The Explorers Club
No. CCXXXII - The Antikythera Mechanism, an ancient clockwork computer.









The Rebel Black Dot Songs of the Day: SKApril
Skankin' Pickle, "It's Margaret Cho" from Sing Along with Skankin' Pickle (T.L.A.M.)

Commentary: No, not that Margaret Cho. There are more ska bands in my library than there are days in April, meaning there simply won't be room for all of them during SKApril. So, why have I chosen Skankin' Pickle in addition to two other Mike Park ska bands, The Bruce Lee Band & The Chinkees? Three reasons: {a} The Bruce Lee Band, The Chinkees, & Skankin' Pickle each have a unique sound, allowing each to stand on its own merits quite apart from Park's involvement. {b} Mike Park is an awesome, inspirational chap & I am pleased to promote him & his endeavours whenever I can. {c} "It's Margaret Cho" is a great ska song, plain & simple. Okay, I suppose that's only two reasons, since {c} is largely a restatement/example of {a}. Still, those are two solid reasons on which I'd hang my hat any day of the week.

Samstag, 23 April
The Skatalies, "The Guns of Navarone" via iTunes (T.L.A.M.)

Commentary: With the exception of a brief introduction, "The Guns of Navarone" is SKApril's second instrumental R.B.D.S.O.T.D., after Unsteady's "Tokyo." Like its voiceless brethren, "The Guns of Navarone" is over five minutes in length (6:23 for those interested in precision). Of the three Skatalites songs in my library, two are lengthy instrumental renditions of motion picture music, "The Guns of Navarone" & the "James Bond Theme." I really must make a greater effort to be more familiar with The Skatalites' original music before SKApril '12. (This has been & continues to be so much fun that of course it must become an annual event. Yippee!)