🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 🇧🇪 The Subway Set - Chanson de Charleroi - Tall Tales - Antwerpeners - Soft Beneath The Brutalist Skies - Oostende 80. IYKYK. Here’s hoping it goes well ;-) ⚽️

Rather cheekily hopping on to this excellent @jonwoolcott.bsky.social @henryrothwell.bsky.social @rathergoodart.bsky.social thread, my #fieldrecordings “+” album (out next year all being well) will feature an instrumental called ‘Tiza’s Collage’ - inspired by that very story! #HillFigures

Jon Woolcott@jonwoolcott.bsky.social · 7d ago

This excellent piece reveals the truth behind one of Ravilious' best loved paintings, and how the Westbury White Horse is really in Sussex...

Possibly obvious, but ‘Trans-Europe Express’ / ‘The Man-Machine’ / ‘Computerwelt’ comes to mind. ‘Victorialand’ / ‘Blue Bell Knoll’ / ‘Heaven or Las Vegas’ also.

Mia Murphy 🏳️‍⚧️@miamurphy.com · 2w ago

What's the best three album run from a band? (the correct answer is Moving Pictures, Signals, and Grace Under Pressure by Rush, but I'm excited to learn second place)

Some #fieldrecordings adjacent excitement today, finding an article by @polysemic.bsky.social in the journal of @thersaorg.bsky.social featuring the ‘pastime’ of the #UffingtonWhiteHorse. Though just an illustration of the article’s key point, it might still get referenced in a particular track :-)

With this World Cup now over, a thanks to folk here - including @lippykidmusic.bsky.social @david-soulscorch.bsky.social @drtechnical.bsky.social @theunfinished.bsky.social @kieranmahon.bsky.social @brimcrob.bsky.social - who helped with my enjoyment of it :-)

No #WorldCup games tonight, so another #synthbraska post. There’s a song partly set in #Edinburgh on it (involving a Barbara Hepworth sculpture in the Botanics) but this got me wondering if there’s a future album’s worth of inspiration from independent shops I’ve visited in the city over the years…

The Whimsical Muse@whimsicalmuse.bsky.social · last mo.

At the end of the day, don’t we all just want to inhale the intoxicating aroma of vintage books in a quaint bookstore on a cobblestone side street in Edinburgh during a pouring rain?

No #WorldCup matches tonight and so some more #synthbraska build-up. There’s a song on the album inspired by seeing a book on #HenryMoore in #Grasmere. I really should visit @henrymoorestudios.bsky.social & @hmileeds.bsky.social sometime :-) #lofi #electronica henry-moore.org

No #WorldCup matches today so thoughts have turned to how I might promote the #lofi #synthbraska album later this year. There’s an “Essex song” on it (Grayson Perry, Southend Pier & King Canute get referenced) and so I’m going to listen to this and see what it inspires…

John Grindrod@grindrod.bsky.social · last mo.

The latest Monstrosities Mon Amour sees @gmdarksky.bsky.social explore the sublime weirdness of Bradwell Nuclear Power Station in Essex podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/m...

In #lofi #electronica meets #WorldCup2026 news, I have written a few songs about happy times in #Belgium; ‘Oostende 80’, ‘Antwerpeners’ & ‘Chanson de Charleroi’ are three. From Pfaff to Lukaku the country has had some captivating players in my time; it’d be great to see them reach the last eight.

The Guardian@theguardian.com · last mo.

Folarin Balogun eligible to play for US v Belgium as Fifa rescinds suspension for red card

“Honeyed stone, sets the tone…” In Bath yesterday, having finished the #synthbraska album, and so a break before picking up on my #fieldrecordings one - chalk #hillfigures are the theme of that and I’d had a fine view of the #UffingtonWhiteHorse en route to the city, by happy coincidence :-)

I have written a song about this story (the song is called ‘Wim van Hanegem’s Dog’) but not released it. It is very short. Anyway, from Dutch football to #WorldCup football now…

Keith Harrison @keithharrison.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Have you read ‘Brilliant Orange’ by @dwinnera.bsky.social? There’s a fabulous chapter about Wim van Hanegem asking his dog for a casting vote on whether to transfer from #Feyenoord to #OlympiquedeMarseille, or not!

