Weeknotes

Updates

What a week!

Firstly, I had a low level cold that left me a bit tired on Monday and Tuesday, Then later in the week we had Storm Claudia which absolutely battered our area South of Dublin. Friday we were effectively on lock down with strong winds and some fierce rain blowing directly off the coast.

On Thursday at work, I got to test out the new Meta Rayban Vision glasses with the built in display. I get the feeling these are really a groundbreaking product, the ability to see information alongside the world outside and not break contact is very impressive. I still believe that getting information into my ears is the key here, but for some people being able to see overlaid information (directions etc) will be a game changer.

Reading. Nick Cleggs 'How to fix the Internet'. Still getting through this, reading time has not been consistent this week.

Live Music

On Wednesday - I trekked through the heavy rain to see Baxter Dury (supported by Joshua Idehen) at Vicar Street in Dublin. It's the second time I have seen him, and the show did not disappoint. The Dublin crowd lapped up the intensity of the delivery and some of the onstage antics were fun. Finishing the set with some of more danceable bangers from Allbarone left everyone bouncing. Great Show.

Last night, I went to see Dublin band The Prongs (supported by Big Boy Foolish from Cork) at the Grand Social. First time for me at this venue, which I imagine is a riot with a wilder band. Another excellent show, The Prongs have a unique blend of literary spoken word over spiky, punky electronic sometimes motorik music. I enjoyed their show and will be tracking them to see them again.

A few pictures from both shows

Recommended Music

This is a treat.

Claire M Singer is a Scottish Composer and multi-instrumentalist who has just released Gleann Ciùin - an album that explores two narratives, journeys across the landscapes and weathered peaks of the Cairngorms in Aberdeenshire, and exploration of the rich, resonant tones of pipe organs.

It's a beautiful album bookended by two long thoughtful pieces and some shorther sketches in between.

Highly recommended.

Note - I am using these Odesli embedded links for music recommendations on my site which allow you to choose your streaming platform and also find the artist links for vinyl purchases etc

Listened Stuff

Here's ten artists I have listened to this week.

• Headache
• Clare M Singer
• Finnegan Tui
• Gary Numan
• Baxter Dury (Live) 
• Black Dog
• Celeste
• Kae Tempest
• Turin Brakes
• The Prongs (Live)

#weeknote

Updates

Back to a tricky week at work, but we got through and made it to the weekend. I'm home alone for a couple of days this weekend, so have spent some time relaxing, reading and got to see some live music.

My Online Quiz League team got relegated this week after a tough season, but we go again after the Christmas break, and I'm sure we'll bounce back.

Reading. Nick Cleggs 'How to fix the Internet'.

Live Music

Last night, went to Whelans in Dublin, to see the magnificent Turin Brakes, who played a fantastic show. This tour is in support of their 10th album, and I've loved them all along the way.

They played a great selection from across the catalogue and a sold out Whelans was in good voice.

A few pictures from the show:

Recommended Music

I think that I might be late to the party with this one. Curtain Twitcher released Breathe, Breathe and Breathe again in 2024, but it only just appeared on my radar.

It's a lovely long collection of ambient, synth driven tracks with repeating loops and themes that develop organically into some great sounds.

I listened to this all the way through on Friday, and then hit repeat and did it again.

Highly recommended.

Note - I am using these Odesli embedded links for music recommendations on my site which allow you to choose your streaming platform and also find the artist links for vinyl purchases etc

Listened Stuff

Here's ten artists I have listened to this week.

• The Walker Brothers
• Curtain Twitcher
• Maps
• Means of Production
• drøne
• Black Dog
• Efdemin
• Baxter Dury
• Ben Chatwin
• Emil Friis

#weeknote

Updates

I missed a week. I'm not sorry. I was enjoying the last couple of days of holiday in Italy.

What a great trip - 10 days spent between Bologna, Venice, Verona and Milan, some lovely places with excellent food and some great memories. I'll write up the journey this week and some pictures.

Back at work this week, catching up and getting busy as we enter the last couple of months of the year.

Reading. Nick Cleggs 'How to fix the Internet'.

Live Music

Went to The Button Factory in Dublin last night to see Japanese post-rock band, Mono. An excellent show, crammed full of epic and hypnotic sounds.

They have a super live sound, with excellent drums and bass powering along with dual guitarists who create some wonderful sounds.

A few pictures from the show:

Movies Watched

Saw a couple of great films this week - House of Dynamite on Netflix and then to the local cinema to see the Springsteen flick. Both excellent films, and worth the time.

A ★★★★★ review of Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere (2025)

I loved this. The fantastic story behind an album that I have always found mysterious and magnetic. Jeremy Allen-White is excellent, with great support for Jeremy Strong and Steven Graham. Even a small appearance from Marc Maron. Of course the soundtrack is perfect and the performance scenes are brilliant. Loved it.

Letterboxd

A ★★★★★ review of A House of Dynamite (2025)

Another five stars - superb movie, high anxiety inducing global threat with an excellent cast.

Letterboxd

Recommended Music

Some great realeases this week, but the highlight for me is ICONOCLASTS by Anna von Hausswolff.

It's difficult to describe this, with elements of electronica, gothic vocals and even some jazz sax in the mix. There are collaborations with Iggy Pop, Ethel Cain and Abul Mogaard, so you can imagine its a wide ranging collection.

Highly recommended.

Note - I am using these Odesli embedded links for music recommendations on my site which allow you to choose your streaming platform and also find the artist links for vinyl purchases etc

Listened Stuff

Here's ten artists I have listened to this week.

• Just Mustard
• Roger O’Donnell
• Lily Allen
• Dave
• Carrier
• Shlohmo
• Anna von Hausswolff
• Feel
• Saint Leonard
• Hildur Guďnadottir

#weeknote

Updates

Writing this from a train between Bologna and Venice as we take a short break and experience a little bit of Northern Italy.

Bologna has been lovely, a city of cuisine. We had some great food, including a meal at the famous Trattoria Da Me.

Next stop, Venice - and we’re lucky enough to be there as the Venice Photo Lab is in town, so expecting to see some great art.

Reading: Not much reading going on whilst we travel.

Recommended Music

Another week of superb releases, but the highlight for me was the new album from a favourite artiste.

Headache and Vegyn have combined on ‘Thank you for Almost Everything’, another collection of tracks bringing together smooth electronica with an almost AI driven vocal performance.

The spoken word/poetic lyrics have a weird ‘uncanny’ feeling to them and the stories put me in mind of Chris Morris creations from the 90’s

Another excellent release. Highly recommended.

Note - I am using these Odesli embedded links for music recommendations on my site which allow you to choose your streaming platform and also find the artist links for vinyl purchases etc

Listened Stuff

Here's ten artists I have listened to this week.

• Mono
• Warrington-Runcorn New Town Development Plan
• U (just U, no 2)
• Nightbus
• Headache & Vegyn
• Old Saw
• Clarice Jensen
• Emil Friis
• Bryan Senti
• Daniel G Harmann

#weeknote

Updates

This week has been super busy at work, lots to do ahead of some vacation time in a couple of weeks, so I've been putting the hours in!

Highlight for me was booking some smashing concert tickets to Kraftwerk in Dublin next year. I love the feeling of writing gigs in the diary and next year is already looking a lot of fun. Alongside Kraftwerk, we have The Cure, Marlon Williams, Christian Loffler and Gene.

My quiz team had a smashing win on Wednesday night which was very pleasing, including a decent score for me - so we're having fun this season after a very poor start.

I've continued with my quest to scan my old nightclub flyers, and I'm building up a nice gallery which I'll display online as soon as I'm done.

Reading: How to Save the Internet by Nick Clegg - still going - daily routine is not quite firing at the moment!

Movies

Watched a few this week - one brilliant, two not so much!

A ★★★★★ review of Steve (2025)

Brief. Bleak. Brilliant. Superb performance from Cillian Murphy and a great ensemble cast.

Letterboxd

A ★★ review of Dirty Angels (2024)

Not great.

