Building on last year’s attempt to fill in musical blind spots, I’m starting this year off with a band who I’ve only ever known three or four songs by. I know next to nothing about R.E.M. but I figure I ought to at least be a bit more familiar with them. R.E.M. 1982 - Chronic Town EP

Nothing like getting to listen to two self-professed “Gear Nerds™️”, who both LOVE the sound of their own voice, try to talk at/over each other in the shop. (some) musicians are trash

Appreciate the shoutout on Lars guitar music list of 2025. I’m in the “Is that even a guitar?” category, and yes, it is, I made the whole record with my Guild D 55 and a drum machine on my phone. 🎸❤️‍🔥😜

Sort of a “lost” @deathsdynamicshroud.com video is this trailer for the Tiger Blood Tapes release of シェンムーONLINE, captured from a real Dreamcast. Getting these slow gentle pans was incredibly difficult with the sensitive first person camera on that plastic analog stick! HBD Shenmue my beloved~

This Smithsonian piece was another big highlight for me in 2025. 2026 marks 20 years since I dropped out of high school & started on the arts life. It has not been easy at times but after all these years it’s still all I want to do. Lots of work coming in 26, tree music, short stories, heavy drones.

Goodnight from Jason Bamfield, adding to the graffiti ghost stories worn by the walls of the docks. Goodnight from Ashcourt’s Black Horse Corner, where Tony Pickess is preaching the cosmic gospel of the Planet Skareg to everyone waiting for a tram home. Goodnight from Hookland.

Ruin two bands by combining them: Big Black Sabbath I’m not sure if this actually ruins anything or makes something amazing 🤔

Ruin two bands by combining them: Eyehatesatan

Post a perfect album from the 90s that isn't Nirvana, Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, or Alice in Chains. A solid slab of an album, absolutely crushing.

Goodnight from Roy Bartlett, troubled by seeing men in rubber suits and breathing apparatus poking around the Alwyne Lane lay-by. Goodnight from Rosalind Dare, desperately trying to remember the correct spell to refuse someone with Corpse Glamour. Goodnight from Hookland.

Goodnight from Ian Peak, wondering if The Bombsite Dogs was the best band to book for a pub haunted by Blitz traumatised spirits in desperate need of a stiffener. Goodnight from Nora Knight, travelling to Sea Raven Rock to make offerings to quell the coming storm. Goodnight from Hookland.

Goodnight from Sue Bedwell, regretting taking the kids to The Babes In The Wood panto at The Mercury Theatre as its given them Master of Moss nightmares. Goodnight from Jo Hargate, gone to bed early to avoid the Boxing Day party getting to the séance stage. Goodnight from Hookland.

Bob Moldman voice “My wife. “

Merry Xmas scatterarchive.bandcamp.com/album/river-...

Goodnight from Connie Bunning, writing out a new list of who to curse after spending several hours too many with her extended family. Goodnight from Steph Wade, still pondering the meaning of getting the Woodwose’s Staff silver charm in the plum pudding. Goodnight from Hookland.

Tavern Synth Vol. II from Relics of the Eternal City has arrived! relicsoftheeternalcity.bandcamp.com/album/tavern-synth-vol-ii spaceseer “Fashion Gala at The Pink Oyster” stands alongside many tavern-inspired synth songs! #dungeonsynth #fantasy #fantasysynth #ambient #yule #bandcamp

The year is After Colony 195. With high expectations the nations of Earth have shaved off the extraneous bits of their landmasses.

reference sheet for tonight 🎅🥊

HUMBUG! To you and yours from the Christmas Bat

Goodnight from Mary Judd, taking the bees a ritual slice of cake as she keeps her manners and tells them all her news. Goodnight from Evie Hobbs, desperately trying to stay awake till the hour on Christmas Eve when animals are said to be gifted the power of speech. Goodnight from Hookland.

End of the year pick-ups. The David Van Auken was complimentarily included with the @themodernfolk.bandcamp.com so thanks @debaclerecords.bandcamp.com for that!

Please enjoy my Christmas standard this holiday season!

I was in a Spencers Gifts yesterday and saw a loose, shitty garbage-metal chainmail bracelet on the rack. $20. Please my sweet cool edgy youths don't buy this type of shit I will make you the same for $15 and it won't turn you green or cut up your wrists.

