Musings on the byways of popular culture
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One of my fave music authors, Graeme Thomson (Kate Bush, Simple Minds, etc), writes about one of my fave acts (Talk Talk).
Out next Thursday.
https://www.simonandschuster.co.uk/books/In-Another-World/Graeme-Thomson/9781917923613
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30/11/2026
Record label Last Night From Glasgow is re-releasing both albums by late-80s/early-90s nearly-rans The Fat Lady Sings.
To mark the occasion, Nick Kelly and the Johnson-era lineup (i.e. not including founding member Robert Hamilton on the drums) are playing one Monday night in late November at Oran Mor.
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Mike Scott does an Ice-T style swear.
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Well, this is rather lovely – Mary Chapin Carpenter & The Mountain Goats do Put The Message In The Box.
Karl Wallinger is still much missed round these parts.
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At Easter, Mrs F and I will be hiring a campervan (same make, same range, different model to the one we’re thinking of buying) and heading to Priddy, which is half-way between Cheddar Gorge and Wookey Hole.
We have three full days there, and 24 hours in Devizes on our way back to the hire place.
What should we see while we’re there?
Any south-west AWers fancy a mini-mingle over a cuppa?
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After years of tinkering on his solo work, Michael Stipe has finally released a track – from the soundtrack to an HBO series. Presumably a deadline and a big pile of cash helped.
Anyhow, I quite like it.
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Interesting take featuring Jimmy Iovine, who knows a thing or two about music & money.
https://joelgouveia.substack.com/p/the-death-of-spotify-why-streaming
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Obituary
US civil rights leader Jesse Jackson has died at the age of 84. Jackson died peacefully on Tuesday morning surrounded by his family. In the 1960s, Jackson fought for civil rights alongside Martin Luther King Jr.
Not many people have had a rap written about them by Grandmaster Melle Mel.
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20/02/2026
The campervan show at the NEC starts tomorrow and ends on Sunday. Live performers include “Graeme Hall, best known as ‘The Dogfather’”. Erm, if you say so.
Mrs F and I are going on Friday if anyone would like a mini-mingle over an over-priced cup of lukewarm tea or an over-priced lukewarm bottled beer in an aircraft hangar.
I’ll be the middle-aged bloke wearing jeans, a fleece and sturdy walking boots. You can’t miss me.
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I happened to switch on the wireless at the weekend, just as all-female and non-binary Hen Hoose Collective played live on Loose Ends.
The collective includes AW-friendly names such as The Anchoress, Emma Pollock, Inge Thomson*, Karine Polwart, Kathryn Williams, Frances McKee, Sarah Hayes (Field Music), Ray Aggs (Sacred Paws), and others.
I happened to switch on the wireless last night, just as the repeat was broadcast.
Interview on Sounds from 11:00 with the live performance from 14:00. Video of the studio version in the comments.
(*) Inge is Mrs F’s bridesmaid’s cousin, trivia fans.
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18/04/2026
The first of 2026’s opportunities to pick up pointless coloured vinyl and zoetrope pressings of records you already have. Hurrah!
As usual, I’ll be buying albums by the Colourfield and Talking Heads (CBS demos – finally I can ditch my bootleg LP) and many non-RSD bargains from my tiny local shop’s massive warehouse clearout.
Probably of most interest is the FGTH Peel & Kid Jensen sessions (from the recent massive CD box set).
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I’m sure we’ve had this discussion recently, but the latest I can find is from 2017.
OpenReach have recently swapped my connection to the house from copper to fibre, so I can now shop around. I’m out of contract with BT and paying a stink.
I need: 1. Internet (currently 150MB/s, which is enough) 2. Landline (mobile reception here is poor, elderly parents, etc) 3. Two mobile SIMs (our maximum data use is 7GB per month)
I know they’re all awful, but who is least worst?
The Offsprings both have their mobile SIMs through Tesco Mobile and seem happy enough
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Recorded predominantly across one week in November 2025, the record which “carries forward the spirit of the original” HELP album was formed under the stewardship of acclaimed producer James Ford and was brought to life through a close collaboration with Abbey Road Studios
HELP (2) includes contributions from Anna Calvi, Arctic Monkeys, Arlo Parks, Arooj Aftab, Bat For Lashes, Beabadoobee, Beck, Beth Gibbons, Big Thief, Black Country, New Road, Cameron Winter, Damon Albarn, Depeche Mode, Dove Ellis, Ellie Rowsell, English Teacher, Ezra Collective, Foals, Fontaines D.C., Graham Coxon, Greentea Peng, Grian Chatten, Kae Tempest, King Krule, Nilüfer Yanya, Olivia Rodrigo, Pulp, Sampha, The Last Dinner Party, Wet Leg and Young Fathers.
