The Secret Life Of The Milk And Honey Band

LOL! Check out this translation of a French review of The Secret Life Of The Milk And Honey Band:

C?est the first time that Ape Records launches out in the exit d?un album in which Andy Partridge (XTC?), its owner, n?est directly not implied? Is necessary it to see an unspecified sign there? According to is Partridge itself, The Milk And Honey Band a group with share, one of those which l?on only crosses too seldom in a life? From Brighton, the group is a trio articulated around Michael Tubb, Richard Yale and Robert White, three multi-instrumentalists who touch indifferently with the keyboards, guitars, low or percussions, last the city also ensuring the lead-song and its two assistants the ch?urs. Recorded between 1995 and 2003, "Secret The Life? "s?offre two guests, Karen Butler-Meadows with the ch?urs on two titles and Laurence O?Keefe on part of low?

Does C?est amusing to see at which point The Milk And Honey Band manage to recreate an atmosphere end sixties, seventies beginning? In good songwriter qu?il is, Robert White composed of the impeccable melodies and wrote songs which are not without pointing out Beatles sometimes, sometimes large Floyd. Matured with the passing of years, l?album does not leave any place randomly and makes a success of the turn of force not to lose an ounce d?attractivity throughout its listening. Between pop melody and delicate songs, "The Secret Life Of The Milk And Honey Band" wants to be reassuring as a big brother who would bring his serenity in a musical landscape in perpetual chaos. The trio chose continuity and the respect of the traditions but is not deprived of some very personal effects. With l?image of these "Satellite", "Servant boy From The Moon", "Photograph" and other "Silver Horses", "The Secret Life? "resolutely vintage is an album which was recorded and carried out under very current conditions. The result speaks about itself and if the radios fall on top, that very quickly will make a large paperboard!

The original review can be found here

btw this is the 1st non-XTC related band released on Andy Partridge's APE label

ps This qualifies for entry as Swindon is not all that far from Bristol and , well, I like XTC, so there. And not a photo in sight.

Looking

The Pier at Clevedon

Autumn View towards Eastville Park from Stapleton

Passion Flowers

Just out today

Dog Roses

Greetings from Eastville Park

In the garden today

Sunset over Eastville Park, Bristol

In the garden

Campanula, I believe.

Mystery Fly

Brachyscome multifida

Gardening for wildlife

Planting non-native species can sometimes introduce diseases that seriously affect native ones eg Dutch Elm disease. Dutch Elm Disease is the fungus, Ophiostoma ulmi, which is spread by the bark beetles Scolytus scolytus and Scolytus multistriatus. These beetles feed in the upper branches of the tree and introduce the fungal spores to exposed tissue. Once infected the disease spreads rapidly and unless treated at the early stages the tree will not survive. Although the disease was first recorded in the UK in 1927 it was a non-aggressive strain and had a very limited impact. However in the 1960's a more aggressive strain, originating from North America, was imported into this country via diseased timber. Within 10 years 50% of all English elms in the south of Britain had been destroyed. Further north the effects were less devastating due to climate and relative isolation.
Japanese Knotweed is a prime example of introducing a foreign species that then thrives due to having no natural enemies, much to the detriment of local flora and fauna.
With the destruction of local species comes the reduction and eventual loss of all those that depend on them ; butterflies and birds being particularly sensitive.

Visit The Natural History Museum's Postcode Plants Database. It has provided us with an extensive database of native flora searchable by postcode based on the Atlas of the British Flora, 3rd Edition (published by the Botanical Society of the British Isles, 1982).
Using the Postcode Plants Database to identify suitable plants, gardeners and householders can contribute directly to native species conservation in Britain.

In my postcode area, I found that there are over 600 native species , including

• 142 annuals, e.g. Anthemis cotula (Stinking Chamomile!)


• 38 biennials, e.g. Campanula glomerata (Clustered Bellflower)


• 6 climbers, e.g. Clematis vitalba (Traveller's-joy)


• 43 geophytes, e.g. Iris pseudacorus (Yellow Iris)


• 59 herbaceous perennials


• 17 large shrubs or small trees


• 19 large trees


• 36 marsh plants


• 202 perennials


• 2 parasites ie Cuscuta europaea (Greater Dodder) and Viscum album (Mistletoe)

Eagle Sculpture in Ashton Wood , Bristol

Sunset over Eastville Park, Bristol

The 1999 Solar Eclipse over Stapleton

Solar Eclipse over Stapleton on Wednesday, 1999 August 11 around midday.
I took this photograph, during my lunchbreak, with an Olympus OM1.
The light was quite unusual , very different from moonlight. Before the eclipse there had been considerable chatter from the birds then, as it grew darker,all conversation quickly dropped off until an eery silence was added to the alien light. After a short while,just a few minutes I think, the light began to return to normal and with it the birdsong and normal life returned. A very interesting experience.
More info on this eclipse can be found here