A few people asked, so… Yep, something new is coming next year. An album of personal stories, set within landscapes shaped by politics, society, memory and loss. Some songs are done; others need a little longer. I’m not rushing, because this project means more to me than anything I’ve ever made.

Hello! Long time no post. 🌸 Here's some new work from my residency at the Mokuhanga School in Karuizawa, Japan. This woodblock print features the sumo referee's 'gunbai' fan combined with peonies, my favourite flower. Signed limited edition of 10. www.geridrawsjapan.com/art-prints-m...

Some beautiful moments on Michael Cloud Duguay’s album—a document of place, people, and old church organs. I’m married to a Newfoundlander, so I know these places and can really feel them here. www.theguardian.com/music/2026/j...

‘A sacred kind of sound’: inside a solar-powered journey to preserve the music of church organs

Musician Michael Cloud Duguay’s new album was born from a mission to capture the sound of the majestic yet increasingly rare instruments

theguardian.com

Debut EP from Secret Bisous, an inspiring musician and ceramicist that I met during my @campfr.bsky.social residency last Spring. secretbisous.bandcamp.com/album/terra-...

Terra Sigillata, by Secret Bisous

5 track album

secretbisous.bandcamp.com

Balades Sonores, Paris. New location since my last visit, and much bigger now. One of my faves thanks to the deep electronic and jazz sections, the hard-to-find Japanese releases, and resident cats.

Future music from Germany.

Here we go…

Back from a week working and walking on the edge of Saddleworth. Nothing restores my positivity quite like spending time on the Pennine moors.

Chills, but especially from 1:40... www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bgh...

Tape 05

YouTube video by Boards of Canada

youtube.com

Following a year away, I'm back on @vpraudioclub.bsky.social The first of four seasonal shows planned for the year kicking off with this Spring edition 🌱 An eclectic selection of recent releases from the year so far, plus a 30 minute mix to reflect the season... www.mixcloud.com/vpraudioclub...

Finally getting around to documenting this trip. Fifteen packed days, so I’m splitting it into three posts — here’s the first. colly.com/journal/retu...

Return to Tokyo, Part 1

I’ve split this summary across three posts, and this roundup details the first five days. Highlights included lots of sumo, a studio session, and getting to know Ryōgoku.

colly.com

Another time-consuming but deeply rewarding home repair. I love this amp far too much to replace it, and there’s no excuse when there’s a detailed YouTube video of a Turkish chap repairing the very same 44-year-old Technics amp. I came close to despair with the input switches, but I bloody did it.

Saturday afternoon with Taeko Ohnuki’s Sunshower — a fave city pop treat and comfortingly toasty on tape.

One of the UK's very best bands and I won't hear otherwise.

Lippy Kid@lippykidmusic.bsky.social · 5mo ago

Tonight's whisky pairing... I was fortunate enough to catch Twilight Sad touring this album and through James Graham witnessed an all time great vocal performance. So much heartfelt passion and intensity he could barely stand as the show closed. I can't wait for their new album x #NowPlaying

One for fellow spoolers: WalkmanLand is a database of all 80s/90s portable cassette players (found via @simplebits.com's fine newsletter). My WM-22 still outperforms any modern alternatives and it's lovely to get this much detail. walkman.land/sony/wm-22

Sony WM-22 ▶ Walkman.land

The WM-22 was the first Walkman model that was sold in the UK for under £30.

walkman.land

Good haul from this Tokyo trip — focused on classic 70s/80s city pop and YMO/Sakamoto, but couldn’t resist the 1978 Japan pressing of The Kick Inside, a 1985 Hounds of Love tape, and that Kid A obi. (See ALT text for details)

Returning a nonsite to its site.

Many Sakamoto moments on this trip. Watched the Tokyo Melody 4K restoration and also got up close with his Fairlight CMI. The highlight was an afternoon at Sakamoto Library (secret location, strictly no photos). Quietly reading a book that I know he cherished and finding his pen notes was moving.

Spent the day re-recording software piano parts on a lovely Yamaha YU-11 in a tiny Harajuku studio — then went record shopping.

Visited the ramen bar featured on the cover of Rod Modell & Taka Noda’s ambient masterpiece Glow World. (Hat tip to my old friend Patrick Lauke for sharing this location: Hakata Tenjin Ramen, Shinjuku.)

It’s been almost eight years (which is eight years too long) and I’m so excited to be back 🇯🇵

Fun update: I made an app over the holiday break! It’s called Unstream: Find your favorite music on alternative platforms, directly support the artists you love, and move off streaming. You can check it out here, at a URL I still find amusing: unstream.stream #indiemusic #musicsky #bandcamp

Bowie's passing really hit me a year later, at X Japan's Wembley Arena show, when rock guitarist Sugizo reappeared alone in the Earthling coat with a violin and this happened. Sat in the front row, I was overwhelmed by memories of my dad and how Bowie soundtracked our life, and I cried buckets.

Here’s my 22nd annual music roundup — bigger and more ridiculously obsessive than ever. colly.com/journal/twen...

2025 in music

Here’s my 22nd annual roundup: sixty short reviews across five categories, plus shows, stats and playlists. It gets more ridiculous every year, but I do it to myself, I do.

colly.com

✨ Stars of the Lid Forever (starsofthelidforever.com) Christmas update! I’ve just published 8 new shows, bringing our total to 25 🙌 Saint-Jean-Baptiste au Béguinage, Nottingham Contemporary St John-at-Hackney Le Poisson Rouge Les Voûtes, Paris St Giles in the Fields St Mary's Church Philadelphia

Thank you so much for all the support you've shown for this series throughout the year. Its meant a great deal. For the final edition. The series started with David Bowie. It was always going to end with him too. 52 Albums To Shape A Soul - Part 52 🖤⚡x lippykidmusic.substack.com/p/52-albums-...

A deep one for fellow fans... colly.com/journal/radi...

Radiohead at the O2

From one of the best seats in the entire arena, I saw my favourite band for the fourth time. Within minutes, I realised this would be the best gig I’d ever experienced.

colly.com

I never expected to see Akiko Yano play live, let alone briefly meet her and get an album signed. Good fortune to discover that the closing night of the London Jazz Festival at The Barbican was happening the day after Radiohead, so we stayed in London for it. She’s amazing.

Yet to come down from last night’s Radiohead gig. We were lucky to get codes and decided we’d stump for vip tickets if that’s all there was, and got front row. I’ve seen them several times, including Glasto ‘97, but last night was perfect, the entire band giving everything. Just… wow. Here’s Jonny…