I start my day with PENIS and Im not alone.

Finally got my albums out after 30 years under the stairs and checked on the missing gems that I somehow didn’t buy in my youth. This was the first of the new tranche. Boy – what a purchase. Somehow even […]

I think I remember John Peel saying that Leo Kottke “plays guitar like Ray Clemence in goals, and sings like me in goals.” … or something along those lines.

Saw Lydon and PIL a few years ago in Sydney after being given a spare ticket by a mate. I was completely and unexpectedly astonished by his soaring vocals. I still think he is the finest I have ever seen.

Astonishingly to me, I really loved last years contest with at least 4 or 5 entries getting my top mark of “really quite good”. I hope Ukraine win, though I haven’t heard any of this years entries, not out of […]

@dai. Exactly the same here. Two daughters both had meltdowns when told. The treat playlists literally as life-defining.

Unfortunately my experience with SongShift has so far not been great. I have […]

An opportunity to play this rather lovely song from the under-appreciated Darren Hanlon.
Punks not dead. She’s just gone to bed.

I chucked in a bit. Hope between us all, its enough to keep the wolves away for another couple of years. Let us know if its not and I will consider selling one of the kids.

As always John Darnielle is there for these occasions.

I think it could be very well a song about grief after death rather than a breakup but its lovely, poignant and sad in either case

“The first time I made […]

Cardiacs were an astonishing band – unique, mad and brilliant. I found out about them only months before Tim Smith’s stroke sadly and will regret the missed opportunities to see them live. Like “The Fall” they […]

There was a time – I’m 13 or 14 and my world is dominated by ELP. I bought every album up to BSS. I acquired the triple live album second-hand, and won Works Vol 1 in a radio competition but by then I was […]

Re “The Killing”. Conversation with my wife:

Me: Im surprised “The Killing ” isnt higher of the list
Wife: I dont remember that one
Me: You know – Danish police thingy
Wife: Nope
Me: Great knitwear
Wife: […]

I dont think Eric Clapton came across well in his autobiography (presumably ghost written). Nice enough but a bit “thick”.

The Chaser always makes my smile

I remember being shocked by Ginger Baker’s death, and the realisation that he died not of drugs (although years of abuse didnt help), but of being old – you know – like normal people do. The war-babies of the […]

I have “In C” on vinyl bought in the 70’s. Pretty sure I’ve never played side 2.

Max Richter is great IMO. My son played “Written on the Sky” as part of his piano concert last year and I still love it […]

I recently dug out my Harper vinyl. I was quite a fan back in the seventies and have the 70’s albums from Folkjokeopus through to Bullinamingvase. Stormcock is still great in its particular ambition, but the rest […]

Sparks was one of those bands that I quite liked as a pre-pubescent in the “Kimono” period but basically have payed no attention to since. I have been aware of background mumblings that the later stuff is […]

Workingman’s Dead. I bought the album, on reissue I suppose, sometime in 1981. I played “Uncle Johns Band” which was quite cute, but didnt care for any of the other tracks on side one. Side two remains, as far […]