Letterboxd

A ★★★ review of Ballerina (2025)

I have a soft spot for the John Wick universe... Keanu Reeves is always a lot of fun, and the ultraviolence is always quite cartoonish. I did worry that they were dragging it out a little bit, and the last films have felt a bit tired. This branches out with a new character, played by Ana de Armas - who is *lovely*, but it felt a bit same old. And then John Wick appeared again. I think I may depart the John Wick canon now.

Letterboxd

Recommended Music

Lots of great new music this week, and it's hard to pick a 'best' recommendation here.

However, last week I saw Warrington-Runcorn New Town Development Plan live in Dublin, and this week the new album is released - and it really does need listening to.

Public Works and Utilities is another album of analogue synth goodness, with squelches and bleeps abound. The standout track is the b-side of the album, 'The People Matter'. It is one continuous track which which transports my back to the early eighties optimism of new town developments and Tomorrows World.

My vinyl copy arrived yesterday morning and it's been on repeat since.

Lovely stuff, and hugely listenable. Highly recommended.

Note - I am using these Odesli embedded links for music recommendations on my site which allow you to choose your streaming platform and also find the artist links for vinyl purchases etc

Listened Stuff

Here's ten artists I have listened to this week.

• Will Wood
• Daniel G Harmann
• Sulk Rooms
• Klein
• Jo Johnson
• Ben Chatwin
• Marlon Williams
• Glacis
• Braulio Lam
• Warrington-Runcorn New Town Development Plan

#weeknote

Updates

This week has felt full of nostalgia when multiple events have had me thinking about time passing.

Firstly - I kicked off a new little side quest. I bought myself a Canon Lide400 scanner to archive a bunch of flyers from my DJ'ing days. They've been languishing in storage for a long time and I know that there is some interest in nightclub ephemera from that era. I'm about halfway through and I'll share when they are online.

Then on Thursday, we went to catch some live music at Whelans in Dublin. On the bill was Warrington-Runcorn New Town Development (above) who plays a type of electronica which reminds me of the music that used to accompany the giant TV at school in the 70's and 80's. Support was from Field Lines Cartographer who was also excellent.

Finally, last night, we went to a very fine cinema to see the 'Grand Finale' of Downton Abbey. Whilst I wouldn't be the worlds biggest period drama fan, it does feel like I've watched this for YEARS - and it was strange to see the story finally close out.

So, a week of vaguely nostalgic events that leave me thinking about what's next and future plans.

Reading: How to Save the Internet by Nick Clegg

Movies

Just the one this week:

A ★★★★ review of Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale (2025)

A lovely finale to the Granthams.

Letterboxd

Recommended Music

I've been trying for the last few weeks to listen to a new album every day, and sharing my favourites to Bluesky / Threads.

One that enjoyed this week is Getting Killed by Geese, which seems to be getting mentions in all the right places and are no doubt the 'next big thing ™️'

This is a bit more psyche-rock than my usual suggestions, with a lead singer who reminds me of Thom Yorke/Radiohead in places. It's occasionally chaotic, but a lot of fun and I'd imagine perfect after a few beers by a pool somewhere.

Highly recommended.

Note - I am using these Odesli embedded links for music recommendations on my site which allow you to choose your streaming platform and also find the artist links for vinyl purchases etc

Listened Stuff

Here's ten artists I have listened to this week.

• Patrick Watson
• The Cure
• Dry Cleaning
• Kara-Lis Coverdale
• Geese
• Studio Electrophonique
• Galya Bisengaliyeva
• Mick Harris
• Kieran Hebden & William Tyler
• Fink

#weeknote

Updates

Back to the weekly routine, but nice to have some autumnal Dublin sunshine to accompany me on my commute.

I was sad to see Claudia Cardinale die earlier in the week, an absolute beauty who is in my favourite film of all time - Fitzcarraldo.

Have spent a little bit of down time working on some new projects, and completed a list of improvements to make to existing work - startwriting.now continues to get some good traffic, and I have a plan for a V2 very soon.

Reading: How to Save the Internet by Nick Clegg

Movies

Watched a couple of movies this weekend:

A ★★★½ review of Mr. Morgan’s Last Love (2013)

I didn’t love the extra romance at the end of this, and Michael Caines accent travelled around like a Greyhound bus. However the story is lovely - and Clemence Poesy is excellent.

Letterboxd

A ★★★★ review of 28 Years Later (2025)

A peculiarly British horror/thriller. Jodie Comer is excellent and a great turn from Ralph Fiennes.

Letterboxd

Recommended Music

I've been trying for the last few weeks to listen to a new album every day, and sharing my favourites to Bluesky / Threads.

One of the best this week is The Importance of Birds by Snorri Halgrimsson, a modern classical piece inspired by the sounds of birdsong and a reflection on the fragility of life.

It's a stunning album, gentle and contemplative and ideal for background music whilst working or reading. I immediately added this to my Flowstuff playlist.

Highly recommended.

Note - I am using these Odesli embedded links for music recommendations on my site which allow you to choose your streaming platform and also find the artist links for vinyl purchases etc

Listened Stuff

Here's ten artists I have listened to this week.

• Radiohead
• Grandbrothers
• Al Green
• Arcadia
• Nine Inch Nails
• Gene
• Hollie Kenniff, Goldmund, Harbors
• Claire O'Connell
• Purity Ring
• Snorri Halgrimsson

#weeknote

Updates

Flew back from Spain yesterday evening, experiencing nearly 20deg temperature drop between the tarmac in Murcia, and Dublin. I do not approve!

That said, we covered a lot of ground on a new project in Spain, and I'm really pleased with the two weeks we had there.

Now, its back to the usual routine and into the office tomorrow morning.

Reading: Confessions of an Irish Rebel by Brendan Behan. I have neglected my daily reading practice for the last couple of weeks.

Recommended Music

My musical recommendation this week is the new album from Baxter Dury - Allbarone, which I have been listening to non-stop for the last couple of weeks.

This one takes Baxter to the next level for me. The deadpan (often hysterical) delivery, is combined with more electronic feel. I love the sharp look at life, and the unmistakeable London sound.

Highly recommended.

Note - I am testing out using these Odesli embedded links for music recommendations on my site which allow you to choose your streaming platform and also find the artist links for vinyl purchases etc

Listened Stuff

Here's ten artists I have listened to this week.

• Lucretia Dalt
• Nine Inch Nails
• Baxter Dury
• Bryan Ferry
• Iosonouncane
• Black Dog
• Tristanne
• Akasha System
• Suede
• Kaytranada

#weeknote

Updates

It is freaking hot. I've spent most of the week working with fan pointed at me and plenty of cold drinks on the go.

We're kitting out a new place for AirBnB so there have been plenty of trips to buy bits and pieces, and make the place look good. More news to follow on that.

The news cycle has been heavy again this week, and I've been revisiting the principle of making sure my news intake is not too doom laden.

Reading: Confessions of an Irish Rebel by Brendan Behan.

New DJ Mix

Before I left Ireland, I put a new DJ mix online, I'm super pleased with the way this one came out. Ninety-ish minutes of gently progressive, bouncy house music.

Recommended Music

My musical recommendation this week is the SoundTrack to 'Mudtown (Ar Y Ffin)' by Gazelle Twin. Mudtown is a six part British crime thriller being shown on the U&Alibi channel in the UK, I haven't seen it yet - but give the soundtrack I'm going to seek it out.

It's a tense and unsettling album - but worth the investment, some great sounds along the way. If you're a fan of Gazelle Twins work, then this is a must-listen, but also a good entry point into some of their darker work.

Highly recommended.

Note - I am testing out using these Odesli enbedded links for music recommendations on my site which allow you to choose your streaming platform and also find the artist links for vinyl purchases etc

Listened Stuff

Here's ten artists I have listened to this week.

• Venedel
• The Dears
• Akasha System
• Matt Berninger
• Gazelle Twin
• Baxter Dury
• Mono
• Lawrence English
• Federico Mosconi
• Suede

#weeknote

Updates

We've decamped to Spain for a couple of weeks. As the weather turned autumnal in Dublin, it felt like a good time to get some warmth on our bones, and get to work on a property project we have here.

I've been working on a good amount of new content for the site, some career related posts and a couple more book note posts which hopefully people will find useful.

