Now playing …

Annual pre-Xmas drink with retirement pals. Braving the 5 mile walk into central Bristol despite dire weather forecast. An opportunity to listen to this timeless classic capturing the band at their peak.

Now playing … The recently released follow-up to Môr’s excellent 2023 debut album The Wisdom Of Simple Things.

Now playing … 52 years old today. “I’m perfect. Are you?”

Now playing … For me, seasonal albums don’t get any better than this excellent collaboration with Steve Hackett. Includes the marvellous Run With The Fox.

Big shout out to @progrockuk, who are doing a great job keeping the prog rock community supplied with the very latest releases. Visit their site and support them if you can 👍 🎶 🎸 www.progrock.co.uk

The first single … youtu.be/DI5pVdfNzr4?...

Some good news with the announcement that the NMB will release their 5th album early in 2026. Their first four have all been top notch IMHO. No line-up changes so Mike Portnoy remains on drums despite his DT commitments.

Ten decent live albums released this year (IMHO, as always) … - Jon Anderson & The Band Geeks - Perpetual Change - Dream Theater - Quarantième: Live À Paris - Steve Hackett - The Lamb Stands Up Live At The Royal Albert Hall - Big Big Train - Are We Nearly There Yet? 1/2

Now playing … Attending the first night at the O2 was a quite unforgettable experience topped off by hearing Octavarium played live, a true prog epic. The second Dream Theater release in my 2025 top ten.

Excuse Me’s Barbershop Quartet … Philip Aaberg, Peter Gabriel, Tony Levin and Jimmy Maelen.

Now playing … Eclectic and enduring.

Pre-dinner tunes …

Now playing …

Talking about King Crimson covers, I love Steve Hillage’s take on this one … youtu.be/7ytm8HQ3CtA?...

Love this version of a King Crimson classic. Wonderfully sung with the added bonus of Ian Anderson on flute. #listenwithoutprejuduce youtu.be/D35CEamnwNw?...

Ticket secured 👍

Now playing … In Jamaica so seems appropriate.

Now playing … The new one from the Pär Lindh Project. If you yearn more of the ‘70’s ELP then this one’s for you.

Now playing … The latest from Spock’s Beard. Reviews say it’s a return to form, although I personally didn’t ever notice much of a dip. Some great playing by keyboardist Ryo Okumoto all over this one. Well worth a listen.

Beautiful day in Aruba. But not as good as in North London. Playing some Dan to celebrate.

Now playing …

Now playing … One of my favourites from 2025.

Now playing … one hell of a solo debut album.

50 years old today. A record that completely blew me away the first time I heard it (the day after its release, as I was late out of work on the Friday so had to wait until the Saturday morning to purchase it in Woolworths, Yate near Bristol). £2.99 if I remember correctly.

My favourite David Longden vocal … … yet another marvellous Greg Spawnton penned track. @bigbigtrain youtu.be/N24c_G5zJTg?...

Now playing … Remembering David Longdon, who died on this day in 2021 🙏 #bigbigtrain #thesecondbrighteststar

Now playing …

Currently on a cruise ship in Miami so, wanting tickets, set my alarm for 3am (10am GMT). Woke bleary eyed to realised 3am Miami time is actually 8am GMT, two hours before ticket sales start. Back to bed for a couple of hours then eventually managed to get a ticket for Bristol!

My pet hate. The growing number of people who post … <album A> or <album B>? … presumably to get clicks, as if it’s not permitted to like both. Decided to unfollow anyone whose account exists purely to ask questions of others without adding anything themselves.

Liking The Artist, the pre-release track from the new @bigbigtrain album released on 6th Feb on InsideOut Music

Released 52 years ago … my personal favourite of the ELP discography.

Sat on-board having a drink or two on the way back to Miami when the title track of this enduring album comes on the ship’s audio system. Good idea …

Fifty of this year’s album releases I’ve enjoyed … some to a greater extent than others, but listed here alphabetically so as to remain impartial (until year end, at least). Interested in your thoughts …

Now playing… French band Ethesis’s recently released 3rd album. Dark, melodic & atmospheric with some top musicianship throughout, not least the rhythm section of bassist Marc Anguil and drummer Arnaud Nicolau. One to look out (as is their previous album When Worlds Collide).

Now playing … A wonderful harmonic pop-rock album that draws from the best of the ‘60s and ‘70s. Saw them on tour a couple of years ago and they were phenomenally talented, encoring with a near-perfect version of the Beach Boys’ Good Vibrations. Well worth a listen 👍👍

Nice day spend snorkelling the vibrant coral reefs and sunken shipwreck in Pristine Bay, Roatán, the largest of Honduras's Bay Islands, located in the Caribbean Sea off the country's northern coast. Now playing …

Taking a little trip back this afternoon …

Thanks @MarillionOnline I’ll be in Miami (5 hours behind GMT) on Thursday when the tickets go on sale at 10am UK time so I guess I’m in for an early alarm call … ⏰

Now playing … One of their best IMHO Four absolute killer tracks …Invisible Man, Fantastic Place, Ocean Cloud and one of the best album closers of all time in Neverland. 5 ⭐️

Interesting day spent observing the wildlife of Costa Rica in their natural habitat, via coach, train and boat. Spent the rest of the day once again listening to this guy. His three albums to date really are something quite special. Next stop Honduras.

Fascinating day spent crossing central America at its narrowest point across the Isthmus of Panama between Colon and Panama City which separates the Caribbean Sea from the Pacific Ocean and connects North and South America. Time for a drink and some music.

First visit to South America today (Cartagena, Colombia). Very interesting place. Six continents down, just Antarctica to go. Time for a drink and some music …

One of the first tracks that Elton and Bernie wrote together back in 1968 and for me, still their best. EJ’s 10 albums for DJM starting with 1969’s Empty Sky and concluding with 1975’s Rock Of The Westies (10 albums in 7 years!!) are, IMHO, priceless. youtu.be/IIoXT_w-2xw?...

Now playing … My favourite EJ album and my favourite album cover ever. Writing is one of my favourite EJ/BT compositions (along with Skyline Pigeon from EJ’s 1969 Empty Sky, although my favourite version is a later piano version on the Don’t Shoot Me album) #captainfantastic

The new Super Deluxe 12-CD Edition And I thought 2 were bad …

Spent the day on Eagle Beach, Aruba listening to Swedish multi-instrumentalist Jonas Lindberg’s back catalogue. There’s worse ways of passing the time.

12th November 1971 … … just your average release day.

Now playing …

Now playing … Same release date …