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professional birthday haver - a five day gambol

pictured are: oslo court’s finest, cake ambush, Brutto, rochdale’s finest, still life with fellow birthday enjoyer Owen Morris, rochdale’s finest #2, big fat chuggy scooters in formation, peste or whatever the fuck it’s called now, Owen being clinical, folksy times with Raddon and Ryan, a nice jaunt out, lapwings (ICA Thursday £18), then above glossop, around new mills, beans on a wall.

not pictured: gorgeous pints in Sheffield and ivy house; wozzeck rehearsal???; the deep speechless despair of Saturday; mini golf and pints of pure arse in Rochdale town on Sat; the time on friday I blagged my way into a Jennifer Walton gig at ormside that was fully at MOT

heart so very full of sun and friends <3 we’re not talking about the Rochdale match

professional birthday haver - a five day gambol

pictured are: oslo court’s finest, cake ambush, Brutto, rochdale’s finest, still life with fellow birthday enjoyer Owen Morris, rochdale’s finest #2, big fat chuggy scooters in formation, peste or whatever the fuck it’s called now, Owen being clinical, folksy times with Raddon and Ryan, a nice jaunt out, lapwings (ICA Thursday £18), then above glossop, around new mills, beans on a wall.

not pictured: gorgeous pints in Sheffield and ivy house; wozzeck rehearsal???; the deep speechless despair of Saturday; mini golf and pints of pure arse in Rochdale town on Sat; the time on friday I blagged my way into a Jennifer Walton gig at ormside that was fully at MOT

heart so very full of sun and friends <3 we’re not talking about the Rochdale match

professional birthday haver - a five day gambol

pictured are: oslo court’s finest, cake ambush, Brutto, rochdale’s finest, still life with fellow birthday enjoyer Owen Morris, rochdale’s finest #2, big fat chuggy scooters in formation, peste or whatever the fuck it’s called now, Owen being clinical, folksy times with Raddon and Ryan, a nice jaunt out, lapwings (ICA Thursday £18), then above glossop, around new mills, beans on a wall.

not pictured: gorgeous pints in Sheffield and ivy house; wozzeck rehearsal???; the deep speechless despair of Saturday; mini golf and pints of pure arse in Rochdale town on Sat; the time on friday I blagged my way into a Jennifer Walton gig at ormside that was fully at MOT

heart so very full of sun and friends <3 we’re not talking about the Rochdale match

professional birthday haver - a five day gambol

pictured are: oslo court’s finest, cake ambush, Brutto, rochdale’s finest, still life with fellow birthday enjoyer Owen Morris, rochdale’s finest #2, big fat chuggy scooters in formation, peste or whatever the fuck it’s called now, Owen being clinical, folksy times with Raddon and Ryan, a nice jaunt out, lapwings (ICA Thursday £18), then above glossop, around new mills, beans on a wall.

not pictured: gorgeous pints in Sheffield and ivy house; wozzeck rehearsal???; the deep speechless despair of Saturday; mini golf and pints of pure arse in Rochdale town on Sat; the time on friday I blagged my way into a Jennifer Walton gig at ormside that was fully at MOT

heart so very full of sun and friends <3 we’re not talking about the Rochdale match

professional birthday haver - a five day gambol

pictured are: oslo court’s finest, cake ambush, Brutto, rochdale’s finest, still life with fellow birthday enjoyer Owen Morris, rochdale’s finest #2, big fat chuggy scooters in formation, peste or whatever the fuck it’s called now, Owen being clinical, folksy times with Raddon and Ryan, a nice jaunt out, lapwings (ICA Thursday £18), then above glossop, around new mills, beans on a wall.

not pictured: gorgeous pints in Sheffield and ivy house; wozzeck rehearsal???; the deep speechless despair of Saturday; mini golf and pints of pure arse in Rochdale town on Sat; the time on friday I blagged my way into a Jennifer Walton gig at ormside that was fully at MOT

heart so very full of sun and friends <3 we’re not talking about the Rochdale match

professional birthday haver - a five day gambol

pictured are: oslo court’s finest, cake ambush, Brutto, rochdale’s finest, still life with fellow birthday enjoyer Owen Morris, rochdale’s finest #2, big fat chuggy scooters in formation, peste or whatever the fuck it’s called now, Owen being clinical, folksy times with Raddon and Ryan, a nice jaunt out, lapwings (ICA Thursday £18), then above glossop, around new mills, beans on a wall.

not pictured: gorgeous pints in Sheffield and ivy house; wozzeck rehearsal???; the deep speechless despair of Saturday; mini golf and pints of pure arse in Rochdale town on Sat; the time on friday I blagged my way into a Jennifer Walton gig at ormside that was fully at MOT

heart so very full of sun and friends <3 we’re not talking about the Rochdale match

professional birthday haver - a five day gambol

pictured are: oslo court’s finest, cake ambush, Brutto, rochdale’s finest, still life with fellow birthday enjoyer Owen Morris, rochdale’s finest #2, big fat chuggy scooters in formation, peste or whatever the fuck it’s called now, Owen being clinical, folksy times with Raddon and Ryan, a nice jaunt out, lapwings (ICA Thursday £18), then above glossop, around new mills, beans on a wall.

not pictured: gorgeous pints in Sheffield and ivy house; wozzeck rehearsal???; the deep speechless despair of Saturday; mini golf and pints of pure arse in Rochdale town on Sat; the time on friday I blagged my way into a Jennifer Walton gig at ormside that was fully at MOT

heart so very full of sun and friends <3 we’re not talking about the Rochdale match

professional birthday haver - a five day gambol

pictured are: oslo court’s finest, cake ambush, Brutto, rochdale’s finest, still life with fellow birthday enjoyer Owen Morris, rochdale’s finest #2, big fat chuggy scooters in formation, peste or whatever the fuck it’s called now, Owen being clinical, folksy times with Raddon and Ryan, a nice jaunt out, lapwings (ICA Thursday £18), then above glossop, around new mills, beans on a wall.

