Sergei Rachmaninov: Prelude in C sharp minor, Op. 3/2

Sarah's Brother plays Little Wing

Wicked.

FC Kahuna - Hayling

Dante Bucci - Fanfare (Hang Drum)

Elgar Cello Concerto

Sir Edward William Elgar, 1st Baronet, OM, GCVO (2 June 1857 – 23 February 1934) was an English composer. He is known for such works as the Enigma Variations, the Pomp and Circumstance Marches, The Dream of Gerontius, concertos for violin and cello, and two symphonies. He also composed oratorios, chamber music and songs. He was appointed Master of the King's Musick in 1924. - Taken from wikipedia.

Shostakovich Symphony No.5 Ⅰ.Moderato [1/6]

I recently saw this performed by the National Youth Orchestra and thought it was amazing. I'm not entirely sure what the full length of the piece is as this is just the first movement. The full piece is a thrill to behold and had me on the edge of my seat.

Spotify on your phone?

Perhaps one for Howard this, but if you haven't already joined the Spotify revolution then I highly recommend it. No longer is it necessary to have endless gigabytes of memory to store favourite songs & albums. All you need is an internet connection.

People like having access while they are on the go so now Google Android has developed something where you can listen to saved spotify playlists on your phone, while on the move:

Take a look:

Slap Guitar - Eppard Style

Since I've been studying Music at College I get the feeling sometimes that people associate me with classical guitar. As much as classical guitar is nice.. here is one of the styles I have adopted from Joey Eppard.

One more reason to work for google

Worth a watch from start to finish. I don't know what kind of corporate annual result bashes that Google is used to but this is cracking first class entertainment...

A Composition

http://www.myspace.com/howardbettany

Howard is far too modest to want to share this guitar composition he has put together, but it a beautiful piece and I really enjoyed it. Even tried to keep a beat with my newly purchased, second hand bongos; in the distant hope that one day, when Howard is a guitar hero, that he will let me be in his band...Needless to say I've got a long way to go. Good work Howard!

Howling Bells - Into the Chaos

After previously really enjoying their debut album, one of my favourite bands are back with a new single. They are not massive but I recommend buying their first album (or thieving, subject to your conscience)....on a less important note, I met the lead singer when buying a band T shirt over a year ago and she is just as hot as she looks on the video. And it is still one of my favourite T shirts! At the risk of sounding like a sad teenage girl...I'll end it there. http://www.myspace.com/howlingbells for more..

Kaki King - Goby

Massive Attack and Portishead: Glory Box

One for you, Howard

Joey Eppard

Just wanting to share a video I found today of Joey Eppard performing Bramfatura. It's probably one of the best ones i've seen. And I hope you enjoy it as much as I have.

Protection by Michel Gondry

Tom recently brought to my attention the new Massive attack video (although it turns out it's actually more than six months old?!) which sees a young woman drink herself into oblivion in her home over the course of an evening. This theme echoes one that I have become interested in over the last year because of my proximity to Stokes Croft in Bristol - an area that, despite undergoing significant regeneration in recent months, is still something of a melting pot of alcohol and drug addiction.

I described my personal experience of this rather earnestly in a blog I wrote last year when I first moved to the area which I called Beggars can't be choosers. Despite the fact that there's been quite a lot of water under the bridge since then, I'm still very much enamoured to the culture and personality of the area, in particular it's seemingly paradoxical warmth and friendliness. Of course, upon closer inspection, you realise there is no paradox and this is something which I'm looking forward in due course to discussing here in The Bettany Blog.

The Massive Attack video in question can be viewed here on YouTube. I decided not to embed it into this blog because I found another Massive Attack video which explores the similar theme of urban disaffection, which I prefer greatly, both because the song is one of my favourites and the video was directed with great artistry and skill by Michel Gondry, who, along with Spike Jonze and Chris Cunningham is one of the best music video directors of his generation.

I guess I decided to publish this blog and this video because I'm hoping to use The Bettany Blog as a means to further explore the problems that exist in inner city areas like Stokes Croft - as examined in Massive Attack's song and Michel Gondry's video - and this hopefully provides an interesting avenue into a subject which is close to my heart.

As for Spike Jonze and Chris Cunningham, who can forget The Beastie Boys' Sabotage and Aphex Twin's Come To Daddy?! A warning though before you click on that last link: Come to Daddy is violent and disturbing - aurally as well as visually!

Boards of Canada on YouTube

A Warm Place