Reading: Confessions of an Irish Rebel by Brendan Behan.

Recommended Music

My musical recommendation this week is slightly unusual. Myles O'Reilly is a favourite artist of mine, making gentle electronica from his Dublin base.

For 'Against all Certainty' he's teamed up with the outgoing President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, for an album of poetry underpinned with beautiful ambient soundscapes.

It is lovely stuff, with Higgins reminiscing about people and places that he has met. The words are matched by the backing which feels organic through the use of tape loops and found sound.

Highly recommended.

Listened Stuff

Here's ten artists I have listened to this week.

• Johnny Beth
• Suede
• Balmorhea
• Yorkshire Modular Society
• 700 Feel
• Tim Hecker
• Aiko Takahashi
• Idles
• Blood Orange
• Gene

#weeknote

Updates

A disrupted week, the light cold I thought I had last weekend turned into a bit more of a issue than I thought, and I had to take rare day off work.

Spending the weekend with some friends in Cork, so a shorter weeknote than usual.

Reading: Confessions of an Irish Rebel by Brendan Behan.

Recommended Music

My musical recommendation this week is INSOMNIA, not by Faithless but by Japanese composer Takahiro Kido. Kido is a member of Japanese soundtrack artists Anoice and this collection doesn't stray too far.

INSOMNIA tries to put the feeling of being awake into music, with neo-classical and ambient sounds. It's a beautiful album that deserves a listen on some great headphones.

Highly recommended.

Listened Stuff

Here's ten artists I have listened to this week.

• Takahiro Kido
• Siavash Amini
• Richard Hornsby
• Will de Burca
• Erland Cooper
• Mogwai
• Harmonia
• Dirty Three
• The Prongs
• Goldffrapp

#weeknote

Updates

A pretty busy week for me, with two live shows this weekend alongside my Wedding Anniversary and a mild cold!

Friday saw us off to Collins Barracks in Dublin to see The Human League, a favourite band of mine when I was growing up. They were a lot of fun, Phil Oakey's voice is terrific, and they played a great selection of hits and a couple of deeper cuts from their journey.

Saturday was altogether different, with everyones favourite sad dad, Matt Berninger (from The National) at Vicar Street. A superb set made up of solo work, a couple of covers from The National and even a cover of Blue Monday at the end. Support from from the excellent Ronboy, who has collaborated with Berninger a few times recently.

A few snaps from across the two shows.

Reading: Finished Borstal Boy by Brendan Behan --> Starting Confessions of an Irish Rebel by Brendan Behan.

Recommended Music

My musical recommendation this week is a short EP from Dublin based band 'The Prongs'.

Psychogeoggraphy is four tracks of quite intense music that at times put me in mind of Sleaford Mods or even Fontaines DC. Simple sounding motorik loops of electronic beats with spoken word / sprechgesang vocals.

It's a completely orginal sound that is worth a listen - I've ordered a vinyl copy of the EP as I think it could be quite collectable moving forward.

Highly recommended.

Listened Stuff

Here's ten artists I have listened to this week.

• The Human League (Live)
• Matt Berninger (Live)
• The Associates
• Massive Attack
• Gary Numan
• Pet Shop Boys
• Arcadia
• JB Dunckel and Jonathan Fitoussi
• Myles O’Reilly
• Lisa O’Neill

#weeknote

Updates

An unusually busy week for me, I took a time off work and travelled to the UK to see family, friends and do some life admin. It was great to see everyone, and to bring the best of my original record collection back to Ireland.

A real highlight of the week was seeing my son DJ'ing at a nightclub in London on Thursday - a really good memory.

Reading: Borstal Boy by Brendan Behan.

Recommended Music

My musical recommendation this week is tinySketchbook III by kita kouhei, a percussionist and composer from Kyoto, Japan.

As it suggests, this album is the third in a series of ambient soundscapes, all just a few minutes long that sound meticulously crafted. Each one is a like a collage of noises that sound organic and everyday, but together sound beautiful.

It's worth seeking out the other tinySketchbook albums, and there are more superb ambient albums from kita.

Highly recommended.

Listened Stuff

Here's ten artists I have listened to this week.

• Christian Löffler
• Gary Numan
• Natalie Lafourcade
• Fever Ray
• Mogwai
• Meursault
• Baxter Dury
• Tamino
• Tinariwen
• John Foxx

#weeknote

Updates

Dublin has been kind to me this week - in the last 8 days, I've tried two new restaurants and both have been excellent.

Last week we went to Little Forest in Blackrock, which served up an excellent pizza and a really nice seafood risotto. Super stuff, and one we'll definitely visit again. On Friday night, I went to Bar Italia on Ormond Quay in the City Centre, with a friend and colleague from my days at Microsoft. Some really excellent conversation alongside some lovely food - we both had superb pasta.

Side project work has been slow (maybe all the lovely italian food) - but I'm making progress.

I've decided to read a few fiction books to cleanse my palate a bit - so I'm currently reading Borstal Boy by Brendan Behan.

Recommended Music

My musical recommendation this week something new to me, from Rebekka Karijord a Norwegian composer and musician who has just released 'The Bell Tower' on Bella Union.

It's lovely stuff, formed entirely from human vocal samples, performed by the Roomful of Teeth ensemble.

What emerges is a beautifully organic album, which refers to our ever changing world and the perils it faces over time.

Highly recommended.

Listened Stuff

Here's ten artists I have listened to this week.

• Quadeca
• Christian Löffler
• Fever Ray
• Marconi Union
• For those I love
• Dominik Eulberg
• Rebekka Karijord
• Erland Cooper
• Kita Kouhei
• Yutaka Hirose

#weeknote

Updates

A busy week at work, meant little time for side quests but I managed to get some writing done this week.

I finished Bullshit Jobs by David Graeber - I enjoyed the ideas and the detailed research in the book, my review is here.

I also spent some time reflecting on nearly five years of running my newsletter and came up with a list of things that I've learned along the way.

I need to devote some time this week to the next release of startwriting.now which still seems to be gathering new visitors. I need to spruce up the UI and add some more features.

Oh - and I got see some live music last weekend...

Live Music

I went to see Glaswegian post-rock band Mogwai last weekend at Vicar Street in Dublin. My evening got off to an interesting start as I took the DART into the city and then promptly walked to Whelans before realising I was at the wrong venue! A quick cab later I got to Vicar Street in time to see most of the support act, Cloth.

Mogwai took to the stage about 9.15 and played an excellent set from across their catalogue. The stage show is quite stark, allowing focus on the musicality and intensity of the sound.

I was glad for my loopz earplugs to protect my hearing - it was a loud one!

Setlist from setlist.fm and a few snaps from the show below:

Edit this setlist | More Mogwai setlists

Recommended Music

My musical recommendation this week is the new album from Fever Ray, a Scandinavian act founded by former singer of The Knife, Karen Dreijer.

I'm a long time fan, and so this album is perfect - remixed and reperformed tracks from across three albums and put together for live (?) sessions.

Highly recommended.

Listened Stuff

Here's ten artists I have listened to this week.

• Mogwai (Live)
• Meursault
• Depeche Mode 
• The Caretaker
• Fever Ray
• Dan Lacksman
• Robyn
• Ane Brun
• Bjork
• The Streets

#weeknote

Updates

I'm 21 days into using Headspace for daily meditation, and each day the practice becomes a little easier and a bit more relaxing. The 15/20 minutes of peaceful breathing each morning is an enjoyable start to my day, and I can feel the benefits throughout the remainder of the day.

I've spent some time working on 'Start Writing Now' this week, and I'm moving towards a V2 release with some new features - I'm really enjoying learning about the process of building an app.

(Still) Reading: Bullshit Jobs by David Graeber

Recommended Music

My musical recommendation this week is something new from Belgian/Iraqi electronica band 'Use Knife' and their 2025 album called État Coupable.

It's a short album of electronica, using some field recordings and snippets of news (?) broadcasts that tell a story of friction between East and West.

Some of this is a bit brutal - however it's an excellent listen and highly recommended.

Watched Stuff

Went to see the new F1 movie last week at the local cinema - lots of fun.

