I am biased of course, but I am here to tell you that my favourite record by The Clientele has been reissued on vinyl this week & it is a rather beautiful thing: ffm.bio/theviolethour

Same shit, different church! we have added a second violet hour show as the first one sold out immediately. Thur 27 November - St Matthias Church, Stoke Newington tickets go on sale on Friday at midday UK time link.dice.fm/I94a007793e0. wegottickets.com/event/677968/

Hello everyone, I wrote about the extraordinary lives of Lee Miller ahead of a major retrospective of her photography at Tate Britain – which opens tomorrow. And it's looking beautiful in the i Paper today! Read online here: inews.co.uk/culture/arts...

Studio happenings

Wow, I was not expecting this. My dad wrote several Play for Todays in the early 1980s, including one called The Cause in 1981 – about unionism and the Spanish Civil War. I watched it recently & thought – where would this be commissioned now? I look forward to seeing what they do

Letter of the day (in the Times)

Top two stories on the Guardian site “Mourners gather amid outrage over Israeli troops’ killing of journalists in Gaza” “Anyone showing support for Palestine Action ‘will feel full force of the law’, justice minister says” Future historians of the genocide; this is where we are 11th Aug 2025.

Because I am angry I will share this again. One of the reasons that Israel is able to target individuals so precisely is that it collects every phone call in Gaza and stores the recordings in Microsoft Azure, then uses AI to analyze and pick targets.

I am sat here at my laptop trying to write but these brave journalists are all I can think about: Anas al-Sharif Mohammed Qreiqeh Ibrahim Zaher Moamen Aliwa Mohammed Noufal The entire Al Jazeera team in Gaza City, gone. Say their names.

Al Jazeera Media Network condemns the targeted assassination of its correspondents Anas Al Sharif and Mohammeel Qraiqea, along with photographers Ibrahim Al Thaher, and Mohamed Nofal, by Israeli forces. #JournalismIsNotACrime

I'm lucky enough to have read the first three chapters, this is going to be a very special book.

The Double

Spotify is a horrible platform in so many ways. People should consider if they're ok using it. We use Tidal in the shop for streaming and are really happy with it. Some of the staff use Qobuz at home. Spotify sounds terrible and their ethics are disgusting.

What a story, and so sensitively written by @samknightwrites.bsky.social with all the curiosity you'd hope for in a piece like this – do read, it's a cracker:

Comet Gain entregan en ‘Letters to Ordinary Outsiders’ una de las colecciones de canciones más completas de su carrera. En la que, además, apuestan por una limpieza que convierte al disco en toda una joya pop de lo más disfrutable. Vía @tapeterecords.bsky.social www.indienauta.com/comet-gain-l...

Call me naive, but alongside launching "groundbreaking global initiatives" to "support creators’ mental wellbeing" Spotify could, I dunno, actually pay musicians a decent amount for the music they stream? I would think that might help them thrive.

Comet Gain siguen siendo uno de los mejores exponentes del buen pop de guitarras. Y más ahora, que suenan mejor que nunca gracias de a la producción de Sean Read -el de los Dexys-. Su nuevo trabajo es una auténtica maravilla. donteatheyellowsnow2.wordpress.com/2025/06/10/c...

Comet Gain rebajan considerablemente la suciedad de su propuesta en 'Letters to Ordinary Outsiders'. Y el resultado es un maravilloso disco lleno de canciones pop enormes y lo mejor que han hecho en mucho tiempo. donteatheyellowsnow2.wordpress.com/2025/06/10/c...

Comet Gain: Letters To Ordinary Outsiders - Review - ALBUM OF THE WEEK! louderthanwar.com/comet-gain-l... @johnrobbofficial.bsky.social @nigelcarruk.bsky.social @wayneafcarey.bsky.social

It is a good weekend to become a Comet Gain enjoyer (and the new album is *great*)

Joe Mcphee

New Comet Gain album, single and video, out today

Hello everyone, I wrote some words for @thequietus.com on the tenth anniversary rerelease of Sufjan Stevens’ Carrie & Lowell — a piece that’s all about grief and myth-making, the fallibility of memory, and the failings of art-making in the midst of it all. In short: LOTS OF FEELINGS.

Comet Gain fettle confirmed as fine in latest Uncut

Now in 2D

Alan Wilkinson & The Mekons last night at the 100 Club

Repeat listening on the allotment today. Happy release day, Jerry!

Comet Gain veins still beating. New single out today.

Londoners! If you’re at a loose end tomorrow night I'll be interviewing Julia Greenberg and Dianna Dilworth at the Rio for @docnrollfilms.bsky.social. We’ll be talking all about their wonderful film about the life and music of Dory Previn – join us!

What a wonderful parting gift. Thank you, Martin.

Fantastic exhibition of Henri Michaux's mescaline drawings at the Courtauld.

At Prospect Cottage, Dungeness.

With old friend Reine Fiske, 20 years on

Träd, Gräs Och Stenar, Cafe Oto

Akira Sakata and Rie Nakajima

Akira Sakata at Cafe Oto.

Simon Joyner, West Hampstead Arts Club

This well-thumbed tome arrived with my Go-Betweens box.

Beautiful tribute to Dean Roberts on RNZ.

A rather lovely night at the Moth Club with @theclientele.bsky.social (and, yes, terrible camerawork by yours truly)

"Attempting to play". Incredibly, tickets still available.

So many reasons not to use Spotify, surprising to see so many links etc on my feed. Other less morally repugnant options are available.

Last tickets for the disaster on Thursday dice.fm/partner/lnzr...

Solidarity with my colleagues at the Observer and the Guardian who are striking today and tomorrow. There is a virtual picket line, too. If you value the paper, its history, its staff, and freelancers like me, please support them by avoiding reading and sharing any articles for the next 48 hours.

Some seasonal kazoo from @nofansrecords.bsky.social