As it is now tradition, I have made a playlist of songs released in 2025 that I enjoy/obsess over/love/daydream to/admire/cry to/hum/jump along to.
music.apple.com/playlist/202...
open.spotify.com/playlist/7gi...
What is this weird, unknown feeling? Hope, you say?
❤️
We are thrilled to announce that Born Innocent: The Redd Kross Story is coming to Blu-Ray and DVD on January 10, 2026! 💥
Danny Thompson (1939-2025) 🌹
THE bass of British folk.
Favourite habit while watching black&white movies: point at the person who look like they could be one of my grandparents and check their IMDb to see if they’re younger than me (spoiler alert: they often are). Thanks for showing Trevor Howard at my exact age and apparently ready for a senior cruise.
Okay, alright, September is fine. But October…
October is the month of witches. And this witch, born in October, is writing the cover story for the October issue of Shindig.
September may win at songs (Big Star, etc) but October’s ambience is unmatched.
Out today: ENCORE PRESENTATION of classic REVOLUTIONS PER MOVIE episodes from the vault! On this episode, I was joined by @camillaaisa.bsky.social (writer, UK's Shindig, Rock Collector), who brought the documentary Sisters With Transistors to discuss! shows.acast.com/revolutionsp...
this month’s obsessive listens
music.apple.com/playlist/jun...
open.spotify.com/playlist/4Ba...
It just doesn’t feel right, summer returning with Brian Wilson gone.
Love and mercy, indeed, to all of us stranded here with the tyrants, the mass murderers and the indifferent, without Brian and without Sly.
How does one even try to put into words what he was, what he did and what he meant, the waves he put into motion.
Brian Wilson brought so much harmony to a cacophonous world. The music was all in his head. It’s everywhere now, but today you can’t help but notice how the sunshine dims.
Love and mercy, indeed, to all of us stranded here with the tyrants, the mass murderers and the indifferent, without Brian and without Sly.
Higher.
💔
Last but not least there’s my Tracks column, featuring @gwennosaunders.bsky.social (with the defining song of 2025), John Myrtle, Lady Wray, Picture Parlour, The New Eves, Reflective Detectives, Taylor Williams, Autocamper, Simian Life, Hologram Teen and Philip Parfitt.
I also review new music from Natalie Bergman ( @thirdmanrecords.bsky.social), The Budos Band and Durand Jones & The Indications.
The new issue of Shindig is out now, featuring my Stereolab cover story.
Thanks to Sean O'Hagan and Morgane Lhote for helping me trace the roots of the Groop and to Laetitia Sadier and Tim Gane for guiding me through Stereolab’s splendid new album.
@stereolabgroop.bsky.social
Highly recommended to fans of: unconventional rockstars, true freaks and unlikely heroes, drums, puppets, square foot gardening, headstands, booze and acid-fuelled (mis)adventures, 80s punk and 90s indie. And, duh, Pavement.
Just got my copy of Louder Than You Think: a Lo-fi History of Gary Young & Pavement on exquisitely packaged Blu-Ray.
Inside, one of the best music docs in recent years plus a whole lot of extras including me in conversation with two gents who made some of my favourite music.
this month’s obsessive listens
music.apple.com/playlist/apr...
open.spotify.com/playlist/3O9...
Last but not least, there’s my Tracks column with its monthly fix of digital delights:
music.apple.com/playlist/tra...
open.spotify.com/playlist/47O...
I also review new music from Lael Neale (Sub Pop), Milkweed (Broadside Hacks), Ty Segall (Drag City), Surprise Chef (Big Crown), Lake Ruth (Dell’Orso) and Night Beats (Fuzz Club).
Whoo-hoo - the new issue of Shindig is out now!
(Sorry, I still *don’t get* The Who and felt like I should distract you and me both with a very simple-minded pun)
Anyhoo. I interview Cosmic Crooner, who has just released the ultimate summer record (fittingly titled European Vacation).
Grab your popcorn. You can now watch Born Innocent: The Redd Kross Story at home.
reddkrossfilm.com/rent
The lush Blu-ray edition of Louder Than You Think is now available to purchase. One of the coolest music docs of the past few years, plenty of bonus material plus yours truly in conversation with Pavement’s very own Scott Kannberg and Mark Ibold.
Honoured to be involved!
Last but not least there’s my Tracks column with its monthly fix of digital delights: open.spotify.com/playlist/40y...
music.apple.com/playlist/tra...
I also review new releases from Little Barrie & Malcolm Catto, Oh! Gunquit, The Psychic Circle and Natalie Wildgoose, plus reissues/comps from Margo Guryan, Shelagh McDonald and 1001 Est Crémazie.
The new issue of Shindig is out now!
I’m in the legendary Maida Vale studios, next to Delia Derbyshire’s favourite lampshade, talking to Mark Ayres about a new collaboration between BBC Studios and Spitfire Audio (BBC Radiophonic Workshop archives available now for the first time to sample)
this dazzling, game-changing, absolute stunner turned 25 a couple of days ago and my mind is forever blown by it
this month’s obsessive listens
(by dubiously popular demand:
open.spotify.com/playlist/2Nk...
music.apple.com/playlist/feb... )
Happy release day to this gem. If you like the idea of one of the original US 90s shoegaze/dream pop groups fully embracing their love of Blighty’s finest 60s melody-driven folk and baroque pop…you’re in for a treat.
(A @i-p-r.bsky.social release)