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My first album 
Sunday, October 1, 2006, 12:59 AM
In any other year, this would be an absolutely epic entry. However Ruby's arrival has definitely relegated this to a lesser event for me. Still, suffice to say that The 4 Of Us, a band whose music I have passionately followed since I was much younger, released their latest studio album, Fingerprints, on EMI Records today. I've heard it, and each song is a real gift.
My connection to the whole affair is that I photographed the cover of the band, and the booklet shots as well. If you're willing to treat opportunities like this as an opportunity to earn experience, rather than money, then all sorts of doors open for you. I really enjoyed doing this, and I think that the guys did too.

If you like new music, I urge you to visit their website for a taste of an album that deserves to become disturbingly successful. For anyone weary of the drudgery of James Blunt and Coldplay, it makes a refreshing alternative. My personal favourite is the hauntingly romantic song 'Into your arms'.

Anyway, I'm done on album covers now. I'm on to babies.

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Ruby Wednesday 
Thursday, September 28, 2006, 12:52 AM


I guess any parent can identify with this - any photo of one's own child feels like a classic. You can sit watching a baby for hours, watching its face work its way through several thousand equally captivating expressions. You want to bottle and store each and every one.
In any case, Mayke is entirely responsible for this particular shot, taken when I was on my way down to a trade fair in Cologne. She seems to be practising for the 'la la la la not listening' routine. I mean Ruby of course, not Mayke.

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Ruby Tuesday 
Tuesday, September 26, 2006, 03:08 PM


You are looking at a picture of our 2 hour-old daughter, Ruby Matilda Rolls, brought into the world today in Hamburg at a weight of 3.94 kilos. I don't feel that words can do this event justice - language is a bit limiting sometimes. But she opened her eyes, sniffed, and then smiled at me, so I am head over heels in love. Mayke is fine, but has endured quite an epic, gruelling experience, and she is now on the road to recovery.

It all makes sense now. That's all I can say.

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Tube of ice cream 
Friday, September 22, 2006, 02:11 AM
I've heard it said that travel broadens the mind. But I guess that the creators of this saying weren't thinking of the people on the receiving end of the travel - the locals. Nevertheless, these US lovelies brightened up a cross-city tube journey with a long chat about favourite ice cream flavours. Chocolate with fudgy bits won, I believe.



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MOBO Awards 
Thursday, September 21, 2006, 01:14 AM
I was fortunate enough to attend the MOBO awards this evening - a true paradise for people-spotters. For those on the lookout for effortless cool, look elsewhere, as more label couture, hairspray and rehearsed hand-gestures have gone into this event than you could possibly imagine. The most entertaining bit about the MOBO awards (Music Of Black Origin) is to watch the white people as they circulate - each one (myself included, probably) seemed tensely aware of the fact that they needed to justify why they were there. You were either a cool suit or a sad suit. I now understand why Mr Hilfiger is a rich man.
Tragically, the big stars from the US such as Beyonce, Jay-Z and the Black Eyed Peas were unable to attend to collect their awards, and you would be forgiven for suspecting that these US artists were entirely unaware of what a MOBO is - they couldn't even manage a video link-up. Never mind, we were treated to Ashlene off Big Brother, flashing her two big career opportunities, and Corinne Bailey Rae picked up a couple of Mobos for her hit single Put Your Records On. Then, to crown the evening, soul legend Sam Moore came on and performed his classic song 'Soul Man' - and, as if daring to cock up a flaw-free performance, one of the presenters closed the show by shouting out "give a big hand to Sam Cooke".

Music historians will know that Sam Cooke has been dead for 42 years.

By the way, please can someone write Corinne Bailey-Rae a new single? She needs another hit more badly than Pete Doherty...







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