GENES: Bringing music to your ears?

Originally published in 2014 The following story is based on materials provided by Suomen Akatemia (Academy of Finland). Multiple regions in the human genome are reported to be linked to musical aptitude, according to a new study. The function of the candidate genes implicated in the study ranges from inner-ear development to auditory neurocognitive processes, […]

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PAUL HIGGS: Pavane – ‘….. he has to be in the top 5 Pianists anywhere …..’

Out resident jazz expert Tony Andrews writes ….. The primary incentive for me to write these reviews for this magnificent website is to help redress the balance between those who achieve shear musical genius and the musical mediocrity currently hyped up by the craving for “Celebrity Status” We seem to be obsessed by being a […]

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BLUES MAGOOS: What happened?

Hi Howard. I know you are into this type of 60’s music and so what can you tell me about The Blues Magoos please? What should I avoid of theirs?  Thanks Laurence Rode. Hmm, well ….. the short answer is ‘not much’. But yes, I am into this genre and many similar ones too. I […]

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PLASTICITY

What a great word. noun:1. The quality of being easily shaped or moulded.2. The adaptability of an organism to changes in its environment or differences between its various habitats. Plasticity very much describes our ever-adapting ear/brain mechanism. Unlike our test equipment which we rely upon to be solid and unchanging, our ear/brain mechanism is constantly changing, […]

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JAZZ: Let’s honour the Great American Songbook

From the archives Michael Henderson writes: The BBC threw a party last week at New Broadcasting House, and invited 300 guests to enjoy the kind of spectacle the BBC likes best: patting itself on the back. Tony Hall, its director-general, led the proceedings, and he didn’t lack support from the underlings, who spoke of how […]

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BOOTHROYD STUART MERIDIAN: Designs … the very rarest of the rare

Quite a few facts here that are unknown to many. Meridian 102. A concept with possibly only one prototype of a stand-alone phono stage and/or step-up. Never put into production. Meridian 101B with hard anodized finish over the raw aluminium. An experiment to test surface-finish durability. It was indeed resistant to even a heavy set […]

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DAVID BOWIE: News

Charles Shaar Murray: Three changes of dress and a kiss from Lou Reed. The waiters were horrified. Jill and Lyn are 17 and they’re into Bowie. They’ve both seen David working three times in as many weeks. They’ve both got Ziggy Stardust and neither of them like Marc Bolan. Jill says she likes the way […]

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