not pictured: gorgeous pints in Sheffield and ivy house; wozzeck rehearsal???; the deep speechless despair of Saturday; mini golf and pints of pure arse in Rochdale town on Sat; the time on friday I blagged my way into a Jennifer Walton gig at ormside that was fully at MOT

heart so very full of sun and friends <3 we’re not talking about the Rochdale match

professional birthday haver - a five day gambol

pictured are: oslo court’s finest, cake ambush, Brutto, rochdale’s finest, still life with fellow birthday enjoyer Owen Morris, rochdale’s finest #2, big fat chuggy scooters in formation, peste or whatever the fuck it’s called now, Owen being clinical, folksy times with Raddon and Ryan, a nice jaunt out, lapwings (ICA Thursday £18), then above glossop, around new mills, beans on a wall.

not pictured: gorgeous pints in Sheffield and ivy house; wozzeck rehearsal???; the deep speechless despair of Saturday; mini golf and pints of pure arse in Rochdale town on Sat; the time on friday I blagged my way into a Jennifer Walton gig at ormside that was fully at MOT

heart so very full of sun and friends <3 we’re not talking about the Rochdale match

professional birthday haver - a five day gambol

pictured are: oslo court’s finest, cake ambush, Brutto, rochdale’s finest, still life with fellow birthday enjoyer Owen Morris, rochdale’s finest #2, big fat chuggy scooters in formation, peste or whatever the fuck it’s called now, Owen being clinical, folksy times with Raddon and Ryan, a nice jaunt out, lapwings (ICA Thursday £18), then above glossop, around new mills, beans on a wall.

not pictured: gorgeous pints in Sheffield and ivy house; wozzeck rehearsal???; the deep speechless despair of Saturday; mini golf and pints of pure arse in Rochdale town on Sat; the time on friday I blagged my way into a Jennifer Walton gig at ormside that was fully at MOT

heart so very full of sun and friends <3 we’re not talking about the Rochdale match

professional birthday haver - a five day gambol

pictured are: oslo court’s finest, cake ambush, Brutto, rochdale’s finest, still life with fellow birthday enjoyer Owen Morris, rochdale’s finest #2, big fat chuggy scooters in formation, peste or whatever the fuck it’s called now, Owen being clinical, folksy times with Raddon and Ryan, a nice jaunt out, lapwings (ICA Thursday £18), then above glossop, around new mills, beans on a wall.

not pictured: gorgeous pints in Sheffield and ivy house; wozzeck rehearsal???; the deep speechless despair of Saturday; mini golf and pints of pure arse in Rochdale town on Sat; the time on friday I blagged my way into a Jennifer Walton gig at ormside that was fully at MOT

heart so very full of sun and friends <3 we’re not talking about the Rochdale match

professional birthday haver - a five day gambol

pictured are: oslo court’s finest, cake ambush, Brutto, rochdale’s finest, still life with fellow birthday enjoyer Owen Morris, rochdale’s finest #2, big fat chuggy scooters in formation, peste or whatever the fuck it’s called now, Owen being clinical, folksy times with Raddon and Ryan, a nice jaunt out, lapwings (ICA Thursday £18), then above glossop, around new mills, beans on a wall.

not pictured: gorgeous pints in Sheffield and ivy house; wozzeck rehearsal???; the deep speechless despair of Saturday; mini golf and pints of pure arse in Rochdale town on Sat; the time on friday I blagged my way into a Jennifer Walton gig at ormside that was fully at MOT

heart so very full of sun and friends <3 we’re not talking about the Rochdale match

professional birthday haver - a five day gambol

pictured are: oslo court’s finest, cake ambush, Brutto, rochdale’s finest, still life with fellow birthday enjoyer Owen Morris, rochdale’s finest #2, big fat chuggy scooters in formation, peste or whatever the fuck it’s called now, Owen being clinical, folksy times with Raddon and Ryan, a nice jaunt out, lapwings (ICA Thursday £18), then above glossop, around new mills, beans on a wall.

not pictured: gorgeous pints in Sheffield and ivy house; wozzeck rehearsal???; the deep speechless despair of Saturday; mini golf and pints of pure arse in Rochdale town on Sat; the time on friday I blagged my way into a Jennifer Walton gig at ormside that was fully at MOT

heart so very full of sun and friends <3 we’re not talking about the Rochdale match

professional birthday haver - a five day gambol

pictured are: oslo court’s finest, cake ambush, Brutto, rochdale’s finest, still life with fellow birthday enjoyer Owen Morris, rochdale’s finest #2, big fat chuggy scooters in formation, peste or whatever the fuck it’s called now, Owen being clinical, folksy times with Raddon and Ryan, a nice jaunt out, lapwings (ICA Thursday £18), then above glossop, around new mills, beans on a wall.

not pictured: gorgeous pints in Sheffield and ivy house; wozzeck rehearsal???; the deep speechless despair of Saturday; mini golf and pints of pure arse in Rochdale town on Sat; the time on friday I blagged my way into a Jennifer Walton gig at ormside that was fully at MOT

heart so very full of sun and friends <3 we’re not talking about the Rochdale match

professional birthday haver - a five day gambol

pictured are: oslo court’s finest, cake ambush, Brutto, rochdale’s finest, still life with fellow birthday enjoyer Owen Morris, rochdale’s finest #2, big fat chuggy scooters in formation, peste or whatever the fuck it’s called now, Owen being clinical, folksy times with Raddon and Ryan, a nice jaunt out, lapwings (ICA Thursday £18), then above glossop, around new mills, beans on a wall.

