In Memoriam. By Ben. We’d read some reviews and thought the album sounded pretty good, so my brother went out and bought it. We listened to it a couple of times and realised that it was pretty damn good and then we wondered off to the Reading festival. It was all the usual business; lots of bands, no sleep, the occasional ray of sunshine and then Sunday. You see, he was playing early on in the afternoon on Sunday and so we thought we’d better catch him and see what he was like live. As he walked on, the first thing you noticed were the cheekbones. This was not a man who was going to look bad on the covers of magazines, and then he started to play. It’s not often at a festival that a performance is difficult to take your eyes off, but this man was unmissable. His voice rose above the songs, transcending any kind of expectations, his delivery was full of passion and heart, he seemed to live the songs as they came out of his guitar and voice. His backing band seemed reticent to even share the stage as they created a subtle backing for him to fly all over. We listened to the album a bit more after that. Well, to be honest, a lot more. A silly amount. It was that album for when you were a bit down, sitting around your room moping. Me and and my brother being ... well, me and my brother did that a bit too much. And then I was on the phone to him sometime last week and if he asked me if I knew Jeff Buckley was missing, feared drowned. I didn’t. The next day I left for Paris with it at the back of my mind. I returned home to find out that he had been found, dead. He was about two years older than his father, also a singer songwriter with a voice from heaven, was when he died. He left his album ‘Grace’, an EP ‘Live at Sine-E’ and a lot of memories from his live performances. It’s not much of a recording output, but what it lacks in quantity it certainly makes up in quality. Listening to them again this morning I can’t help feeling incredibly sad. ‘Grace’ was such a perfect debut it would have been difficult to beat, but he was one of those artists where you would listen to anything he did just to try and get that fix you got from the first time you heard him. I’m not really sure what else to say, just that if you don’t know of Jeff Buckley, just talk to anyone who’s heard the album and you will see how it made such a personal connection with such a lot of people. It’s just such a shame. Ben. A Baggage guide to things to listen to 1. Belle and Sebastian - If You’re Feeling Sinister (Jeepster) Scottish popsters with the great lost album of last year. 2. Arab Strap - The Week Never Starts Round Here (Chemikal Underground) Scottish lo-fi at it’s best. Second great lost album of last year. 3. A.C. Acoustics - Victory Parts (One Little Indian) Scottish noise freaks finally release an album. It’s not bad either. 4. Various - Superdiscount (Different Recordings) Scottish easily listening house from French artists. And it’s yellow. 5. Wu-Tang Clan - Wu-Tang Forever (Loud) Scottish hip hop outfit (Staten Island is just near the Outer Hebrides. Isn’t it?) 6. Smog - Red Apple Falls (Domino) Scottish-ish. Well his Grandmother was Welsh. It’s all the same isn’t it? 7. Supergrass - In It For The Money (Parlophone) Oh, for fuck’s sake, they’re English. Alright? 8. 16 Horsepower - Sackcloth and Ashes (Paradox) It’s got an accordian in it but that doesn’t mean it’s Scottish. 9. Railroad Jerk - One Track Mind (Matador) We’re hi-fi but low brow, and I claim my ten pounds. 10. The Chemical Brothers - Dig Your Own Hole (Virgin) Stick a fork in me, I’m done.

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