A ★★★★½ review of F1 (2025)

Twenty of the best action heroes in the world, and they barely get a look in next to Brad… I loved this more than I expected I would, I worried that there would either be too much F1 for a film, or not enough F1 for a fan - but they got the blend just right. The in-car scenes were excellent, the cameos at the tracks were great and the story line was perfect Hollywood.

Letterboxd

Listened Stuff

Here's ten artists I have listened to this week.

• wet leg
• Abul Mogard (exploring older albums)
• Bloc Party
• Beth Gibbons
• Lorde
• Clipse
• Nick León
• Anohni and the Johnsons
• Lankum
• The Black Dog

#weeknote

Updates

A super busy week in the day job, meant a few late evenings that slowed down my work on the side project. I did manage to spend a few hours refactoring the code and making something a little more lean and robust.

On Monday, we went to see The Cave at the Abbey Theatre, a play that tells the story of two brothers living in a cave in the hills near Sligo. It's an odd story, about mental health and brotherly connection - and featured Tommy Tiernan and Aaron Monaghan as the lead roles.

My quiz team played the final game of this season on Wednesday night, and despite a loss - we picked up a 'close defeat' bonus and escaped relegation - it's the first time in a while that we've been in a relegation battle - so it was good to stay up in Div 3!

In other news - I've kept the daily meditation practice going and I'm really enjoying that quiet time each day.

Reading: Bullshit Jobs by David Graeber

Recommended Music

My musical recommendation this week is the latest album from the always excellent 'The Black Dog' - an electronica/ambient band from Sheffield in the UK.

'My Brutal Life 2' continues their reflections on time spent observing the Brutalist architecture of their home city. It's full of gentle, reflective and sometimes foreboding analog sounds that transport you to an era of futuristic promise.

There is a consistent thread in this music back to the stuff that formed my taste back in the late seventies and eighties - John Foxx, Cabaret Voltaire, Human League and Gary Numan all share a lineage here. I absolutely love hearing this sound continue forward.

Highly recommended.

Watched Stuff

Caught a couple of movies over the last week - as well as draining the first series of Mobland on Paramount TV.

A ★★★★ review of Lee (2023)

Excellent biopic of wartime photographer Lee Miller... great cast, with Kate Winslet, Andy Samberg, Marion Cottiard and Josh O’Connor all putting in a great shift was we move from 1930’s France, to London and then back to France/Germany at the end of the Second World War. Really enjoyed this…

Letterboxd

A ★★★ review of The Commitments (1991)

Late night rewatch of the Alan Parker classic - seen through slightly different eyes now that I live in modern Dublin. Huge amount of fun, the music scenes really stand the test of time.

Letterboxd

Listened Stuff

Here's ten artists I have listened to this week.

• wet leg
• Abul Mogard (exploring older albums)
• Bloc Party
• Beth Gibbons
• Lorde
• Clipse
• Nick León
• Anohni and the Johnsons
• Lankum
• The Black Dog

#weeknote

Updates

A week in Dublin, and something of a gentle 'heatwave' has made the city feel bright and alive this week. I even saw a 'pirate' ship in Killiney Bay (above).

I spent more time on startwriting.now - my micro-journaling app. Over 1000 unique users visited the site this week, which was very gratifying. I have a ton of ideas for enhancements, which I'm gently working on at the moment. This is a great learning journey!

I finished reading The Art of Living by Thich Nhat Hanh - review here.

Reading: Bullshit Jobs by David Graeber

Recommended Music

My recommendation this week is another beautiful and gentle album; A Dawning, by Olafur Arnalds and Talos.

This is work that was in progress before the sad and untimely death of Talos (Cork based musician Eoin French) in August 2024.

The eight tracks here, combine work from both musicians and vocals from Talos and some other artists. It's a wonderfully thoughtful and gentle collection that peaks with an ensemble piece that includes Niamh Regan and Ye Vagabonds.

Highly recommended.

Watched Stuff

Caught a couple of movies over the last week - as well as a whole bunch of tennis!

A ★★★★ review of Heads of State (2025)

An absurd premise - The US president is played by someone more famous in wrestling and the UK Prime Minister is a dour Arsenal fan. Wait a minute... When Cena and Elba find themselves behind enemy lines and facing a threat, they need to work together like never before. Wildly absurd, quite funny in places.

Letterboxd

A ★★★★ review of The Amateur (2025)

Rami Malek plays a slightly disassociated computer geek, who spends most of his time hunched over a laptop as he plots revenge for losing a loved one. Like a really nerdy Bourne. There were a few holes in the plot here, some 0-100 leaps in assumption that didn’t make sense - but, the hackery and f*ckery that go on are fun. Excellent Friday night escapism that I enjoyed.

Letterboxd

Listened Stuff

Here's ten artists I have listened to this week.

• Olafur Arnalds & Talos
• Abul Mogard
• Rival Consoles
• The Swell Season
• Erland Cooper
• Kae Tempest
• Richard Ashcroft
• Placebo
• Nadah El Shazly
• The Cure

#weeknote

Updates

A week in Dublin - great to be back to some semblance of a routine.

I spent the evenings this week working on a project I had been designing/defining in my notebook on recent travels, and this weekend I'm shipping/launching!

The project is startwriting.now - it's a micro-journaling app. I explain the background to the app here, and how I built it. I'd love you to test it out and let me know what you think.

We went to see Lana Del Rey on Monday night at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, it was a slightly odd (and short) gig - but she has a great voice and some excellent songs. I would have liked a few more of them!

Reading: The Art of Living by Thich Nhat Hanh

Recommended Music

My recommendation this week is a beautiful new album from Abul Mogard entitled Quiet Pieces.

It does what it says on the tin, 6 stunning pieces of ambient electronica, with deep drones and gentle keyboards throughout. Superb music, which I already added to the ever growing flowstuff playlist.

Highly recommended.

Watched Stuff

Last week, I only caught one movie, Havoc - starring Tom Hardy. Here's my short thoughts about it...

A ★★★½ review of Havoc (2025)

Look at his face. Battered, bruised, grazed and grumpy. It’s exactly how I felt after I watched this 150mph ride through the nastier looking streets of Chicago (?). It had all the elements required of it, triadish gangs, car chases, bent coppers and those guns that NEVER seem to run out of bullets. All of that said, I kind of enjoyed it - Tom Hardy’s American accent aside. (They could have got Jon Bernthal and saved a voice coach) Utter nonsense, but good Sunday evening entertainment

Letterboxd

Listened Stuff

Here's ten artists I have listened to this week.

• Little Simz
• Lorde
• Adrian Quesada
• Mogwai
• Hayden Pedigo
• Duran Duran
• Human League
• Abul Mogard
• Rival Consoles
• Kae Tempest

#weeknote

Updates

Spent the week in New York, for work. Meta has two great offices in Manhattan and I spent a little time at both of them. The buzz of New York was as intoxicating as ever, and a heatwave (35degC plus) made the city even more enjoyable.

Travel both ways was OK - first time I've tried JetBlue, which had excellent service and a modern plane.

Currently (still) reading: Discriminations by A.C. Grayling

Some snaps from my trip...

New DJ Mix

Recommended Music

My recommendation this week is the new release from Adrian Quesada, the Grammy winning guitarist and founder of the Black Pumas.

Boleros Psicodélicos II is another album of latin influenced psychedelia tinged interpretations of Boleros, both classical and new. With a host of guest singers, there is something for everyone on this summery and relaxing album.

Highly recommended.

Watched Stuff

Last week, we saw a couple of movies worth mentioning:

A ★★★★½ review of Parthenope (2024)

Beautifully made story of a young woman enjoying the summers of her early life in Naples and beyond. Some great scenes, including a super performance from Gary Oldman. I loved this - highly recommended.

Letterboxd

A ★★★★ review of Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning (2025)

More of the usual - great escapism.

Letterboxd

A ★★★★ review of Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1 (2024)

Watched this on the plane to the US. Saga is the right word, 3.5 hours - but well constructed western with some great characters in it. I mostly enjoyed it, but wondered if it could have been a mini-series rather than a movie.

Letterboxd

Listened Stuff

Here's ten artists I have listened to this week.

