My Ear Candy #30 Mechelle Clark

My guest this week was Mechelle Clark, owner of Melt in Aberdeen, a food establishment providing toasties the size of telephone directories, you gotta try one, here’s where you’ll find them.

Discourse was convivial despite my controversial opening gambit claiming Mechelle had spent her life spelling her name incorrectly, her response amounting to the first of several admonishments, all of them warranted. I found myself behaving in an unusually eccentric  fashion tonight, like an  impish, yappy dog you just want to boot out the back door,  giddy and unnecessary. Mechelle handled me patiently but was surely wondering why on earth she’d agreed to buy this damned mutt. In my defence, I had my reasons for such tomfoolery...

Friday was my sobriety anniversary, the one day I pat myself on the back for achieving another year of freedom from alcohol, though all thanks in truth be to God, not me. I was feeling ironically drunk on adrenaline, so performed like rather an arse on air, rubbishing a couple of Mechelle’s tracks and the entire jazz genre (though I make no apology for the latter). I kept my composure for long enough to explain anyone could get sober if I could, there’s help for you here if you feel powerless over alcohol and here if you’re a family member at your wits end.

Mechelle was great company despite my shenanigans. Her attitude to life is one we should all take note of, if not an ‘anything goes’ approach then something pretty close. Her music choices illustrated this I reckon, an eclectic combination of northern soul and avant- grade melody though a regrettable dearth of jangly guitar, I compensated for this when taking the helm for the second hour of the show. It was fascinating learning of Mechelle’s admiration of Bowie and Prince, though I challenged her assertion that Prince was a handsome individual on any eye candy level, not even he could carry off a Hall & Oates style moustache and perm mullet while dressed in a purple mankini. I can though 🙂.

Mechelle’s spirited defence of northern soul convinced me that the vibe of this movement was exciting and inspiring, all night dancing sweatshops and a dress code all of its own, but the music itself wasn’t my bag. Anything approaching Motown turns me off and northern soul flirts dangerously with that.

So to summarise, 10/10 to Mechelle for being great company and an inspiring individual, 6/10 for the music but a commendation for not bringing any jazz. Here’s the link for you to listen to a playback Mearns FM , choose ’Stoney Baloney’. 

Mechelle’s selections

1. David Bowie-Sorrow
2. The Flamingos-I Only Have Eyes For You
3. Luther Ingram-If It’s All The Same To You
4. B52’s-Rock Lobster
5. R Dean Taylor-Ghost In My House
6. Prince-Raspberry Beret