Oliver Wood Photography

It’s that time of year again, though the atmosphere is strangely subdued.

The Yule tide is going to be a solitary event (mostly) for yours truly this year, though there will be the usual round of get-togethers with brother and SIL which I am looking forward to as always.

My current employment situation could have been a lot worse if it wasn’t for so much support from ex colleagues, something for which I am deeply grateful. Networking opportunities seem to abound and hope springs eternal plus any other cliches that come to mind. An almost lost university friend has come back on the scene too, just before she is off to Africa on yet another amazing and purposeful adventure. Of course, it all serves to illustrate just how dull my existence is in comparison, but it is inspiring in its own way. However, I can’t think further than another technical job at the moment, though as always, the allusive Broadcast field beckons once again.

The noble ideals of situationism have become something of an obsession lately but now I have the opportunity to engage with other like-minded individuals through various Face Book groups. Situationism offers some form of inspiration and hope in the current circumstances. I think it is a golden opportunity to disengage with the ‘spectacle’ of consumerism and become more creative and truthful. They always say that hardship and adversity lead to enhanced creative insight and I tend to think that there is some truth in this, at least on a personal level. At one time the disengagement with the shallow and artificial concerns of consumerism lead to an enhancement of greater cultural and spiritual awareness on a societal level. Though now I feel that we have become too dumbed down, too automated by capitalism and the notion that you are what you own to ever reach the hights of transcendent living. The notion of creativity has been usurped by the ‘society of the spectacle’ to such an extent that now the idea of creativity is just another form of commerce. Creativity as a business plan, or vomit inducing Christmas TV schedule and not a cypher for the enhancement of natural lived experience.

Who knows what 2009 will bring, but we may just see the emergence of some form of radical ideal, or the development of a new cult idea; but I’m not holding my breath.

Music of the moment:-

Emanative When on Earth and Sun Ra When Angels Speak of Love

Emanative is a relatively new find (courtesy Giles Peterson) and a most enjoyable one. This experimental Nu Jazz outfit from London crosses a range of boundaries but their soulful songs are as smooth as velvet. Dear old Sun Ra is guaranteed to provide the perfect accompaniment to the most enchanted and thoughtful moods, enlightening our existence here on planet Earth long after his return to outer space.

Happy Yule to all my occasional fleeting and chance reader(s)

All eyes on Urbis again this coming weekend as the venue (including a specially erected marquee) play host to a 24 hour celebration of all that was Factory. Or more specifically, The Tony Wilson Experience. The event also known as Riification (making the abstract concrete) in honour of the situationist manifesto that underpinned the Factory ethos is billed as a kind of creative gathering of the cities most creative minds. Many of whom, of course, were associated with Factory or that extraordinary era of Mancunian creativity.

Much of this event is invitation only but the main purpose is inspiration. The idea being to inspire a new generation of talent to take on the mantle of the now ageing Factory era elite in an attempt to bring about the birth of a new era of creativity and originality amongst Manchesters cultural movers and shakers. Maybe even the birth of a new cult identity for same, though I feel that this could be a little optimistic. Well, at least someone is trying. My colleague Craig Johnson is joining Elliot Rashman and Steve Connor in the marquee at 4am to give a talk on situationism!