Ben Hogwood

My Pulse Music series for @arcanadotfm.bsky.social moves on to another ground breaking Steve Reich piece: arcana.fm/2026/10/26/p...

Deep, cloudy ambience form Vigilant this morning - the new album Threads Of Memories, on the excellent Glacial Movements label #commuterworld

Good for a rainy day. Including Delius and Deep Purple...authors of very different pieces about water!

#Pianist #JosephMiddleton on what #Mahler's songs can teach us about living with uncertainty: one of our most wide-ranging Lieder interpreters on the Austrian master in this #FirstPerson marking his #SignumClassics release SONGS OF YOUTH AND AWAKENING theartsdesk.com/classical-mu...

Well that's a tonic! #ncfc

I've been spending time with this album in the last week. Such vivid storytelling

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

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...

Forgot About Dre still sounds amazing #TOTP

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...

My Steve Reich listening series continues with another landmark early work: arcana.fm/2026/10/15/p...

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

In case you missed this yesterday:

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...

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

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...

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

On his birthday...a series of Steve Reich discoveries! arcana.fm/2026/10/03/s...

Listening to the rather wonderful Filaments compilation from @silver-threads.bsky.social ahead of review...literally taking the weight off my mind!

One to bookmark:

Cross-London transport is on its knees today. I'm on my fifth train, all have been late and three have had last minute platform alterations requiring a heroic dash to the line. Worse than the 90s!

Admiring the creativity of Andrew Spackman on new electronic album Heftibag, as the clouds begin to part near Redhill #commuterworld

Remembering Trish Keenan on her birthday youtu.be/hQv1ox13WQc

Share someone who looks stylish posing with or next to a car

That was surely a wind-up contestant?! #popmaster

My review of Zee Zee at @wigmore-hall.org.uk yesterday lunchtime - a maturing interpretation of Schubert meets dazzling Liszt: arcana.fm/2026/09/25/z...

The Prodigy's Breathe is 30 years old, eeek. I still prefer it to Firestarter for some reason - one of their very best

My latest ‘Hanging Out a Window’ column has just been published and it’s a review of some recent cultural highlights. Dive in, read and subscribe (free) here: johnearls.substack.com/p/recent-cul...