I saw a few people have mentioned that some other types of memory can be stronger to pick up the slack from not being able to visualize. For me, my memory is almost completely “factual”. Like everyone else here, I only see black when asked to visualize something, but I still just “know” what something should look like. This is also similar for other types of memory, such as taste, feel, smell, emotions. I can describe various things in terms of these senses, but can not mentally experience them abstractly. Strangely, the only exception to this is sound.

My question for the group is that out of the 1% or .001% that can’t visualize, are these other types of “sensory memory” also lacking, or is a case of a further .001% of the .001%?

We’re hearing it a little differently (and that’s okay). I believe your ear is better than mine.

If I understand correctly you’re hearing quaver, quaver, dotted quaver, and semi quaver repeated twice over the G. The strumming pattern would be DDD uDDD u.

I’m hearing crochet, quaver, crochet, quaver, crochet, quaver, and quaver just once over the G. The strumming would be DDu uDDu.

The main difference is you would have a uDDD in the strumming pattern while I’m playing a uDDu.
It does not sound so very different!

GetReadyMan: 1) I listened again, just to be sure, and the song absolutely starts in a totally straight 4/4, starting on the downbeat. The regular strumming pattern is a repeated two-beat pattern of quaver, quaver, dotted quaver, semiquaver.

I did mention the interesting phrase rhythm of the verse (“The phrase rhythm of the first verse phrase is also quite interesting. From the melody alone it looks like a pretty straightforward [4+4]+4 beats, but the harmonic rhythm, as well as the way that the instruments enter during its first statement, implies 6+6.”). The way that the initial 12 beats have both 4+4+4 and 6+6 implications is really cool, but the most straightforward way to think about it is as 4/4 all the way through with some groupings that cross bar lines, rather than the song weaving back and forth between 4/4 and 6/4.

2) I’d say the song is already in G (well, “G Lydian”) before we even get to the chorus, but it’s possible to argue for some sort of E Dorian/major; as I say, that conflict is the major feature of the song! I agree that by the time we get to the Bm in the chorus we’re over in E-land.

That’s a great spot, that Bb-Dm-G and G-Bm-E are the same progression, and in fact they’re joined together. Smith seems to likes to join similar chord sequences together that way. The big cadence is “The Duck and Roger the Horse” is another good example.

I’ve read your blog with great interest and have studied your transcription, but find a couple of points that I need to make.
1.) The intro starts with a bar of 5/4 time (for the G) and next is a bar of 6/4 time (for the Bm & E). Perhaps giving rise to the song’s name, odd even. The verse starts with 2 bars of 4/4 time (for the G keeping the same strumming pattern) and next is a bar of 6/4 for the C, A, and E.
2.) The chorus pivots into the key of G at the first G in the chorus and pivots out at the second. Notice the chord progression that has been repeated all along in the verse in the key of E (bIII-v-I) is now repeated in the chorus in the key of G (bIII-v-I corresponding to Bb-Dm-G).

I hope this finds you well and I’m looking forward to further blogs on the Cardiacs.

When I was very young my teacher would read a book and she thought I was a genius when I read it back but she soon discovered I memorized the whole book as she read it to the class. I did very well in school. When I was in college as long as I heard a lecture once I did not have to study for exams and I rarely took notes. In fact I would usually confuse myself if I did study.

I have terrible spatial skills. I will duck if you throw a ball at me because 9 times out of 10 it will hit me. I can not pick the right size container for left-over to save my life, it is always too big or too small. The test of puzzles that are flattened images I am average at. I just did one online and here are my results “You are not too good at visualizing objects in your mind’s eye and aren’t too adept at mentally rotating figures.” LOL!!

I can not play scrabble, wheel of fortune or crossword puzzles because I can not see words in the mixed up letters or missing letters. I am not dyslexic as far as I know. I love reading! I usually have several books and magazines going at once.

I can not draw to save my life unless I am drawing an object right in front of me.

I have been called a “big idea” person, I can come up with ideas that are fresh, new and artistic but they are ideas …if that makes sense.

I have meditated for 20 years and love “just sitting,” but I hate guided meditations.