not pictured: gorgeous pints in Sheffield and ivy house; wozzeck rehearsal???; the deep speechless despair of Saturday; mini golf and pints of pure arse in Rochdale town on Sat; the time on friday I blagged my way into a Jennifer Walton gig at ormside that was fully at MOT

heart so very full of sun and friends <3 we’re not talking about the Rochdale match

okkkk nobody asked but here’s an essay on lutenist-composer John Dowland that takes in melancholy, performativity, Elizabethan revivalism in 20th c. britain,. and a fair amount of JD’s gorgeous abyssmusik

always a pleasure to do these sorts of pieces as it means talking to brainy thoughtful people who have been thinking about these subjects for much longer than i have. (hooray for intellectual endeavours in public spaces.)

solid lineup for this one: k dawn grapes and imani mosley @idm on Dowland’s life and afterlife; ruby hughes and Iestyn davies @iiestyndavies, two very fine if very different interpreters of Dowland today, plus a cameo from appreciator of elizabethan music danny l harle @dannylharle; think to understand the melancholic euphoria of his music, you have to pay attention to dowland and this elizabethan stuff. (the dude plays the viol, i mean come on.) thanks to all for their thoughts.

thanks too to joshua barone for entertaining my occasional dalliances with public musicology, and for saying yes to another feature on elizabethan-age music, politics and aesthetics in the US paper of record. feels like I’m getting away with something.

online now, in the big Sunday Arts & Leisure slot on Sunday if you fancy sticking it on your wall.if you’re new to dowland and wanna get an apple music primer, text me.

otherwise it’s my birthday friday rochdale vs york city saturday with Owen seeing Raddon on Sunday. potentially a weekend for the ages am already internally fizzing.

recently I’ve been … at rewire! Great festival. Best things I saw were @abdullahminiawyofficial @valentina_magaletti / YPY @cara.tolmie x Rian Treanor and Los Thuthanaka. Some clips from Jasss and Valentina

assorted other stuff :)

recently I’ve been … at rewire! Great festival. Best things I saw were @abdullahminiawyofficial @valentina_magaletti / YPY @cara.tolmie x Rian Treanor and Los Thuthanaka. Some clips from Jasss and Valentina

assorted other stuff :)

recently I’ve been … at rewire! Great festival. Best things I saw were @abdullahminiawyofficial @valentina_magaletti / YPY @cara.tolmie x Rian Treanor and Los Thuthanaka. Some clips from Jasss and Valentina

assorted other stuff :)

recently I’ve been … at rewire! Great festival. Best things I saw were @abdullahminiawyofficial @valentina_magaletti / YPY @cara.tolmie x Rian Treanor and Los Thuthanaka. Some clips from Jasss and Valentina

assorted other stuff :)

recently I’ve been … at rewire! Great festival. Best things I saw were @abdullahminiawyofficial @valentina_magaletti / YPY @cara.tolmie x Rian Treanor and Los Thuthanaka. Some clips from Jasss and Valentina

assorted other stuff :)

recently I’ve been … at rewire! Great festival. Best things I saw were @abdullahminiawyofficial @valentina_magaletti / YPY @cara.tolmie x Rian Treanor and Los Thuthanaka. Some clips from Jasss and Valentina

assorted other stuff :)

recently I’ve been … at rewire! Great festival. Best things I saw were @abdullahminiawyofficial @valentina_magaletti / YPY @cara.tolmie x Rian Treanor and Los Thuthanaka. Some clips from Jasss and Valentina

assorted other stuff :)

recently I’ve been … at rewire! Great festival. Best things I saw were @abdullahminiawyofficial @valentina_magaletti / YPY @cara.tolmie x Rian Treanor and Los Thuthanaka. Some clips from Jasss and Valentina

assorted other stuff :)

recently I’ve been … at rewire! Great festival. Best things I saw were @abdullahminiawyofficial @valentina_magaletti / YPY @cara.tolmie x Rian Treanor and Los Thuthanaka. Some clips from Jasss and Valentina

assorted other stuff :)

recently I’ve been … at rewire! Great festival. Best things I saw were @abdullahminiawyofficial @valentina_magaletti / YPY @cara.tolmie x Rian Treanor and Los Thuthanaka. Some clips from Jasss and Valentina

assorted other stuff :)

recently I’ve been … at rewire! Great festival. Best things I saw were @abdullahminiawyofficial @valentina_magaletti / YPY @cara.tolmie x Rian Treanor and Los Thuthanaka. Some clips from Jasss and Valentina

assorted other stuff :)

recently I’ve been … at rewire! Great festival. Best things I saw were @abdullahminiawyofficial @valentina_magaletti / YPY @cara.tolmie x Rian Treanor and Los Thuthanaka. Some clips from Jasss and Valentina

assorted other stuff :)

recently I’ve been … at rewire! Great festival. Best things I saw were @abdullahminiawyofficial @valentina_magaletti / YPY @cara.tolmie x Rian Treanor and Los Thuthanaka. Some clips from Jasss and Valentina

assorted other stuff :)

recently I’ve been … at rewire! Great festival. Best things I saw were @abdullahminiawyofficial @valentina_magaletti / YPY @cara.tolmie x Rian Treanor and Los Thuthanaka. Some clips from Jasss and Valentina

assorted other stuff :)

Back in 2022, Whatever Weighs You Down, my collaboration with composer Neil Luck (@arcoarcoarcoarco) and performance artist @chisatominamimura, was featured in the @nytimes, in this article by @hwfm (photo by @sisiburn).

I’m very happy to be bringing this piece back for the first of my three concerts at Tongyeong International Music Festival (@timf_tongyeong) in South Korea next week. A @cyborgsoloists project, with project partner, @mi.mu.gloves.

But what IS Shorworld, I hear you ask? Here’s Hugh with an explainer of our investigation.

#vanmagazine #alexeyshor #welcometoshorworld

WORK POST :)

Have been working my arse off this year so far; by liking this post you can help me regain my arse. thanks!