In between World Cup games I might just have finished mastering the #synthbraska album! Need to listen to it in one go now, just to be sure. Made a little breakthrough on the #fieldrecordings one too - though that may well not see the light of day until ‘27 now :-)

Voltage Poetry Project@voltagepoetry.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Almost inevitably I’ll be joining a conversation or two about the game later tonight but, ahead of that, it is too much of a temptation not to mention that my next very #lofi album (the #synthbraska one) includes a lyrical reference or two to those buildings in the background of that shot…

Almost inevitably I’ll be joining a conversation or two about the game later tonight but, ahead of that, it is too much of a temptation not to mention that my next very #lofi album (the #synthbraska one) includes a lyrical reference or two to those buildings in the background of that shot…

Past Glasgow@pastglasgow.co.uk · 2mo ago

As World Cup tie ins go, this is about the most tenuous one imaginable. We're looking at shop fronts on Paisley Rd West, in front of Alexander Thomson's Walmer Crescent, featuring...THE TARTAN CHIPPY! 😂🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Best of luck to the Scotland team tonight 🙏 1935 v 2025 📷 Glasgow City Archives, Past Glasgow

On my way to a chalk landscape conference for my day job and the journey is already a songwriting inspiration! RER vibes on St Pancras Platform B; two generations of new urban utopia in stops at Stevenage & Letchworth Garden City & overcast skies but plenty of passengers in shorts at Baldock.

Happy 13th to @revivalsynth.bsky.social. I’ve had some love for quite obscure tracks of mine (‘I Townplanner’ & ‘The Ballad of Anatole and Françoise’ come to mind) plus a couple of phenomenal album reviews from it. Cheers to Andy and all the synthy folk he promotes. #synthsky #electronicmusic

Revival Synth@revivalsynth.bsky.social · 2mo ago

✨𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐘 𝟏𝟑𝐓𝐇 𝐁𝐈𝐑𝐓𝐇𝐃𝐀𝐘 𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐕𝐀𝐋 𝐒𝐘𝐍𝐓𝐇✨ 𝙁𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝘼𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙨 - 𝙅𝙪𝙣𝙚 2026 www.revivalsynth.com 𝐈𝐧 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 : Cyclone eye cyclone-eye.bandcamp.com/album/your-v... 🆀&🅰 🆆ith Abraham - Baker - Lyndon www.revivalsynth.com/q-a-with-abr... 🅸n 🅿rofile : @Blondeking www.revivalsynth.com/blondeking/

I do think there’s a song to be written about Moviedrome and the beauty of both Alex Cox’s & Mark Cousins’ speaking voices… my memory is of how their accents and vocal tonality invited the viewer to be immersed in, and understand, the vision, technique & storytelling of a film upcoming.

Warrington-Runcorn New Town Development Plan@warringtonruncorn.com · 3mo ago

I know it's been said on here a thousand times, but, Jesus wept, BBC... give us a new series of Moviedrome or similar. The problem is we currently have an endless choice of things to watch. What we need is curation.

Take a subway train from the right hand side of the island platform, alight at the first stop and any traveller will then be where the song due to open the #synthbraska album is set :-) I must add that #SomnopolitanLine is a great title for a hashtag!

Chris Limb@catmachine.com · 3mo ago

Another photo that looks like it’s from one of my odd tube dreams. #SomnopolitanLine

A little late to this party but love the idea! The Polite Bureau Box Brownie (ft Ivo Peters) Tenement Twins Oozedam Lava Thermometer Depuis Nags Of Renown Hardy & Ward Malerischer Ort Cantilevers Over The Firth

Bob Fischer@bobfischer.bsky.social · 3mo ago

Lithium Gravy The Bike Conundrum Claw Pouch The Moose Express Telescope Club The Sago Situation Dead Man's Spectacles The Cuppateanos Marzipan Crackpipe Gnome Jacuzzi (Saw them all with @michaelshackleton.bsky.social)

One of the #synthbraska songs is set in a park by the north end of this bridge - mind you, the “happening” was on a day all was engulfed by a haar (so, not beautifully clear like this image shows!) and back in my somewhat distant student years :-)

Picture This Scotland@74frankfurt.bsky.social · 3mo ago

Tay Road Bridge, Dundee. Pic: IG/drone_alone_scotland

It’s been #EuropeDay today and, without my realisation it was coming up, the last three #FeelsLikeTheFuture posts have all been somewhat adjacent - day 7 was even on the Maastricht Treaty! I actually went to the building where it was signed, as a student (not during the actual summit though!)

European Commission@ec.europa.eu · 3mo ago

🏛️ Feestzaal, Maastricht In a banquet hall in 1992, the Treaty that gave us the European Union and set the euro in motion, was signed.

In a moment of happenstance, I will add that once - whilst working in CLLD - I went to meet a few folk involved in running a programme / suite of community projects in the Scottish Borders, at a place called #CarlopsVillageHall. @sarahmcquaidmusic.bsky.social is playing the venue tomorrow evening!