In addition to the musicians taking part, renowned filmmaker and Academy Award Winner Jonathan Glazer acted as Creative Director for HELP(2), working with Academy Films to oversee filming and art direction for the project.
A press release reads: “Glazer and Mica Levi’s concept was simple – “By Children, For Children” – with his team handing the cameras over to children in order to see the world through their eyes and serve as a constant reminder of the reason for the endeavor to the audience and all involved.
“Each child » Continue Reading.
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There was no new thread posted to the AW yesterday, which is unusual. So, what happened?
I spent an hour being driven around a driving test route by Offspring the Elder, got the stepladder out and replaced a lightbulb, and transferred the fancy soundcard from my old (2014) PC to my new (2018) PC.
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Obituary
Black Midi guitarist.
A statement from his family said he died “after a long battle with his mental health. A talented musician and a kind, loving man finally succumbed; despite all efforts.
“He will always be loved. Please take a moment to check in with your loved ones so we can stop this happening to our young men.”
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Happenstance (collecting Offspring from the station after a day at the sales) meant I heard this in the car yesterday evening. The Wob draws a line between dubby bass lines and Tibetan Buddhism via having his head wired up at Salford University.
Excellent stuff.
Overseas AWers, PM me for ‘help’.
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Obituary
Driving home for the last time at 74, following a short illness.
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A bit bored during recuperation, I heard an early Texas song on the radio this afternoon and it set my tangential mind off with thoughts of punsome songs/performers as creatures.
Your starter for ten:
I Don’t Want A Plover.
Over to the AW hive mind.
Dancers Tom Whitehead (of the Royal Ballet) and Max Maslen (of Birmingham Royal Ballet) perform a dance choreographed by Hanif Kureishi and (Royal Ballet choreographer) Kristen McNally, to My Bloody Valentine’s ‘Come in Alone’, at Salts Mill in Saltaire, as part of Dance Passion Bradford.
On air BBC Four tomorrow at 8pm.
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Obituary
From Jools Holland’s Facebook:
“I’m very sad to report that Gilson Lavis my dear friend and long-standing drummer passed away at his home in Lincolnshire last night. On behalf of my Orchestra, Squeeze, the many musicians who have worked with and befriended Gilson over the years and all the people he has supported through the AA fellowship, I send our love and sympathy to Nikki and Gilson, his dear wife and son.”
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I spent yesterday having my kidney stones lasered, and today I am feeling a bit delicate. I’m not in the mood for music, but nerding out in front of the telly with a cup of tea is in order for the next few days.
I have Prime, and Offspring the Younger has loaned me her Netflix login while she’s at work.
DEVO, Quincy, and What Happened, Miss Simone? are in the list.
What else should I watch to distract me from the string and pipework hanging out of my [redacted]?
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Author:Graeme Thomson, Jim Kerr, Charlie Burchill
A companion piece to Graeme Thomson’s excellent “Themes for Great Cities: A New History of Simple Minds”, this takes the form of first-person interviews with the founding (and still current) creative hub of the band.
Each short chapter tackles a subject. Jim writes an intro, Graeme transcribes solo interviews with both Jim and Charlie. It’s all very conversational in tone and covers everything you could want to know about the rise, fall, and rise again of the post-punk-Euro-art-stadium-rockers, their backgrounds, personal lives, and the passage of time as they face turning 70.
With short chapters, it is an easy read, easy to put down and pick up, and gallups along over 300+ pages. My PDF copy had no pictures, which was a shame.
Length of Read:Medium
Might appeal to people who enjoyed…
Whereas “Themes for Great Cities: A New History of Simple Minds” covered the how from Graeme’s point of view. This one covers the why from Jim & Charlie’s POV.
One thing you’ve learned
The inspiration for their signature tune, ‘Themes for Great Cities’, was the Tornados / Joe Meek’s ‘Telstar’
06/11/2025
I have one ticket for this going spare.
My pal from Stuttgart was over in May, when the gig was originally scheduled, but it was then postponed until November. He gave me the e-ticket, but I can now no longer use it either*, and the promoter won’t offer him a refund.
If anyone can make use of it, PM me.
(*) I’m going to have my kidney stones lasered the day before, and won’t be going anywhere for about two weeks. I’d really rather go to the gig, tbh.
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Obituary
British actress, model and member of London’s early punk scene between 1976 and 1978.
She became ill a week ago and very quickly fell into a coma which she never awoke from.
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Obituary
Legend.
