Ooh - exciting to see that ‘Antwerpeners’ (from #FurtherVerses) will be played on @darktrain.bsky.social tomorrow!

Partly inspired by such celebrations of “other people’s music” as the ‘52 albums to shape a soul’ blog by @lippykidmusic.bsky.social and reviews by @etherdiver.bsky.social, over the next few hours I’m going to share 10 compositions I’ve enjoyed this year. #10good25tracks 🧵 below…

“Sharp, nicely constructed electro pop” - there’s a succinct and very flattering view of #FurtherVerses from @etherdiver.bsky.social. A full review is in the Ether Diver ‘Other People’s Music’ blog and joins the @revivalsynth.bsky.social one on the @hartshornmusic.bsky.social website too…

If ‘52 Albums To Shape A Soul’ by @lippykidmusic.bsky.social was a book, I’d be asking for it as a Christmas or birthday present. Three album chapters - #Glassworks #Substance & #Ninety - had particular resonance for me, but the whole 52-episode exploration of music and humanity is a joy to read.

Just over four weeks since the release of #FurtherVerses and my copy of the vinyl edition has now arrived :-) It does feel like a luxury. Parts of the front cover and inner sleeve are shown (the flip side of the latter features buildings in, and a sky above, the city of #Bath.) #synthsky #lofi

From my “non-Voltage Poetry Project account”, here’s a little on the building that inspired my contribution to the @darktrain.bsky.social #FiggyHobbin series earlier this year. #synthsky #lofi

Following the astonishing review for #FurtherVerses by @revivalsynth.bsky.social (now also on the @hartshornmusic.bsky.social website) comes a succinct and very nice one from @etherdiver.bsky.social. It’s in the link here :-) #synthsky www.etherdiver.com/2025/12/12/o...

As someone who occasionally writes songs about the people who appear in architects’ drawings (I had a New Town childhood & went to uni in a city with a fair amount of concrete so, let’s face it, they’re a bit autobiographical), I’m finding #sketchpadvent from @grindrod.bsky.social to be fabulous!

‘Almost’ by @jjlovegrove.bsky.social is one of the best tracks I’ve heard by anyone this year - and it’s on the @hartshornmusic.bsky.social ‘Affinity’ compilation. Fine synth-work and a voice that would sit well on a #4AD themed mixtape with Lisa Gerrard or Elizabeth Fraser.

Do you like #coolingtowers? The #FurtherVerses song ‘Chiltern’ was partly inspired by the loss of those at Didcot. @c20society.bsky.social published a stylish book on such structures this year and have a campaign with petition to save at least one set; info is here… c20society.org.uk/cooling-towers

Do you like #coolingtowers? The #FurtherVerses song ‘Chiltern’ was partly inspired by the loss of those at Didcot. @c20society.bsky.social published a stylish book on such structures this year and have a campaign with petition to save at least one set; info is here… c20society.org.uk/cooling-towers

If there was a song category for the Swire Arts Prize, perhaps I could have entered ‘Chiltern’ from #FurtherVerses. Nearly all of the lyrics are inspired by views from the #Ridgeway (and include things seen from, but not always atop, the Chiltern escarpment)!

It seems I’m not the only one to release something featuring Antwerp Centraal Station this month! Lia Kohl’s recording, covered in this week’s @moonbuilding.bsky.social, captures the ambiance of the multi-levelled space brilliantly. Quite different to my #lofi city-wander from the grand building :-)

Introduce yourself with 5 concerts you’ve been to: Cocteau Twins John Shuttleworth Everything But The Girl Frazier Chorus Kraftwerk

#FurtherVerses on tour. Venue 1 is The Light Auditorium at Friends House, #Euston, London. This would actually be a phenomenal space to perform in; it seats up to 1,000 (theatre-style), features a lot of wood and a stylish skylight. #synthsky #musicsky

I’m sure there’s an album’s worth of material that could come from answering the question posed by @everylaststation.bsky.social in this post. That’s for the more distant future though (whilst drawing on the past); tomorrow I’m taking #FurtherVerses to London, by a slower type of train…

This is a post I agree with. As a daring aside I will say one of the songs on ‘Further Verses’ was actually inspired by the Listening Party Tim Burgess did with Will Sargeant & Adam Peters for ‘Ocean Rain.’ A thank you to them for setting off my own Bath & Paris memories :-)

One week since the release of #FurtherVerses. Next week sees the start of one promotional project not involving any musically-focused publications, podcasts, radio or performances and a slightly different album tour…

Starting Sunday with a phenomenal review of #FurtherVerses from @revivalsynth.bsky.social (a link to it is below.) I am somewhat “blown away”!

