Properly funding the court system would clear the backlog even more quickly. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

New Iron & Wine! ironandwine.bandcamp.com/album/hens-t...

RIP Bela Tarr. I came to Satantango later (not least because of its foreboding length) but getting lost in Werckmeister Harmonies at the then Arts Picturehouse in Cambridge was a milestone in my appreciation of a cinema beyond the mainstream.

Happy new year everyone! Quite glad to see the back of 2025 if I’m honest. Onwards!

2025 reading: I have completed my challenge of 30 books! www.goodreads.com/readingchall...

I’ve also hastily written something about 2025 in film, but I don’t really feel I kept up well this year and I’m likely not the best person to write this: patonstango.wordpress.com/2025/12/31/2...

Regrettably, this is now going to drag on beyond the end of the year - but here is part 1 of my epic look at reissues, compilations, box sets and rediscoveries of 2025: inleaguewithpaton.blogspot.com/2025/12/2025...

I already agree with this in principle - citizenship is an untouchable status or it is nothing - but also for reasons of prudence. “The Home Sec can revoke citizenship when he/she deems someone’s online output sufficiently offensive” is a v dangerous precedent to set with Reform leading all polls.

2025’s best music for me: inleaguewithpaton.blogspot.com/2025/12/2025...

Merry Christmas!

I’ve started my review of 2025 with the new music long list - more than 450 works I’ve listened to and at least partially enjoyed in 2025. inleaguewithpaton.blogspot.com/2025/12/2025...

Drink The Sea at the Jazz Cafe tonight - a very special evening and a fantastic final gig of 2025.

Last 7 days:

OK a load of stuff I still need to check out here (plus much I know and like)

I’ve been rubbish with new releases these past few weeks, so here’s a thread working backwards. Feel free to suggest anything I’ve missed over the last few weeks. 5/12 Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds Voices From The Lake Melody’s Echo Chamber Cortex and Hedvig Mollestad Richard Youngs Dove Ellis

Shack were incredible tonight. So relieved to have seen Mick on much much better form. Lovely to get Byrds Turn To Stone this time too. Lots of love for John in the room as well, which is great to see.

Lawrence!

Belatedly joining the chorus to say yes it is really good that Los Thuthanaka got album of the year from Pitchfork - exactly the kind of innovative and creative record that deserves recognition. Also you can find it very easily on Bandcamp! losthuthanaka.bandcamp.com/album/los-th...

Haters are gonna hate but I thought that was pretty damn great

Tonight: Cameron Winter at The Roundhouse

Last 7 days:

An evening with Lou Barlow - an evening well spent.

m b v

Jimmy Cliff - a pioneer of reggae, yes - and also one of the greatest vocalists in any genre. RIP.

Massive respect to James Elkington. Flies in from the US *on the same day* as matinee and evening shows - proceeds to deliver both (including a small number of set list changes) with relaxed confidence and such control of his instrument that it felt like he was very much an integral part of the band

Well I got as far as having a (very expensive) Radiohead ticket in my basket but AXS failed to accept any of my cards for no reason whatsoever. So I will be seeing Tortoise twice as originally planned today.

Once again, someone is going to have to explain to me how Benugo basically have a monopoly on the catering in arts centres in London. Utter shitshow as always. Failure to have enough food ready for the number of tickets leaving people standing at a hot counter for 20 mins plus.

Couldn’t get a Radiohead ticket but the stage is set for The Weather Station with Strings which will hopefully be excellent

Confirmed that Jeff Parker is unable to play with Tortoise this weekend. That is a huge shame given how long it has been since they were last here but I hope Jeff is ok. James Elkington is stepping in.

Agreed - sad and shocking news.

Seeing that Jeff Parker has pulled out of a show at Church of Sound on Friday for personal reasons? What does this mean for the Tortoise shows the next day?? Going to be absolutely gutted if they are pulled.

Last 7 days:

Good grief www.theguardian.com/money/2025/n...

Chris T-T Is Risen!

Last 7 days:

Somehow managed to miss the excellent Noura Mint Seymali album.

New music! Mavis Staples Steve Gunn Armand Hammer & The Alchemist Pat Thomas Danny Brown Sarathy Korwar Aaron Parks SML Kali Malone & Drew McDowell The Mountain Goats Willie Nelson Helado Negro Whitney Midlake Rosalia Debit Olan Monk Low Jack Claire M Singer Leo Dupliex 1/3

Man alive, this second night Radiohead setlist! www.setlist.fm/setlist/radi...

Very glad to have seen Sananda Maitreya (the artist formerly known as Terence Trent D’Arby) last night - the set included a good selection from the TTD days and some fine newer songs.

Have said this before, but once when I had surgery the ICU nurse had learned English as a second language & kept using "perv" to mean "look" eg "my colleagues and I will need a quick perv under those bandages" "let's have a perv how you're healing" etc

Last 7 days:

Natural Information Society very much transported me out of myself at Rich Mix this evening. Incredible.

Last 7 days:

Exactly this. One of the most broadly musical drummers in history. And his HUNGER for that interaction rings through every recording. bsky.app/profile/tele...

Tremendous show last night - will say more after I’ve been back tonight.

First time in 15 years!

New music! Tortoise The Lemonheads Carrier Miguel Rafael Toral Fergus McCreadie Yazmin Lacey Jesca Hoop Amadou & Mariam Antibalas Not new but I obviously need to mention the Springsteen Nebraska ‘82 set. Anything else?

Last 7 days:

New music! Tame Impala Rat Heart Sudan Archives John Zorn Makaya McCraven Steve Hauschildt Tom Skinner Sunn O))) Bar Italia Elias Ronnenfelt Anything else?

D’Angelo. Hard to even process this one. He was one of a kind, but part of a continuum. That’s at the heart of what made him so special. #RIP