This primer on Japanese Shoegaze popped up on Youtube and is now fuelling a playlist for the next few weeks.

Saw Orcutt Shelley Miller last night and what a gig. Mesmerising, free rein avant rock. They were clearly having fun, we were having fun. Just a good time. #gignight #avantrock

At the other end of the day made tonight’s dinner to this new Ghost Funk Orchestra live album. Damn it’s good. Psychedelic, jazzy funk. Amazing work on drums and sax. #musicsky

Tried the new Akem Manah album this morning. Not sure when I stand on this. I like the idea of dark stories told over a death/doom metal album. A curiosity I’m glad to have heard but as intriguing as it is it was also hard to connect with. #metalsky

Didn’t listen to much this weekend but Ordh’s debut album is pretty good if you want some progressive death metal. #musicsky #deathmetal

Friday evening #bskybeer. Trying out Disco Park from Bristol Beer Factory. Great can, ok beer. Doesn’t follow through on its initial hoppy kick enough for me.

The new Sugar Horse album is great. Manages to blend something melodic and synthy with a heavy doomy metal. Hits a few genres I like. I like the clean vocals (put me in mind of Depeche Mode). #metalsky #postmetal

As it was in my new music list I gave the new As Everything Unfolds a listen. Not for me. It’s an easy listen but I don’t hugely like this style of metal. #metalsky

I said I’d be listening to more Splendidula. Pleased they consistently produce a vocally powerful and atmospheric black metal sound. Preferred the most recent album but this is great too. #metalsky

Yesterday I gave this old Solids album a listen. And it is a solid alt rock listen. Not entirely my thing I was flagging a bit towards the end. #musicsky

Yesterday I gave this old Solids album a listen. And it is a solid alt rock listen. Not entirely my thing I was flagging a bit towards the end. #musicsky

And wrapped up with Arpitanian Lands by Enisum. A varied and atmospheric black metal sound. Very good. #metalsky

My highlight of the day was Absentia by Splendidula. Absolutely stunning atmospheric black metal with amazing vocals. I’ll be binging their back catalogue. #metalsky

Been a heavy day of music starting with Darvaza. Ascending into Perdition is a straight down the line piece of black metal. Delivers expected intensity. #metalsky #blackmetal

I really liked the new Growth album - Under the Under. Brings a balance of intensive death metal blast beats with quite melodic passages. #metalsky #deathmetal

Luby Sparks do the Japanese alt rock thing of sounding a lot like 90s music. Added twist of singing in english. I like the nostalgic feeling, but it's a bit too pop-y for me. #musicsky #jpop

The debut Hyloxolos album is pretty good. Strong psych rock. A little bit experimental and drone-y. Gives it the edge it needs. #musicsky

Listened to Saor over the weekend. Atmospheric black metal with a big Celtic influence. And it does feel a little different to other folky ritualistic/pagan black metal I've heard. A little more uplifting than my usual preference but I liked. #metalsky #blackmetal

Final album from today’s car journey. Malum’s new album is amazing. Great drumming and an atmospheric balance of guitar and vocals. #metalsky #blackmetal

I liked Doom Gong's KEXP appearance and seeing they'll be playing here in July I thought I'd check out their most recent album. We have jazzy psych rock, puts me a little in mind of some King Gizzard. That's a positive for me. #musicsky

Winterfylleth are new to me, but this is the kind of atmospheric black metal I like. There new album is heavy in atmosphere and doesn't hold back with intensity. #metalsky #blackmetal

I like the new Robber Robber album. Does the post-punky alt rock thing exactly how I like it. #musicsky

First time listening to Sisyphean. Not my usual choice in black metal. A little too aggressive with the guitar riffs and not enough texture and atmosphere. Not bad, just not my thing. #metalsky #blackmetal

Been a day of travelling so lots of music listened too. And all of it pretty good.

