I wrote about an unexpected side-note to giving up booze like a thousand years ago. open.substack.com/pub/statesof...

I had some thoughts about Tania Alexander’s 2025 doc Ozzy: No Escape From Now over on ye ol’ substack statesofindependence.substack.com/p/when-money...

Monetary titbit o’clock. In Anthology Ep 2, Ringo mentions that the Mayfair shared flat with George cost them £45 a week. That’s over £800 in 2025 money.

Recommend listening: Season 1 of States of Independence podcast is exploring the history of Beggars Banquet. The interviews have been great thus far and there's more to come. open.spotify.com/episode/2K0T...

The Go-Betweens feature in the latest episodes of the 'States of Independents' podcast released today, focusing on the band's time with Beggars Banquet. Lindy Morrison is interviewed in episode 6; Robert Forster is interviewed in episode 7. beggars.com/introducing-...

New on States of Independence - Beggars Banquet this week is the brilliant Brix Smith with incredible stories of The Fall’s Imperial phase and what it was actually like to be married to Mark E Smith. Tuck in >> Show is here: pod.link/1836129705

A post about Novel Audio, Chris Atkins and their podcast on EMI and Terra Firma.

States Of Independence -Beggars Banquet: The Last Truly Independent Record Label -- It's a new music podcast that explores the hidden histories of the world's greatest independent record labels. podcastreports.blogspot.com/2025/09/stat...

Huge shout @moonbuilding.bsky.social for the wonderful review of my States of Independence podcast. The warmth in the [Gary] Numan chat is what’s going to make this podcast really stand out. The first two episodes are excellent.” The story of Beggars Banquet Records here - pod.link/1836129705 ✌️🙏✌️

States of Independence podcast launches with Beggars Banquet profile "I sort of hoped at least one artist would tell me Beggars were robbing bastards, but no one did..." That's Rob Fitzpatrick talking.

New podcast alert, States Of Independence presented by Rob Fitzpatrick and the first series looks at the history of the Beggars Banquet label… and the guest on Episode 1 is someone you might know, Gary Numan 💬 open.spotify.com/episode/2K0T...

We are thrilled to announce our new podcast "States of Independence Beggars Banquet". The history of the label told by Martin Mills in 13 Episodes, with the artists of the time. The first two episodes launch Sept 11th and can be heard on pod.link/1836129705 .Episodes are thenweekly.

Finally! States of Independence, my new pod celebrating the histories of the world’s greatest independent record labels launches today. S1 is the mighty Beggars Banquet, and Ep1 & 2 feature new interviews with @garynumanofficial.bsky.social Martin Mills @beggarsgroup.bsky.social and more. Live! Now!

I also won at after lunch.

I won at lunch.

Also beautiful: ambient pedal-steel dude Luke Schneider’s For Dancing In Quiet Light out today 🙌🕊️🙌@leavingrecords.bsky.social open.spotify.com/album/2QuJ0t...

Friday always means a bunch of great @moonbuilding.bsky.social reccs and this one has really got me today. Balearic ambient groovers from Morgan Szymanski and Tommy Perman Songs For The Mist Forest (BlackfordHill, 2025) blackfordhill.bandcamp.com/album/songs-...

Just bought the Monasunne album @bandcamp.com because of this post. Thank you @thequietus.com for all you do.

@eamonn-forde.bsky.social literally wrote the book on this story. So, presumably, his work has been credited, licensed and laid correctly? Otherwise, well, that doesn’t bear thinking about.

I either just saw @dorianlynskey.bsky.social sat on a bench at Forever Now or he has an insanely detailed lookalike.

Bangers only.

Tbh, I agree with Bernard Breslaw when he complains about having paid £6 already for membership / entry to Mr Fiddler’s site in Carry On Camping. That’s nearly £90 in 2025 money.

A bunch of Best Lives getting lived on the Thames by Hurst Park / Hampton right now.

Pitched my, “I used to like alcohol and drugs, now I get my thrills by having a full white wash out on the line by 730am” piece. No bites yet.

Perfect temperature for this right now

A large proportion of the records you pick up cheap end up being, basically, junk. But this is an absolute gem.

Glorious dream pop hit for this morning’s sun-soaked school run surprise: Maria Somerville Spring @4ad.com, 2025 open.spotify.com/track/5FKYSE...

Bristol day trip

CHOOOON

Just seen Debbie McGee in Kingston guys. Life goal unlocked.

I won at lunch (Hoshi in Raynes Park)

Last day of peace before Child 1 returns from university *forever*. Pray for me.

This is beautiful from the plucky young London combo: Hank Stand On Yr Star (@dalliancerecs.bsky.social - 2025) open.spotify.com/track/7IFGan...

Bangers only. Such a joyful comp.

Came across this from Milkweed via @thequietus.com and it’s absolutely brilliant. So thank you. open.spotify.com/album/1cRGZJ...

Having a Bauhaus afternoon.

Schoolrun classic

Just to confirm, man waiting for the 12:56 from Thames Ditton will dial in to the 1pm call with the top floor. Please remind them that he didn’t do the original deal.

This would have been hilarious if the elephant had smashed the piano up in a fermented-banana fuelled rage. But it just listened politely and swayed a little.

Definitely my favourite of all the supermarket money option superheroes

“Scentlock technology”? Oh do fuck off.

I found this quite triggering as many years ago at Spotify we commissioned a sort of “get fit with DJ Khaled” video series and when it was delivered it was so ludicrous and appalling it was quietly shelved and never spoken of again. vm.tiktok.com/ZNdhs2xhr/

Beautiful new album from @stereolabgroop.bsky.social out today - gem after gem 🙏 open.spotify.com/album/5nS7jR...

Just stumbled across an 8yo email to my old Spotify address which asked about editorial support for two artists. One on 1.1m a month and one on 400k a month. So I looked them up and nearly a decade later they have 1.3m a month and 406k a month. Amazing.

I’ve been listening to this Sharp Pins album for about a week and I can’t get enough of it. If you’re a Fabs/E Smith/Buffalo Tom/GBV noise-pop person you may find it to your liking. open.spotify.com/album/2rMHZA...

Afternoon pick me up. Never fails

I shall never tire of Ronnie Drew’s impersonation of a judge in The Dubliner’s version of The Old Alarm Clock.

Gonna start calling bad telly faece-tv.

Woman on the district line to Edgware Rd has got to be honest, she’s had an absolute loss of faith. The numbers just aren’t there.