Love them or loath them, adverts have always been a part of ours lives.

This YouTube ad from Yorkshire Tea popped up on my feed today and it’s superb. Yes, it’s not an ad on the telly or hosted by Pearl & Dean, but it’s still brilliant.

So, from your Ridley Scott early masterpieces to the Nescafe love story, what are the ads that you remember (surely a sign of a good ad) as brilliant…..

For the second day in a row, its a post of a new track that caught my eye – this time a new Bond theme from none other then Lana Del Ray (with help from David Arnold).

Its for an upcoming video game not a movie, but its still a Bond theme and its rather fabulous.

Video in comments.

New track from Massive Attack featuring Tom Waits.

Looks like its new material – sign of more to come ?

I like it.

Back at the end of 2024, Radiohead frontman did a series of solo concerts in Australia, NZ and Asia (I don’t think if was ever done back in Blighty).

We went to the Singapore leg and I reviewed it back at the time (see link). A very very good concert.

Anyway, the concert movie of the Sydney Opera House show has just been posted officially on YouTube. No idea of how long it will be up for, so grab it while you can. Link in the comments.

https://theafterword.co.uk/thom-yorke-solo/

Cancels his concert as it’s too noisy outside and he didn’t get enough sleep.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp32kd13w34o

One of the all time greats of blues has just popped up on NPRs Tiny Desk Concerts. Well worth 20 minutes of your time.

Not bad going for someone that’s pushing 90 years old !

I still love the fact that he played acoustic guitar on Muddy Waters ” Folk Singer” – one of my all time favourite albums.

Youtube in first comment

Quick question for the experts / headphone gurus on here (@fentonsteve, @pencilsqueezer)….

I use a Fiio M11 with their FH7 IEMs, which has up to now been pretty damn good. However, playing it recently, the sound appeal “off” – difficult to describe but it’s almost like it’s being played from a hifi in a cavernous room. The sound is still very clear and okay in soft acoustic passages, but once the rest of the band kicks in, it just sounds wrong – it’s almost like a lack of bass, but more than that (told you it was difficult to describe). I have changed the filters in the IEMs, changed the earbuds etc etc, all to no avail.

I hooked up my Sennheiser HD650s to it and they sound fine, so it must be an issue with the FH7 – have o just dropped them too many times and buggered them ? Any ideas ?

In the recent AW year end poll, one of the high ranking albums that was new to me was the Geese / “Getting Killed” album.

Anyway, it was duly investigated (and pleased to say resulted in a purchase). However, one thing that kept popping up in my trawls through YouTube was the singular variant of the Anserinae family – Goose (which surprisingly appears to have more members than the plural variant)

Another American group, that appear on initial inspection to be along the lines of Phish/ Grateful Dead- I.e. very much a “jam” band with lots of live material out there.

That said, they do a rather splendid cover of Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill”, and Pink Floyd’s “Pigs” (two song choices that immediately endear me to them).

They do have some studio albums, but as said a lot of live stuff – any ideas where to go……

Not the end of the world I know, but a couple of “annoyances” on the website access have started to crop up over the past week or so….

– I keep getting logged out – even if I click the “remember me” box before I enter login details. This seems to happen every two or three days,

– previously on posts with unread comments, the post would be highlighted in blue and when read it would turn to a white background. These days, they are remaining blue after I read the comments and stay that way even if I refresh the page, if I close the website and go back, all is good – I,e, there seems to be a delay in the update.

Both of these are happing on both my iPad and MacBook. Anyone else seeing this ?

Obviously one of the big TV events of the Christmas / New Year period.

So did you watch and did the ending meet / exceed expectations or completely disappoint?

As I am aware that many may not have watched yet, I won’t go into any details or even offer a review in this opening post, other than to say it was better than I expected – especially given some of the early episodes in this season were a bit weak.

Further (brief) input in the comments so we can keep this spoiler free for those who still want to watch…..

Brilliant……

https://shop.pinkfloyd.com/products/wish-you-were-here-sculpted-candle

Listening to this weeks Rockenteurs podcast featuring Mani from The Stone Roses, made me go back and watch this from the Shane Meadows film of their reunion – “Fools Gold” from Heaton Park, Manchester (see video in comments).

