Now and then, people make contact. Some people have obscure questions, while other people wants me to consider a review or a coverage. I think it's appropriate given the nature of the website. But, I'm only a Swedish civil servant with an internet connection and free time. And, not insignificant, with a certain appeal to flattery. I think we can establish that my impact in the world is limited. But, I would rather be a big fish in a small pond than a small fish in a big pond. I have no problem with people contacting me with suggestions for reviews or coverage. My main concern is the low accuracy. The mission statement of the website is: "To explore and promote gothic country, southern gothic, gothic americana, american gothic and dark americana and ...whatever". A mission statement should be concise, clear, and memorable, outlining purpose and guiding principles. I think the requirements are fulfilled. However, almost all suggestions fall outside the mission statement. In fact, way outside the perimeters. I don't know which is worse. Do people atually think that their music fall into gothic country, southern gothic, gothic americana, american gothic or dark americana? Or is it non-precise "carpet bombing". The cost of bulk email is very low compared to other marketing methods, especially if you do it yourself. Or have I, after all, failed in communicating what the website is all about? Did I stutter?            

"Tea, Earl Grey, Hot". Captain Jean-Luc Piccard ordered his classic beverage in the same manner in practically every episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation (TNG). The events takes place in the 24th century, specifically during the latter third of that century, roughly from 2364 to 2370. The tea comes from a replicator. Obviously, the black tea flavoured with oil of bergamot has maintained its popularity. TNG aired between 1987 and 1994. The futuristic fantasy isn't the replicator in itself, which is basically an office coffee machine with warm water facilities. It's the voice-control. It's hard to take in today, but 30 years ago this was mindblowing. Nowadays, it has replaced human contact. Voice-controlled automation refers to using speech recognition technology to perform and automate tasks. In the early days of voice-control, the technology was not fully developed. An artificial voice replied "Sorry, did you mean X". You said no and made a new try. "Sorry, did you mean Y", and this could go on forever. Today, voice-control is more accurate. In later years, voice-control has moved into smartphones. Google Assistant and Siri are two popular voice assistants. I don't use any of them. I make my own tea.  

I recently bought the new album "Sad Witch Cult" by Lonesome Wyatt and the Holy Spooks. It's a great album in every possible way. However, I was surprised by the absence of the artists doom and gloom vocals. The vocal responsibilities has been handed over to the Sad Witch. On his Bandcamp page Lonesome Wyatt wrote: "Now, the cult has taken his voice. His sorrowful words and mournful melodies, still written by his trembling hand, must be sung through the lips of their chosen vessel—the eerie, otherworldly Sad Witch. Her voice echoes from the beyond, carrying his laments like funeral hymns on the wind." This brings us to the inevitable question. Who is the Sad Witch? Let's narrow it down. First, the Sad Witch obviously knows her stuff. The vocal performance is too professional and confident to be a first attempt. Second, the female vocals fit the music perfectly. Lonesome Wyatt's modus operandi isn't compatible with first writing the music and lyrics, and then begin to think of someone suitable to sing on the album. He must have had someone particular in mind. Third, I think it's safe to assume that it's the Sad Witch herself on the album cover. For some reason, unbeknownst to me, she wears a mask to cover her face. There's nothing to be ashamed over here. Lonesome Wyatt is not a collaborator by habit or nature. Nevertheless, Lonesome Wyatt has made two collaboration records with Michigan artist Rachel Brooke, "A Bitter Harvest" (2009) and "Bad Omen" (2015). She is an artist in her own right with four studio albums (of which i have three). They are all of high quality. What are the evidence for and against Rachel Brooke? The hydrogen peroxide hair colour match as well as the vocal style. On the other hand, Rachel Brooke has got an unmistakable red tattoo on her right upper arm. The woman on the album cover doesn't have any visible tattoos. However, making a tattoo go away can be fixed in any image program. A qualified guess is that Rachel Brooke is the Sad Witch.       

I have managed to get a hold of the most important and rare cds in the gothic country genre. Nevertheless, there are still a couple of cds that eludes me. I practise several methods. The first method is systematic and random trawling. The second method is monitoring through wantlists, wishlists and saved searches. The third method is just contacting, stalking and harassing people. Wishlists (or wantlists) in particular seems to have become an obsolete method. The cds are just names on a list, year after year. They never come up for sale any more. Of course, the difficulty level is already high: limited editions, small markets and self-released albums. The wishlist is dead. At least, when it comes to finding cds. I don't have an unambigious explanation. But, I have some theories. First, cds are drying up. Very few cds are manufactured and sold today. However, 95 percent of the cds I'm interested in were released between 2001-2010. Second, wishlists may have become outdated and irrelevant. Other tools may have replaced wishlists. I can't find any support that ChatGPT or MS copilot or some other figment have taken over. In theory, the wishlists still retains its function of bringing buyers and seller together. Third, a new point of equlibrium has been established. The cds are still out there, but stored in cardboxes in people's closets. They are kept there for nostalgic reasons (which I respect) or idleness (which I don't respect). The owners don't have the strength or energy to put them out for sale. I will believe this theory until it inevitably gets confirmed. It's only a matter of time. In economic theory, equilibrium price emerges when the consumers demand (Qd) matches the sellers supply (Qs), Qd = Qs. The new equilibrium formula is Qd = Qs + i, where i is an idleness component.       

I do appreciate a rich quality of sound. Despite this weakness, I have never felt an urge to cross over to the dark side. To the unfriendly, unhelpful and unforgiven world of audiophiles. There's nothing for you there. However, there's no rule without exception. Recently, I found a website called Headphonesty (opens in a new window). This website manages to combine facts, tests, comparisons with, lo and behold, debunking audiophile myths (and there are plenty of them). It's like if a magician would reveal magic tricks. Not approved by the Guild. In the audiophile world, music always comes last. Headphonesty places the music in the center. My first encounter with audiophilia was unexpected. When I was in upper secondary school, I had a blue collar extra job. No formal training or experience, only connections. There, I worked with a disembarked merchant fleet sailor. He was about 30 years old, but behaved childishly and irresponsibly. He talked constantly and drove quite a few people mad with his gibberish. He was also a pathological liar with addictive issues. One day I was invited to his small and crummy apartment in the outskirts of the inner city of Stockholm. He wanted to show me his stereo. Much to my surprise, he actually had a very expensive high-end stereo in his possession. If I remember correctly, he had inherited money from his father (true or false) and spent them on this stereo. He only owned one vinyl album, Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon". And it wasn't a thin and warped oil-crisis vinyl record. It was an audiophile vinyl. I feel uncomfortable in admitting that it sounded heavenly. It doesn't take much to make a home inviting. Ohm sweet ohm.