• went to Amsterdam for @NYTimes for @michelvanderaa’s new opera. Thought it was great ngl. Forthcoming on Decruck Dowland and eD garDner for them
• Shorties for the guardian on @Idrisi.Ensemble and Aaron Shaw @sheets0fsound
• have been handed the armband of VAN’s content division and also surfing the digital seas aboard HMS Constella. All aboard!!!
• I’m also back reporting for VAN. I’ve contributed reporting on the Epstein files, broke the story of the sacking of Norman Lebrecht, covered the return of Shorworld, and written a big longread on the art form’s Content Turn, plus oodles of weekly bits like the bit about Max Richter’s Krug collab in the most recent edition - you’ll have to read the newsletter for that one though
• Couple of pieces for @thewiremagazine: a review of Elaine Mitchener at Wigmore, and an extended opinion piece on the Met’s relationship with UK rap (with a Trojan Horse mention to @00000wraith for his crazy run these past few months)
• plus Commercial things: programme notes and liners for friends including @ManchesterCollective @kantoschoir Oliver Leith @SeanstShibe (last year but out this year - let me off please) @DanielPioro Caroline Shaw / Andrew Yee (forthcoming) and @TheBlackLights.uk, plus some big copy projects for the BBC Philharmonic, and London Sinfonietta (forthcoming)

Thanks for reading and continuing to employ me, paying me to write. The especially fun thing is that you–yes YOU!–can also do that! And as Corsica Studios (where I’ve been employed of late) is closing down soon, now is a particularly good time to do that :)

Thanks for listening - have a good Sunday

WORK POST :)

Have been working my arse off this year so far; by liking this post you can help me regain my arse. thanks!

• went to Amsterdam for @NYTimes for @michelvanderaa’s new opera. Thought it was great ngl. Forthcoming on Decruck Dowland and eD garDner for them
• Shorties for the guardian on @Idrisi.Ensemble and Aaron Shaw @sheets0fsound
• have been handed the armband of VAN’s content division and also surfing the digital seas aboard HMS Constella. All aboard!!!
• I’m also back reporting for VAN. I’ve contributed reporting on the Epstein files, broke the story of the sacking of Norman Lebrecht, covered the return of Shorworld, and written a big longread on the art form’s Content Turn, plus oodles of weekly bits like the bit about Max Richter’s Krug collab in the most recent edition - you’ll have to read the newsletter for that one though
• Couple of pieces for @thewiremagazine: a review of Elaine Mitchener at Wigmore, and an extended opinion piece on the Met’s relationship with UK rap (with a Trojan Horse mention to @00000wraith for his crazy run these past few months)
• plus Commercial things: programme notes and liners for friends including @ManchesterCollective @kantoschoir Oliver Leith @SeanstShibe (last year but out this year - let me off please) @DanielPioro Caroline Shaw / Andrew Yee (forthcoming) and @TheBlackLights.uk, plus some big copy projects for the BBC Philharmonic, and London Sinfonietta (forthcoming)

Thanks for reading and continuing to employ me, paying me to write. The especially fun thing is that you–yes YOU!–can also do that! And as Corsica Studios (where I’ve been employed of late) is closing down soon, now is a particularly good time to do that :)

Thanks for listening - have a good Sunday

WORK POST :)

Have been working my arse off this year so far; by liking this post you can help me regain my arse. thanks!

• went to Amsterdam for @NYTimes for @michelvanderaa’s new opera. Thought it was great ngl. Forthcoming on Decruck Dowland and eD garDner for them
• Shorties for the guardian on @Idrisi.Ensemble and Aaron Shaw @sheets0fsound
• have been handed the armband of VAN’s content division and also surfing the digital seas aboard HMS Constella. All aboard!!!
• I’m also back reporting for VAN. I’ve contributed reporting on the Epstein files, broke the story of the sacking of Norman Lebrecht, covered the return of Shorworld, and written a big longread on the art form’s Content Turn, plus oodles of weekly bits like the bit about Max Richter’s Krug collab in the most recent edition - you’ll have to read the newsletter for that one though
• Couple of pieces for @thewiremagazine: a review of Elaine Mitchener at Wigmore, and an extended opinion piece on the Met’s relationship with UK rap (with a Trojan Horse mention to @00000wraith for his crazy run these past few months)
• plus Commercial things: programme notes and liners for friends including @ManchesterCollective @kantoschoir Oliver Leith @SeanstShibe (last year but out this year - let me off please) @DanielPioro Caroline Shaw / Andrew Yee (forthcoming) and @TheBlackLights.uk, plus some big copy projects for the BBC Philharmonic, and London Sinfonietta (forthcoming)

Thanks for reading and continuing to employ me, paying me to write. The especially fun thing is that you–yes YOU!–can also do that! And as Corsica Studios (where I’ve been employed of late) is closing down soon, now is a particularly good time to do that :)

Thanks for listening - have a good Sunday

WORK POST :)

Have been working my arse off this year so far; by liking this post you can help me regain my arse. thanks!

• went to Amsterdam for @NYTimes for @michelvanderaa’s new opera. Thought it was great ngl. Forthcoming on Decruck Dowland and eD garDner for them
• Shorties for the guardian on @Idrisi.Ensemble and Aaron Shaw @sheets0fsound
• have been handed the armband of VAN’s content division and also surfing the digital seas aboard HMS Constella. All aboard!!!
• I’m also back reporting for VAN. I’ve contributed reporting on the Epstein files, broke the story of the sacking of Norman Lebrecht, covered the return of Shorworld, and written a big longread on the art form’s Content Turn, plus oodles of weekly bits like the bit about Max Richter’s Krug collab in the most recent edition - you’ll have to read the newsletter for that one though
• Couple of pieces for @thewiremagazine: a review of Elaine Mitchener at Wigmore, and an extended opinion piece on the Met’s relationship with UK rap (with a Trojan Horse mention to @00000wraith for his crazy run these past few months)
• plus Commercial things: programme notes and liners for friends including @ManchesterCollective @kantoschoir Oliver Leith @SeanstShibe (last year but out this year - let me off please) @DanielPioro Caroline Shaw / Andrew Yee (forthcoming) and @TheBlackLights.uk, plus some big copy projects for the BBC Philharmonic, and London Sinfonietta (forthcoming)

Thanks for reading and continuing to employ me, paying me to write. The especially fun thing is that you–yes YOU!–can also do that! And as Corsica Studios (where I’ve been employed of late) is closing down soon, now is a particularly good time to do that :)

Thanks for listening - have a good Sunday

WORK POST :)

Have been working my arse off this year so far; by liking this post you can help me regain my arse. thanks!