• Adrian Quesada
• The Beloved
• Marconi Union
• Arab Strap
• Warrington Runcorn New Town Development Plan
• Biosphere
• Matt Berninger
• David Sylvian
• Count Basie
• Antony Szmierek

#weeknote

Updates

Home in Dublin for the week, nice to get back into a routine after weeks of travel. I'm off to New York next week, so it doesn't last long!

I spent some time redesigning and rebuilding the website, so if you're reading this - hopefully you'll like the new look!

Currently Reading: Discriminations by A.C. Grayling

Live

Went to see Nine Inch Nails at the 3Arena in Dublin last Sunday, the first night of the 'Peel it Back' tour.

It was an excellent show, with a dual stage setup, brilliant visual, a strong DJ (Boys Noize) playing support, fierce sound and some face peeling tunes. The production quality was excellent, and tune selection was strong from across the catalogue.

Superb show all round.

Recommended Music

My recommendation this week is the new album from Biosphere, a Norwegian musician from Tromsø with a great catalogue of ambient and electronica.

The Way of Time is the new album, with 8 tracks of beautiful, lush electronics overlaid with sampled vocals from  a nove called The Time Of Man, sampling Joan Lorring’s voice from the 1951 radio play adaptation.

Its a lovely listen that adds to an excellent catalogue of work.

Highly Recommended.

Listened Stuff

Here's ten artists I have listened to this week.

• Caribou
• Rival Consoles
• Sinners OST
• Nine Inch Nails (live)
• John Foxx
• Royksopp
• Biosphere
• Marconi Union
• Khruangbin
• John Foxx

#weeknote

Updates

A week in Austin, Texas for work. It started with a cancelled flight on Monday morning, a reroute and an uncharacteristic week of stormy weather in the Texan capital. The return travel was uneventful, and the travel gods got me on an early flight home where I am writing this update.

The work was good though, a chance to sit with my new team and make some plans for the new half.

Have been reading Discriminations by AC Grayling on my travels, more of that to come.

Watched

Enjoyed a great TV series over the last couple of weeks, and a few movies whilst travelling.

On the TV front, I recommend Department Q on Netflix (trailer on Youtube). The familiar story of a broken cop solving a big case - but done in an excellent style. Give it watch if you can.

Movies I watched whilst travelling:

A ★★★★½ review of Parthenope (2024)

Beautifully made story of a young woman enjoying the summers of her early life in Naples and beyond. Some great scenes, including a super performance from Gary Oldman. I loved this - highly recommended.

Letterboxd

A ★★★½ review of Queer (2024)

I thought this was well acted, but I found it hard to warm to the characters. Some fairly trippy sequences included in the story by William S Burroughs. Might be worth a second watch to get into it more.

Letterboxd

A ★★★½ review of A Working Man (2025)

Enjoyable, but 100% throwaway movie with Statham playing the part of an ex-marine, trying to live out a ‘normal’ life in construction but ending up involved in a people trafficking crime ring. Typical fight & action sequences. A lot of fun in places.

Letterboxd

Recommended Music

My recommended listen this week is the new Album from Rival Consoles, MindsEye.

Rival Consoles is the ongoing project from Ryan Lee West from London, and MindsEye is the Soundtrack from a video game of the same name.

Some blistering electronica here, and a great snack to tide us over before another new album due in early July.

Highly Recommended.

Listened Stuff

Here's ten artists I have listened to this week.

• Marconi Union
• The Cure
• Luke Howard
• Myles O’Reilly
• Rival Consoles
• Woodkid
• Little Simz
• Turin Brakes
• Nine Inch Nails 
• Olafur Arnalds/Talos

#weeknote

Updates

Back in Spain for the end of this week after a fun few days in Marrakech. It's such an intense city, with traffic, noise and people everywhere. Howwver we had a great time.

The last few days in Spain have been chilled, and I've been spending time thinking through some design changes I'll be making to this site and some content ideas for the weeks/months ahead.

Tomorrow, I head back to Dublin - then off to the US for a week of work.

A final few snaps from the trip... from the Jardins Majorelle and around the city.

Recommended Music

My recommended listen this week is the album from English ambient band, Marconi Union.

The Fear of Never Landing is their 12th Studio album, and is full of beautifully detailed and lush instrumentals. I particularly love 'In Motion' where the synths drift away and we're left with a beautiful piano to finish the track off.

It's been a strong week for albums, with Pulp and Little Simz releasing huge LP's - but this is worth investing some time in.

Highly Recommended.

Listened Stuff

Here's ten artists I have listened to this week.

• Marconi Union
• Little Simz
• Pulp
• Shura
• Mogwai
• Natalie Lafourcade
• Turin Brakes
• Maribou State
• Royksopp
• Olafur Arnalds

#weeknote

Updates

Sending this weeks quick note from Marrakech, where we are taking a few days to explore the city again and see some sights. So far, it has been super hot (37degC), and the city feels more crowded than it did when we visited ten-ish years ago.

More to follow, but here’s a few snaps from our first couple of days.

Recommended Music

My recommended listen this week is the new soundtrack album from Scottish post-rock heavyweights, Mogwai.

This accompanies the new Netflix series 'The bombing of Pan-Am flight 103' about the Lockerbie tragedy. I haven't seen the TV presentation yet, but the soundtrack is excellent.

Highly Recommended.

Listened Stuff

Here's ten artists I have listened to this week.

• Natalie Lafourcade
• Mogwai
• Turin Brakes
• Nicolas Jaar
• Sly and the Family Stone
• Kruder and Dorfmeister
• Saba Alizadeh
• Rival Consoles
• Dalham
• The Cure

#weeknote

Updates

Spent the week in Spain, working by day and relaxing in the sunshine where I can. We had a rental car breakdown which was fun and a day of storms, but on the whole it’s lovely to be in the warmth.

I leaned into AI a little bit this week, and experimented with writing some code through a GPT engine. I used Claude, and managed to add a couple of features to the site which I think are really exciting. I’ve added a page that pulls a random journal prompt, and one that pulls a random icebreaker as well as a page that lists all of the free stuff links that I have shared in a filterable list.

It has been a while since I did any coding, and so using Claude to help develop was a fantastic boost, learning how to ask the right questions and explain exactly what I wanted was an interesting exercise. I have more ideas to follow here.

I also finished Moral Ambition by Rutger Bregman, my thoughts are here.

Media

Not much TV time but we did finish 'Four Seasons' which was a lot of fun. I'd recommend it, and I’m pleased to see that it is coming back for a second season.

Recommended Music

My recommended listen this week is the brand new album from a Stuff favourite, Turin Brakes. Spacehopper is their tenth studio album, and is the usual high standard of fun, acoustic pop.

I’m looking forward to seeing Turin Brakes back in Dublin later this year, but I suspect this will be on heavy rotation until then!

Highly Recommended.

Listened Stuff

Here's ten artists I have listened to this week.

• Ane Brun
• Peter Doherty
• Royksopp
• Nils Frahm
• Natalie Lafourcade
• CTM
• Olafur Arnalds
• Turin Brakes
• Archive
• Rashad Becker

#weeknote

Updates

Last weekend was a great one, I finished my Coaching Diploma and now I'm a qualified 'Executive and Business Coach'. It feels good to have my first certificate for something since about 1986.

This week, we travelled to Spain for some sunshine. Unfortunately, the first few days a weather system moved through and we had a bit of rain. As the end of the week came around, the sun returned and I'm writing this in about 27degC.

Work has been interesting, a fairly sizable reorganisation and some management shifts, but my team is all good and we're working through the impact of the change.

Finally, I started reading 'Moral Ambition' by the always excellent Rutger Bregman, so far it is a brilliant book that I think could be quite important for people to read. More to come on that.

Media

Travel and work meant not a lot of time for movies, although I did sit and watch about three quarters of Paddington last weekend. Such a well crafted film.

We did manage to catch a few episodes of the new Netflix Comedy 'Four Seasons' during the cooler evenings earlier in the week. It's very funny, with Tina Fey, Colman Domingo and Steve Carrell putting in some excellent comic turns. I'd recommend it.

