Thanks, David - that was one of many enjoyable things about the Tallinn conference. Really great to meet you properly, and looking forward greatly to future musical endeavours!

In Concert – Estonian National Symphony Orchestra / Neeme Järvi & Olari Elts @ Estonia Concert Hall, Tallinn Hans Christian Aavik (violin), Estonian National Symphony Orchestra / Neeme Järvi, Olari Elts Verbytsky / Chubynsky National Anthem of UkraineEller Homeland Tune (1918/1953)Sibelius Andante festivo…

While in Tallinn for the IAMA / Audio Classique conferences, we attended a concert of Estonian music - where the music of Sumera was a revelation. My thoughts below: arcana.fm/2026/04/19/e...

Out today - on Naxos!

Great choice, that!

Pēteris Vasks at 80 The Latvian composer (whose big birthday falls today) looks back over the past nine decades, reflecting on some of the musicians who have shaped his work and the inspiration which he draws from nature...

Happy 80th birthday to the wonderful Latvian composer Petēris Vasks! Here's an interview I did with him for @prestomusic.bsky.social: www.prestomusic.com/classical/ar...

The Associates - Party Fears Two [DJK VIDEO] YouTube video by La Oveja Estigma

#SweetKeys 🎹
Day 15

The Associates - Party Fears Two

One of a kind - and even before Billy McKenzie's remarkable vocal there are the twists and turns of the piano:

m.youtube.com/watch?v=VEWj...

The Doors - Light My Fire YouTube video by 215Days

#SweetKeys 🎹
Day no.14

The Doors - Light My Fire

Doubtless already chosen - but the opening salvo to Light My Fire is truly unique!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=cq8k...

Approaching the Arvo Pärt centre in Laulusmaa, Estonia

I'm in Tallinn this week for the Audio Classique / IAMA conference...and yesterday visited the Arvo Pärt centre. A truly inspiring, creative space!

#SweetKeys 🎹
Day no.13

Joni Mitchell - River

Not quite the time of year...but a magical song nonetheless, and the piano is so beautiful

www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLHx...

Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Hoedown (Official Audio) YouTube video by Emerson, Lake and Palmer

#SweetKeys 🎹
Day no.12

Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Hoe-Down

At some point I had to pay homage to the keyboard pyrotechnics of Keith Emerson! This is him at his ferocious and mischievous best, as the trio take on Aaron Copland's outdoor classic:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWmo...

Faithless - Insomnia (Official 4K Video) YouTube video by FaithlessVEVO

##SweetKeys 🎹
Day no.11

Faithless - Insomnia

The daddy of all dance keyboard riffs...punched out by Sister Bliss as this song reaches its peak. A cracker!

m.youtube.com/watch?v=P8JE...

The Who - Won't Get Fooled Again YouTube video by BBVCTom

#SweetKeys 🎹
no.10

The Who - Won't Get Fooled Again

Will never forget seeing this live at T in the Park in Scotland, Pete Townshend's keyboard line floating over the masses

www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHhr...

A pleasure...and thanks for the music. I should have mentioned actually, it sounds great on headphones! Really colourful

The Way It Is YouTube video by Bruce Hornsby

#SweetKeys 🎹
no.9

Bruce Hornsby and The Range - The Way It Is

Simply timeless...and what a piano line!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlRQ...

Bluebells on Tonbridge castle hill

Greatly enjoying the summery grooves of III (Part One), the new album by Brand New Heavies spin off group MF Robots #commuterworld

Yusuf / Cat Stevens – Morning Has Broken (Official Lyric Video) YouTube video by Yusuf / Cat Stevens

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no.8

Yusuf / Cat Stevens - Morning Has Broken

Cat Stevens always makes the world feel a bit better...with this one enhanced by Rick Wakeman's instinctive piano playing, from uplifting to dreamy:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmAO...

Depeche Mode - Just Can't Get Enough YouTube video by DepecheModeVEVO

#SweetKeys 🎹
no.7

Depeche Mode - Just Can't Get Enough

Catchy as anything...and a single finger keyboard riff anyone can play!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6FB...

ICYMI my latest ‘Hanging Out a Window’ column in recognition of World Drummers Day republishes my review of a magnificent social history of the drum kit (includes video clips). Read and subscribe (free) here: johnearls.substack.com/p/book-revie...

Looking north from the Tonbridge to Redhill train, on the approach to Edenbridge

Proper spring colours for the #commuterworld train journey, where I'm enjoying the rich ambience of Hawksmoor, the new album Am I Conscious Now? (Before I Die)

Tori Amos - Cornflake Girl (US Version) (Official Music Video) YouTube video by UPROXX Indie Mixtape

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no.6

Tori Amos - Cornflake Girl

Where the piano is as free as a bird - and somehow stays within the confines of a pop song:

m.youtube.com/watch?v=w_HA...

Could It Be Magic YouTube video by Barry Manilow - Topic

#SweetKeys 🎹
no.5

Barry Manilow - Could It Be Magic

The clever use of a Chopin piano prelude at the start gives this song a real sense of occasion!

m.youtube.com/watch?v=Vc5X...

Van Halen - Jump (Official Music Video) [HD] YouTube video by Van Halen

#SweetKeys 🎹
no.4

Van Halen - Jump

One of the best!

m.youtube.com/watch?v=SwYN...

Fine Young Cannibals - Good Thing (Official Video) YouTube video by London Records

#SweetKeys 🎹
no.3

Fine Young Cannibals - Good Thing

One of Jools Holland's best moments in pop music! A brilliant solo in the middle of a song that remains an uplifting ever-present on radio:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=We_9...

Where Love Lives (Official Video - featured on the John Lewis Christmas Advert 2025) YouTube video by AlisonLimerickVEVO

#SweetKeys 🎹
no.2

Alison Limerick - Where Love Lives

Safe to say house music wouldn't exist without the keyboard...and this song is a celebration of that, matching a killer piano riff and the gorgeous vocal:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfam...

Ha, thanks - that's a welcome coincidence!

Inspiral Carpets - Saturn 5 YouTube video by Inspiral Carpets

#sweetkeys
no.1

Inspiral Carpets - Saturn 5

Starting a new challenge with this anthem, led by a hook you can hang your coat on. A rousing coda, too!

m.youtube.com/watch?v=03cy...

Great choice. The Finns are pretty much perfect songwriters for me!

That's quite something...and EMF, too!

Switched On – Ben Seretan & John Thayer – Sunbeam Of No Illusion (AKP Recordings) Reviewed by Ben Hogwood What’s the story? Sunbeam Of No Illusion takes its title from correspondence between Ralph Emerson and Walt Whitman, which is described as “cheeky acknowledgement of t…

A pleasure...I've actually just posted a review of the album (with the correct title this time, ha!) arcana.fm/2026/03/31/b...

Thank you - as a part time keyboard player, and prog / dance / electronic music fan, this will be a lot of fun. Looking forward to it!