• went to Amsterdam for @NYTimes for @michelvanderaa’s new opera. Thought it was great ngl. Forthcoming on Decruck Dowland and eD garDner for them
• Shorties for the guardian on @Idrisi.Ensemble and Aaron Shaw @sheets0fsound
• have been handed the armband of VAN’s content division and also surfing the digital seas aboard HMS Constella. All aboard!!!
• I’m also back reporting for VAN. I’ve contributed reporting on the Epstein files, broke the story of the sacking of Norman Lebrecht, covered the return of Shorworld, and written a big longread on the art form’s Content Turn, plus oodles of weekly bits like the bit about Max Richter’s Krug collab in the most recent edition - you’ll have to read the newsletter for that one though
• Couple of pieces for @thewiremagazine: a review of Elaine Mitchener at Wigmore, and an extended opinion piece on the Met’s relationship with UK rap (with a Trojan Horse mention to @00000wraith for his crazy run these past few months)
• plus Commercial things: programme notes and liners for friends including @ManchesterCollective @kantoschoir Oliver Leith @SeanstShibe (last year but out this year - let me off please) @DanielPioro Caroline Shaw / Andrew Yee (forthcoming) and @TheBlackLights.uk, plus some big copy projects for the BBC Philharmonic, and London Sinfonietta (forthcoming)

Thanks for reading and continuing to employ me, paying me to write. The especially fun thing is that you–yes YOU!–can also do that! And as Corsica Studios (where I’ve been employed of late) is closing down soon, now is a particularly good time to do that :)

Thanks for listening - have a good Sunday

WORK POST :)

Have been working my arse off this year so far; by liking this post you can help me regain my arse. thanks!

• went to Amsterdam for @NYTimes for @michelvanderaa’s new opera. Thought it was great ngl. Forthcoming on Decruck Dowland and eD garDner for them
• Shorties for the guardian on @Idrisi.Ensemble and Aaron Shaw @sheets0fsound
• have been handed the armband of VAN’s content division and also surfing the digital seas aboard HMS Constella. All aboard!!!
• I’m also back reporting for VAN. I’ve contributed reporting on the Epstein files, broke the story of the sacking of Norman Lebrecht, covered the return of Shorworld, and written a big longread on the art form’s Content Turn, plus oodles of weekly bits like the bit about Max Richter’s Krug collab in the most recent edition - you’ll have to read the newsletter for that one though
• Couple of pieces for @thewiremagazine: a review of Elaine Mitchener at Wigmore, and an extended opinion piece on the Met’s relationship with UK rap (with a Trojan Horse mention to @00000wraith for his crazy run these past few months)
• plus Commercial things: programme notes and liners for friends including @ManchesterCollective @kantoschoir Oliver Leith @SeanstShibe (last year but out this year - let me off please) @DanielPioro Caroline Shaw / Andrew Yee (forthcoming) and @TheBlackLights.uk, plus some big copy projects for the BBC Philharmonic, and London Sinfonietta (forthcoming)

Thanks for reading and continuing to employ me, paying me to write. The especially fun thing is that you–yes YOU!–can also do that! And as Corsica Studios (where I’ve been employed of late) is closing down soon, now is a particularly good time to do that :)

Thanks for listening - have a good Sunday

first clothes drop of 26: trousers and skirt from @garuda_ss. These were a Christmas present to myself. The Trousers are great - heavy big but not just like sack shape, utility without being boring - but the skirt is the standout - mainly because it is so modular - have worn zipped to the back as a train kinda thing shown in video (soz for big visible care label I’m working on it) and also as a trad second layer skirt but then also as a cape ? And a shawl kinda thing ? Feels like there’s so much possibility in one fairly simple item of clothing and the long ties only add to that - tie it to anything. Thanks Garuda ss (this is not an ad) (also your clothes smell amazing the scented packaging is a massive win) Will be taking a hazard perception course to ensure I don’t trip over my own ties. Also way to out yourself as a skittish moverabouter by having an item of clothing that literally just follows you round - like a solo game of Snake. that’s all!

first clothes drop of 26: trousers and skirt from @garuda_ss. These were a Christmas present to myself. The Trousers are great - heavy big but not just like sack shape, utility without being boring - but the skirt is the standout - mainly because it is so modular - have worn zipped to the back as a train kinda thing shown in video (soz for big visible care label I’m working on it) and also as a trad second layer skirt but then also as a cape ? And a shawl kinda thing ? Feels like there’s so much possibility in one fairly simple item of clothing and the long ties only add to that - tie it to anything. Thanks Garuda ss (this is not an ad) (also your clothes smell amazing the scented packaging is a massive win) Will be taking a hazard perception course to ensure I don’t trip over my own ties. Also way to out yourself as a skittish moverabouter by having an item of clothing that literally just follows you round - like a solo game of Snake. that’s all!

first clothes drop of 26: trousers and skirt from @garuda_ss. These were a Christmas present to myself. The Trousers are great - heavy big but not just like sack shape, utility without being boring - but the skirt is the standout - mainly because it is so modular - have worn zipped to the back as a train kinda thing shown in video (soz for big visible care label I’m working on it) and also as a trad second layer skirt but then also as a cape ? And a shawl kinda thing ? Feels like there’s so much possibility in one fairly simple item of clothing and the long ties only add to that - tie it to anything. Thanks Garuda ss (this is not an ad) (also your clothes smell amazing the scented packaging is a massive win) Will be taking a hazard perception course to ensure I don’t trip over my own ties. Also way to out yourself as a skittish moverabouter by having an item of clothing that literally just follows you round - like a solo game of Snake. that’s all!