Recommended Music

My recommended listen this week is Earcandy by Miso Extra. I've been tracking this London based singer/producer since a track called 1013 came across my radar.

Thew new album is another whipsmart collection of Anglo/Japanese pop with some infectious hooks and super production. It's light but not shallow, and fantastically dancefloor ready in places.

Love this. Highly Recommended.

Listened Stuff

Here's ten artists I have listened to this week.

• Sault
• Kara-Lis Coverdale
• Fink
• Pye Corner Audio
• Leonard Cohen
• Mark Pritchard and Thom Yorke
• Miso Extra
• Pantha Du Prince
• Natalie Lafourcade
• SummerStuff

#weeknote

Updates

A much better week, meant I could focus on some interesting announcements at work for me and my team, as well as the final parts of course work for my coaching diploma which finishes this weekend.

I also got back into my daily reading practice and finished Minority Rule by Ash Sarkar. I've put some notes together and a short review here.

Next week, we're off for a bit of sunshine and relaxation - so I'm looking forward to that.

Movies

Watched a couple of films last week, and one that we really enjoyed was 'The Last Showgirl' starring Pamela Anderson as a Vegas dancer coping with the end of her career. Beautiful performances from Anderson and Jamie Lee Curtis.

A ★★★★½ diary entry for The Last Showgirl (2024)

Letterboxd

Recommended Music

My recommended listen this week is Tall Tales, the new collaboration between producer/DJ Mark Pritchard, and Thom York of Radiohead/The Smile.

Its a cool album, well constructed beats and samples with Yorkes distinctive vocals over the top. In some cases the music feels ambient and chilled, and then switches gears to something altogether darker and driven.

I highly recommend a listen to this.

Listened Stuff

Here's ten artists I have listened to this week.

• Baxter Dury
• Vegyn
• Djrum
• Dean Blunt
• Mark Pritchard & Thom Yorke
• Arcade Fire
• Nils Frahm
• Natalia Lafourcade
• Sault
• Rival Consoles

#weeknote

Updates

This week has honestly been a bit of a write-off for me, we visited Belfast last weekend and had a fun couple of days exploring the city again. Some favourite photographs below.

Then I arrived home with a cold/covid type affair and spent a few days in bed, so not much got achieved apart from some planning and TV watching!

By the end of the week, I'm back to full fitness and ready to get back at it!

Recommended Music

My recommended listen this week is of course, the new Stuff Mixtape - #36. I can't believe I've been pulling these together for three years now, maybe its time for a change of format, or something!

This month contains some great music from Test Card, Lulu Gainsbourg, Sister Nancy, CMAT, Lana Del Rey, Rufus Du Sol, DJ Koze, Kelly Finnigan and many more...

Listened Stuff

Here's ten artists I have listened to this week.

• Memory Pearl
• Natalia Lafourcade
• Anthony Naples
• Chihei Hatakeyama
• Maribou State
• John Glacier
• Adrian Quesada
• Djrum
• CMAT
• The Cure

#weeknote

Updates

A second short working week after a quiet and rainy Easter weekend in Dublin. Springtime seems to be on pause, so we're hoping for a brighter week.

I'm off for an adventure this weekend, updates next week - but I'm hoping to have some dry weather to get some photographs taken.

I'm enjoying Minority Rule by Ash Sarkar at the moment, full review to follow - but this is a run through of the 'culture wars' of recent years, with some detailed explanations how some big stories have played out (albeit a little one-sided). I'm finding a strong connection to the George Monbiot book - The Invisible Doctrine that I read last year, but this is more about where the 'rubber hits the road'.

Recommended Music

My album of the week is the brand new release from Mexican singer Natalia Lafourcade. Cancionera is lovely collection of new tunes in a modern Latin American style.

Natalia has previously worked with Adrien Quesada, and has won a slew of Grammy awards along the way - as well as having performed at Carnegie Hall.

I'm really enjoying the sunshine feel of this new album - as well as her extraordinary voice.

Highly Recommended listen.

Listened Stuff

Here's ten artists I have listened to this week.

• John Foxx
• Natalia Lafourcade
• The Cure
• Elijah Fox
• Godspeed You! Black Emperor
• Purity Ring
• Lana Del Rey
• Meursault
• Yui Onodera
• Stellardrone

#weeknote

Updates

A shorter working week here in Ireland as we get ready to enjoy the Easter weekend, so slightly busier at work as we try and cram five days into four!

I spent some time last weekend launching an Instagram account to support the newsletter, and posting some graphics to find new subscribers. Follow me there for more daily updates to the site.

I also spent the morning celebrating Record Store Day 2025 last Saturday, it was great to see my favourite shop packed out with punters and I managed to pick up some great vinyl.

I kept my reading routine in place and finished Ping by Andrew Brodsky, a useful book that outlines some great insights into Virtual Communication. I wrote a full review here which I hope is useful for some.

Recommended Music

Releasing (and listening to) a three hour album is a huge undertaking, but I have been enjoying the new collection from the active Nicolas Jaar this week.

Archivos de Radio Piedras is a substantial collection of lengthy tracks that take excellent electronica from the Piedras albums and then overlay with samples from various radio stations and other found sound.

It's a hypnotic listen, in places relaxing and gentle and in others skittering and unsettling. I absolutely love it.

Highly Recommended listen.

Listened Stuff

Here's ten artists I have listened to this week.

• Nicolas Jaar
• John Foxx
• Röyksopp
• Aaron Landsman & Norman Westberg
• Lana del Rey
• Kelly Lee Owens
• Sages
• Warrington Runcorn New Town Development Plan
• Aphex Twin
• Kazy Lambist

#weeknote

Updates

We've had a glorious week in Dublin, bright sunshine and Spring like weather all week which has made the mornings a pleasure.

Last weekend I finished the penultimate module of my Coaching Diploma, just one more weekend to go and hopefully I will have passed the programme and can become a member of the Association of Coaches.

I've been keeping up my daily reading practice, and finished On the Clock by Claire Baglin. A story translated from French about social inequality across multiple generations of a family in Brittany. Not always an easy read, but worth persevering with.

Finally - I reached 100 days of not drinking at all. I decided to try 'dry January' and then ended up sticking with it. I'm not a huge drinker, so this hasn't been too difficult but I'm curious how it will play when I'm on holiday and the tempation is a bit higher.

Recommended Music

I'm enjoying the new album from Stuff favourites Röyksopp - True Electric is a live project, with slightly remixed versions of tracks from across multiple albums.

This is super dancefloor friendly, and completly euphoric in places. I'm slightly disappointed that the live show isn't coming anywhere near me, but I'll console myself with the video versions that are emerging online.

This album is a complete belter - and you won't be disappointed.

Highly Recommended listen.

Listened Stuff

Here's ten artists I have listened to this week.

• Pan-American
• Arcade Fire
• Wolfgang Flur
• DJ Koze
• Marlon Williams
• Royksopp
• Bon Iver
• Imprints
• John Foxx
• Sandwell District

#weeknote

Travel

We spent last weekend in London, to celebrate our sons birthday - there was a party on Friday night where I was honoured to play a back to back DJ set with the birthday boy. I don't think I embarrassed anyone as we smashed out some UK Garage.

On Saturday we wandered the West End, visiting Selfridges and then walking down to Trafalgar Square to the National Portrait Gallery for a retrospective exhibition on The Face magazine. It was great to see covers and photography from a magazine I devoured in the 80's and 90's. We finished the day with dinner at Balthazar.

On Sunday we met back up with our son for Mothers Day / Birthday celebration lunch at the excellent Acme Fire Cult in Dalston. Highly recommended if you are looking for some interesting BBQ food.

Some pictures from the week below:

Recommended Music

Only one game in town this week - the new Stuff Mixtape is out - Issue #35 is almost exactly one hour of perfect tunes that showcase the transition into springtime in my ears.

Featuring 14 great new tunes including Matt Berninger, Turin Brakes, Royskopp and much more.

Recommended listen.

Listened Stuff

Here's ten artists I have listened to this week.