Today's newsletter is about Derek Bailey, who died 20 years ago this week - it includes an article I wrote about him for Jazziz in 2002. burningambulance.substack.com/p/derek-bail...

Whole lot of new music coming out in 2026 & regular posts with it on my patreon. I can’t thank everyone who contributed in 2025 enough, it literally keeps me going rn! ❤️‍🔥 www.patreon.com/DanielBachman Daniel Bachman | music, mixed media art, indy folklore/history research | Patreon

Don't say I didn't get you anything for the holidays! I just released my AOE2 themed breakcore/d&b whatever album. Its free, add it to your bandcamp collection! 2age2empires.bandcamp.com/album/2age2e...

Goodnight from the Billington family, spending yet another the night at the Shangri-La motel to avoid the poltergeist that’s troubling their home. Goodnight from Florrie Sump, heading out towards Loathing Pool to make an offering of comb and looking glass. Goodnight from Hookland.

Merry Christmas! Saki from Grandma's Garden has just written a seasonal song for all you lovely people to enjoy over the holidays. Joanne Saki「My Christmas Ritual (Just Don't Drink Too Much)」 call-and-response.bandcamp.com/track/my-chr...

Although I no longer play M:tG I have always enjoyed the novels, which I am going to try reading again from the start (the cycle novels anyway). I never got beyond the Artifacts Cycle last time; the flavor text of cards from the Masques Block and onward always made me curious about the deeper story.

lol football

I don't know how this kind of thing is normally done, but I don't know any people who play dungeons and dragons and I would really like to play it sometime. I'm also not very knowledgeable about it but I'd love to join a game sometime if anyone will have me.

Goodnight from George Pickess, fishing the canal in strained hope of legendary Blood Eels for his Christmas pie. Goodnight from Bob Warmer, raging that his electromagnetic UFO detector has been banned from future Meldon Hill skywatches for beeping too noisily. Goodnight from Hookland.

For all of the Takoma Records heads out there, ad from Billboard 6/19/71.

In case you missed out or just got into the Sallow Moth LP from this year recently, there’s 2nd edition vinyl still available. And digipak cds still available. Cheers.

Goodnight from Polly Linwood, regretting giving her dolls pear brandy at their tea party given the things they are now whispering in the dark. Goodnight from the shade of Old Mother Parnella, withering the greensward on her regular patrol of Bray Edge Lane. Goodnight from Hookland.

Is there anyone writing on the improvisational aspect of making field recordings? I’ve really been feeling that lately with my last couple site visits.

I am sleepy at a totally unreasonable time of day 🥱

Susumu Yokota Sakura (2025 Remaster) Re-press just landed, finally ✨ boomkat.com/products/sak...

this is incred- a riveting 2001 recording of Derek Bailey, Gavin Bryars and Tony Oxley laying down 99 minutes of elemental, quietly refusenik brilliance boomkat.com/products/las...

please encourage family & friends to adopt if they are considering adding an animal companion this holiday season, shelters are overflowing 🐾🎁

Goodnight from Weychester Cathedral, where Robert Ting has finished his stint as Boy Bishop. Goodnight from Judy Bliss, celebrating her election as Ashcourt’s Mock Mayor on a ruckus reversal platform of male shaming, economic fairness and ghost reparations. Goodnight from Hookland.

New weirdest thing found while working on a guitar repair: While doing a pickup swap on a semi-hollow one of our techs heard something sliding around inside. Upon further inspection it was found to be a (thankfully unopened) condom. I’m just glad I haven’t found food yet.

New compilation out today: "POP? - Call And Response Covers the Hits" I want to give a huge pat on the back to everyone from Team CAR, who all seem to have got the memo to go out and had fun when making their tracks for this.

NEW RELEASE! To celebrate our 20th anniversary, 15 artists from/closely tied to the label recorded cover versions for this madcap album to help us celebrate our reaching the Japanese legal drinking age. (Digital-only but with cute merch bundle options) call-and-response.bandcamp.com/album/pop

time stopped for a min boomkat.com/products/and...

Day 16 of the #HooklandChristmasTree. We take out linden carving of bells frozen in their tower. A long memory of the Great Frost of 1709 from Quinwood. A warding against the Queen of the Winter Court of Faery – still called Lady of the Blight Bells in that traumatised parish.