𝐅𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐄𝐃 𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐒 : 𝐍𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐌𝐁𝐄𝐑 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 www.revivalsynth.com 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐓𝐨 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐭𝐡 - Voltage Poetry Project voltagepoetryproject.bandcamp.com/album/furthe... 𝐈𝐧 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 : The new album from @scenius-band.bsky.social scenius.bandcamp.com/album/13-bil... @isaachowlett.bsky.social & many more

#FurtherVerses release day (3): A quite moving response to the song ‘Tall Tales’ from @edwardgivens.bsky.social. This evening I heard from the friend who inspired this composition - they’re off to enjoy @peterhookthelight.bsky.social at Slateford (Edinburgh Corn Exchange) tonight!

#FurtherVerses release day (1): This is the first “sighting” of a physical copy of the album … to clarify something in the ALT text from @david-soulscorch.bsky.social, the photo is an accidental shot of a disused railway station roof.

#FurtherVerses - an anthology bringing together songs, reworked or ever so slightly remixed, from different EPs (plus a new track on a pilgrimage to see works by the engineer #OveArup) - is available now :-) #lofi #synthsky #electronica voltagepoetryproject.bandcamp.com/album/furthe...

OUT NOW - “Further Verses” new album from @voltagepoetry.bsky.social #musicsky #electronica #lo-fi CD & download voltagepoetryproject.bandcamp.com/album/furthe... Vinyl (use code SPINMAS for 10% discount until 24/11/25) elasticstage.com/monochromemo...

#FurtherVerses is released tomorrow. It’s an anthology, involving songs from different EPs (all either remixed or re-recorded) never released previously on CD and one brand new composition about a pilgrimage to something special designed by this chap: #OveArup en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ove_Arup

Releasing this Friday (14th), the new album from @voltagepoetry.bsky.social on CD, download, vinyl & streaming. Secure your copy now via the pre sale link 👇 voltagepoetryproject.bandcamp.com/album/furthe...

The listening party for #FurtherVerses was really enjoyable :-) Unexpectedly, we had an apology for a lack of ecclesiastical architecture references and an imaginary #PetShopBoys album title, plus appreciation for a #Roland #CR78. Album out this Friday on CD, vinyl & download.

Listening Party day for #FurtherVerses. We have quite cosy numbers, that have rsvp’d for an autumn evening, so far and I’m thus wondering if we should all bring a mug of cocoa. If we do then please do use a milk of your own preference, of course :-) #lofi #synthsky #electronica

Ahead of the #FurtherVerses listening party on Monday (link below) here’s a short thread on five things that might come up… voltagepoetryproject.bandcamp.com/merch/furthe...

The listening party for my new album #FurtherVerses is at 8.00PM GMT on Monday 10th November. It’s a trip by road, rail, canal and footpaths involving trams, handbags and even a dance. An IK #UnoSynth & Casio #VLTone appear too… voltagepoetryproject.bandcamp.com/merch/furthe...

PRE ORDER live - the new lyrical lo fi Electronica album from @voltagepoetry.bsky.social on CD and download. Vinyl available to order from next week. #musicsky voltagepoetryproject.bandcamp.com/album/furthe...

Fancy a trip to the site of the Didcot Power Station cooling towers, Champs Élysées, Birmingham Moor Street Station or to gaze out to sea in either Arbroath or Margate? If so, feel free to pop in to the #FurtherVerses #ListeningParty on Monday evening. Various songs go to these places…

I only came across Hans van der Meer’s work thanks to the stupendously good ‘Brilliant Orange’ by @dwinnera.bsky.social. There’s no #electronicmusic in the book (perhaps obviously?) but you do get a cow in a canal, birdsong at #DeKuip and a line on #Mondrian, alongside some HvdM photos.

