Church Of Anthrax - John Cale & Terry Riley

Wrong Way Up - Brian Eno and John Cale

Advantages: perfect pop songs, mature, amusing and catchy
Disadvantages: slightly dated production

This album contains some of Brain Eno's most commercial songs ever and some of John Cale's most atmospheric lyrics ever. Recorded in 1990 at Eno's home studio the sessions began amicably enough but by the end the two men were hardly speaking as Cale began to resent what he saw as Eno's constant tinkering with perfectly good recordings. The daggers between the faces on the album cover reflect this tension. However none of this is apparent when listening to the record. Without doubt one of the cheeriest albums I own there is a perpetual sunny atmosphere throughout, which occasionally spills over into outright goofiness. The absurdity of the sea shanty "Empty Frame" is infectious and I defy anyone not to grin along with the tune. But somehow it avoids embarrassment and silliness. Other highlights include one of Eno's most romantic tunes ...

adams66 16.09.2008 · Read full review
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Review of Wrong Way Up - Brian Eno & John Cale

Halifax Parish Church

Advantages: Lots of history, friendly staff
Disadvantages: None for me

During a recent visit to Halifax the weather was miserable so I took shelter inside the parish church for a short while. The Parish Church of St John the Baptist is one of several churches near to the town centre but it is distinctive because of its square tower and rather black appearance due to centuries of dirt and grime. A Norman church has stood on this spot since at least 1120 and the eastern wall of this church is original but the early Norman church was much smaller than the present church and had a location a little further to the north. Its eastern wall that still survives was actually the exterior wall of the southern end of the original church. When I arrived I instantly noticed that there was some renovation work taking place, several dustsheets were sprawled across the floor and tradesmen were banging and drilling ...

micksheff 18.05.2009 · Read full review
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Review of The Church of St John the Baptist, Halifax, West Yorkshire

A lovely example of a Saxon Church

Advantages: Lots of history
Disadvantages: Limited opening hours

Ault Hucknall is a tiny, one street dwelling in north east Derbyshire. It has been described by the local residents "as the smallest village in England" but this is a claim that is disputed as it is generally defined as a hamlet rather than a village. One thing however that is not in dispute about Ault Hucknall is that it is the location of one the finest examples of a Saxon church in England. This church, known as St John the Baptist is a Grade 1 listed building signifying its national historic importance. The earliest surviving parts of the church date back to just before the first Millennium and a record from the church archives dating from the year 1000 is one of the oldest known written manuscripts in England. A Yew Tree in the church date is said to be anything between 2,000 and 4,000 years old and is thought to provide ...

micksheff 26.10.2008 · Read full review
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Review of St John the Baptist's Church, Ault Hucknall, Derbyshire