a writer's notebook
my personal library
Excellent record – one of his best, I think.
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“Gleann Ciùin is the second album in a trilogy that explores two narratives: my journeys across the vast landscapes and weathered peaks of the Cairngorms in Aberdeenshire, and my exploration of the rich, resonant tones of pipe organs, contemplating the weight of history and the timeless beauty of these majestic instruments.”
Nothing I can add to that, to be honest. Magnificent.
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With Love Letters via Echelon, German sound sculptor Nerthus explores the shadowy tension between intimacy and control in the age of global surveillance. Inspired by the infamous ECHELON system, a vast and secretive network of electronic espionage, the album evokes a world in which every message may be intercepted, and every thought silently monitored. Rather than relying on familiar samples of intercepted transmissions, radio noise, or encrypted signals, Nerthus opts for a more nuanced and evocative approach. Through deeply immersive sound design, he constructs an oppressive, claustrophobic atmosphere that reflects the psychological weight of being watched, tracked, and decoded. The result is an ambient/post-industrial landscape steeped in paranoia, silence, and dread. The soundscapes also conjure the very environments in which such covert operations might unfold: cold, fluorescent-lit facilities, underground data centers, anonymous laboratories filled with machines humming in coded dialogue.
It’s a lovely spooky late-night thing.
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I usually just print a calendar off the internet, but this year I decided to treat myself to this gorgeous thing.
Step into the rhythms of the old British year with the Traditional Year Calendar 2026. Beautifully illustrated with striking woodcuts by Eric Ravilious, this calendar brings to life centuries of customs, folklore and seasonal observances. Each month reveals festivals, ancient traditions and curious lore – from weather folklore to ritual customs – connecting you with the rich tapestry of the past.
Perfect for history lovers, folklore enthusiasts or anyone who enjoys a touch of heritage in their daily life, this calendar is both practical and inspiring – a year-long companion that celebrates time-honoured rituals and the natural cycle of the seasons.
It’s available at this link here.
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There appears to be nowhere to listen to or sample this, and it’s only available direct from his Head Heritage operation. So I bought it blind. And you’ll just have to trust me when I say it’s lovely spacey electronic ambient washes, cosmic radio and full-on radiophonic ritual. I am very happy.
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This arrived last week but I’m catching up on logging still. Have a listen.
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As ever, I have no idea why I keep getting these, but I am so glad I do. The Hvast record is great, and I’m looking forward to the Rapoon and discovering the others. You can find all these on their Bandcamp and listen for free.
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Necessary things.
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The blu-ray dropped in price so I treated myself. It’s not a perfect film – scenes run a hair too long, there are moments when you realise this was in fact made for pennies, it touches on cliche a few times. But it is made with huge ambition, that shot of the upside-down Statue of Liberty is going to be considered one of the most iconic images of this period, and I like the ending better than most people. It’s a film to study. And I always buy copies of the things that fascinate me.
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AUTOCRACY INC, Anne Applebaum (UK) (US+) fits nicely into some of my recent reading.
I read a book about Libertaila decades ago, so this, PIRATE ENLIGHTENMENT, caught my eye. (UK) (US+)
I don’t normally buy how-to books about writing these days, and I’ve never been an especial admirer of Delany beyond his short story “Aye, And Gomorrah” – except that that is one of the best short stories in the SF canon, and I read a long interview with him, I think in the Charles Platt book? Which would be where I got the concept of the novum. So, for 99p or whatever it was, I’m going to give ABOUT WRITING (UK) (US+) a go.
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