Link: http://www.youtube.com/user/FadingWaysSweden

Fading Ways' Swedish street-team leader Johanna Sjoberg recently came to Portugal to catch my live acoustic set at Fabrica Braco de Prata, and before a late-night crowd of friends and family a few videos were recorded by Johanna. They are now on YouTube. Thanks Johanna for the visit, the videos, and have fun with all the Portuguese red wine back in Sweden!

Slovenia's daily Zurnal has run a recent interview with me where I discuss working on the new album, Elite Nylon, and a possible live return to one of my favourite countries in the world... see it all here: http://www.zurnal24.si/cms/magazin/vip/index.html?id=59045

After an excellent dinner last night (mussels a la poivre, garlic shrimps, and spaghetti aglio e olio with some very spicy chillies I was inspired to take a couple of photos of the bottles of red that we enjoyed. The best Portuguese reds (with some notable exceptions) are rarely exported out of the country, leaving the Portuguese to enjoy their own best wines at home for prices that, by London wine standards, are absolutely ridiculous. That extends itself across the table, however, as the mussels here are also incredibly cheap - Setubal has some of the best seafood I have ever tasted.

From left to right, in the photo, we vary in price range, in Euros, from 4.99 to under 2. These are: Herdade do Porto da Bouga, Quinta da Esperanca (Farm of Hope), Dona Ermelinda, Vila das Gamas Vidigueira and the humble JP Azeitao. While the latter is a basic budget table wine for the hard times when you're an AAWD ('alcoholic artist without dough'TM), its pedigree originates with the great Joao Pires & Sons wine estates that now include the Bacalhoa brand in Azeitao, just a few kms from Setubal. JP have some excellent reds as well as the famous Moscatel de Setubal, a great desert wine. Bacalhoa also produces one of the best cabernets I have tried, clocking in on the wallet at an astounding 14.99. That one is reserved for the successful tours and gold record parties, of course! Posh? Haha. Anyways, the JP Azeitao is Bacalhoa's humble blend of the Castelao, Aragones and Syrah castes that wins our cheapest decent wine award.

Next up we have a curious recommendation courtesy of "El Burguesito" my psychologist friend and doctor Miguel Moita (www.eraumavez.org), who must also have fallen in somewhat hard times as he used to exclusively drink Bouga. The Vila das Gamas Vidigueira, from the Alentejo region - for those not familiar with Portuguese geography, that's the province directly southeast of Setubal, covering the entire southern half of Portugal north of the Algarve. Not much goes on in the Alentejo, actually, and you can drive for a few hours through some lovely fields and rolling hills (it is mostly flat) without seeing a soul. But in the 'montes' there is typical farming activity and includes some of the countries' best vineyards. I would in fact make the case for the Alentejo region being responsible for Portugal's most enjoyable wines, although the rich northerners from the Douro river valley would obviously disagree. These are the wines of the people. But I digress.

Vila das Gamas Vidigueira, clocking in at about 2.50 blends the Alfrocheiro, Aragones, Trincadeira and Castelao castes. Note that Castelao, I believe, is also marketed under the brand name Periquita and thus widely exported - I have seen Periquita in Canada and Sweden for example. This 2006 Vidigueira is more refined than the JP Azeitao and has character - a distinct personality.

Next (to the left) is my latest find, courtesy of my sister Andreia and her man Vitor Guerreiro, who brought not just one but two bottles. Family! Dona Ermelinda, at about 3.50 damage to the wallet, is an absolutely unbelievable find (sometimes sold at a higher price, and rightly so!) from the Palmela region (just north of Setubal, beautiful old village on a hill with an amazing castle) featuring the Castelao grape once again. My new favourite, and names after the wine-maker's Grandma!

At about 4.00 Euros comes the much-awarded Quinta da Esperanca, or "Farm of Hope", featuring 6 prizes below its label including the Gold award from Canada's Selection Mondiale des Vins 2007, the German Mondus Vini prize, and the International Wine Challenge (Bronze) 2007. I suspect the caste/grape to also be Castelao, although it is not specified on the label. An excellent tasting wine as well, but not quite the Dona Ermelinda.

Finally, at 4.99, the Herdade do Porto da Bouga - available exclusively at Pingo Doce supermarkets - is already a classic around here, well deserving of mention alongside the other greats (Monte Velho, Marques de Borba, etc.) that I urge anyone visiting Portugal to try. It combines the Trincadeira, Aragones, Alicante and Syrah castes with Portugal very own Touriga Nacional grape - a national treasure!

Well, that was a lot of typing and it's made me thirsty. A nossa!

Greetings from sunny Setubal. There is so much sunlight here that it gives me headaches and every once in a while (ok, not very often) I find myself missing the rain and darkness to which my artist soul hath become abused to! However, from the darker steps of mordor cometh this review to brighten my day.

But, pray tell, what does it say? It appears to quite enjoy that little home-recorded album from last x-mas. After the Euro 2008, however, I refuse to learn any more German in protest of Ballack's arrogance and spite so unbecoming in a sportsman! Scheussliche!

And so, without further ado about the footie or unnecessary explorations of the Portuguese fear of success syndrome, I introduce to you... The Leyton Rifles:

I have been hard at work on the 5 preliminary rough mixes that will make up this exclusive Supporters' disc. You can find out more about the Phase Two of the Leyton album support package at www.fwmusicstore.co.uk. Suffice it to say that I strongly believe that a direct connection between you and my music, my music and all of you, is much more valuable than the little money that passes between us, and the artist experience is just that: priceless. I wish I could come and play guitar in all your living rooms, or could have you all come over to mine for a set or two. The need to play is stronger than me, and if wasn't for those amongst you who occasionally write me very very nice encouraging words about what I do with these musical urges, I dunno what I'd do. So thank you.

In other news, I've recently offered Jamendo the Blacklight Skies album, something I have been meaning to do for a while now. You can download it for free under the usual Creative Commons license. While you are there, check out the Fading Ways Share sampler series volumes that are up, 5, 6, and 7 I believe. It's been a few years now that I've watched Jamendo grow, and it is awesome to note that they now have 10,000 albums available. Happy 10,000 Jamendo!

Over n out for now. Need some sunblock...

Recording at Soundpool Studio, Germany

Greetings from Portugal!

All great intentions aside, I was not able to make any blog entries over the 7500 kms of the 'A Reckoning...' tour, which also included a few days of R&R (no, not that r&r, that one over there) as well as three days of recording - The Leyton Rifles managed to knock off the last 5 tracks for the upcoming Elite Nylon album, which I will now spend the Summer mixing in my new home... expect further blog entries detailing the creative process of finishing the album. I've never been much good at digital mixing (no patience) but given the new realities of digital vs. analog home studios, I do have to get used to it.

So, for now, consider this brief missive as a sign that I have not entirely forgotten my blog. O, and the title? Well, for the first time in my life, I am not suffering from Post-Tour Depression Disorder, which is very common amongst touring musicians. Perhaps the cure can be prescribed to others as follows:

1) Play a good tour, have as much fun as you can, rah rah rah.
2) Plan to return not to your former home but a new one.
3) Ensure your new home is bigger than the former.
4) Sunlight. Be sure there is sunlight where you go.
5) Keep those shades on.

If all else fails, hit the road again and plan another tour. But this time, for me, that won't be necessary. Am quite happy with the new home. The sun is shining, the sea is close, the food is great and tremocos rule!

N.