The listening party for #FurtherVerses is set to take place on 10th November; #CS01 #VLTone #OveArup #Trams etc. likely to feature. More details (and a link) nearer the time…

Upcoming album teaser (1): #FurtherVerses Philippa York. Song 9 www.cyclingnews.com/features/tad...

A new album from me - on vinyl, CD, download & streaming - is not far away, via @hartshornmusic.bsky.social. #Penguins, #Druids, a #Casio VL-Tone and the engineer #OveArup all play a part. More news, including on a listening party, to come… #lofi #synthsky

It’s one year since the release of #HomeSounds. From #FredDibnah to #DaphneOram, Belgian beaches to a platform at (Edinburgh) #Waverley station and all manner of diy #synth prodding, it was great fun to make. Thanks to all who have listened to it :-) voltagepoetryproject.bandcamp.com/album/home-s...

Having just recorded (for my own amusement) three songs in a “session style” to mark it being five years since having a session on @showhomebrew.bsky.social, there is to be another track of mine on next week’s show! Good to see @tayusmusic.bsky.social featuring too; loved their ‘Symbiotic’ LP.

Had time to mix three new songs today. One I’m very happy with, the other two are a bit like unripe cheeses… they might need to be returned to next year. Hoping to mix the “5 years since my @showhomebrew.bsky.social session” tracks tomorrow.

It’s not possible to overstate how joyous, and fun, listening to #Blancmange has been since I was really quite young. Thanks to Stephen Luscombe for his partnership with Neil Arthur that enabled this. RIP.

A little bit of fun, from my non-Voltage Poetry Project account @keithharrison.bsky.social, on records I admire from the 00s. It’s part of a BlueSky challenge called #00sTop30 :-)

The temptation to mention (again) that @danthompson33.bsky.social wrote the liner notes to my #WesternVerses EP is too strong… he’s guesting, not for the first time (see Arlington House in #Iconicon), with @grindrod.bsky.social in the latest of the latter’s Monstrosities Mon Amour.

All being well, and purely for my own amusement, I should be recording an “in the spirit of a @showhomebrew.bsky.social session” set in the next few days :-) Four songs; two new and a pair of VPP oldies - from Alexander “Greek” Thomson to the Pyrenees and even a hint of EBM (involving a #QY10) …

Looking forward to catching up with the #FutureIslands #Glastonbury set. Saw them in Glasgow a few years ago; impressed at how Welmers, Cashion & Lowry played off of each other whilst Herring seemed to perform a version of Hamlet (augmented with some unique dancing.) They’ve got some fine songs too.

Like many I’ve delved into the BBC’s #Glastonbury coverage today and unearthed something of a gem I’d been unaware of: ‘The Great Pyramid of Stockport’ by #AntonySzmierek. His synth player uses a #BassStation (as do I!) and the LP including the song features the Forton Services tower on its sleeve…

I finished writing the lyrics to a new song this evening and it’s another of my paeans to Euroland. This got me thinking about previous releases of mine in this vein and whether I’ve been repeating myself… here’s a little 🧵

Finally got round to hearing last week’s @darktrain.bsky.social on #Mixcloud and the segue from my ‘Nearby Exotica’ (on #walktowalkstation) into ‘Spoonbender’ from @polypores.bsky.social really did work. The link from that into the piece by #Score, thereafter, was rather nice too!

‘Nearby Exotica’, from the #walktowalkstation EP, is on #DarkTrain @darktrain.bsky.social tomorrow. It’s track two and something by the mighty @polypores.bsky.social follows - I’m fascinated (a bit daunted?) to hear that segue! Really thrilled to have another song of mine on the show though :-)

Live performance interpreting a field recording album, or one of these played back as an installation? It turned out to be closer to the latter - and there were tote bags with Banksy-esque images of Christopher Lloyd for sale at the shop. #GardenSky #fieldrecordings (of a sort)…

I’m about to delve into some compilations (tied to something I’ll be doing later in the year); best ofs / live albums / cover LPs / various artist collections etc. Hopefully I’ll learn a thing or two. Fourteen very short reviews will appear from 1st June in this thread…