Been a while since my last gig.desperate for some loud music in a small room. Reckon Sumac will deliver. #metalsky #gignight

Also ticking off another #arctangent band with this Iskandr album. I'm impressed. this is what I want from my black metal. Looking forward to catching them at the festival. #metalksky

Been back on the atmospheric black metal today. Starting with the Downfall of Nur. This is an impressive album. Slow, thoughtful, often beautiful. Well contrasted by harsh vocals and moments of intensity. #metalsky #blackmetal

Also put on the new Sunn O))). It’s kind of amazing how much can be imparted through slow, drawn out drones. Possibly not best experienced as an accompaniment to cooking but I get to see them live in a couple of months. #musicsky

In a slightly different direction for music today I’ve listened to Karma by Oyama and Nitta. An album of Shamisen music because watching Those Snow White Notes anime has me fascinated with the instrument. #musicsky #shamisen

And KEXP introduced me to Doom Gong today. Quite an intense listen. Layered psychedelic noise. But going to check them out off the back of this session. #musicsky

Some Dutch black metal today. Fluisteraars have an interesting black gazey sound mixing in some horns. Different and I like it. #metalsky #blackmetal

Going with smooth German beer tonight. I love a Weihenstephaner Hefe Weissbier. #bskybeer

I like Angine De Poitrine’s new album a little more than their first. Just slightly more fun behind the microtonal math rock. Released as I managed to get tickets to see one of their shows later this year. #musicsky

Wasn't convinced this was for me. Not the biggest prog metal fan, but Machines of Man kind of won me over by the end wit this one. Not sure it's enough to seek more, but I enjoyed the listen. #metalsky

First time hearing black metal from India. Raat is a promising introduction though with a large back catalog to explore. This is good black gaze-y metal. #metalsky

Discovered De l'Abîme Naît l'Aube today. Their debut album is masterful atmospheric blackened post metal. Ritualistic drums, fantastic vocals, both clean and harsh, great balance between heavy and light. #metalsky #blackmetal #postmetal

Today I listened to Hemelbestormer for the first time. Sludgy, blackened metal with a bit of ambient synth work running through. Very atmospheric. Liked a lot, they play here next week, can I make the logistics work? #metalsky

Listened to Shrinebuilder yesterday. A 17 year old creation that feels cor older than that. It hits that classic stoner/doom sound. #metalsky #stoner #doom

Saved the best until last. Kasteel Tripel. Strongest of the evening but flavourful and fruity. Lovely beer. #bskybeer #tripel #belgian

Next up, Tripel d’Anvers from Brouwerij De Koninck. A sweet and smooth Tripel. This is a good one. #bskybeer #tripel #belgian

Tonight I’m enjoying the rewards of my wife’s trip to Belgium with a Tripel Leforte from Omer Vander Ginste. Strong and flavourful. #bskybeer #tripel #belgian

Not pop anymore, the new Holy Fuck album. Electronic , rock, somewhat postpunk. Balances these elements well. I liked it. #musicsly #electronic

Continuing the pop with the new Cannons album. I liked them last one, good vocals and great bass lines. Most of that is here too. Cant say I’m feeling this as much as I used to. #musicsky #pop

Took a different direction with music today. Pop I can share with my kids. Heard a Melanie Martinez track the other day and was impressed so gave her new album a listen. And it’s not bad, starts strong but didn’t sustain that energy. #musicsky #altpop

Back on the IPAs with a double. Ikat from Salt a DDH DIPA. Super tropical and rather nice. #bskybeer #dipa

Starting early this Saturday with a Augustiner-Bräu München Lagerbier Hell. I’m enjoying the clean taste after so many hefty IPAs and stouts. #bskybeer #helles #lagers

The final part of Friday’s #bskybeer is Black Hole an Imperial Stout from Northern Monk. Intense and strong. A little too rich to have any more, this’ll finish the night. #stout

Tonight’s #bskybeer offerings started with this Asda collab West Coast IPA from Fierce. It was OK, but I like a hoppier IPA. #ipa

It’s long and slow and beautiful. An amazing composition of funeral doom from Bell Witch. The start of a planned triptych and I can’t wait for more. #metalsky #doom #funeraldoom

I also indulged in some more Japanese shoegaze idol music. RAY follow on from dot Tokyo and share the same strange blend of shoegaze with idol sensibilities. Remains an odd curiosity that doesn’t quite work for me. #jrock