• Perfume Genius
• Timber Timbre
• John Foxx
• Tamino
• Momus
• Dirty Projectors & Bjork
• Sandwell District
• Bryan Ferry and Amelia Barratt
• Marlon Williams
• Panchiko

Live Music

Last Saturday night I was lucky to see Anna B Savage in Dublin. It was the first time I have visited the Unitarian Church in St Stephens Green which is a tiny venue, I estimate only 180/200 people in the place, but as always in a church - the acoustics were lovely.

It was notable that in a venue without a bar, the focus was 100% on the music rather than the craic, which sometimes annoys me at gigs in Dublin.

Support was from Donegal singer Chanele McGuinness who did a short but lovely set of gentle folkish songs with a guitar. First time I have heard her, but very enjoyable - finishing with a cover of I Remember by Molly Drake.

Then came Anna B Savage, who was full of an edgy, bouncy energy and channeled that into a fearsome performance. She delivered a pile of songs from the current album 'You & I are Earth', and a couple from 'in|Flux' and 'A Common Turn'.

Accompanied by a small band that were super talented, and a lot of fun this was an intimate, powerful performance that will live on my memory for some time. We were in the front row, and to watch this talent up close was a real privilege.

I only took my phone out one song from the end, so not many pictures but I think the couple I have are a good representation of a fantastic show.

Recommended Music

I've heard of Tamino before, and didn't really tune into a previous listen - but a new album has been on my 'to listen' list for a couple of weeks so I gave "Every dawn's a mountain" a go.

Tamino is from Belgium, and is the son of a famous Egyption singer. This is their 3rd album after Amir, and Sahar.

I really enjoyed this one, a real singer-songwriter album with a duet from Mitski in the middle and some beautiful vocals throughout. A very easy listen, with some outstanding songwriting.

Recommended listen.

Listened Stuff

Here's ten artists I have listened to this week.

• Nick Drake
• Tamino
• Molly Drake
• Royksopp
• Timber Timbre
• Hekla
• Jorg Tuning
• Susanna Sundfor
• Adrian Crowley
• Anna B Savage (Live)

Updates

It's been a while since I updated on my Coaching Journey. Myself and my cohort are now approaching the end of our diploma course with the Coach Institute of Ireland.

We've completed hours of peer and pro-bono coaching, and written essays and case studies, alongside weekends of classroom experiences.

It has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life, and I can feel the influence of the coaching creeping into my daily work.

Most of all, it's been a blast making new friends in class. A first for me since the 1980's!

I'll update more when the Diploma is complete.

Recommended Music

I don't listen to a huge amount of Jazz, and while (Steve) Okonski often gets lumped in there, I've found the album Entrance Music to be more accessible and light.

Released in 2025 on Colemine Records, this is a laid back and chill journey led by piano but with some irresistable grooves.

Highly recommended listen.

Recommended Watching

Cinema trip last Sunday, to see the new Robert Pattinson movie, directed by Boon Jong-Hoo. An absolute riot of a film, here's my Letterboxd review:

A ★★★★★ review of Mickey 17 (2025)

My first five stars of the year. Superb performance from Robert Pattinson (in Forrest Gump / Stan Laurel mode) with great support from Mark Ruffalo going full Tr*mp as well as Toni Collette. Fantastically funny sci-fi romp that will be a classic.

Letterboxd

Like almost everyone, everywhere we drained Adolescence in two nights on Netflix. Nothing I say is going to surpass the millions of words online, but suffice to say, its a five star review from me.

A ★★★★★ review of Adolescence (2025)

So many words already written, performances are outstanding. The one-shot technique is superb and the story is chilling. A must watch, sure fire award winner next time around.

Letterboxd

Finally on Friday we decided to catch up on a movie we missed at the cinema, and watch the beautiful Maria.

A ★★★★ review of Maria (2024)

Beautifully made and with a deep sadness running through every scene. I didn’t know much about Maria Callas - but I think Jolie’s portrayal is excellent.

Letterboxd

Listened Stuff

Here's ten artists I have listened to this week...

• Okonski
• More Eaze
• Etienne De Crecy
• LCD Soundsystem
• Mono
• Richard Ashcroft
• Fink
• Royksopp 
• Adrian Crowley
• Kae Tempest

Travel

I spent this week on the move, flying to Seattle on Monday for a week with my team. I didn't get a huge amount of time to reacquaint myself with a city that I enjoy, but I did get a few hours on Friday afternoon to head downtown and see how the skyline of the city had changed.

Whilst exploring I found Seattle Antiques and found piece of all-American ephemera from my birthdate, which I'd never seen before.

A June 1969 copy of Playboy magazine.

The Meta office in Seattle is a beauty, loads of space and fun for a work environment. The office was busy every day, but we found some time to explore.

Recommended Music

My recommendation this week is a playlist created by Richard James (Aphex Twin) for Supreme clothing which is a mammoth affair containing 12 hours of (mostly) mellow tunes. There are some terrific tunes on here.

Highly recommended.

Recommended Watching

I watched three movies on the way to the US. Here are my short Letterboxd reviews:

A ★★★★½ review of Bird (2024)

Phenomenal film. Great performances. Harrowing at times, but worth pushing through.

Letterboxd

A ★★★½ review of The Outrun (2024)

I enjoyed this, the story of a young alcoholic who escapes from London to the Orkney Islands to reclaim life. Some lovely performances and wild island views.

Letterboxd

A ★★★½ review of Wolfs (2024)

Enjoyable caper of a movie, Pitt and Clooney play two ‘fixers’ who get assigned the same clean-up job after a dead body is found in an upscale hotel. A lot of fun, and worth the time.

Letterboxd

Listened Stuff

Here's ten artists I have listened to this week...

• Turin Brakes
• Okonski
• Arooj Aftab
• Khruangbin
• Aphex Twin
• Brian Ferry & Amelia Barratt
• Lambert
• Kelly Finnigan
• Ciara Mann
• Sharon Van Etten & The Attachments

Recommended Music

My recommendation this week is the new album from Pye Corner Audio, called 'Where things are Hollow: No Tomorrow' - this is an excellent double album of really listenable electronica from Martin Jenkins.

Starting out from the Black Mill Tapes through to this latest collection, Pye Corner has been delivering high quality synth driven music that explores ambient, techno and even hauntology in places.

Definitely worth a listen.

Recommended Watching

We've been slowly working through Toxic Town on Netflix this week, with a host of UK stars including the excellent Jodie Whittaker, Robert Carlyle and Rory Kinnear.

The four part series tells the story of a cluster of birth defects that affected children born in Corby (UK) in the 1990's. The local steel work was being decommissioned and ground water became contaminated with heavy metals.

The performances are great here and the story by the brilliant Jack Thorne is top notch.

Highly Recommended.

Listened Stuff

Here's ten artists I have listened to this week...

• Doves
• Public Service Broadcasting
• Marlon Williams
• Shida Shahabi
• Sharon Van Etten & Attachment Theory
• Pye Corner Audio
• Chris Eckmann
• Fink
• Will Saul
• Aphex Twin

Vinyl Additions

The previously mentioned album from Saba Alizadeh arrived this week.

Recommended Stuff

My recommendation this week is categorised on Spotify as 'Chill Country' and I guess thats not a bad definition of Syrup Revival by The Last River Bottomed Fig Plucker aka Derek Allen Lind.

This is a project born out of a garage based jam band in Wisconsin, and this latest album is a quiet, gentle collection of bluesy-country that drew me in with great lyrics and a superb voice.

Highly recommended.

Live Music - Zaho De Sagazan

Lucky enough to get out and see some live music on Friday.

Zaho De Sagazan had previously featured on the Stuff Mixtape back in 2024, and was visiting Dublin to the play at the Academy. A great evening of performance, lights and electronica with some blistering tracks.

Very enjoyable. Highly recommended if you can get to the current UK and Europe tour.

Listened Stuff

Here's ten artists I have listened to this week...

• Momus
• Saba Alizadeh
• Mogwai
• usof
• Lankum
• Saya Gray
• Zaho De Sagazan (Live)
• Dovs 
• X.Y.R.
• Eddie Chacon

Vinyl Additions

No new vinyl this week - although I scoped out my list for Record Store Day 2025

Recommended Stuff

My recommendation this week is the music of Iranian composer and instrumentalist Saba Alizadeh and their new album, Temple of Hope.

