01-2001 / The Wire / Rewind 2000

Sometimes modern living can seem like an over-slick record, train chaos aside. In an atmosphere of discrete sophistication, I never heard anyone making music as ecstatic as Sonny Sharrock's Black Woman reissue. Most music seemed like commentary rather than brillian statement, but not Barry Guy's Orchestra For Alan Davie which featureed Bill Welles somewhere. Bill Finally got a bit of respect this year. Then there was Maher Shalal Hash Baz and their beautiful raw music. We were proud to represent both through a new Pastel-styled Domino imprint, Geographic. Glasgow's best record shop (John Smith's) closed down and I relocated my workplace to Katrina's flat, with Mapstation, Mum and Naoki Zushi our soundtrack. A sweet memory is the Future Pilot Aka album playback with Sushil's family and groovy filmmaker David MacKenzie, our future collaborator. Best of all, Katrina and I went to Zakynthos, checked into the best (60s styled) hotel in town and hung out on our balcony, drinking wine and playing Morricone and Chantal Goya, while speculating on goings-on in the harbour below. Stephen Pastel