The Monolith Cocktail
@monolithcocktail.bsky.social
The contemplative, insightful and critical music blog, launched in 2010, built on a lifetime of music obsession.
Reposted by The Monolith Cocktail
Finally home form hospital, but long recovery lies ahead. I've managed however to post new reviews for albums by Howling Bells, Ira Dot, Ted Milton & Sam Britton's The Odes team-up, @pefkin.bsky.social and @wewantsounds.bsky.social @unsunghunger.bsky.social
monolithcocktail.com/2026/02/05/p...
monolithcocktail.com/2026/02/05/p...
Perusal #76: Howling Bells, The Odes, Magda Drozd, Yoshiko Sai…
A world of sonic/musical discoveries reviewed by Dominic Valvona. All entries in alphabetical order. Magda Drozd ‘Divided By Dusk’(Präsens Editionen) 13th February 2026 Coupling a renewed interest …
monolithcocktail.com
February 5, 2026 at 12:50 PM
Finally home form hospital, but long recovery lies ahead. I've managed however to post new reviews for albums by Howling Bells, Ira Dot, Ted Milton & Sam Britton's The Odes team-up, @pefkin.bsky.social and @wewantsounds.bsky.social @unsunghunger.bsky.social
monolithcocktail.com/2026/02/05/p...
monolithcocktail.com/2026/02/05/p...
Finally home form hospital, but long recovery lies ahead. I've managed however to post new reviews for albums by Howling Bells, Ira Dot, Ted Milton & Sam Britton's The Odes team-up, @pefkin.bsky.social and @wewantsounds.bsky.social @unsunghunger.bsky.social
monolithcocktail.com/2026/02/05/p...
monolithcocktail.com/2026/02/05/p...
Perusal #76: Howling Bells, The Odes, Magda Drozd, Yoshiko Sai…
A world of sonic/musical discoveries reviewed by Dominic Valvona. All entries in alphabetical order. Magda Drozd ‘Divided By Dusk’(Präsens Editionen) 13th February 2026 Coupling a renewed interest …
monolithcocktail.com
February 5, 2026 at 12:50 PM
Finally home form hospital, but long recovery lies ahead. I've managed however to post new reviews for albums by Howling Bells, Ira Dot, Ted Milton & Sam Britton's The Odes team-up, @pefkin.bsky.social and @wewantsounds.bsky.social @unsunghunger.bsky.social
monolithcocktail.com/2026/02/05/p...
monolithcocktail.com/2026/02/05/p...
Wohoo..a weekend pass for me from hospital. And whilst waiting to get signed out, my meds, I've managed to put together an end of the month summary of choice music.
monolithcocktail.com/2026/01/30/t...
monolithcocktail.com/2026/01/30/t...
The End of the Month Revue for January 2026: Playlist & Choice Album Releases
Our Monthly Playlist selection of choice music and Choice Releases list from the last month. Apologies, as I’m writing this from my bed in the Renal Unit of the Queen Elizabeth mega hospital, waiti…
monolithcocktail.com
January 30, 2026 at 3:33 PM
Wohoo..a weekend pass for me from hospital. And whilst waiting to get signed out, my meds, I've managed to put together an end of the month summary of choice music.
monolithcocktail.com/2026/01/30/t...
monolithcocktail.com/2026/01/30/t...
From my hospital bed in the Renal unit at Glasgow's QE hospital, I'm managing to post Brian Bordello's first roundup of the year.
monolithcocktail.com/2026/01/28/o...
monolithcocktail.com/2026/01/28/o...
Our Daily Bread 652: Knight’s Ferry, Schizo Fun Addict, Fran Ashcroft, Comet Gain…
BRIAN ‘BORDELLO’ SHEA’S REVIEWS ROUNDUP – INSTANT REACTIONS. Fran Ashcroft ‘Truth Love And Justice’Single – 28th January 2026 This is a fine single, a song of wistful tinged country jazz; an arch e…
monolithcocktail.com
January 28, 2026 at 6:34 PM
From my hospital bed in the Renal unit at Glasgow's QE hospital, I'm managing to post Brian Bordello's first roundup of the year.
monolithcocktail.com/2026/01/28/o...
monolithcocktail.com/2026/01/28/o...
Reposted by The Monolith Cocktail
Reposted by The Monolith Cocktail
Reposted by The Monolith Cocktail
Taghelle Nacht reviewed on Monolith Cocktail - thanks! ✨🌚
Thoughts on upcoming new releases by Greg Stasiw, Tachube, Roudi Vagou & Läuten der Seele @quindirecords.bsky.social and the late Charles ‘Poppy Bob’ Walker. Plus the latest track from The Bordellos.
monolithcocktail.com/2026/01/16/t...
monolithcocktail.com/2026/01/16/t...
