What’s a song that grew on you over time? I’m sitting here in my Paul’s Boutique t-shirt trying to figure out what changed in the three years between 1986 and 1989. In ‘86 my 13 year old self was, musically, driven by Radio 1, The Top 20 and, of course, Top of the Pops. It was a diverse time for music, rock was...

One piece of advice that stuck with me, although I know not where I received it, was to look up as I walked around a city. Try it the next time you get the chance, there is far far more interesting things happening above head height in most major cities, so rather than focus on the shop fronts, look at the actual...

What’s your favorite deep cut from an album? It’s 1977, I am 4 years old. Meanwhile, a band are recording their next, and sixth, album. Adjusting to a world of punk, still riding high after a tour featuring songs like Somebody to Love, Brighton Rock, and Bohemian Rhapsody, Queen headed back to the studio. During...

What song makes you feel like you’re in a different country? The first time I went abroad I was 15, a three week camping holiday in France. My main packing priority was my Walkman and a good selection of tapes (cassettes) I was still mostly in my parents musical realm but was delighted to have borrowed two tapes...

A weekly recap of the articles and posts I’ve read that I think are worth your time. Mick Jagger Tells the Story Behind ‘Gimme Shelter’ and Merry Clayton’s Haunting Background Vocals | Open Culture — “We randomly phoned up this poor lady in the middle of the night, and she arrived in her curlers and proceeded to do...

Share a song you feel was ahead of its time. There are some obvious tracks, Blue Monday (‘83) sounds like a track from the mid 90s club nights, I Feel Love (‘77) setting up electronica that wouldn’t appear for at least a decade, Teardrop (‘98) laid tracks for trip-hop artists to follow, and you could even argue that...

Becca and Jack are aware this weekend and I, unwittingly, have stumbled into a Christopher Nolan themed couple of days. I love movies, I love the art, the cinematography, the camera shot choices, the scripts, the characters arcs, the whole thing. From set design, lighting choices, editing choices and more, is...

I read this post and found myself thinking: …and then what? Don’t get me wrong, I completely understand the reasons people are leaving, and I think many of those reasons are entirely valid. In fact, if you’ve been paying attention here, you’ll know that I’m one of the people considering such a move myself and for...

What’s the last song you discovered and loved instantly? I tend to find new songs and instantly gorge myself on them. From unheard to on heavy repeat, I’ve always enjoyed that journey from ‘hey that’s interesting’ to ‘man this is catchy’ to ‘I love this track’. This track first appeared a couple of weeks ago, and it...

A genuine question for you, dear reader, have you been reading the daily music-based posts? The ones with a track and artist as the title, you do realise it’s not just me reviewing the track itself? In fact it’s almost NEVER a review of the track, it’s an exploration of me. I’m asking because I’m finding writing...

What’s a lyric that resonates deeply with you and why? "But there isn’t words yet for the comfort I get From the gentle lunette at the top of the nape of the neck that I wake to" Two songs in one, and a rich seam of lyrics to be mined. Guy Garvey is, without doubt, my favourite lyricist/song writer. This song was...

Cue dramatic opening music, sweeping camera shots, a host appears… I don’t watch much “live” TV. The Great British Bake Off if the exception. Becca has said she is going to watch the upcoming Celebrity Traitors (largely for the ‘water cooler’ chat at her work). I will not be watching. Don’t get me wrong I like the...