Ep 74. We've sent Gareth @justplayed.bsky.social out on interview duty for Lazarus The Second Coming of Bowie... We've a heap of vinyl stupidity. News...a city report and a David Bowie quiz involving a saucepan. Episode pod.link/1456163688 Support the show. ko-fi.com/webuyrecords

Sack all the subs, they said. What economic benefit do they even provide, they said. No one will even notice, they said.

Which one is meant to be Morrissey?

All going well over at @theobserveruk.bsky.social

Remember to use both hands

That was one of my favourite shows of recent years… great music and some amazing guests. If you have an opportunity, it’s here on BBC Sounds… www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m... Thanks for listening / diolch am wrando… couldn’t do this without you. Nos da x

Letting the sunshine in this morning

Putting things right after the horror of the rugby

Dear God

“While women do a lot of things and stuff, things are basically equal now and the disparity doesn’t exist anymore. The feminist thing has got out of control.” Just overheard in Waterstones in Richmond. I say overheard, he was essentially broadcasting with his duck-whistle voice.

*shudders*

Your next read, @vinylcarbooty.bsky.social?

Decent vinyl master for this one

Qobuz Connect has finally made it to the earlier Cambridge Audio streamers and - to these ears - sounds superb.

I haven't posted any links to recent posts on my Patreon site, but here are two or three you may enjoy. First up, did I ever tell you about the time one of my all-time heroes angrily terminated an interview with me? www.patreon.com/posts/with-f...

Listeners.....the VG record..do you ever buy/sell them....any thoughts or experiences you want to share for the next episode in the world of VG. [email protected]

Not quite as fun as listening at a Pitchblack Playback on enormospeakers, but this remains an absolute joy

On the topic of live Bowie, one of my favourite ever things of his is back on iPlayer. www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...

Bit more Dave

Hard to imagine the half-speed improving on the 2010 analogue master cut from the big box

Felt right for this morning

And now for a bit of this

Never bothered with it as a standalone release because I picked up the Lazarus cast recording that had this at the end. Nice to have it in the box

Gearing up for a comparison

It’s no nicer in person

Had an enjoyably intense listening time with the new album from Robbie. Wrote it up for @clashmusic.com

I may have wilted under pressure around the limited nature of the One Step Murmur/Chronic Town. In the meantime…

REVIEW: Robbie Williams surprises fans with the sudden release of 'BRITPOP' - a confident return that contains some of the best songwriting of his career... Robbie super-fan @justplayed.bsky.social delivers his judgement - www.clashmusic.com/reviews/robb...

Wrote for @clashmusic.com about the rather splendid new Robbie Williams album that has arrived a little earlier than planned: www.clashmusic.com/reviews/robb...

Continuing my Dave-a-thon

Called into @driftrecords.com after Christmas while in Devon to pick up the sixth Bowie box - thanks to their Boxing Day sale - and ended up buying this too, after finding it in the racks. Finally able to start playing them all.

Back in business

Took stock of the Bowie obsession in anticipation of the inevitable, imminent wallow. Would have been 79 today and so, so dearly missed.

My beloved @rega.co.uk Aria Mk2 suddenly stopped working on Saturday. Have tried replacement fuse in the plug and in the unit itself. With new fuses in the unit, the logo on the front briefly lights up and then goes and the unit won’t work. Any tips? January’s column relies on it!

Off out for some final musical gifts? Or, fancy treating yourself to make up for the hell of all other shops? You need my final @clashmusic.com column of 2025 to help you make some excellent choices: www.clashmusic.com/features/jus...

My advice, should you need it: put some music on. Repeat this advice until you run out of music. Then go find some more. Also works with books and reading. Or art and looking/experiencing.

Wandering up and down the magical high street of Totnes. Every shop and cafe’s music choices have been impeccable.

Figured it was time Bowie had his own shelf

Ep 73. Make Christmas Great Again. Gareth @justplayed.bsky.social gets to grip with the new releases. We pick our year-end favourites. News, readers letters, a festive quiz and a heap of crate digging nonsense. pod.link/1456163688 Support the show ko-fi.com/webuyrecords

Endeavouring to savour this. It’s excellent

It’s Christmas! Give the gift of improved engagement statistics for the UK’s top* vinyl review column: (*only) www.clashmusic.com/features/jus...

One last Christmas thing. My book Maybe I'm Amazed is a 99p kindle deal on Amazon for the next 8 hours, so knock yourself out www.amazon.co.uk/Maybe-Im-Ama...

It’s Christmas! Give the gift of improved engagement statistics for the UK’s top* vinyl review column: (*only) www.clashmusic.com/features/jus...

Off out for some final musical gifts? Or, fancy treating yourself to make up for the hell of all other shops? You need my final @clashmusic.com column of 2025 to help you make some excellent choices: www.clashmusic.com/features/jus...

Not read much yet, but already loving this Bowie book by @alexlarman.bsky.social. Intro brought tears to my eyes. Finally, a music biography about the latter stages of an artist’s career that takes it seriously.

Just read the excellent Huey Morgan news. Not before time, admittedly.

33/ Alan Sparhawk With Trampled By Turtles. The consolations of a music-making community. I reviewed this one here: www.mojo4music.com/articles/new... alansparhawk.bandcamp.com/album/with-t...

If you’re going to do it, do it via 2x45rpm

Aren’t zoetropes great?