Getting lost in a maze

We’ve been too busy to practice recently, and tonight’s session was the first time for about a month that Balustrade have picked us their (that is to say, our) guitars in anger. And anger was the predominant emotion as we moaned about the weather and other things which escape me know. Given the fog that currently engulfs Bath like a big… load… of… erm… fog, young Lexington was lucky to manage the long and arduous drive from Batheaston to Claremont without encountering any zombie pirates. It’s a growing concern this side of the river and no mistake. Some taxi drivers refuse to go north of the Avon when it’s a bit murky for fear of the wee beasties.

Anyway, why the break, I hear you bellowing at your computer screens, and herein lies the tale. As the more culturally savvy amongst you might know, Bath is home to an annual film festival, and last Monday evening I was watching some artsy French monochrome futuristic animation thing instead of singing songs. Renaissance was the film and it was quite good, really. However, we Balustrade boys had a right treat on Saturday night when we were invited along to a special preview screening of Guillermo Del Toro’s latest Spanish language film Pan’s Labyrinth. It was only due to our newfound status as local celebrities (thanks to the success of the alt.westcountry volume one album) that the Major of Bath herself invites us along as VIPs where we were treated to comfy seats and all the Haribo and Jelly Babies we can eat. Which, as I’m sure you’ll be aware, in a heck of a lot of sugary goodness. Indeed, Lex brought a small truck with him and walked away at the end with nearly seven hundred quids worth of cola bottles. He was cock of the walk, I can tell you…

Anyway, the film itself was just bloody amazing – beautiful, poignant, harrowing, words cannot really describe its majesty. I urge to go see it when it gets a proper release later in November. However, this film will only really appeal to less than half of our fan-base as it’s all in a language called “foreign”, necessitating the use of subtitles, so you have to actually be able to read to understand it.

Anyway, last night (Sunday 5th) was bonfire night, and as I was downloading the rather excellent photographs of fireworks looking all blurry and crap in the sky, I came across this never-before-seen picture from the album recording sessions. I think it’s doing the world a disservice to deny its majesty. The slippers are my favourite bit about it. Alex Thomas: a man who knows how to relax in his own home whilst clubbing a load of pans and pans with wooden spoons. What a man!

That’s all from me for now,

Toodle-pip

Matty Del Carter IV