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
2020s
Son of Glen
Jakko M Jakszyk had an unusual upbringing. His mother was an Irish singer, Peggy Curran; his father an American airman that Peggy has always refused to identify. The baby was born in London and named Michael Lee Curran. At the age of 18 months, Michael was adopted by a refugee couple who met and settled…Read more Son of Glen
Nightfires
Suddenly, as the music reached a climax, one of the dancers careered into the fire, releasing a million sparks up into the air – nothing to protect him except the magic of the fire. Up and up they went, rising high on the thermal column pushing up into the darkness, mingling as they ascended, as…Read more Nightfires
Dragonfly
Here, in the Northern Hemisphere, it's early summer. A time when our gardens are full of insects, creeping across the lawns, buzzing through the air, pollinating the plants. And the most spectacular of all is the big, brightly-coloured dragonfly. The Welsh poet, W. H. Davies, was so impressed by a specimen of Odinata anisoptera that…Read more Dragonfly
A Romantic’s Guide to King Crimson
My first encounter with King Crimson was at a free concert in Hyde Park, London, in 1969. They were the only band to make enough noise to fill the open arena, and they stole the show, playing In the Court of the Crimson King, 21st Century Schizoid Man and Epitaph. I have been a fan…Read more A Romantic’s Guide to King Crimson
Truce <3
In these burdened days of climate change and political upheaval, the divisions between us grow ever deeper. Misogyny and racism fuel social media; armed conflicts break out around the world. Death and devastation spread across the globe. And, in the midst of it all, the voice of truce is but a whisper in the deep…Read more Truce ❤
The Price of Love
The Price of Love was written by Don and Phil Everly (The Everly Brothers), and released as a single in 1965. It reached no. 2 on the official UK pop chart. There have been several other versions of the song, too - notably, one by Bryan Ferry included on his 1976 album, Let's Stick Together.…Read more The Price of Love
Happy the Man
The four faces of Happy the Man (in 2024) The American prog rock band, Happy the Man, released their self-titled debut album in 1977. It has always been regarded as a particularly fine example of the genre, and it was re-released in 2024 as Starborne. https://open.spotify.com/album/6twLF4q0KEZGdp1CC5iFGA?si=hgkXNkaYSHKGB7fkthoS7w The debut album of Happy the Man. This band…Read more Happy the Man
Olivia Ruth
Could this be Olivia's Shop? Let me introduce you to Olivia Ruth. She has a shop that sells everything you'll ever need. Or so Brendan Perkins tells us. https://open.spotify.com/track/2z5dCwXmkbhenm5YAA1sZB?si=7299d11393094792 A track from Brendan Perkins new album, Stories from the Old Church Lane. Now, the name Brendan Perkins is new to me. But, apparently, his latest…Read more Olivia Ruth
Kontraster
It's not often that you find multiple genres on a single album (outside of loose compilations, of course). And it's even rarer for two bands with contrasting styles to each provide one half of an album. But that's what the Norwegian bands, Jordsjø and Breidablik, give us with Kontraster. And to challenge prospective listeners even…Read more Kontraster
Crotchety Man 