When they were on form, they were sublime. The drumming of Reni must be up there with some of the best – or is at that the combination of him and Mani just works for so well ? Some pretty nifty guitar from John Squire also. (I still think Ian Brown is a bit of a prat though).

The rockonteurs is worth a listen also.

There’s a new kid in town for all the hipsters out there. From a Rhino email…..

INTRODUCING RHINO HIGH FIDELITY REEL-TO-REELS

Duplicated From A 1:1 Copy Of The Analog Master Tape 15 I.P.S. Half-Track Stereo 1/4″ Reel-To-Reel Tapes Produced To The IEC Standard On Premium RTM LPR90 Tape Stock Housed On A 10.5-Inch Metal Reel In A Custom Box Replicating The Original Album Artwork

Each Title Limited To 500 Exclusive To Rhino.com GET RHINO HIGH FIDELITY REEL-TO-REELS Rewind the tape! We’re thrilled to announce that the acclaimed Rhino High Fidelity series will now feature a line of Reel-to-Reel tapes. Reel audio offers the closest experience to owning a master tape from your favorite artists.

Originating in Germany in 1928, the reel-to-reel recording process produces pristine sound. It has been favored by audiophiles and musicians since its commercial debut in the late 1940s, with pioneers like Jack Mullin and Ampex introducing this format to singer Bing Crosby. The magnetic tape format gave musicians the ability to re-record, erase, and edit their recordings—features that had not been available before.

Our series begins with limited-edition releases of T.Rex’s’ ELECTRIC WARRIOR and Yes’ THE YES ALBUM, each limited to 500 copies and available exclusively » Continue Reading.

I’m sure many of you are aware of Held By Trees who openly wear their Talk Talk influences (if you are not – go and listen – they are fabulous).

Anyway in their Bandcamp Friday update yesterday, there was the following comment….

“Some other news, but from the camp of one of our ‘parent’ influences. Charlie Hollis confirmed on the phone that he and Lee Harris have remastered Talk Talk’s seminal 1988 masterpiece, Spirit of Eden as a half-speed master at Metropolis mastering a few months ago. According to Charlie, the new master of the album is ‘the best thing’ he’s ‘ever heard’. At the moment, the record label, Warner, are banking the remaster for release at an undetermined time, but presumably around it’s 40th anniversary in 2028, like their half-speed remaster of It’s My Life which was done last year.”

Sounds promising

It must be a few months since I’ve posted about the Japanese post rock band MONO, so I humbly seek your forgiveness. I know that many eagerly check every morning for an update from me about them….

Anyway, they have a new live album / blu ray out in October which is the Tokyo leg of their recent tour with an orchestra, I saw the Singapore show and art was superb. A new video of the track Oath has just been released – see comments.

Oh, and I see they are on tour in the UK at the end of Oct / early Nov.

https://www.monoofjapan.com/tour.php

One of those tracks that I have always adored is “As I Lay Me Down” by Sophie B Hawkins. She’s not necessarily one of my “favourite artists” (although I have a couple of albums), but there is something about this particular track that strikes a chord. It always gets put on any playlist, is on all my portable devices etc etc

Anyway, Ms Hawkins has just released “Whaler Re-emerging” which as you may have guessed is a re recording of some of the 1994 album Whaler, and I’m really liking the new version of “As I Lay Me Down” – compare and contrast in the comments…..

This re imagining of old albums seems to be becoming more popular these days. I know sometimes its the artist re gaining control of the music, but maybe it’s that they have run dry of creative juices and need to put something out?

So which ones have worked ? Which improve (or at least give a fresh take on) the original ? Should they just be left alone ?

Sat here on Friday morning listening to some of this weeks new releases, one of which is the Tedeschi Trucks Band with Leon Russell doing “Mad Dogs & Englishmen” from LockIn in 2015.

Now the original album is brilliant, but this is superb (even after just one listen!). See comments for first track “The Letter”.

I know there are a few TTD fans on here, but anyone that loves good music should give this a go…..

From an article in todays Times on the V&A exhibition, includes this memo for a radio show – list of favourite tracks. A fairly diverse selection. Thoughts ?

Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis by Ralph Vaughan Williams (1910) A one-part work for strings based on a theme by Tallis, the 16th-century English composer, and with modern echoes of Debussy.

Four Last Songs by Richard Strauss (1948) Some of the German composer’s last completed works, sung by the Norwegian soprano Kirsten Flagstad at the Royal Albert Hall premiere in 1950, the year after Strauss’s death.

Right Now Right Now by Alan Freed and His Rock ’N’ Roll Band (1956) Big-band rock’n’roll with a chirpy introduction from Freed, a DJ credited with turning America on to the new sound.

True Fine Mama by Little Richard (1957) An electrifying cut from the debut album by Little Richard, a photo of whom was Bowie’s most prized possession and features in the V&A archive.

Sho Know a Lot About Love by the Hollywood Argyles (1960) Midtempo rock’n’roll from the Los Angeles ensemble led by Kim Fowley, who went on to manage the Runaways

Some Day My Prince Will Come by Miles Davis (1961) » Continue Reading.

Just in….

“Last year, we got together to rehearse, just for the hell of it.

After a seven year pause, it felt really good to play the songs again and reconnect with a musical identity that has become lodged deep inside all five of us.

It also made us want to play some shows together, so we hope you can make it to one of the upcoming dates.

For now, it will just be these ones but who knows where this will all lead.”

– Philip x Radiohead will play some shows across Europe in November and December 2025. Tickets will only be accessible by registering on radiohead.com before Sunday 7th September at 10pm BST / 11pm CEST.

– November 4, 5, 7, 8 – Movistar Arena, Madrid, Spain – November 14, 15, 17, 18 – Unipol Arena, Bologna, Italy – November 21, 22, 24, 25 – The O2, London, UK – December 1, 2, 4, 5 – Royal Arena, Copenhagen, Denmark – December 8, 9, 11, 12 – Uber Arena, Berlin, Germany

To help get tickets directly to fans and to minimise interception from touts and bots, tickets will only be accessible by registering at radiohead.com.

» Continue Reading.

Saw this on the internet somewhere and thought it may be fun….. (I know – another list)

1. First Concert 2. Last Concert 3. Worst Concert 4. Loudest Concert 5. Best Concert 6. Seen The Most 7. Most Surprising 8. Happy I Got To See 9. Wish I Could Have Seen 10. Next Concert

My input in comments….

I know there are a few Camel fans on here who may appreciate this new track from guitarist Andrew Latimer. Its rather gorgeous…

I couldn’t find on YouTube, so there’s a link to his bandcamp page where you can play the track. There is an option to embed, but not sure if that works – will try in first comment in case it breaks the site like Youtube does 😉

https://andrewlatimer.bandcamp.com/track/seeking-refuge

From today’s Sunday Times, I learnt that the world “cocktail” comes from the practice of stuffing a piece of ginger up a horses arse. Something to think about when you are supping your Martini tonight

“Why are cocktails called cocktails?

It’s to do with horses’ anuses. If you were an 18th-century horse trader and wanted to zhuzh up a tired nag on market day, you’d shove a bit of ginger up its bum. It would duly cock its tail and behave in a frisky manner. Which is precisely the effect the first (orally ingested) “cock-tails” had on human drinkers. The first recorded definition of the term linked to the drink was in 1806, when The Balance and Columbian Repository, a newspaper in Hudson, New York, referred to it as a “stimulating liquor, composed of spirits, sugar, water and bitters”. That combination (with whiskey) is now known as an old fashioned, since it’s the old-fashioned way to make a cocktail.”

Over to you.

I’m sure many us of a certain age remember and used to watch Blue Peter growing up.

This little curio popped up on my YouTube the other day – a film from Blue Peter in 1979 showing Mike Oldfield recording the theme tune in all its multitrack glory, A pleasant way to waste 11 minutes of your day.

So, given the title of this thread, any other little music related antiques and curios that you would like to share?

This popped up on my YouTube and looks to be very AW friendly……

A BBC radio 2 series where five people have songs written about then, with contributions from Richard Thompson (video in comment) along with Bill Ryder Jones, Kate Rusby and more

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002ggd5