve been talking a lot with artist Robert Carr lately as I’ve asked him to produce the artwork for the new Chequerboard album, Souvenir. During many sprawling discussions we touched on the work of Gerhard Richter, Agnes Martin, Rothko, Vaughan Oliver, all the My Bloody Valentine album covers and also the work of Peter Shmidt who did the painting on the cover of Robert Fripp and Brian Eno's Evening Star. Rob sent me the artwork for the first single the other day and it stopped me dead in my tracks as it felt just perfect for the song. Another thing we chatted about was Rob plotting his first show in a very long time. I really hope it happens.
TECH
As a relatively new parent, I’ve only recently reacquainted with the experience of going to the library so now regularly catch myself in non-rock and roll mode harping on about how great the library is not just because of the toddler morning they run every Monday. To make me even more insufferable a friend then tipped me off to the Dublin City Libraries app which means I can reserve books from other libraries and have them sent over to our local one for collection. I know, I know.
Read or listen now. Download the app for free and use your library membership to borrow up to five eBooks or eAudiobooks at a time.https://t.co/ptCbVMrpnh
— Dublin City Libraries (@dubcilib) March 18, 2023
No queues, so no waiting!#BorrowBox #LoveLibraries #dublincitylibraries #campaigntitles pic.twitter.com/r05lSQoNiD
THE NEXT BIG THING...
I listened to a podcast recently of Adam Buxton talking with British comedian Bob Mortimer where he told the story of how during a film shoot, he befriended Christian Slater and before the week was out had convinced him to invest £250 in his idea for a front facing toilet where one sits in reverse facing the cistern allowing the user to use their laptop or anything else they wish while committing their business. Surely that's as good a guess as any.
Chequerboard plays at the National Concert Hall, Dublin on Thursday 13th April - find out more here.
