This claims to be the first excel based music video, its a snippet of an AC/DC song “rock n roll train”. It was designed for people who cant stream video etc… apparently. That or some good advertising to co-incide with the release of their new album Black Ice. Anyways its pretty cool and there is a video on youtube so you dont even have to download it…

If giving us ‘Night Fever’ wasn’t enough, it seems that the Bee Gees are also ideally suited for helping you stay alive, literally. A study by the University of Illinois has revealed that the brothers Gibb’s 1978 hit ‘Stayin’ Alive’ provides a suitable rhythm for medics who perform chest compressions on a victim of a heart attack.

According to the research, the recommended rate for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is 100 beats per minute, making ’Stayin’ Alive’ an ideal guide at 103 beats per minute.

In the study, 15 doctors and students performed on mannequins while listening to the Bee Gees’ disco classic. During this time, each of them had to time their chest compressions with the beat. Without the accompaniment, the participants were asked to repeat the compressions with the song in their head. On average, the compressions were around the same rate.

Now, although I’m all for saving lives, you have to wonder how much time and money went into research such as this and if it warranted it. I mean, what are we to expect next? A study showing the Scissor Sisters’ version of ‘Comfortably Numb’ as the number one accompaniment for administering local anaesthetic before surgery?

‘Stayin’ Alive’ video

BROKEN HEARTBEATS

Five tunes that shouldn’t be played on Radio CPR:

Dionne Warwick - ‘Heartbreaker’. ‘Stayin’ Alive’ may have come top, but this other Bee Gees-penned tune would be a defibrillating disaster.

Madness - ‘Cardiac Arrest’. Self-explanatory.

Beastie Boys - ‘Heart Attack Man.‘ See above.

Igor Stravinsky - ‘The Rite of Spring.’ The title’s fine, but the irregular rhythms and varying time signatures of this classical piece would result in your patient pushing up the daisies come springtime.

Any 220 bpm gabber track. Cause of death: Dutch techno.

Paul

mercury rev - snowflake midnight

There have been a lot of bands releasing new albums that just dont cut it when compared to older efforts. So it was with some caution I approached the latest release from Mercury Rev. Fortunately this album does not disappoint.

The first track I heard off the album was senses on fire. You can download it for free from their site linky for free. You can also get the album strange attractor for free, the full album for nothing. Can’t argue with that. It’s an instrumental album by the way, in case you get it. Its meant to accompany this album (snowflake midnight) that you buy as normal in the shops. Anyways back to the track, which was recognisable as mercury rev but had a new sound to it. Limited lyrics with the line my senses on fire repeated but it works really well. It does take a few listens to hook you in, but it does.

So I was expecting the rest of the album to carry on with the same theme. Whilst it does have a new sound it maintains the elements that most people will have liked from classic album deserters songs. Snowflake in a hot world is classic mercury rev and more up tempo than previous offerings, as is butterflys wing.Vocals from Jonathan Donahue have such a distinctive tone that will always make them mercury rev. Combined with grasshopers creative sounds from moth-light guitars, clarinet, tettix wave accumulator to name but a few give the music many levels. Having a producer in your line up in the shape of Dave Fridmann doesn’t hurt either. Another favourite track is Faraway from cars, which sees the band back to a more relaxed sound.

So overall a great album and one that I highly recommend.

Si

Ashley Cole and Jermain Defoe

Over the past weekend I watched two sporting events, Englands world cup qualifier against Kazakhstan and the F1 Grand Prix in Japan. Before both actual main events, as can often be the case, optimism was high on a positive result for both.

Starting with the football, after an impressive display against Croatia I was once again lulled into the belief that England might be able to play well again. I was of course not taking into the account of Britishness in sport. Consistency is never a word that can be associated with it. So once again, against a tiny footballing country we struggled. The first half was poor to say the least. The attacking spirit and flair shown against Croatia a distant memory. The second half fortunately was much better, and the end result good but it took a while to get there. Not forgetting conceding a goal as well in a typically characteristic Dennis Nordon style “cock up” as Ashley Cole felt charitable and gave the ball away cheaply to say the least. Fortunately by this time Capello was finally seeing some sense and changing the formation of the team. Wingers, who would have thought we needed them. I have no idea why we needed 4 defenders and a defensive midfielder against Kazakhstan. As soon as we had some players on who could cross the ball it was game over. And so game the third, fourth and fifth goals and we could all relax again. It wouldn’t be British not to make us sweat a bit first.

Next up was the grand prix with Britains Lewis Hamilton qualifying on pole. He doesn’t need to win, just be sensible and keep at the front of the pack. However he has a chance to win and comes over all British, a la Henman and makes a complete balls up by trying to be too clever. The goal is within touching distance yet as is often the case with British sport pressure gets the better and it all goes tits up. Once again, what could have been an easy and dominant stroll into the final few races, winning in style will now be a high pressure situation where you are waiting for him to make a mistake again. I hope he holds his nerve and learns from his foolishness, but I’m not expecting easy viewing for the next two races.

Thank god for the Olympic teams is all I can say, I think the above sportsmen should be made to sit down and watch the passion and commitment of them. Be proud to represent you country, be confident, and win in style.

Si

So here it is, a new site for me, Random Babble. Basically it will do what it says on the tin.

This will be a place for rambling and babbling about various subjects. Be it a new album release, or just why is Kevin Bishop on the tv. I will be inviting others to contribute as well, and just write about whats on their mind.

Hopefully it will lead to a load of interesting and funny articles that will pass away 5 minutes here and there when you are bored.

So I hope you enjoy what gets added, and if you would like to write something yourself get in touch.