Music

The Summer of Doom

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My recent listening habits haven’t been jolly. I suspect they reflect the dumpster fire that World News is at the moment.

The Stranglers – Rattus Novigus

A big alternative band of the 80s, who were personally big in my 90s. I saw them live (without original lead singer Hugh Cornwell, which was off-putting) at one of the Leeds Free Festivals at Roundhey Park, and their Greatest Hits lp was constantly on my mate Foz’s stereo when I went around. Attitude-wise, they’ve always struck me as the same joking about – but oh so deadpan – that Faith No More also displays. So recently, I’ve been working through their back catalogue, listening to ENTIRE ALBUMS. So I started with their debut Rattus Norvegicus and not got very far beyond that. Its got one of my all-time songs, Get a Grip (of Yourself), and the leary “do they mean it or are they being ironic” Peaches (both on the aforementioned mates Greatist Hits tape). But what was new to me and has become my theme tune over the last month or so is their hauntingly stomping Goodbye Toulouse, which apparently is inspired by Nostrodamous prediction that this French of city will suffer a catacymisic end. Doom my friends, doom.

Recently keyboardist Dave Greenfield passed away. His bandmates released this poignant song on their latest LP.

Iggy Pop and James Williamson – Kill City

Made in the aftermath of the Stooges’ implosion from drug use in the early 70s from sounds which were meant to be that band’s fourth album after Raw Power. Guitarist James Williamson would get Iggy to do vocals on weekend release from the rehab. Lacking the fire of Raw Power, It’s like a big sleazy soundtrack to a 70s gangster film, telling stories from the viewpoint of its anti-hero stars. Listen to Joanna and its not the loving romance song you initially think it is. This is the remastered version, with all sorts of sounds filling out the rather flat vinyl version I picked up second-hand in the 90s and held on for grim life in my post-student days.

Jawbox

How did I miss this band in their 90s heyday? I’m doing general discovery with this band, who came out of Washington DC and were peers of my beloved Fugazi. Recorded two LPs on independent label Discord Records before being on Atlantic for two, then disbanding in the late 90s, members going in other directions (including the wonderful Office of Future Plans), and then reuniting to tour in recent history and reissue the two major label releases on their own label. Phew!

Here’s the out-and-out rocker, Breathe of their Atlantic debut, which made the hairs on my neck stand up on end when I first heard it.

And talking of Doom, let me introduce …

Spotlights

Another discovery band, who’ve been on Mike Patton’s Ipecac label since the 2010s. Described as “Doomgazing” they really are a fantastic mix of atmospheric rock music, with breathy vocals, occasional grimaced shouting, crash bang wallop drumming, space rock(!), sludge, doom, progish leanings (but from NY state). I picked up on them since Ipecac are promoting their latest LP, but this is the one I keep on playing on repeat.

Fun, Heart matters

Three Little Talks

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Well, my latest game, Lost Fools of Atlantis, has ended its run on Kickstarter after a numerically significant 23 days. Part ritual, part goof, while it’s not gone stellar money-wise (of all the Kickstarters I’ve run it’s funded the least), it’s been too much fun and restored my sense of humour in what I’m doing with D101 Games. I’ve got a supreme sense of achievement and a clear path – even in these very uncertain times.

As I sit here way past the Witching Hour, as is my want, considering occult matters, consciously dreaming and setting up magical events for fun and, err, more fun, using YouTube as an Oracle, it spat out three shorts by the late great Alan Watts, one of my favourite pathfinders and Not-Uncles.

I’ve been worried about getting old and painfully dwelling on my own mortality, so this was the first one to flow out…

When Life Changes, Stop Clinging To It

I sat there all warm and fuzzy – having nothing to do with the fact it’s an extremely hot summer’s night – and then almost instinctively came up with a wobbler. “What about all the people, especially my nearest and dearest, who worry all the time?” So then this flowed out from autoplay.

We Worry About Problems We Don’t Even Have

And finally, to complete this classic trilogy of the answers to all life’s problems, a favourite of mine that I realised in my late twenties in the late 90s (but have doubted many times as I have repeated the same vicious cycle of becoming serious and static, and breaking down and learning to laugh again – well no more!).

It’s Only A Game

So I’m going to go away now and sleep when I’m tired 😉

Fun, Gaming

Lost Fools of Atlantis

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After what seems like an age of teasing people on my Twitter and D101 Games Facebook account, I’ve revealed my latest game, Lost Fools of Atlantis.

Lost Fools of Atlantis, cover by Jon Hodgson, Balance Engine logo by Dan Barker.

I’ve been working on it for the best part of a decade. At the start of this year, I set myself the date 23.05.23 to bring it to Kickstarter and let the general public decide whether it’s worth my time (and theirs) to develop and release. I’ve tried to chicken out and pull away many times, especially over the last couple of days which have been unbelievably stressful on the family front. Daniel Barker has been cheering me on as I send him rough drafts and has created a lovely logo for the Balance System (the narrative d20 system, which is sort of an evolution of Monkey) and this stunning piece of artwork for the book.

Lost Fools has deliberately been written as a Dark Comedy. It’s very satirical, almost sarcastic in places (punk RPG?), but without being sloppy. You can take the underlying system, the Balance System, and use it for other things as long you don’t mind there being any hit points, damage dice, movement rates, or other relics of roleplaying games’ wargaming orgins.

You can sign up to be notified when it goes live on Tuesday 23rd (its also the URL for when it goes live for 23 days until June 14th)

Fingers crossed that it funds because otherwise, I will burn/delete all copies, and we will never talk about it again.