For @guardian I wrote about jazz pianist Jessica Williams and a fantastic new reissue by @preechopress of her music for prepared piano: bluesy, free-wheeling, brimming with life, if you thought prepared piano music all sounded stand-off and calculated, think again!

I also got the chance to tell some of her story. One of the best parts of December was finding (preserved through the Internet Archive, god bless those guys) many of her blog posts on politics, life, health, pianos, music, all kinds of stuff. It’s a treasure trove—last slide gives a flavour of the kinds of stuff that’s there. Ffo: Fiery polemics, biting the hand that feeds.

Jessica’s story poses many important questions for those working with marginalised figures from history, especially those who sought to deny and critique the structures they found themselves in. Williams’s journey out of the jazz structures she hated and into self-sufficiency and DIY structures has coincided with those institutional frameworks being unwilling to memorialise her in celebrations, obituaries and the like. How then do we remember her today, without avoiding this essential denial? Something to ponder.

Also seems like fertile ground for researchers interested in trans musicians and their instruments—if anyone’s interested I can give you my notes!

Cheers to Laura Snapes for sending this my way and congrats to @kyepotter et al on a superb reissue :) run it up

For @guardian I wrote about jazz pianist Jessica Williams and a fantastic new reissue by @preechopress of her music for prepared piano: bluesy, free-wheeling, brimming with life, if you thought prepared piano music all sounded stand-off and calculated, think again!

I also got the chance to tell some of her story. One of the best parts of December was finding (preserved through the Internet Archive, god bless those guys) many of her blog posts on politics, life, health, pianos, music, all kinds of stuff. It’s a treasure trove—last slide gives a flavour of the kinds of stuff that’s there. Ffo: Fiery polemics, biting the hand that feeds.

Jessica’s story poses many important questions for those working with marginalised figures from history, especially those who sought to deny and critique the structures they found themselves in. Williams’s journey out of the jazz structures she hated and into self-sufficiency and DIY structures has coincided with those institutional frameworks being unwilling to memorialise her in celebrations, obituaries and the like. How then do we remember her today, without avoiding this essential denial? Something to ponder.

Also seems like fertile ground for researchers interested in trans musicians and their instruments—if anyone’s interested I can give you my notes!

Cheers to Laura Snapes for sending this my way and congrats to @kyepotter et al on a superb reissue :) run it up

For @guardian I wrote about jazz pianist Jessica Williams and a fantastic new reissue by @preechopress of her music for prepared piano: bluesy, free-wheeling, brimming with life, if you thought prepared piano music all sounded stand-off and calculated, think again!

I also got the chance to tell some of her story. One of the best parts of December was finding (preserved through the Internet Archive, god bless those guys) many of her blog posts on politics, life, health, pianos, music, all kinds of stuff. It’s a treasure trove—last slide gives a flavour of the kinds of stuff that’s there. Ffo: Fiery polemics, biting the hand that feeds.

Jessica’s story poses many important questions for those working with marginalised figures from history, especially those who sought to deny and critique the structures they found themselves in. Williams’s journey out of the jazz structures she hated and into self-sufficiency and DIY structures has coincided with those institutional frameworks being unwilling to memorialise her in celebrations, obituaries and the like. How then do we remember her today, without avoiding this essential denial? Something to ponder.

Also seems like fertile ground for researchers interested in trans musicians and their instruments—if anyone’s interested I can give you my notes!

Cheers to Laura Snapes for sending this my way and congrats to @kyepotter et al on a superb reissue :) run it up

2025 year in garments: some reflections

• where are you all buying your socks from??? so many times an outfit is ruined by knowing I am wearing jcb socks from morrisons
• thanks to the trusty no smoking top; perfect smoking area fodder
• I have toted my last cotton tote I think—year of the dependable leather tote truly
• I bought many shoes none of which you can see! Will try better next time
• Despite how I look in so many of these pics I bloody love clothes and shopping ngl. A real joy to dress. does this make me a bad leftist? yeah probably!
• realising my mind has been warped by being a tk maxx kid—brand still means a bit too much in my brain grr
• skirts nerve-wracking! a fair weather conversation for sure.
• shaving head has been so good for getting to focus elsewhere?
• still moving through all this so more updates inbound — cheers

2025 year in garments: some reflections

• where are you all buying your socks from??? so many times an outfit is ruined by knowing I am wearing jcb socks from morrisons
• thanks to the trusty no smoking top; perfect smoking area fodder
• I have toted my last cotton tote I think—year of the dependable leather tote truly
• I bought many shoes none of which you can see! Will try better next time
• Despite how I look in so many of these pics I bloody love clothes and shopping ngl. A real joy to dress. does this make me a bad leftist? yeah probably!
• realising my mind has been warped by being a tk maxx kid—brand still means a bit too much in my brain grr
• skirts nerve-wracking! a fair weather conversation for sure.
• shaving head has been so good for getting to focus elsewhere?
• still moving through all this so more updates inbound — cheers

2025 year in garments: some reflections

• where are you all buying your socks from??? so many times an outfit is ruined by knowing I am wearing jcb socks from morrisons
• thanks to the trusty no smoking top; perfect smoking area fodder
• I have toted my last cotton tote I think—year of the dependable leather tote truly
• I bought many shoes none of which you can see! Will try better next time
• Despite how I look in so many of these pics I bloody love clothes and shopping ngl. A real joy to dress. does this make me a bad leftist? yeah probably!
• realising my mind has been warped by being a tk maxx kid—brand still means a bit too much in my brain grr
• skirts nerve-wracking! a fair weather conversation for sure.
• shaving head has been so good for getting to focus elsewhere?
• still moving through all this so more updates inbound — cheers

