Ben Hogwood
@benarcanafm.bsky.social
The music sounds better with you! Music rights for Naxos; editor of Arcana.fm website; writing for Electronic Sound, Presto Music and musicOMH. Dreams of forming acoustic band Good On Paper while supporting the Canaries #ncfc
I've been spending time with this album in the last week. Such vivid storytelling
Bernie Taupin – The Sea Has No Mercy Elton John's lyricist has a fine, weathered baritone of his own, freely wearing its lines of age and experience with distinction, knowledge and humour
I always find it hard to do a 'best of 2026' when Autumn has only just started...hoping there's a load of good musical stuff still to arrive in the meantime!
30 years to the day since I started working in music, nervously walking along Streatham High Road to start as a classical repertoire researcher at MCPS. Very grateful to still be employed in my favourite subject area!
Back on the train today with Vanishing Twin and their Archive album, revealing more layers with each listen #commuterworld
Late evening Haydn string quartet listening - Op.33 - taking the weight off a Monday. One of life's musical pleasures
A rare album from Bernie Taupin this morning, The Sea Has No Mercy. A slow burner and an ideal match for the slowly clearing mist #commuterworld
Not how this week was supposed to pan out. Need to see the Clement from this time last year! #ncfc
Go to your camera roll and search "boat" and then post a picture of a boat you like. A pause during an early morning run on the waterfront in Tallinn, on a crisp April morning
Go to your camera roll and search “boat” and then post a picture of a boat you like. Arriving in Sorrento to find Batman was already here.
My Steve Reich listening series for @arcanadotfm.bsky.social continues with a piece written on a single day, 22 May 1966: arcana.fm/2026/10/17/p...
Pulse Music – Steve Reich: Melodica (1966)
by Ben Hogwood Photo credit Jeffrey Herman Background Reich’s short but dazzling group of pieces for tape signs off with Melodica. The composer lays out clear instructions in the score, an image of…
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Today's view over coffee...having listened to Digitonal's The Night Album on the rainy #commuterworld walk
I interviewed Estonian National Male Choir conductor Mikk Üleoja about their new Tubin album for @prestomusic.bsky.social. They are a remarkable ensemble, while his insights on war are telling: www.prestomusic.com/classical/ar...
Mikk Üleoja on the Estonian National Male Choir
The Estonian conductor discusses his new recording of Eduard Tubin's powerful Requiem for Fallen Soldiers (released last month on Divine Art) and the importance of 'protecting artistic borders against...
prestomusic.com
My Steve Reich listening series continues with another landmark early work: arcana.fm/2026/10/15/p...
Pulse Music – Steve Reich: Come Out (1966)
by Ben Hogwood “I had never heard anyone deal with music or language in that way, turning language into music that had political content. I was completely floored by it” – sculptor and artist…
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When does this become more than a lingering worry? Need a proper result on Saturday for starters #ncfc
A fascinating read, this - worth it for the conversation with Stephen Sondheim alone
Calm music from Digitonal on the train this morning...finally listening to The Night Album, working equally well at the opposite end of the day! #commuterworld
Billowing clouds and the new, intriguing album from Vanishing Twin - Archives looks set to be a grower with a dark edge #commuterworld
My new Steve Reich listening series Pulse Music is underway on @arcanadotfm.bsky.social... and my ears are ringing already! arcana.fm/2026/10/12/p...
Pulse Music – Steve Reich: It’s Gonna Rain (1965)
by Ben Hogwood “It was, I have to say, one of the three to four really life-changing musical events of my life” – Brian Eno on hearing Steve Reich’s It’s Gonna Rain for the first time (from S…
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A cello and electronics match up from Gaspar Claus this morning, thanks to imaginative new album Cells #commuterworld
A sixth defeat of the season...that defence still needs shoring up! #ncfc
Just realised how much this song has in common with You Can't Hurry Love #TOTP
Four album reviews from yours truly in this edition, all well worth exploring: JIM, Jeremiah Chiu, Simon Goff & mysterious Synthetic Water Music on the Slovakian label Mappa
NEW ISSUE OUT NOW! We have German freaktronic giants FAUST as this month’s Electronic Sound cover story and we’re bundling the mag with a clear vinyl seven-inch EP featuring four tracks from the four albums the band have just released. Get your copy at electronicsound.squarespace.com/shop/magazine
Reading a fascinating conversation between Steve Reich and Brian Eno about the former's breakthrough piece 'It's Gonna Rain'. Some striking insights from both sides
My review of Mark Padmore and Jonathan Biss at @wigmore-hall.org.uk yesterday - a memorable lunchtime: arcana.fm/2026/10/06/p...
In Concert – Mark Padmore & Jonathan Biss @ Wigmore Hall: Schubert & Schumann
Mark Padmore (tenor, above), Jonathan Biss (piano, below) Wigmore Hall, LondonThursday 24 September (lunchtime) Schubert Der Wanderer an den Mond D870 (1826), Im Freien D880 (1826), Der Einsame D80…
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A rather special Wigmore lunchtime concert from Mark Padmore and Jonathan Biss today...where I unexpectedly found myself sat next to a piano-playing Dame!
A chilled start with bvdub's album for @quietdetails.bsky.social, Morning Glories. Taking the edge off my aches from the Tonbridge half marathon yesterday! #commuterworld
In 40+ years of watching England, I don't ever remember seeing them strut around the football pitch like this!
On his birthday...a series of Steve Reich discoveries! arcana.fm/2026/10/03/s...
On this day: Steve Reich is 90 – introducing ‘Pulse Music’
Steve Reich: New York City, May 2005 Credit: Jeffrey Herman by Ben Hogwood Steve Reich is 90. Steve Reich is 90 and I’m listening… Steve Reich is 90 and I’m listening to everything… Ste…
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