Writing

Like many others, I was deeply moved by the news of Steve Jobs death. Thinking about the impact he had on the world, I fixated on this image of Wozniak and Jobs sitting near the first Apple computer.

While Woz stares intently at the technology, Jobs focuses on us and nonchalantly rests a hand on the keyboard, suggesting a deeper interest in people than silicon. He made technology for people that couldn’t care less about the technical specification; people who just wanted to get a job done.

This explains the widespread adoption of the early Apple Macintoshes within the creative industries, and the runaway success of the iPhone. I’ve recently been using both my iPhone and an HTC running Android. While the Android phone is technically impressive — it has been said that Android is an engineer’s phone — the iPhone just feels right. I am not invited to know what is going on behind the scenes, just to pick it up and use it. That, more than anything, embodies Jobs’ philosophy.

Without Apple, and Jobs in particular, the world of tech would be a bit more closed, a bit more of interest only to hobbyists and nerds. The UI would be much less humanised.

My thoughts are with his friends and family. I hope they can find comfort in the knowledge that Steve Jobs made a massive difference not only to the tech industry, but to regular people.

As I’ve probably mentioned before, Elbow’s previous album was a firm favourite, and a deserved Mercury Prize winner. Garvey and co. really know how to write a tune, and Seldom Seen Kid was a masterpiece of simple, direct and heart-rending tunes, so I was keen to hear where they’d go next: a retread of the commercial and critical success, or something else entirely?

The answer seems to be that build a rocket boys! builds on their long-awaited overnight success (sic) by reintroducing the prog rock elements that used to flavour their earlier albums. Before you run a mile, this is no Yes-style wig out and there is no Focus-type yodelling. The album opener, The Birds, fairly well exemplifies what we’ll be getting here: a slightly angular riff, ticking percussion, weird vocal double tracking, interesting intervals on the bassline, unexpected chord changes and extended breakdown. All in all, we know this is going to be an interesting album. Lippy Kids, the album’s mission statement, is full of reverie for the halcyon days of childhood: this combination of sentimental content with lush and interesting arrangements is what Elbow do really well. I admit that on occasion, this can become a little cloying, but when I’m in the mood, there is no band better at getting under my skin. Favourite tracks, and highlighting the skill and dynamic range are Neat Little Rows - with an awesome bombastic chorus and the breakdown starting at 2:40 - and, by complete contrast, Jesus Is A Rochdale Girl - an intimate, downtempo and achingly beautiful song. I love this album, and would definitely recommend it to you.

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