Hydration break.

🚨 NEW: Rachel Reeves confirms the Clacton by-election will go ahead "It is a farce and a desperate distraction. But if he wants to spend the summer arguing with a bin, I won't stop him"

Man of the match so far? Got to be Van Morrison for me Clive.

Absolutely sprinted through this in a couple of days and highly recommend it. She has a Muriel Spark like gift for observation and making dialogue seem believable. A very very good book indeed.

Here's something I wrote about the new Understudies single (out today) and the MySpace/indiepop interface. shaunpaultomkiss.substack.com/p/city-slick...

Here's something I wrote about spending a Saturday night and Sunday morning at the 100 Club rare soul all niter. Putting down talc before reading isn't mandatory but is encouraged. shaunpaultomkiss.substack.com/p/nobodys-go...

Up for a summer adventure? Would you like to volunteer at Indiefjord? 🦄 Drop me a line on here or send an email to [email protected] for all the info you need.

The roast is the show-business form of Shirley Jackson's lottery. It's a public display of the anger and self-hatred of those caught in the system, a ritual gathering of sellouts hitting each other with bladders and pretending it doesn't hurt. (1974)

I've wriiten about the album Fuzzy by the mighty Grant Lee Buffalo, a genuine lost classic and an unlikely inspiration to a Britpop number one single. open.substack.com/pub/shaunpau...

I still love the theory a Year 6 child proposed to me that David Attenborough is actually God and he got fed up with people not noticing the amazing things he'd created, so he made documentaries to show off.

30th July 1962: British fascist leader Sir Oswald Mosley knocked down by angry protestors at a public meeting held in Manchester. "We're not far right we're just right" bleated his 83 followers.

This was published on April 1st, but no joke, it's one of the finest things he's written and I don't say that lightly. A nourishing and seductively enjoyable read.

Dreamt last night that we had a new menu at work and one of the dishes was called The Terry and June. I'm not sure that one will come true but I rather hope it does.

finally reissued! 25th anniversary pressing of Camera Obscura’s hallowed debut album. First love cuts the deepest and all that. Monorail exclusive green and gold LP w/ signed repro print. Biggest Bluest Hi-Fi: monorailmusic.com/product/bigg... @mergerecords.bsky.social

A quick bump of that thing I wrote-for fans of literature, friendship, Scottish indie and satisfying links. open.substack.com/pub/shaunpau...

With Andrew O'Hagan back in the collective conscience after his excellent Mountbatten article)LRB book review, I thought it would be a good time to revisit his writing and link to the Glasgow indie community. open.substack.com/pub/shaunpau...

Just seen this on Soul Source. Is Finchley Ted a soul boy now?

⬇️ This includes my piece on Mansfield v Lincoln - featuring flags, pub chat, tactical cramp, a relaxing lilac kit, and a social media kid creating fantasy scorelines - order a copy!

jesus CHRIST. www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...

Wasn't planning on getting my hair cut tomorrow but suddenly feel duty bound.

Absolute elite level shithousery from Wolves. And I love it.

Andrew's completely broke which raises the possibility that a Norfolk duty solicitor is currently having the strangest day of his / her life.

Work morning improved immeasurably by Eyes Without a Face by Billy Idol coming on the radio. But who sanctioned the rap bit in the middle eight? Bananas.

The dog is all of us. www.ft.com/content/73c8...

Very very excited about this one.

Please support my petition to Manchester city council to get a blue plaque put up at that spot on Temperance Street where a man getting a handjob was captured by a Google street view car.

RIP Eddie McCreadie. Toast of the Fulham Road and no stranger to the Kings Road . I remember reading a 70s Chelsea year book that published one of Eddie's poems under the headline ' The Bard of Stamford Bridge'. It was very reminiscent of the lyrics of Moonlight Drive by the Doors if memory serves.

Do you remember that they used to tell us where the referee was from? Even today, I remember that George Courtney was from Spennymoor.

This post by the world’s richest and most divorced man on the site he bought to promote his far right extremism is ripped straight from the Klan messaging of the 1870s or the 1915 film Birth of a Nation that inspired the Klan’s rebirth as a PR stunt/Ponzi scheme/terrorist organization in the 1920s.

“And what is the charge? Eating a seal? A succulent Chinese seal? GET YOUR HANDS OFF MY PENIS!”

I've written something about youth and addressing people's snootyness about the Stone Roses. Link in comments.

The Ogdens have got the same mugs as The Beatles in Get Back

Perfect Tom Stoppard story from DTel obituary: His response to a letter from Harold Pinter canvassing support for a proposal to have the Comedy Theatre in London rechristened the Pinter Theatre, “Have you thought, instead, of changing your name to Harold Comedy?”

I've watched this 100 times and I plan on clearing my schedule so I can watch it 100 more

"You've come to the right guy" His podcast is (as is this article) as wonderful as you expect. Heartily recommended.

Post you from a different era. At the Charlatans in Manchester. Roller skate skinny, still not shaving properly and possibly the best hair of may career. With in an hour of this being taken Johnny Marr made a surprise appearance and I literally, literally, squealed in delight.

At the pub and a quiet young guy slides over and says 'Just wanted to say I saw you at the Martha gig in Manchester '. Pal for life right there.

RIP Claudia Cardinale

Katharine Hepburn by George Hurrell (1937)

New on Substack; Engels, sugar cubes, & a baby elephant My German adventure feat; a dangling monorail, Wim Wenders, and a Friedrich Engels gift shop. With walk-on parts for the Eiffel Tower, and ex-members of the Fall. davehaslam.substack.com/p/engels-sug... Who knew the future was 125 years old?

Of all the things that have happened to us in 35 years, hearing Winona Ryder say Saint Etienne "totally rescued me while I was going through a hard time" is up there. Bless her. www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfjX...

"Stuart went to Germany with a Liverpool skiffle group" Fascinating that Sutcliffe's death made the front pages of the news. And bittersweet that the reporting was the only time it would be for his own achievements rather than a footnote to what was about to change everything.

Just managed to wangle a ticket for this, and just I got the confirmation the new Comet Gain 45 got pushed through my letter box. It's like some sort of indiepop Goodnight Sweetheart. #Eeeeeeeeee

XS Noize Podcast #239: @rockingbob.bsky.social on @bobpetesarah.bsky.social's Final Album “International” and 30 Years of Music www.xsnoize.com/bob-stanley-...

Fair.

Toddington, Gloucestershire & Warwickshire Railway. 1388. Barry Railway 10t 4w Ventilated 'Iron Mink' Van. Metropolitan Carriage and Wagon, 1914. To internal use numbered 024303 at Shrewsbury Coleham Yard. Photo: 26.07.2025. #Toddington #railway #freight #IronMink #InternalUser

It's 30 years ago since Travelling Light by Tindersricks was released. There may* be some writing to celebrate the anniversary of the record and its incredible accompanying film in the pipeline. *there is

My newsletter this week is about precarious London caffs. helenbarrett.substack.com/p/regency-ca...