A curious salamander Nearly all the pieces featured in these pages so far revolve around electric or acoustic versions of the guitar or the piano (or both). And tracks with neither drums nor other forms of percussion are even more scarce. So that salamander could be forgiven for being curious about the band I have…Read more Salamander
folk
Fever Dream
The stairway from a heavenly sleep ... The Third Age Trust runs a number of interest groups online (collectively known as the IGO groups). A new one was started about 3 months ago; it's called Exploring Prog Rock. So, of course, this third age gentleman and fan of the genre had to sign up. At…Read more Fever Dream
This Is No Time To Panic!
There is a rising tide of violence and hate in the world today. But, if you are a protest singer, that presents an opportunity. So, for example, Grace Petrie's gonna do well out of this. At least, I hope she will. With her 17-minute EP, This Is No Time To Panic!, Grace has summed up…Read more This Is No Time To Panic!
Shchedryk (Carol of the Bells)
A detail from a Ukrainian postage stamp from 2022 At the turn of the last century, the composer, Mykola Leontovych, arranged a traditional Ukrainian folk song for a choir of students at Kyiv university. The song, sung in March in those days, tells of a swallow heralding the coming of the Spring. But the timing…Read more Shchedryk (Carol of the Bells)
Cons and Clowns
Courtney Marie Andrews has managed to sum up the state of the world in three words: "Cons and Clowns". It's bad enough when we encounter confidence tricksters and misguided fools in our everyday lives, but when we elevate them to positions of power, the situation becomes well-nigh hopeless. Fortunately, though, the ever-optimistic Ms Andrews was…Read more Cons and Clowns
In the Wind of Night
Album cover art How many languages do you know? Although I was taught French and German at school (and a smattering of Russian), I have largely forgotten them. The odd word from other languages has taken up residence in my mental dictionary, but there has never been an entry in Slovenian. Then, a few days…Read more In the Wind of Night
Danny Thompson
R.I.P. Danny Thompson, 1939-2025 I was saddened to hear that Danny Thompson died this week. He was 86. “Legendary acoustic bass player Danny Thompson died peacefully yesterday at his home in Rickmansworth, UK. A musician who was both beloved and admired by everybody he worked with, his body of work is unparalleled in its quality…Read more Danny Thompson
My Halo at Half-Light
An angel's halo shines brightly at all times, but a saint's is only faintly visible in the half-light of dusk or dawn. Perhaps that is why snakefarm's recordings have gone largely unnoticed since it was formed in 1999. Or perhaps Anna Domino and Michel Delory are only kidding when they use the title of their…Read more My Halo at Half-Light
Wishing Well
Caption competition: What is that frog saying to the pretty maiden? There's always an air of mystery about a wishing well. What lurks in those dark watery depths? If I make a wish, will it come true? What's the going rate for a wish, these days, and is there a discount for a bulk order?…Read more Wishing Well
Luminous Giants
GoGo Penguin's compositions often have an astronomical theme. I was drawn into their orbit in 2018 when they released their album, A Humdrum Star, and I've been floating around them ever since. When they chose to call one of their latest tracks Luminous Giants, they were almost certainly thinking of a type of red giant…Read more Luminous Giants
Crotchety Man 