Stuff I've bought recently

A nice book about Doc Savage artist James Bama... more Classic Doctor Who action figures... a Dragon South Wales Borderers Rorke's Drift 1/6th scale figure... and the Airfix Plastic Toy Soldiers book I've been looking for for ages...

Klaus Schulze - Big in Japan

Nice to get this package of a DVD and two CDs from the 2009 Tokyo concert. The original limited edition issued in Japan has a slightly different selection of tracks and more elaborate booklet, but I think I can live without it.

Basically this is not classic Schulze, but it does make a change from his recent collaborations with Lisa Gerrard which tended to outstay their welcome. A combination of delicate sequencing, washes of orchestral tones and the occasional tentative solo makes for a relaxing if unchallenging listening experience - the video is obviously fairly static, but serves to show the extent of the light and video show.

But it looks as if Klaus will be unable to summon the energy to perform frantic solos again - I can imagine his output becoming more soporific as he gets older. I'm sure though that he'll never cease to be interesting.

New synths - Kawai G-Mega, Simmons Trixer

I picked up a Kawai G-Mega module from eBay, not particularly cheap at £50 including delivery, but a more sensible buy than the equivalent keyboard, the K11. It's basically a General MIDI module with an extra bank of sounds - not a patch on the K1 or K4, but it adds to my Kawai collection.

In a fit of madness I also bought a dead Simmons Trixer, in the hope that I might be able to patch together one complete one from this, and the rusty example I already have. The new one has some obscure modifications, so finding out what they do might be fun...

New Doepfer synth modules

A couple of Doepfer synth modules have come my way - a second VCLFO, which is useful for my Jean-Michel Jarre effects, and a bucket-brigade digital delay line. I've been dubious about including effects in the system, since I could always add them externally, but I suppose the fact that this is voltage-controlled makes it worthwhile. I still need a second theremin controller, though...

Tangerine Dream The Electronic Journey CD box set

Well here's a bargain, a box set of 10 Tangerine Dream CDs for £13.99 from C&D Services. Compiling what are probably 10 of the worst TD albums - Seven Letters from Tibet, Cyberjam Collection, Tangines Scales and so forth - it's a great way to mop up some titles I probably wouldn't have bothered with otherwise. Apparently the box photo is the same as that of a 4-CD box, Ballads, which was another compilation which I didn't bother with. But I look forward to skipping through most of the tracks on Electronic Journey at some time in the near future...

More Classic Daleks

There's another marvellous Classic Dalek set on the way from Character Options; the Remembrance of the Daleks set features an Imperial (great, now I don't have to get the overpriced McCoy+Imperial pack), a Renegade, a Supreme, and best of all, a Special Weapons Dalek. And there are three more Cybermen coming out too, but frankly they're all starting to look the same to me...

A visit from Evil Cat

We've had a few visits from a local cat who likes to nest in the foliage at the top of the garden, or curl up on the barbecue, or just sit on the step and stare at us. He's a bit evil-looking, black with a tatty ear and glarey eyes, but I've been feeding him anyway. Here he is, auditioning for a part in The Omen.