iTalker » Recording an Album

Highway To Heaven or Hell?

italker — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 02:39:31 +0000

Lima is an amazing city with over 8 million of a population. You can sense the changes that are happening in society. Increased wealth and confidence and a booming economy. Yet we need to be reminded that the country still has a hinterland of rural communities which are being challenged by the enconomic improvement of the country. its strange isn’t it with every economic improvement there are also moral and social concerns

Click here to view the embedded video.

One group of people in particular that are facing immense change are the communities on each side of the Interoceanic Highway. This is an Intercontinental Motorway running some 1600 miles from Brazil to Peru and indeed when it is finished you will be able to drive from the Atlantic to the Pacific Politicians and business investors see the highway as a dynamic symbol of South American integration and a way of opening new markets in China.

There is no doubt this project has been talked about for years now it is happening people are proud of the project. You can see A giant banner alongside one freshly paved stretch of the $2.75bn (£1.7bn) highway declaring “Once a promise, now a reality.”

Many environmentalists and social commentators are warning that the highway will bring a whole string of new problems. One thing many are afraid of is the increase risk of AIDS being transmitted to the populations. The truth is the local people are not prepared for what is happening to them. I spoke with Professor Patricia Garcia of University of Cayetano and she explained about the fear of STDs and AIDS increasing because of the Highway.

In an article written in the Guardian last year one leading academic has suggested, “It’s not roads that destroy the Amazon, it’s the people that come because the road provides better access,” Ernesto Raez, director of the Centre for Environmental Sustainability at Cayetano Heredia University in Lima agreed with this “We shouldn’t blame these people – most of whom are very impoverished. The problem is that the authorities are too weak to control this influx.”

There is also the Madre de Dios region, which has long been a draw for wildcat goldminers, who believe they will make their fortune because the price of gold has risen considerably over the past few years.

The article in the Guardian continues, “Rainforest destruction is not the only concern. Aguirre, the governor of Madre de Dios, warns the road could also aid South American drug cartels. Recent years have seen Peru become one of the world’s leading cocaine producers, with Mexican, Colombian and Brazilian gangs continuing to extend their tentacles into the country. “I wouldn’t be surprised if this road became one of main drug-trafficking routes in the next few years,”

So Peru is changing yet the needs of the poor still remain. Our work in the Vine Trust is to continue to make alliances around the world with like minded people in order that we can change lives for the good I guess our motto holds good ‘ Connecting People To Change lives”

Preacher John Reconstructed 25 Years Later

italker — Wed, 11 May 2011 21:35:49 +0000

You may recall a few posts back that I was telling you all about the story of Preacher John. Well here is the reconstructed version of the song 25 years later. This is the song I wrote for John Stuart’s Induction yes 25 years ago. I grateful to my songwriting partner Iain Jamieson for putting down the soundtrack and for the creative input of Campbell Dye a past member of the Bogle Band and who worked on the keys and fills. Let hear what you think of this version. Personally I think I might sing the lyric a wee bit to aggressively, but I think when we come to the end of the song we engage with a really interesting vibe. Anyway its not meant to be a perfect work of art just a tribute to a good friend. However Iain and myself are determined to get another album out before the end of the year.

Click here to view the embedded video.

And of course congratulations tomy dear friend John who is now the minister at Knoxville Presbyterian Church and writes a well read blog entitled Heaven’s Highway have a look John always has something a bit original to say and make you think.

Making Connections

italker — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 19:42:48 +0000

The last few days have been pretty busy. On Thursday last the church was packed to capacity as people from all walks if life attended the funeral of John Constable who was one of our local councillors and also for many a local hero and mentor. He was someone who passionately believed in his political cause and lived to see some of his dreams achieved. The refurbishment of the Bo’ness Hippodrome was one of the causes he put his political influence behind. He worked along with others in the town to see one of the most prestigious buildings in the community, which had been designed by Matt Steele in 1912 returned to the use For which it was first built a cinema.

It was interesting to sit with some if his colleagues after the funeral and hear how their lives had been touched because of his passion for all things Bonessian. As always in these circumstances I find myself being given an opportunity to speak about the gospel. In the context if people losing their jobs and looking for security in the future. It was not the political conversation that offered hope but it was the message of the gospel. As I left the hotel I Became aware of the wonderful privilege we ministers have in being given opportunities to speak about practical Christianity.

Then it was back to writing material for Sanctuary First. Once again we’ve decided to stick with the theme we used last year at this time “The Cross Shaped Space” Its such an evocative theme not only does it speak of the crucifixion but it also points to the resurrection. Furthermore this theme allows us to explore the meaning of having a cross shaped space in our everyday lives. Isn’t it so important that we Christians understand how to interpret theology and work it out in our everyday practice. Talking about another kind of ‘practise’ I had lots of.fun on Friday when I met up with Iain Jamieson and we started to record a new version of ‘Preacher John’ the big surprise was discovering that Campbell Dye who played on the first track nearly 25 years ago had laid down keyboard parts in Winchester and then emailed them to Iain. Technology is just something else.

On Friday evening I had the privilege of speaking to over 120 men who are part of the “Larbert Christian Men’s Association” There is something about talking man to men. I think there is a great opportunity to engage men on topics that they feel deeply about. Engaging men with stories about adventure and risk and also challenging men to become more pro-active when it comes to faith sharing I guess was what my talk was about. The thing is the Vine Trust tag line “connecting people to change lives” is an excellent hook to tell inspirational stories. Above all introducing people to the true vine is the greatest connection of all. Whoever said being a parish minister is boring?

Creating space to be creative.

italker — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 01:24:10 +0000

I’ve been away from my desk for a few days, I took some time off this week to continue working on a new album of songs.We escaped to the Highlands to record and we think the results have been worthwhile It was great to meet up with iain Jamieson and start developing some of the ideas for the album. I was also a great joy to have my son Stephen join us as he put some tracks down as one of the latest recruits to the band. Take a listen and see what you think.Iain has had this idea of podcasting the progress of the album being recorded, by releasing little excepts from the songs along with a discussion about the material. He hopes that it will generate interest in the material and the album when it is released. We’ve made a start with the podcasting, but we’re not going to start broadcasting till I take delivery of my new iBook. There’s some software I need to upload and it seems best to wait till the new baby arrives. Here’s a picture of the new member of the family. A few weeks ago I thought it had arrived only to discover the wrong model had been sent . Anyway its quite exciting waiting for the parcel to arrive. I hoping that having a laptop will prove beneficial in all kinds of ways. for a start it will give me more freedom when and were i can work. It will be interesting to see if it makes life a bit easier.

Bogle Band writing a new album

italker — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 00:57:28 +0000

The above picture was on a billboard in Glasgow, in the merchant City. The dark glasses reminded me how we can hide our eyes from those who look at us, but we can’t hide our actions. they eventually catch up with us. So I guess my past is out again,yes believe it or not I’ve got the bug again. Its time to write a new album of songs.Iain jamieson who writes songs with me has come up with this idea that we should allow others to follow the progress of the album by making a pod cast every time we’ve been working on material. So here is the first podcast which I hope we’ll be able to upload to iTunes in the next couple of days for downloads onto your ipods.. Please get back to me and let me know what you think.