2025 year in garments: some reflections

• where are you all buying your socks from??? so many times an outfit is ruined by knowing I am wearing jcb socks from morrisons
• thanks to the trusty no smoking top; perfect smoking area fodder
• I have toted my last cotton tote I think—year of the dependable leather tote truly
• I bought many shoes none of which you can see! Will try better next time
• Despite how I look in so many of these pics I bloody love clothes and shopping ngl. A real joy to dress. does this make me a bad leftist? yeah probably!
• realising my mind has been warped by being a tk maxx kid—brand still means a bit too much in my brain grr
• skirts nerve-wracking! a fair weather conversation for sure.
• shaving head has been so good for getting to focus elsewhere?
• still moving through all this so more updates inbound — cheers

2025 year in garments: some reflections

• where are you all buying your socks from??? so many times an outfit is ruined by knowing I am wearing jcb socks from morrisons
• thanks to the trusty no smoking top; perfect smoking area fodder
• I have toted my last cotton tote I think—year of the dependable leather tote truly
• I bought many shoes none of which you can see! Will try better next time
• Despite how I look in so many of these pics I bloody love clothes and shopping ngl. A real joy to dress. does this make me a bad leftist? yeah probably!
• realising my mind has been warped by being a tk maxx kid—brand still means a bit too much in my brain grr
• skirts nerve-wracking! a fair weather conversation for sure.
• shaving head has been so good for getting to focus elsewhere?
• still moving through all this so more updates inbound — cheers

2025 year in garments: some reflections

• where are you all buying your socks from??? so many times an outfit is ruined by knowing I am wearing jcb socks from morrisons
• thanks to the trusty no smoking top; perfect smoking area fodder
• I have toted my last cotton tote I think—year of the dependable leather tote truly
• I bought many shoes none of which you can see! Will try better next time
• Despite how I look in so many of these pics I bloody love clothes and shopping ngl. A real joy to dress. does this make me a bad leftist? yeah probably!
• realising my mind has been warped by being a tk maxx kid—brand still means a bit too much in my brain grr
• skirts nerve-wracking! a fair weather conversation for sure.
• shaving head has been so good for getting to focus elsewhere?
• still moving through all this so more updates inbound — cheers

2025 year in garments: some reflections

• where are you all buying your socks from??? so many times an outfit is ruined by knowing I am wearing jcb socks from morrisons
• thanks to the trusty no smoking top; perfect smoking area fodder
• I have toted my last cotton tote I think—year of the dependable leather tote truly
• I bought many shoes none of which you can see! Will try better next time
• Despite how I look in so many of these pics I bloody love clothes and shopping ngl. A real joy to dress. does this make me a bad leftist? yeah probably!
• realising my mind has been warped by being a tk maxx kid—brand still means a bit too much in my brain grr
• skirts nerve-wracking! a fair weather conversation for sure.
• shaving head has been so good for getting to focus elsewhere?
• still moving through all this so more updates inbound — cheers

2025 year in garments: some reflections

• where are you all buying your socks from??? so many times an outfit is ruined by knowing I am wearing jcb socks from morrisons
• thanks to the trusty no smoking top; perfect smoking area fodder
• I have toted my last cotton tote I think—year of the dependable leather tote truly
• I bought many shoes none of which you can see! Will try better next time
• Despite how I look in so many of these pics I bloody love clothes and shopping ngl. A real joy to dress. does this make me a bad leftist? yeah probably!
• realising my mind has been warped by being a tk maxx kid—brand still means a bit too much in my brain grr
• skirts nerve-wracking! a fair weather conversation for sure.
• shaving head has been so good for getting to focus elsewhere?
• still moving through all this so more updates inbound — cheers

2025 year in garments: some reflections

• where are you all buying your socks from??? so many times an outfit is ruined by knowing I am wearing jcb socks from morrisons
• thanks to the trusty no smoking top; perfect smoking area fodder
• I have toted my last cotton tote I think—year of the dependable leather tote truly
• I bought many shoes none of which you can see! Will try better next time
• Despite how I look in so many of these pics I bloody love clothes and shopping ngl. A real joy to dress. does this make me a bad leftist? yeah probably!
• realising my mind has been warped by being a tk maxx kid—brand still means a bit too much in my brain grr
• skirts nerve-wracking! a fair weather conversation for sure.
• shaving head has been so good for getting to focus elsewhere?
• still moving through all this so more updates inbound — cheers

2025 year in garments: some reflections

• where are you all buying your socks from??? so many times an outfit is ruined by knowing I am wearing jcb socks from morrisons
• thanks to the trusty no smoking top; perfect smoking area fodder
• I have toted my last cotton tote I think—year of the dependable leather tote truly
• I bought many shoes none of which you can see! Will try better next time
• Despite how I look in so many of these pics I bloody love clothes and shopping ngl. A real joy to dress. does this make me a bad leftist? yeah probably!
• realising my mind has been warped by being a tk maxx kid—brand still means a bit too much in my brain grr
• skirts nerve-wracking! a fair weather conversation for sure.
• shaving head has been so good for getting to focus elsewhere?
• still moving through all this so more updates inbound — cheers

2025 year in garments: some reflections

• where are you all buying your socks from??? so many times an outfit is ruined by knowing I am wearing jcb socks from morrisons
• thanks to the trusty no smoking top; perfect smoking area fodder
• I have toted my last cotton tote I think—year of the dependable leather tote truly
• I bought many shoes none of which you can see! Will try better next time
• Despite how I look in so many of these pics I bloody love clothes and shopping ngl. A real joy to dress. does this make me a bad leftist? yeah probably!
• realising my mind has been warped by being a tk maxx kid—brand still means a bit too much in my brain grr
• skirts nerve-wracking! a fair weather conversation for sure.
• shaving head has been so good for getting to focus elsewhere?
• still moving through all this so more updates inbound — cheers