Heart matters

Life in the Slow Lane

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Life has been satisfyingly slow recently. The last couple of years, after Covid lockdown in 2020 (Mar-July?), have been all sorts of hectic in ways I didn’t anticipate. Worst of all, I didn’t see it coming until it was too late, and I was involved in day-to-day reactive behaviour rather than stepping back calmly and dealing with stuff. In short, for the last couple of years, despite working for myself, and looking after the family (and attendant Grandmas), I was swamped. Last year for the first six months, I had five family crises ongoing. When a sixth raised its ugly head, I said, “NO UNIVERSE, I CAN NOT TAKE THIS ONE ONBOARD! I’ve only five fingers to count them on” 😀

But things are gradually sorting themselves out. Annoyingly while three of them have gotten much better through the situations changing, I’ve learnt the big Adulting lesson that responsibilities, once taken fully on board (like Adults do with dependants) may change due to circumstances but never really go away. Saying this, once you accept responsibility, if you do it firmly and calmly, this gives you a reassuring sense of control. Even if circumstances are beyond your control and you just have to go with the flow 🙂

I’ve had to start taking care of myself physically a lot better than I have been doing. I’ve taken my body for granted, and while I’m practically a vegan, don’t drink or smoke, and get moderate regular exercise through walking the dog, I could be doing better. Also, mentally, I’ve been pushing myself too hard in the wrong directions and being too stubborn and self-reliant. So some things have been given up on, and some put aside (for now). I’ve accepted that my projects aren’t as Epic as I thought they would be, and by giving up the struggle, they’ve actually become fun and much more profitable! (just like the Taoist Masters say!).

Fun

Star Trek Strange New Worlds

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Very taken with the latest Star Trek, Stanger Worlds. Not only is it new shiny Trek and visually striking, but the characters are sympathetic, presenting intelligent and positive solutions to their problems. Also, while every character has their issues, the rest of the characters are supportive and compassionate. Overall the characters face some pretty awful situations, but through skill and heart, they come through strong. 🙂

It’s a big contrast to all the Sheridan Taylor stuff I’m currently obsessed with (Yellowstone, Mayor of Kingstown etc), where it’s all a race to the bottom 😃

Family

D&D at School!

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Update on H at his new specialist Autistic School that he started last week. Within a week of being there, he’s been moved up a year because he’s very academic (he runs rings around Rachel and me, and we are both Masters level). He’s made a friend with an assistance dog (who sits under their desk during lessons, and H gets to stroke at break time). His new friend invited him to play in their D&D game during free social time in school on Friday afternoons. So H now has a 4th Level Dwarfen Cleric. The adventure continues on Wednesday after school D&D club. He’s the happiest I’ve seen him in years.

H after his first day at his new school
Fun

It’s like Christmas!

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Normally at this time of the year, I’d be crawling back under my covers after a brief post-Christmas burst of energy and optimism, followed by a crash due to cold weather and catching the back-to-work snots.

  • The great house spring cleaning has begun.
  • Henry is back in school!
  • Evelyn coping with school, despite it being GCSE Year
  • Next holiday booked!
  • OGL Dumpster fire avoided.
  • Elaine’s house is getting sorted. LOOK AT MY BIG BADASS HUMIDIFIER!!!
  • Not one but two games on the cusp of being released!
  • The existing back catalogue doing well.
  • Tax return done
  • Seeing a lot more of my wife, and shift work more manageable.
  • The weather is perking up!
  • I’ve started another Fallout 4 play-through and its fun and I’m finding new fresh things, even after it being my go-to game for something like seven years (with Borderlands 2 being a close second).

So much excitement….I’ll think I’ll have a calm down in a darkened room 😀

Ironically our real-life Christmas decorations, which we’ve had up since the last week of November due to us going away to Lanzarote for a week, have just gone back into the attic – because even the prime architect of Christmas year (the stylish and exuberant Evie) says it doesnt’ feel like Christmas any more. 😀

Family

A New Door Opens

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For the first time since the Pandemic Lockdown back in 2020, all the Newport Household will be at school or work. H starts at his new school today, and after feeling a bit mopey over the last couple of days about it, I’ve got my act together, and I’m happy for him. He’s certainly in a good mood about it. Evie is doing her GCSEs which is stressful, but she’s coping. Rachel is settling into a temporary role as team leader for Cancer Research at her hospital, which is still hectic, but nowhere near as mad as being the Covid Team Leader (which is a story for another day) which she did from early 2020 to just before Christmas 2022.

This leaves me with time on my hands during the day, so it’s time to get my head down and magically transform the house. Bring two rooms back from being unable, and generally clean and renovate five years of neglect. Oh, and there’s the stuff that needs fixing after ten years of the extension (like our horrific Ziggurat of Doom front stairs and a few water leaks). The Garden will get a facelift, transforming from the cover picture of Black Sabbath’s 1st LP (an overgrown wet ruin) into something more colourful and happy (with Sunflowers :D).

2023 needs to be a big year for D101 too. I’ve lots of stuff I need to get out (which I’m collectively calling the Swamp), stuff that I feel fired up to do, and getting the whole business on a firm footing so I can contribute more to the family funds consistently.

But for the first time in years, I don’t feel overwhelmed, partially because I see other things in my Reality falling into place (H getting back into school was a huge one here) and partly because I’ve been upping my game after hitting a low about it all June last year.

It’s weird, though. Like being some sort of time traveller. Moving from the preteen age to a new and exciting one for our teenage children. Now that I’m conscious of this, I’m now quietly planning for when the children have fled the nest 😀

So 2023, even without looking at the bonfire that is British Politics, is all about change. We even have new neighbours, with four(?) children who moved in last week.

Teh Virtual Home of Mr Newt Wiz A & W