Colin Watts

The greatest radio station in history, a freewheeling radio equivalent of the Hacienda that the BBC would never in a million years countenance now. The studios are expensive shops now, no trace that it ever existed other than in the memory of its devoted listeners. Utterly brilliant.

Rifkind says what everyone else is thinking - the Emperor is naked.

Your Thursday #TOTP trivia. There was a 489-day window between May 26, 1951 and September 26, 1952 when every 'real' person mentioned in 'We Didn't Start the Fire' was alive at the same moment. (There are only 3 still alive, including Chubby Checker - There's always a Twist at the end)

Was that a brief appearance of Jesus on that Jive Bunny video? Same guy as on the Cover of that Chemical Brothers album? #TOTP

A guy in this tattoo parlour literally asked for every member of the Red Hot Chilli Peppers to be inked ONTO HIS ACTUAL FACE. He was sent away with a Flea in his ear

I can affirm this is rather good (as are all the others in the series).

Fun thread.

Conservative IHT plans, and their consequences.

Nothing lasts forever #totp

I think you'll find this is the correct opinion #totp

IYKYK

I've dropped enough hints but am paging @theglw.bsky.social again.

Stick it in the diary folks #XTCMusic

If depth of feeling is a currency then I'm the man who grew the money tree. #XTCMusic

10 Minute Klaxon #XTCMusic

Join the ORANGES AND LEMONS listening party tomorrow night! Fruit optional, but your own access to the album a must. #XTCmusic

A little conversation I had on Twitter 🙂

🎙️ Just published a new episode of What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast: Skylarking at 40 with XTC’s Colin Moulding, Blur’s Dave Rowntree, MP Rupa Huq and presenter Samira Ahmed. Have a listen:

Do join in on the 30th. You'll discover loads, and have fun listening along no doubt.

Probably can't make this tonight, but I hope you can. 9pm.

Last day of the final Test. Last Night Of The Proms. I guess it's the last of these for a while.

“The trouble with you, Spode, is that just because you have succeeded in inducing a handful of half-wits to disfigure the London scene by going about in black shorts, you think you’re someone. You hear them shouting “Heil, Spode!” and you imagine it is the Voice of the People.” Bertie Wooster

Is it unfair to judge #ReformConference on the appearance of its more outré members? Yes Am I going to continue to do it? Also yes

Leonard Cohen Basement Jaxx Public Service Broadcasting Squeeze The Beat The Dears De La Soul Grace Jones Chic The Go! Team

I've grown cynical about technology over the years, but occasionally, someone will do something incredible with it. Love the process, and the results here.

I thought I was a bit of an obsessive, but learnt loads tonight. Join us next month.

Tonight Folks!

Highly recommend @world-of-telly.bsky.social podcast. Lovingly curated deep dive into the most interesting TV over the decades. Hoping they'll get round to covering "If You See God, Tell Him" one day.

Last #XTC related post (until the next one) #XTCMusic

However you're feeling, hearing this will make you feel better.

Lots of great stuff on Alison's timeline over the past few days. This is my favourite.

🎙️ Just published a new episode of What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast: Steve Lillywhite on producing XTC. Have a listen:

Tonight at 9.

I thought I was familiar with this exquisite song. However with Alison's version here, there are joys within I'd never appreciated before. Absolutely lovely. Give it a listen.

So lovely of the fragrant Lucy Connolly to agree with me that the Reform UK party conference was just one big boozy knees up with no serious politics involved at all. 😉

Tories beaten by Restore, which is basically one aging racist with a Facebook page. The Keminaissance in action.

Inevitably, I ruined this by typing so slowly, I was always commenting on the previous song. But next month it's SKYLARKING. Yes SKYLARKING. SKYLARKING KLAXON!

Very much had that mid-80s production to it. Great opener though. #xtcmusic

Tonight 👇

"Free Lucy Connolly" and "jail Zack Polanski" are not remotely intellectually consistent as positions. Anyone who's said both – hi Zia! – can be dismissed as an insincere grifter. And that's even before you factor that Connolly's post was significantly worse *and* made during a time of riots.

If it gets more people to listen to Drums and Wires, there might be some positives to this story.

Naturally with #XTC, they've got the best material with which to work, but this magazine is brilliantly researched and lovingly written. All the people. All the records.

Good post. Good replies.

My book #IntoTheGroove is published in North America tomorrow. I have no big launch plans, but reposts will be welcome. Thanks.