After yesterday's Malcolm Middleton songs, let's dip into two by his old Arab Strap friend Aidan Moffat, here joining with Bill Wells, fellow songwriter and multi-instrumentalist with two dark and humorous numbers. The first is a beautiful spoken number, taken from the 2011 album Everything's Getting Older, which won the inaugural Scottish Album of the Year award. It focuses on preparing for a funeral and going to the pub. The second is an unlisted track, Bliss from their other collaboration, 2015's The Most Important Place in the World, an upbeat hilarious sweary relationship-argument number based on a classic structure with a delicious jazz background instrumental. Between the two of them, and these songs, it captures much of the culture and humour of their special form of songwriting and quintessential Scottishness - jokey directness, sensitivity and melancholy, and downhearted, boozy philosophy.
The bar's busier than it should be on a weekday afternoon as the door swings shut behind me, but I'm the only one wearing a suit. No-one seems to notice my entrance though, I suppose they must be used to mourners in the nearest pub to the crematorium. I don't think I could've coped with the wake, I had to make a quick exit to be alone with my memories, I was sick of hearing everyone else's. I buy a pint and sit down
"See, the trouble with you is that you're top heavy," said the tailor as he measured me up. They don't get asked much for three-piece suits these days, so my choice was limited. I went for all-purpose black, or 'charcoal grey' as he called it. Looks black to me. This is the second time I've worn it, the first was a wedding and there's a christening next week so I might as well get my money's worth. Birth, love and death: the only reasons to get dressed up. I loosen my tie
Halfway through my pint and a text message from John says he's waiting outside, sooner than I'd expected. I down what's left and step out into the bright afternoon and get in the car. I look up and see the pub's once brilliant copper roof has oxidised over the years and it's now a dull, pastel green. Everything's getting older.
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