The album interprets the Woman Life Freedom movement through sound collage and electronica, creating a wide soundscape in turn feels expansive and claustrophobic.

It's an astounding listen. Highly recommended.

Listened Stuff

Here's ten artists I have listened to this week...

• Ela Minus
• Robert Leiner
• Saba Alizadeh
• Pantha Du Prince
• zaké
• Salvia
• Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross
• FKA Twigs
• Mogwai
• The Last River Bottomed Fig Plucker

Vinyl Additions

No new vinyl this week - although I ordered the Saba Alizadeh album recommended above from Bandcamp.

Recommended Stuff

Test Card (Lee Nicholson) brings us this gorgeous, lush sounding album of electronica with a gentle Kosmiche feel. Each track feels organic in structure, but rendered in beautiful electronics alongside a few conventional instruments.

Highly recommended.

Listened Stuff

Tried to find some new artists to listen to alongside some comforting end of January old favourites - here's ten that I have enjoyed this week:

• Bonny Prince Billy
• Will Long
• Test Card
• The Last River Bottomed Fig Plucker
• Mogwai
• Wish Defense
• Rain Tree Crow
• Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith
• Yussef Dayes
• Turin Brakes

Vinyl Additions

No new vinyl this week...

Recommended Stuff

My recommendation this week is the new album from singer-songwriter, Anna B Savage. You&i are Earth is a love letter to Ireland, and to a man in 10 beautifully written songs.

Savage has a beautiful, rich voice and these songs are stunning. Im off to see her live in Dublin in the Spring, and I'm really looking forward to it.

Highly recommended.

Listened Stuff

This week I refreshed my 'to listen' list - and have found some good new music - here's ten that I have enjoyed this week:

• Depeche Mode
• Anna B Savage
• Mogwai
• Civilistjävel!
• Michael Kiwanuka
• David Bowie
• Anika
• King Creosote
• Marlon Williams
• Margo Guryan

Vinyl Additions

Picked up a few new records this week, including an album that was there right at the beginning of my music discovery - and has just been rereleased on vinyl.

• John Foxx - Metamatic
• Anna B Savage - You & I are Earth
• Mogwai - The Bad Fire
• Michael Kiwanuka - Small Changes
• Studio - West Coast

Recommended Stuff

My recommendation this week is Another Mississippi Sunday Morning by Parchman Prison Prayer. This is a field recording of prisoners at a maximunm security jail in Mississippi who gather each week for a gospel revival style session of prayer and music.

The short tracks are full of soul, longing and sense of repentance - and the back stories behind the singers are extraordinary.

Highly recommended listening.

Listened Stuff

This week I refreshed my 'to listen' list - and have found some good new music - here's ten that I have enjoyed this week:

• Radiohead
• Masalem Houssam Guinia
• Phillip Jeck
• Parchman Prison Prayer
• Perfume Genius
• Kele
• Daniel Blumberg
• Royksopp
• Jamie XX
• Godspeed! You black emperor.

Recommended Stuff

My recommendation this week is a slightly older album that I missed in 2024, but is definitely worth a listen.

Legowelt is a Dutch producer/DJ, who released 'A field guide to the void', an excellent collection of electronica/Kosmiche that reminds me of one of my all-time favourite acts - Kraftwerk - if they went to a massive rave in a field.

The album is over an hour long, so the tracks have time to build and develop and theres a lot of fun in here.

Recommended album.

Listened Stuff

This week I refreshed my 'to listen' list - and have found some good new music - here's ten that I have enjoyed this week:

• Amelia Warner
• Turin Brakes
• Farah Kaddour
• Arooj Aftab
• Soshi Takeda
• King Creosote
• Franz Ferdinand
• Llyr
• Legowelt
• Natalia Lafourcade

New Vinyl

I managed a little vinyl shopping over the holiday season - and I added the following to the vinyl collection:

• Various Artists - Eccentric Soul: The Forte Album
• Various Artists - Eccentric Soul: Consolidated Productions Vol 1
• Various Artists - Eccentric Disco
• Tee National - Rome (Live)
• Zaho De Sagazan - La Symphonie des éclairs

Recommended Stuff

My recommendation this week is a new release from Stuff favourites Royksopp who have surprise released a 30-track ambient reinterpretation of their Profound Mysteries project which I loved last year.

Nebulous Nights is a beautiful reworking of the triple album that was Profound Mysteries and features many of the original vocalists in a largely beatless journey.

Every track here will be added to my Flowstuff playlist as it perfectly fits the vibe.

Listened Stuff

This week I have been trying to catch up with my 'to listen' list - and have found some great new albums to put in my rotation - here's ten that I have enjoyed this week:

• Arin Aksberg
• Ane Brun
• Laura Marling
• Kali Malone
• Royksopp
• Lara Sarkissian
• toechter
• Bibio
• Sasha
• Deathbed Convert

New Vinyl

I did some christmas shopping at my favourite Vinyl store last weekend, but its important to look after yourself, so I added the following to my vinyl collection:

• Yannis and the Yaw - Lagos Paris London
• Sasha - Da Vinci Genius (The Score)

I’m trying something new for my music recommendations, rather than post in my email I’m putting these on my blog so I can include more or less as I go.  

Recommended Stuff

My recommendation this week is my annual holiday season playlist which I updated this week for 2024. It's nearly four hours of acceptable christmas music, nothing too wild - but some great tunes that will see you through the season.

Every year I share this and it's one of my most saved playlists. I hope you enjoy, and I wish you all a very happy holiday season.

Listened Stuff

I took a quick trip to New York this week for work, and these are the artists that kept me company while I was travelling.

• Leadbelly
• Bruce Springsteen
• Kings of Convenience
• The Cure
• Michael Kiwanuka
• Otis Redding 
• Kelly Finnigan
• Serge Gainsbourg & Jane Birkin
• Khruangbin
• The Sextones

I’m trying something new for my music recommendations, rather than post in my email I’m putting these on my blog so I can include more or less as I go.  

Recommended Stuff

My recommendation this week is the new album from Irish singer/songwriter Jono McCleery, who brings us a new collection of delicately written and performed songs in a chilled, folky style. 

I only recently discovered Jono, and I like his laidback sets which remind me of early Damien Rice or similar. 

Recommended album. 

Listened Stuff

Here are ten artists I listened to this week…

• Father John Misty
• Blixa Bargeld
• Michael Kiwanuka
• Khruangbin
• Sheherazaad
• Mariam the Believer
• Fennesz
• Porridge Radio
• Black Pumas
• The Dears

Vinyl Collection

Had a quick trip to my favourite Vinyl shop in Dublin last weekend, to pick up some pre-orders and have a browse - here’s what I bought home:

• The Cure - Songs of a Lost World
• Black Pumas Live
• Leadbelly - Huddie Ledbetter's Best...His Guitar, His Voice, His Piano
• Kings of Convenience - Declaration of Dependance (Reissue)
• Kings of Convenience  - Riot on an Empty Street (Reissue)
• Beloved - Conscience (Reissue)

I’m trying something new for my music recommendations, rather than post in my email I’m putting these on my blog so I can include more or less as I go.  

Khruangbin (live)

My week started with a Sunday evening trip to see Khruangbin at the 3 Arena in Dublin on their ‘A La Sala’ tour. As you might expect, they played the whole of the new album straight through and then after a quick interlude off stage came back to share some older tracks. 

I loved it, from creeping around the wide tiered stage to some unusual ‘dancing’, I thought their show had a great sense of humour alongside some great psyche sounds.

Recommended Stuff

Top of the tree this week has to be the new Stuff Mixtape - 16 tracks that have been floating around my ears this month, lovingly prepared into an old fashioned mixtape for you. It's sixteen great tracks that I think you’ll enjoy. 

Also recommended this week

Kendrick Lamar dropped a surprise album late last week - GNX is absolutely worth the listen, especially the Vandross sampling ‘Luther’ and the single Squabble up

Something New

Another great album this week is from London based band - Porridge Radio with Clouds in the Sky, They will always be there for me. Fantastic chamber-pop with excellent vocals, recommended. (Website)