I’ve decided to start keeping a monthly music diary, more for my own purposes than anything else, so I can look back on what went on in my musical world every month. It’ll include a playlist of the songs I’ve been enjoying this month, the shows I’ve been to, and commentary on musical events and discourse.
Another busymonth personally, with workamd family and new house, but I have at least found a little more music listening time than over the summer. Much of my listening has been based around a couple of BlueSky music challenges.
The first was on Black Popular Music from 1982-1985. Open Aspect #2 by Anthony Braxton was a particular favourite discovery, as was Nuclear War by Sun Ra. And it’s always good to be reminded of George Clinton’s Atomic Dog, an absolute classic.
The other challenge involved selecting my favourite 50 songs of the 2020s, but I have spent as much time discovering other players selections as choosing my own. In particular it has reawakened my semi-dormant love for techno, through awesome tracks like Helena Hauff’s ‘Punks At The Gym’ (above) and Robert Hood’s ‘The Struggle’.
New music I’ve listened to includes the latest Cate Le Bon album, which I haven’t fallen for in quite the same way as some of the previous ones, but her albums do often take time to appreciate fully. Also the first Jade album, which is very good, but nothing on it matches opener ‘Angel Of My Dreams’ or the non-album collaboration with Confidence Man, ‘Gossip’.
No live music for me this month, sadly, but I did book a few future gigs. Belle and Sebastian/Saint Etienne at Halifax Piece Hall next June, which is of those ‘play a classic album in full’ gigs that I’m usually not keen on. However, ‘If You’re Feeling Sinister’ is one of the few albums where I love every single track, so I’ll make an exception in this case (plus the venue is one of my favourites, a stunning outdoor courtyard, so I try to get to at least one show there each year).
Also Manchester Psych Fest 2026, almost a year away, but I attended for the first time ever in 2025 and enjoyed it enough to want to return. Plus a performance by an ice quartet (as in, all the instruments are made of ice) at Howard Assembly Room in Leeds, which will be unique if nothing else. I’ll be attending that one with my mum, who still loves live music in her late sixties, although understandably prefers seated shows nowadays.
Music discourse in the month was focused on Taylor Swift’s new album, largely considered a disappointment. I am yet to listen, not having enjoyed the previous one much, but every artist is allowed the odd disappointing record. All of my very favourite bands have released at least a couple of mediocre albums, and in some cases outright stinkers (Neil Young, i’m looking in your direction). 1989 remains by far my favourite Swift album for what it’s worth.
There was also the death of D’Angelo, an artist who I admit to not having paid as much attention to as he deserves. I’ve heard enough to respect the artistry, but not enough to really get into his music. A shame that it has taken his death to make me pay attention. There is so much music out there to discover, and my tastes were perhaps too narrow in my younger years. I always listened to a lot of different genres, but only dug deep into a few. A lot of soul, jazz, country and many other genres went ignored, although that has changed a little in recent years, and will continue to do so no doubt.
As usual, an Apple Music playlist of the songs I’ve enjoyed most this month can be found below.
https://music.apple.com/gb/playlist/musical-diary-october-2025/pl.u-gxbl8JDubLPLEak
And you can convert the playlist to your streaming service of choice here:
Mark J Wray 