Journey soundtrack: 1

Everybody knows that the right soundtrack can make a road trip more enjoyable. It can energise you, it can make you reflective as the music seamlessly blends into your surroundings or it can simply distract you when things don't turn out as expected. In short, the right music can define a trip.

Hence a little note on what has been draining the batteries of my iPod lately.

The National (High Violet) has been tearing through my headphones for some time now and although I would generally describe their music as leaning towards dark, morbid and introspective, there is also a certain element of fun in their music (living in a Lemonworld anyone?). The latest album meanders through various melodies reminiscient at times of Interpol's stellar debut, Turn on the Bright Lights ('Terrible Love, 'Sorrow'). To a lesser extent one cannot help but think of Godspeed You! Black Emperor (beautiful violins on 'Little Faith') and Arcade Fire's boundless energy on the standout song 'Bloodbuzz Ohio' which makes me shudder and shiver with admiration, pleasure and inexplicable sadness.

As if lamenting for something lost that cannot be regained this album takes you on a journey of its own. The ease with which the band combine their usual indie rock with subtle string compositions and beautiful brass accompaniements is enough to guarantee that this album will be found safely nestled in our glove-box compartment once it's time to go on a journey of our own.

MM

It's all in the name

As part of our attempt to fill in the time when our travels have come to a grinding halt, the theatre is always a nice escape. Hence, on Saturday, 26 June we decided to go to the Bristol Old Vic to see a student rendition of Arthur Miller’s The Crucible.

As John Proctor raged on the stage about Salem heading to hell through vengeance and deceit, it was easy to mistake the dark and stuffy (and adequately named 'Old' Vic) theatre of undergoing a similar struggle. Gripped by the drama and barely able to move because of the stifling heat, it did indeed, at times, feel like the flames of hell were about to engulf everyone and everything.

The play, lasting well over three hours, left us nearly inconsolable at the injustice taking place right before our eyes and the knowledge that the allegorical beauty of the play lay not only in its allusion to the McCarthy era and the hounding of socialists, but on a more global scale of lies we are fed by politicians on a daily basis, with too few people being brave enough to stand up for what they really believe in. The resonance of the play has filled me with a strong desire to tour the country in search of each and every Arthur Miller production because I have yet to see/read anything of his which has not made me want to cry and become a better person.

For now, though, our touring will take us to Cornwall next week and my quest to become a better person has already started by trying to make my fleeting thoughts more permanent.

Best quote: ‘Because it is my name! Because I cannot have another in my life! Because I lie and sign myself to lies! Because I am not worth the dust on the feet of them that hang! How may I live without my name? I have given you my soul; leave me my name!’




MM

Chew Magna

Like clockwork, a bank holiday brings a required journey to the countryside or the beach. That’s just always how things have been done on our Fair Isle. So as not to disappoint we climbed into our trusty polo and headed off to Chew Magna to meet up with the remainder of the M Clan.

Chew Magna, in North East Somerset, is typical of a rural village that benefits from being near a big city – all amenities only a short drive to Bristol but submerged in a beautiful countryside. Chew Magna is an ideal gateway for a pleasant walks along public footpaths including the possibility of trekking to Chew Valley Lake. Blagdon Lake is also nearby but Blagdon village would probably offer a better starting point.

Once you come into Chew Magna from the B3130 there will be signs for free parking just off the main street. From here it is easy to stroll around the village and admire the cottages and age old buildings, There are also various signposts indicating Public foothpaths.

The walk was full of wild flowers, birds and vast views of the surrounding landscape. Unfortunately you are very likely to encounter dogs not being kept on a lead and if you are unlucky, as Boo was, then you might even get beat up by another, bigger four legged creature. Strolling along the river down towards the lake, crossing fields and cows, it feel s like you could be in Devon’s notorious countryside.

The lake, artificially built in the 1950’s is source of much of Bristol’s drinking water. The area covered by the lake was once the location of farmhouses and other inhabitants. On dry summer days, when the water level recedes, remnants of old buildings can sometimes be seen. There have also been ghost stories, claiming that the creation of the lake lead to the death of people whose spirits sometimes roam the roads by the lake when the moon comes out. You could say that as far as the lake is concerned, the myth is better than the real thing. On a sunny day it might be nice for a picnic but other than that you require a permit if you want to fish, sail or go to Denny island.

Back in the village there were only three pubs, two on the main road and one tucked behind the Church. Queen’s Arms is on a quiet road just behind the Church cemetery (it doesn’t encroach!) and offers a nice selection of ales and decent food.

All in all Chew Magna is nice to get a taste of the countryside but it feels like there is something lacking. Comparing it to somewhere in Devon or even Cornwall it kind of lacks that sense of mysticism and peacefulness that comes from something deeper than a lack of cars and people, something that I can’t quite put my finger on yet..

BM