2025 year in garments: some reflections

• where are you all buying your socks from??? so many times an outfit is ruined by knowing I am wearing jcb socks from morrisons
• thanks to the trusty no smoking top; perfect smoking area fodder
• I have toted my last cotton tote I think—year of the dependable leather tote truly
• I bought many shoes none of which you can see! Will try better next time
• Despite how I look in so many of these pics I bloody love clothes and shopping ngl. A real joy to dress. does this make me a bad leftist? yeah probably!
• realising my mind has been warped by being a tk maxx kid—brand still means a bit too much in my brain grr
• skirts nerve-wracking! a fair weather conversation for sure.
• shaving head has been so good for getting to focus elsewhere?
• still moving through all this so more updates inbound — cheers

2025 year in garments: some reflections

• where are you all buying your socks from??? so many times an outfit is ruined by knowing I am wearing jcb socks from morrisons
• thanks to the trusty no smoking top; perfect smoking area fodder
• I have toted my last cotton tote I think—year of the dependable leather tote truly
• I bought many shoes none of which you can see! Will try better next time
• Despite how I look in so many of these pics I bloody love clothes and shopping ngl. A real joy to dress. does this make me a bad leftist? yeah probably!
• realising my mind has been warped by being a tk maxx kid—brand still means a bit too much in my brain grr
• skirts nerve-wracking! a fair weather conversation for sure.
• shaving head has been so good for getting to focus elsewhere?
• still moving through all this so more updates inbound — cheers

2025 year in garments: some reflections

• where are you all buying your socks from??? so many times an outfit is ruined by knowing I am wearing jcb socks from morrisons
• thanks to the trusty no smoking top; perfect smoking area fodder
• I have toted my last cotton tote I think—year of the dependable leather tote truly
• I bought many shoes none of which you can see! Will try better next time
• Despite how I look in so many of these pics I bloody love clothes and shopping ngl. A real joy to dress. does this make me a bad leftist? yeah probably!
• realising my mind has been warped by being a tk maxx kid—brand still means a bit too much in my brain grr
• skirts nerve-wracking! a fair weather conversation for sure.
• shaving head has been so good for getting to focus elsewhere?
• still moving through all this so more updates inbound — cheers

recently I’ve been: on the radio; cake; this mad geezer; brutto order (tiramisu negronis roasties that’s it); headband; longing; reading a good book; dreaming; wiggling; pow; yessssssss electrical

recently I’ve been: on the radio; cake; this mad geezer; brutto order (tiramisu negronis roasties that’s it); headband; longing; reading a good book; dreaming; wiggling; pow; yessssssss electrical

recently I’ve been: on the radio; cake; this mad geezer; brutto order (tiramisu negronis roasties that’s it); headband; longing; reading a good book; dreaming; wiggling; pow; yessssssss electrical

recently I’ve been: on the radio; cake; this mad geezer; brutto order (tiramisu negronis roasties that’s it); headband; longing; reading a good book; dreaming; wiggling; pow; yessssssss electrical

recently I’ve been: on the radio; cake; this mad geezer; brutto order (tiramisu negronis roasties that’s it); headband; longing; reading a good book; dreaming; wiggling; pow; yessssssss electrical

recently I’ve been: on the radio; cake; this mad geezer; brutto order (tiramisu negronis roasties that’s it); headband; longing; reading a good book; dreaming; wiggling; pow; yessssssss electrical

recently I’ve been: on the radio; cake; this mad geezer; brutto order (tiramisu negronis roasties that’s it); headband; longing; reading a good book; dreaming; wiggling; pow; yessssssss electrical

recently I’ve been: on the radio; cake; this mad geezer; brutto order (tiramisu negronis roasties that’s it); headband; longing; reading a good book; dreaming; wiggling; pow; yessssssss electrical

recently I’ve been: on the radio; cake; this mad geezer; brutto order (tiramisu negronis roasties that’s it); headband; longing; reading a good book; dreaming; wiggling; pow; yessssssss electrical

recently I’ve been: on the radio; cake; this mad geezer; brutto order (tiramisu negronis roasties that’s it); headband; longing; reading a good book; dreaming; wiggling; pow; yessssssss electrical

recently I’ve been: on the radio; cake; this mad geezer; brutto order (tiramisu negronis roasties that’s it); headband; longing; reading a good book; dreaming; wiggling; pow; yessssssss electrical

On recommendation culture! A summary of recent thoughts on peak recc culture and what/if it changes the job of a music journalist. Slightly longer and more speculative one which I’m told will not be recommended to new audiences, so congrats if you see this!

Ft. my top releases and tracks of the year; @trekuartista95; a salute to the product reviews of @boomkatonline; @alnashcomedy / @tobyfrombath’s vid from earlier this year; the embarrassing realisation you’re aping Topjaw; Neil Kulkarni; and some dark scenes with flashing lights.

Music in the back is by Dylan Henner

ORGAN MUSIC 🤘

Feeling very autumnal so obvs it’s time to listen to lots of music for organ! Great news is there’s heaps of interesting stuff out, particularly at the moment.

Tracing developments back to Ligeti and Kagel, then firing back to today ft Éliane Radigue, Eva-Maria Houben, @sarahdavachi James Saunders @mainlysloworganmusic @fujilllllllllllta and many more.

(Sorry in advance if I’ve butchered your name—newfound respect for anyone working in radio & music audio...)

Music mentioned / to track down:

~ @tristanperich @jmcvinnie Infinity Gradient
~ @hotscorpions All Night Long
~ @ellenarkbro Nightclouds
~ @fujilllllllllllta MMM
~ @kitdownesmusic Organ Recordings Archive (2017-2022)
~ György Ligeti Volumina
~ Mauricio Kagel Improvisation ajoutée
~ Organ Reframed incl Occam XXV by Éliane Radigue @frederic_blondy
~ Eva-Maria Houben & @gbsrduo Together on the way
~ James Saunders amongst it all, some occasional moments of respite
~ Áine O’Dwyer Music For Church Cleaners Vol. 1 & 2

#contemporarymusic #sarahdavachi #kalimalone