Hard agree with Tony here - it's a wonder.

The Demon of Adachigahara, Op. 21 Cantata for children’s chorus, narrator and full orchestra with words by Ted Hughes, based on a Japanese folk tale. Full version: Forces: Children’s chorus, narrator, full orchestra Orc…

This is what kids used to do in schools before capitalism and its Parliamentary lackeys conned the state into turning education of the whole child into the disguised big business subsidy of STEM and 'training for a job'. gordoncrosse.wordpress.com/2017/02/26/t...

Music From The Ether (1934) YouTube video by British Pathé

Maurice Martenot demonstrates the ondes Martenot in English: www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4ph...

(Didn't Gene Wolfe already do that?)

Elias Khoury's 'Gate of the Sun'; Ghada al-Samman's 'Beirut Nightmares'; Rashid al Daif's ''Dear Mr Kawabata' off the top of my head - there are others...!

‘We’re bigger than the news!’ How spine-tingling paranormal show Uncanny took over the world Knife-wielding skeletons, wild experiments with toilets, an audience with the bassist from The Jam … the team behind the globe-conquering spookfest open up about their astonishing success

"The rapt audience – a harmonious mix of millennials, boomers and gen Z – are eager to share their own stories, too..." Dunno what this nonsense is, but since apparently #GenX has entirely shunned it (or been banned?), I won't bother inquiring further. Thanks for the head's up, @theguardian.com!

Google AI tells me it's George Orwell, but I strongly suspect he doesn't have a new novel out in June.

There's a good bit on it in his 'All Points North' (1998) where he describes it getting stuck on autoplay in his mum's car stereo.

Submissions for the 2026 Barbellion Prize are now open! 🎉

The Barbellion Prize celebrates and promotes writing that represents the experience of chronic illness and disability.

Submission are open from today 2nd April - 1st September, 2026.

@thebarbellionprize.bsky.social

barbellionprize.org

Isn’t it? I was oddly tempted to take it even though I already have a copy, but then wisely left it. (Upper St Giles St, Norwich, if you’re local and fancy it.)

The spines of four very good books.

A ‘free library’ - shelves on a street corner where people are encouraged to leave and take books.

Congratulations to Norwich on its continually strong Little Free Library quality.

Thanks Drew!

20th Century Radicals - Claude Vivier: Imaginary worlds - BBC Sounds Kate Molleson and Gillian Moore shine new light on the 'modern' music of the 20th century.

Another fascinating episode of this show, on the great Claude Vivier (and includes some of the great Lily Greenham.)
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

If I had to pick one Fall song....

Is this a Quantum Book?: On Melissa McCarthy Anthony Howell reviews Melissa McCarthy's Photo, Phyto, Proto, Nitro

Anthony Howell on Melissa McCarthy's PHOTO, PHYTO, PROTO, NITRO in The Fortnightly Review:"McCarthy’s rabbit-holing prompts the enchanted reader to engage in similar sleuthing. This is a book that has an effect on one’s thought." fortnightlyreview.substack.com/p/is-this-a-...

I love that book.

The Berlin School of Electrical Music [1928-1930] The 'Schule der elektrischen Musik', the Theremin-Trios & the Berlin Theremin Laboratory

songoftheatom.substack.com/p/the-berlin...

Ach, I’m sorry!

BBC Radio 4 - Archive on 4, Into the Ether Unearthing audio treasures from the radiophonic past.

I caught this programme by accident, which might have been the best way to hear it. On voices, memory, and sound.
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

Thank you Niamh!

Have any recent literary classics been written in Davos?

Piazza Plebiscito in Naples, adorned by a very long Joseph Kosuth text/neon work, a quotation from (if I remember rightly) Benedetto Croce.

I was one tasked with translating an extremely long Joseph Kosuth piece, and have never forgiven him.

Hebden Bridge.

Visiting a disused signal box and rather worried this bell might mysteriously ring. #TheSignalman

The Philip Jeck Bandcamp Subscription: philipjeck.bandcamp.com/subscribe

12 exclusive live recordings + 5 items from his back catalogue. All proceeds from this subscription go to The Philip Jeck Foundation, supporting aspiring artists working in the traditions of experimental and creative arts.

Manic Joy: Irmgard Keun and the Politics of Life Under/Over Fascism — Simon Wortham What does anybody know about Irmgard Keun? Failed actress, encouraged by Alfred Döblin to write. A darling of Weimar, her first novel Gilgi a sensation, turned into a film. Falsely accused of plagi…

"In Keun’s writing there are no dead [...] It is ugly and it is beautiful. Life goes on, and those who don’t are unloved and unmourned. It is impossible to be dead. It is beyond consideration ..."

Simon Wortham on Keun

minorliteratures.com/2026/03/05/m...

Excellent. I'll chair it and think of some fantastically difficult questions.

Come to Manchester!

A Personal Anthology, by Guillermo Stitch Those familiar with the water colour Dickens’ Dream by Robert William Buss should be able to picture the scene.

Wherein, at the invitation of @jonathangibbs.bsky.social, I write about twelve brilliant stories by twelve brilliant writers, some of whom are alive @egangoonsquad.bsky.social @theactualemma.bsky.social @cdrose.bsky.social.

It's a good one.