As Simon Bookish, he has made two albums for the London-based label Use Your Teeth and one for the German label TomLab:
- Unfair / Funfair (2006) - an abrasive and energetic sequence of songs whose subjects range from Euripides and Richard the Third to the invention of the Guillotine
- Trainwreck/Raincheck(2006) - a 'surreal electronic radio play' combining sound design and spoken word, concerning vibrant images of transportation.
- Everything/Everything - an album which blends experimental, classical and pop music through many scientific words, orchestral instrumentation and catchy melodies.
He has released singles on Tomlab and through Playlouder recordings, and has been asked to provide remixes for Franz Ferdinand, The Organ and Grizzly Bear. Leo is also credited with guest appearances on albums by Max de Wardener, Leafcutter John, Patrick Wolf and Saint Etienne.
Simon Bookish has presented over 50 solo performances since 2003. Venues have included the Whitechapel Art Gallery, Dover Street Market (comme des garcons store), Transition Film Lounge (Berlin), Nastyfest 2004 (Leeds), Capri Art Festival 2004, the Redgate Gallery, the Africa Centre, and the Vortex Jazz Club. His music has been broadcast on BBC Radio One and XFM, and he has presented shows on London's Resonance FM.
Leo was a member of the folk/experimental musician Leafcutter John's live band (as a vocalist). Performances in 2005/6 have included shows in Aarhus (Denmark), Berlin, Poland and Geneva.
John and Leo, together with Seb Rochford (drummer with jazz ensemble Polar Bear) and Mandy Drummond have also performed a live improvised set for BBC Radio Three's innovative show "Mixing it". (July 2006).
In 2001, he was a member of the 'Sound City' ensemble, which presented new work by director Heiner Goebbels as part of LIFT'01 at the Almeida Theatre.
He has also presented one-off performances and exhibitions, such as "MOISTURE and FUNERAL" (a spoken word and computer projection piece commissioned by the TwoSee Boutique, 2006), "Simon Bookish and C Loopseend present Fear of Music" (a deconstruction of the work of Talking Heads at Limehouse Town Hall, 2004) and contributed a piece to the sound art show "Off The Record" (Musique d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris, 2004).
Long Haul
Simon Bookish Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Above the cloud: the weather perfect in perpetuity
175.3 cubic meter cargo
Food in a tray: re-heated to fake gourmet
9,800 km range
Forever never lingered as quickly
Rolls-Royce RB211-524B2 engines
No blade or flame: we're immortal in the cabin
Typically cruising at Mach 0.84 at 35,000 feet
The air tightens and we drop through altocumulus
The lyrics of Simon Bookish's song "Long Haul" describe the experience of taking a lengthy flight on a commercial airplane. The opening lines reference the immense wingspan of the airplane, which spans 195 feet and 8 inches, and how it hovers above the clouds where the weather is perfect, seemingly immortal. The lyrics then transition to discussing the cargo on board, which is described as being unremarkable and artificially flavoured, with the served, gourmet-like meal appearing reheated.
The lyrics continue with the singer commenting on the flight's extensive range, which makes it possible to cover great distances, seemingly effortlessly. The airplane's engines are described as being powerful and enduring, enabling the passengers to travel indefinitely, without fear of being stranded. The final lines of the lyrics detail the experience of descending through clouds as the plane positions itself for landing, capturing a sense of the sudden shift from solitude to the bustle of civilization.
Overall, the song captures the feeling of the modern, mechanized world, where distances are compressed and our experiences are divorced from the natural world. The singer seems to be both in awe of and disillusioned by the technology that makes flight possible, highlighting the costs and trade-offs that come with our consumption and use of this powerful tool.
Line by Line Meaning
195 ft 8 inch wing
The length of the airplane's wing is 195 feet and 8 inches.
Above the cloud: the weather perfect in perpetuity
We are flying above the clouds where the weather is always perfect.
175.3 cubic meter cargo
The cargo holds of the airplane can hold up to 175.3 cubic meters of goods.
Food in a tray: re-heated to fake gourmet
The food we are served in a tray has been reheated to make it seem like gourmet food.
9,800 km range
The airplane can fly up to 9,800 kilometers without refueling.
Forever never lingered as quickly
Time seems to fly by quickly when you're flying.
Rolls-Royce RB211-524B2 engines
The airplane is powered by Rolls-Royce RB211-524B2 engines.
No blade or flame: we're immortal in the cabin
We are safe in the airplane, even though there are no blades or flames keeping us in the air.
Typically cruising at Mach 0.84 at 35,000 feet
The airplane usually cruises at a speed of Mach 0.84 at an altitude of 35,000 feet.
The air tightens and we drop through altocumulus
The air pressure changes and we descend through altocumulus clouds.
Contributed by Maria V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Runwright Reads
This video could easily be titled Best Book Covers of The Year
UKLeonie
So true, makes buying e-books a lost cause.
GreenBitterfly
Would have liked Lauren to come through the door and shout I'm here, when you mentioned she was on her way.
Sue H
GreenBitterfly me too 🤣🤣
Enid Lacob
What a wonderful choice. I just finished The Ocean Vuong and LOVED it You are my favourite book tubers. Thank you The covers are amazing What beautiful covers books have and I think we can judge a book by its cover. A retreat reading detective novels appeals so much to me especially as here in Cape Town it is cold and grey
Jacquie Molloy
I am ALL IN for that log fire detective-reading treat-eating week!!!
Layma
"The sexiest ghost in literature"?! Excuse me, is that the best way to sell a book? Yes, it definitely is.
My favourite book of the year so far is "Beartown" by Fredrik Backman. I was absolutely floored by it, such a profound emotional experience paired with his signature writing style - I can't stop thinking about it months after 😍
Book Break
YES Beartown is brilliant isn't it?! One of my all time favourites.
Peter Longworth
I am working my way through the Australian finalists nominated for the 2019 Miles Franklin Literary Award. I can thoroughly recommend Gregory Day’s “A Sand Archive” which has some truly amazing writing. I admired how Mr. Day structured the book. It was a very interesting novel
Bec1182
I just read The Arsonist, based on your review, and it’s one of my favourite books of the year (& The Five)! Both were so heartbreaking & well written.