1983

We stand together and clink glasses.

- Where is Cory? I thought he was coming along?

- I never know what he’s doing, he says. - He phoned earlier today to say that he’d be here but don’t bank on it. He’s a mate but deep down he’s a shambolic tosser.

-

We make idle conversation about work, the weather, beer and football. Then we turn to the subject of music.

- Heard anything good recently?

- Not really, he says. - I need to buy some new music; I’m getting fed up with the stuff I’ve got.

- Same here.

- Tell you what, though. I heard something the other day that made me think for a bit.

- Oh yeah? What was that?

- ELO’s ‘Discovery’ album.

- Tell me you’re kidding.

- No, really. It’s the wife’s and I just out it on because there was nothing else out. In case you are wondering, it’s shit.

- So how come it made you think so much?

- Well, it’s like this. The record starts up with a big sort of tinkly cavernous sound, like you are in some sort of canyon. And behind it there is this weird choir singing.

- So?

- Well, it’s the choir that made me think. See, they are operating on three different levels of existence.

- Tell me you’re kidding, part two.

- No, really. They could be a real weird choir captured on tape in a real canyon somewhere without them knowing it. Or they could be a real weird choir who were found in a canyon and who were brought to a studio to be recorded. Or they could be a standard choir pretending to be a weird choir whereas they are actually perfectly non-weird. See? Weird choir without knowledge, weird choir with knowledge or ordinary choir in a state of deception. You understand?

- Or they could be any type of choir making weird noises to sound like something else.

- Shit, I never thought of that one. With knowledge or without? Hmmm. Surely with. So that makes them an ordinary choir in deception which is existence level three again. I have it all covered. You getting them in?