Sonic Hospital was primarily a nome de plume for my recorded output and was coined in the mid '90s whilst i was on invalidity benefit, living in a flat in Wood End, one of the dodgiest council estates in Coventry. There was a chap i knew called Bob; a 40-something hippie type with a weed and folky/prog habit. One night i was over at his getting righteously stoned in a happy way, playing old vinyl albums by Henry Cow and others when on came a blues album that blew me away! Upon enquiring as to the artist i was informed that it was by a chap called Sonny Huxtable (or something), but to my stoned ears it sounded like Sonic hospital, which i found both profound and hilarious in equal measure. (you do when you're wrecked, right?) I wandered home accross the fields covered in morning dew on the morning of my birthday (for it was so) and in order not to forget I tattooed Sonic Hospital on my right forearm!
As my songwriting/recording has always been something of a therapy Sonic Hospital seemed apt. If I look back over the 20 years of recordings it provides some sort of aural history into my mental state, beliefs and environment. Maybe it's the same for graphic artists (is that an acceptable description Chrissie?), writers, designers etc? My money is on "yes".
So there you have it.
I've been picking up the guitars more often of late and the left hand is slowly regaining strength after the carpal tunnel op (still struggling with ring and little fingers) although some alternate fingering and altered technique is still required; this could be construed as a positive thing to spur a fresh creative direction. Who knows? Hopefully get going on the old Cakewalk GuitarTracks once more in the near future.

2005 snogs

posted by Andy 09:01