Voltage Poetry Project@voltagepoetry.bsky.social · 3mo ago

#FeelsLikeTheFuture (6): Community-Led Local Development. I used to work in this field; it is part of the inspiration behind the #synthbraska song ‘When Did We Leave The Future Behind?’ - though that also references a lighting style detail at a #ParisMetro station! en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communi...

There’s a song (‘Cardboard Coliseums’) on my @hartshornmusic.bsky.social debut #HomeSounds related to this. It asks why so many football grounds are effectively just tin sheds (or worse.) McDiarmid looks like an agri-shed in some ways, but never felt that way to me.

Voltage Poetry Project@voltagepoetry.bsky.social · 3mo ago

#FeelsLikeTheFuture (5): McDiarmid Park. There is a football ground in one of the #synthbraska songs, though not this. I went to see McDiarmid as a planning student; it seemed to respect the humanity of anyone attending a game there (I went to a few subsequently.) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McDiarm...

In case my last post looked too off topic (not much #lofi #synth accompanied song content!) here’s the @wsdot.wa.gov “road-eating” thread, with a few fun replies. The organisation also operates the Tacoma Narrows Bridge(s) & has a great web page on all three - including #GallopingGertie.

WSDOT@wsdot.wa.gov · 5mo ago

Just another beautiful day of being a public servant. Let’s check the DMs — oh.

Extra info. The #SevernBridge inspired my collab with #Loopingstar (aka @showhomebrew.bsky.social host.) I have a @stadiumprints.bsky.social mug featuring the #HumberBridge (North Ferriby FC); @gragrabeck.bsky.social is from not far away. @wsdot.wa.gov has dealt with folk asking about eating roads!

Voltage Poetry Project@voltagepoetry.bsky.social · 4mo ago

#FeelsLikeTheFuture (4): The Humber Bridge. The Severn Bridge had been, in a post-Tacoma world (IYKYK - see @wsdot.wa.gov), a leap forward, with its aerofoil deck; over the Humber this approach to suspension bridge design helped make the world’s (then) longest span. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humber_...

Thought I would start a second mix of #synthbraska and, three hours later, have ended up recording another song for it (one that will improve the album IMHO.) Ho-hum; Bruce Springsteen recorded ‘My Father’s House’ later than most of the material that made up ‘Nebraska’, so I feel in good company…

The “10 things that felt/feel like an upbeat look to the future” thread will start later today. Off to the #WordsChangeThings festival, in Margate, for my day job first. #FeelsLikeTheFuture is the hashtag for the thread… 🧵

Voltage Poetry Project@voltagepoetry.bsky.social · 4mo ago

Fascinating / inspiring posts by other folk (1): @warringtonruncorn.com. I’m tempted to post a thread on 10 things that felt, or still feel, like an upbeat look to the future. Perhaps tie each one to a song and/ or tag some pertinent accounts? Might start tomorrow…

Fascinating / inspiring posts by other folk (3): @sulkrooms.bsky.social. I’ve been making some field recordings (to see if I can create a credible album based on them - it won’t be ready for quite a while!) but they don’t involve the actual soil or the worms that make it home.

Sulk Rooms@sulkrooms.bsky.social · 4mo ago

It’s true. I’ve made an album about worms because I love them so much…

Fascinating / inspiring posts by other folk (2): @kaylapainter.bsky.social. I’ve not reached a personal conclusion on the question she poses but have enjoyed thinking about it. I’ve long found putting Cocteau Twins’ records on results in a happy state though.

Kayla Painter@kaylapainter.bsky.social · 4mo ago

Question.. do you listen to music more for comfort or curiosity?

Fascinating / inspiring posts by other folk (1): @warringtonruncorn.com. I’m tempted to post a thread on 10 things that felt, or still feel, like an upbeat look to the future. Perhaps tie each one to a song and/ or tag some pertinent accounts? Might start tomorrow…

Warrington-Runcorn New Town Development Plan@warringtonruncorn.com · 4mo ago

For someone with a nostalgia based act, I'm not actually particularly nostalgic. The thing I am paradoxically nostalgic for is a country that looked to the future.

Given some of the agendas in my day-job, it’s quite nice to get home and see #EarthDay is also the 4th birthday of @hartshornmusic.bsky.social. My intro was hearing a track by @nwcalhoun.bsky.social & I’m thrilled to release material via the label now. Thanks to everyone supporting monochrome motif.

monochrome motif/ Andrew Hartshorn@hartshornmusic.bsky.social · 4mo ago

Happy Earth Day and Happy Birthday to us. 4 years ago today monochrome motif launched with “The final corridor of uncertainty” an instrumental album reflecting on the global challenges of climate change. Sadly little has changed in this respect. andrewhartshorn.bandcamp.com/album/the-fi...