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Snowsky Retro Nano DAC

Published January 3, 2026 by Warren Ellis

I asked for the Snowsky Echo Mini DAP (digital audio player) for Xmas. I got the Snowsky Retro Nano DAC (Digital to Analog Converter) instead, because it turns out those two devices look exactly the fucking same in pictures.

A DAC improves and amplifies digital music and allows it to be pumped through wired headphones. You can Bluetooth it to a networked device or USB it for a hard connection to a computer or anything with a USB-C hole.

My office speakers are actually an ancient Altec Lansing inMotion portable set that is no longer made. They connect to the computer through the computer’s headphone jack. I Bluetoothed the Retro Nano to my phone and plugged the speakers into the Retro Nano’s headphone jack. Suddenly all the podcasts trapped on my phone sound better.

There’s an app that goes with it called FiiOMusic, which can set equalisers – I’m on iPhone, so the app can only reach what’s in iTunes. I experimented with “Breath Of Odin” by Julian Cope, and on the “classical” setting it picks out all kinds of sound detail that is otherwise barely there just playing the mp3.

I was a little frustrated that I didn’t get the mp3 player – the sound is great on the cheap player I picked up last year but the UI is awkward – but I am finding uses for the DAC and I suspect I will uncover more. The thing comes with a lanyard, so you can hang it around your neck, plug earbuds or 4.4mm IEMs into it, Bluetooth it to your phone and then walk away from your phone and just listen. Which has an appeal to me these days.

Snowsky Retro Nano on Amazon.

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end of dec25

Published December 20, 2025 by Warren Ellis

It is December 20 and I am having to admit today that I am tapped out for 2025. I’ll turn this back on around January 2.

I have read 52 books this year, it seems, so I’ll close this by listing some of the ones I liked best. If you’re still reading this, then happy new year. I hope it’s a good and peaceful one.

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Konsztrukting Soundz, Evening 20

Published December 14, 2025 by Warren Ellis

Fun night. The takeaway this time was the thing Lev alerted me to on my arrival – Pascal Marzan and his ten-string microtonal guitar, which produces the strangest sounds, one moment woody and percussive, the next shimmering and silvered.

Previously.

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Mediaeval Baebes, Chelmsford Cathedral, 11dec25

Published December 12, 2025 by Warren Ellis

I’ve seen the Mediaeval Baebes a few times in the past. Once in a converted barn with deep snow outside, once at a mediaeval banquet in high summer when they were about six feet away from me. This time, at a cathedral, with great acoustics but a lousy mix – the instruments were too up front and the vocals got blanketed more than once. But their rendition of Gaudete was magnificent, quite the best I’ve heard them do it. The current line-up includes a high soprano whose voice is just remarkable. I got gifted an old Miranda Sex Garden CD while there (thanks, Lee) which delighted me – I was around for Miranda Sex Garden, way back when, but only had a tape, as I recall.

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Katarina Strom

Published November 19, 2025 by Warren Ellis

Popped down to the Jazz Centre for an hour.

Missed a chunk of the Sakamoto due to two loudly wittering old biddies behind me whom I eventually had to tell to shut up. The Three Argentine Dances and the Rhapsody were very good.

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Konsztrukting Soundz Evening 19

Published November 17, 2025 by Warren Ellis

Last Saturday night at the Fishermen’s Chapel in Old Leigh. Here’s the details of what was. I want to make some notes while it’s fresh in my mind.

First off, the sound art of event organiser Lev Dudas, which that night seemed strongly radiophonic to me.

Saulius Bendoraitis & Brian Webb: the former providing complex and gorgeous musique concrete soundscapes while the latter did some (slightly muffled) spoken word over the top.

And finally Sunfish Starfish, who to my mind owned the night with an absolutely IMMENSE sound reminiscent of Philip Jeck, only more expansive and meditative – like listening to eight sunken bands and orchestras. Made my fucking week, it did.

Special shout to Karina Townsend, who performed with an assemblage of plastic tubes, sound pickups, a straw and a Marigold washing up glove that I can really only describe to you as an electronic bagpipe…

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NORD Fragrances

Published October 15, 2025 by Warren Ellis

So, this is an interesting thing. NORD Fragrances offer solid scents and container casess for them, which all come packaged in recyclable card. You buy the scents as a little balm-like puck, smear a bit off on your finger, wait for it to warm a little, and then apply. I’m using the Marine Mist right now, as it pairs well with my usual beard oil, and I have a Bonfire to try later on. The case is metal – you just swap out the little pucks. From the Netherlands. Clever idea.

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Return Of The Good Beard Oil

Published October 14, 2025 by Warren Ellis

I get this imported from the States, and it’s my favourite beard oil. Sunstone is very marine and makes me think of walking on the shore in winter. I love it.

But! This time they sent a very large sampler of a beard oil called Jol, and, I have to tell you, it’s amazing. It’s a seasonal oil for Yule – smells floral in the bottle but as soon as you massage it into the beard, it’s wood, smoke and Christmas spices. I was absolutely shocked at how it transformed. If you’re in the market for such things, Fires Of Freyja is the place to go.

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Konsztrukting Soundz, Evening 17

Published September 22, 2025 by Warren Ellis

I popped down to the Fishermen’s Chapel in Old Leigh over the weekend to attend the Konsztrukting Soundz event. Four acts, two of which I want to make notes on. Here’s the full bill.

Hyelim Kim.

Started off exploratory, gentle, almost traditional, almost ASMR. Halfway through it was like Diamanda Galas shrieking down a pipe. Fascinating.

Her instrument is the Korean daegeum.

According to Korean folklore, the daegeum is said to have been invented when King Sinmun of Silla was informed by Park Suk Jung, his caretaker of the ocean in 681 that a small island was floating toward a Buddhist temple in the East Sea. The king ordered his caretaker of the sun to test whether this was good luck. The caretaker replied that a dead king who turned into a sea dragon, and two great warriors are giving a gift to protect Silla, and if the king would visit the sea, he would receive a priceless gift. The king soon sent a person to look for the gift. The person replied that a bamboo tree on the top of the island becomes two in the morning and one in the night. On the next day, the world shook and it rained and wind blew, and the world was thrown into darkness for a week. When the king went to the island himself, a dragon appeared and told him that if the bamboo on the top of the island was cut down, made into a flute, and blown, the country would be peaceful. The king cut down the tree, and the flute made from the bamboo was called manpasikjeok…

She told a version of this story during her performance. There was the sighing of trees in the breeze, and ten thousand waves, and then the storm. Actually riveting.

Eiko Yamada and Teresa Hackel.

I spoke to Teresa Hackel briefly afterwards because I wanted to know what instrument she started the piece off with – it looks like a huge chunk of doorframe converted into a musical device. Turned out it was called a Paetzold Recorder

You can see it partway through this video of them playing together a few years ago.

They were absolutely stunning.

I had to leave before buying the CDs I had my eye on, which I still regret. But I had a great time and learned a bunch of new things.

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