🎵 Music
Crucial Track 🎵 August 8, 2026
"Govinda" by Kula Shaker
Apparently they are still going ... who knew? This had my ears at the time - as did [🖇️ the album](https://john.philpin.com/2026/08/08/k-by-kula-shaker.html) - and still does. I can't fail to listen to Govinda and not feel uplifted.
K by Kula Shaker
Released in 1996 in the middle of ‘Brit Pop’ - yet curiously Oasis, Blur and Pulp all did NOT release and album that year. Not sure they fit into the BritPop category - but no less great for it.
Watched 🔗📼🎵 10 Obscure Prog Rock Bands You Need to Hear Right Now
I think ‘obscure’ depends on who, when and where you are .. but that said - a good list none the less with 7 of them being represented in my vinyl and CD collections, you might think I am 💯 on board. I am not. Looking at you ‘Spock’s Beard’ and ‘Flower Kings’ - but I respect your right to be there its just that neither of you ever did ‘it’ for me … but for such a list - definitely worthy inclusions, despite some serious omissions.
Then today ..
🔗 Top Progressive Rock Albums of All Time, Ranked, which includes ‘criteria; for inclusion …
2b. Does anybody play keyboards with their feet? ….. If YES, continue to proceed to 3. If NO, they’re probably not prog, but proceed.
Crucial Track 🎵 July 30, 2026
"Wuthering Heights" by Kate Bush
Happy Birthday Kate. You didn't change everything - but you sure changed a lot.
🎵 🔗 Phil Collins - Face Value - Steven Wilson Remixes
.. an interesting choice for Mr. Wilson. He’s on record as ‘Genesis? No thanks’. So I guess it isn’t Phil that put him off.
Crucial Track 🎵 July 8, 2026
"Instant Karma! (We All Shine On) [The Ultimate Mix]" by John Lennon & Yoko Ono
It’s going to get you. 🔗 Inspired by
Crucial Track 🎵 July 1, 2026
"Life Is a Long Song" by Jethro Tull
I wrote something recently - a friend wrote back “your on song John” and my mind instantly jumped back in time 55 years and this has been ear worming me ever since. It’s not even about what he wrote.
Crucial Track 🎵 June 28, 2026
"Prove It" by Television
They did.
Reminded of Tom today when I read that his collection of 4.000 vinyls were being sold at auction.
Crucial Track 🎵 June 27, 2026
"America Is Waiting" by Brian Eno & David Byrne
Two of the masters delivering a master
The video is well worth a watch aswell.
Crucial Track 🎵 June 26, 2026
🎵 Only the Good Die Young || Remembering ‘Om Malik’ - today he moved on to where or whatever the next realm is.
Crucial Track 🎵 June 25, 2026
"Constant Craving" by k.d. lang
I actually don't - but it is still an important song in my canon.
🖋️ A One Man Army
Terry Godier is his name and he seems to be assuming the role of helping us all be purposeful as we seek to slow ourselves down in the the accelerating world of tech that we all live in. I am guilty of that speed. I LOVE slowing down. And it is entertaining at the same time as being informative. Thank you Terry.
Crucial Track 🎵 June 24, 2026
"Dancing in the Street (2002 Remaster)" by David Bowie & Mick Jagger
**So great. Such fun.**
I mean sure - you could pop over to your music player and have a listen - but there's also the video for twice the fun.
Crucial Track 🎵 June 23, 2026
"Vivaldi" by Curved Air
Another one of those cross genre mind blowing tracks that just had me hooked - and never let me go. I wonder if two cellos would ever have happened without Darryl.
Crucial Track 🎵 June 22, 2026
"Phaedra (Steven Wilson 2018 Stereo Remix)" by Tangerine Dream
But these were the guys that had my heart back in the day. Noting that I try to post links as close to the original as I can - this is the exception that proves the rule - a 2028 Remix by Steven Wilson.
Bonus points for the name of the river.
📺 I watched the first 1 1/2 episodes of 🔗 Cold Call a long while back and forgot all about it. This weekend as I was poking around - redesicovered and finished it. (The whole thing is only 4 episodes - so an easy piece of homework) - and my goodness - maybe they spent a little bit too much time setting it all up - but somewhere in the middle - it just turns … you might know the lead - Sally Lindsay from 🖇️The Madame Blanc Mysteries that she created, co wrote and stars in. Nice gentle little show with a 🖇️🎵 great theme song.
Cold Call is nothing like that.
★★★
Crucial Track 🎵 June 21, 2026
"Funeral for a Friend / Love Lies Bleeding (2014 Remaster)" by Elton John
IMO he never did enough instrumentals. And no - not a 'yellow' brick' 'road'.
Crucial Track 🎵 June 20, 2026
"God Speed The Plough" by Stackridge
Part 2 of 2. Not The Korgis.
Crucial Track 🎵 June 19, 2026
"Everybody's Got to Learn Sometime" by The Korgis
Part 1 of 2 - Not Stackridge.
And so good night. I’ll just leave this with you all to marinate.