I find the weather is fairly conducive to productivity and extends to things like inspiration and the variant driving forces behind the creative process.  So - with that in mind, greetings from Adelaide South Australia where our first summer heat wave has been a bit full on.

Sunday  12/1: 35.5 C / 95.9 F
Monday  13/1: 42.1 C / 107.7 F
Tuesday 14/1: 45.1 C / 113.1 F
Wednes  15/1: 43.1 C / 105.5 F
Thurs   16/1: expected high of 46 C / 114.8 C (last night's low was around 31 C at 6am)

So yeah, it's fucking hot here.  Which is what happens when you situate a city about 300km south of the Goyder desert line, and it's a huge bloody desert up there.  The record high for Adelaide is 41.6 C sometime in the 1930's and I'd expect it's going to be eclipsed today.

So, the end result of this in terms of productivity/creative process is something sounding sweaty, sleep deprived and languid.

I'm sure there was a thread for this in 2012 but I can't find despite my trawling…

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All over the place for me this week, but satisfying and tasty sounds.

Ry Cooder & Corrodos Famosos - Live In San Francisco (2013)

One of my heroes.  A guitarist's guitar player, but nothing fancy.  Just eloquent, soulful playing and wonderful interpretations of lost blues/mexican standards.  Feat.  accordion master, Flaco Jimenez!

Neko Case - Blacklisted (2002)

A voice like a bell.  A loud bell.  Still in her alt. country element with members of Calexico on-side.  So good.

Portishead - Portishead (1997)

Old love.  Bleak as fuck.  It's incredible but I still struggle to get all the way through the record…

John Coltrane - A Love Supreme (1964)

Masterful, sumptuous, transcendent.  The phrasing (amongst the whole ensemble) is just incredible.  It's been on high rotation for the past month.

Tristan Louth-Robins (b.Week 1 - d.Week 7)

So, yep…I’m out. 

I tried, but from the outset I did state that getting involved WB was highly irresponsible given this ridiculously busy year.  I was hoping that I’d be able to fold non-WB work into WB work (and vice-versa) but I’m afraid it’s not working out.  Not to toot my horn too much, but right now I’ve got two exhibitions coming up, an imminent long-term project, artist statements to write, compositions to finish and neglected e-mails/messages to reply to...which lately (in part) has meant, I haven’t been able to listen to people’s WB work which is a real shame. Oh wells…best of luck to everyone, and thanks to those who commented on my tally of seven tracks!