The Digest for January 2026: New Music/The Social Playlist
The monthly Digest includes a clutch of accumulated short new music reviews and the social inter-generational/eclectic and anniversary albums celebrating playlist. ___THE NEW (All those latest &…
monolithcocktail.com
January 16, 2026 at 1:52 PM
Taghelle Nacht reviewed on Monolith Cocktail - thanks! ✨🌚
Reposted by The Monolith Cocktail
"Ritual drones and grinding gears from Boston to start the New Year" - The Third Eye
Grab some codes for the second @skyjellymusic.bsky.social / Solilians split
iheartnoise.bandcamp.com/album/ihn013...
Grab some codes for the second @skyjellymusic.bsky.social / Solilians split
iheartnoise.bandcamp.com/album/ihn013...
January 16, 2026 at 12:39 PM
"Ritual drones and grinding gears from Boston to start the New Year" - The Third Eye
Grab some codes for the second @skyjellymusic.bsky.social / Solilians split
iheartnoise.bandcamp.com/album/ihn013...
Grab some codes for the second @skyjellymusic.bsky.social / Solilians split
iheartnoise.bandcamp.com/album/ihn013...
Part of this month's digest, the latest edition of the long-running Social Playlist. Anniversary LP nods to Bowie, Dylan, Lou Reed, Cheyenne Fowler, Them. More recent tracks from NEDA and Penza Penza.
open.spotify.com/playlist/2kO...
open.spotify.com/playlist/2kO...
Social #104: Eclectic, Generational Spanning Playlist
open.spotify.com
January 16, 2026 at 12:35 PM
Part of this month's digest, the latest edition of the long-running Social Playlist. Anniversary LP nods to Bowie, Dylan, Lou Reed, Cheyenne Fowler, Them. More recent tracks from NEDA and Penza Penza.
open.spotify.com/playlist/2kO...
open.spotify.com/playlist/2kO...
Thoughts on upcoming new releases by Greg Stasiw, Tachube, Roudi Vagou & Läuten der Seele @quindirecords.bsky.social and the late Charles ‘Poppy Bob’ Walker. Plus the latest track from The Bordellos.
monolithcocktail.com/2026/01/16/t...
monolithcocktail.com/2026/01/16/t...
The Digest for January 2026: New Music/The Social Playlist
The monthly Digest includes a clutch of accumulated short new music reviews and the social inter-generational/eclectic and anniversary albums celebrating playlist. ___THE NEW (All those latest &…
monolithcocktail.com
January 16, 2026 at 12:31 PM
Thoughts on upcoming new releases by Greg Stasiw, Tachube, Roudi Vagou & Läuten der Seele @quindirecords.bsky.social and the late Charles ‘Poppy Bob’ Walker. Plus the latest track from The Bordellos.
monolithcocktail.com/2026/01/16/t...
monolithcocktail.com/2026/01/16/t...
As we're celebrating late genius Capricorns, today would have been Scott Walker's birthday. I've done many tributes over the year, but still think Bish Bosch was one of his finest works.
monolithcocktail.com/a-z/archive-...
monolithcocktail.com/a-z/archive-...
Scott Walker
Bish Bosch 4AD Much has been made of Scott Walker’s avant-garde trajectory: from his misspent days as part of The Walker Brothers trio to the morose calling of his solo career that began with a se…
monolithcocktail.com
January 9, 2026 at 6:29 PM
As we're celebrating late genius Capricorns, today would have been Scott Walker's birthday. I've done many tributes over the year, but still think Bish Bosch was one of his finest works.
monolithcocktail.com/a-z/archive-...
monolithcocktail.com/a-z/archive-...
Reposted by The Monolith Cocktail
Plucked from the archives, my original piece on #DavidBowie Blackstar (10 this month) and Station To Station (50), plus a new preface and updated playlist special. Remembrance and celebration.
monolithcocktail.com/2026/01/09/o...
monolithcocktail.com/2026/01/09/o...
Our Daily Bread 651: From the Archives: A David Bowie Special
Anniversary Albums/Playlist: Dominic Valvona It’s now been a decade since the passing of David Bowie. A decade that can only be described as depressingly bleak and hugely divisive in the extreme. A…
monolithcocktail.com
January 9, 2026 at 10:31 AM
Plucked from the archives, my original piece on #DavidBowie Blackstar (10 this month) and Station To Station (50), plus a new preface and updated playlist special. Remembrance and celebration.
monolithcocktail.com/2026/01/09/o...
monolithcocktail.com/2026/01/09/o...
Plucked from the archives, my original piece on #DavidBowie Blackstar (10 this month) and Station To Station (50), plus a new preface and updated playlist special. Remembrance and celebration.
monolithcocktail.com/2026/01/09/o...
monolithcocktail.com/2026/01/09/o...
Our Daily Bread 651: From the Archives: A David Bowie Special
Anniversary Albums/Playlist: Dominic Valvona It’s now been a decade since the passing of David Bowie. A decade that can only be described as depressingly bleak and hugely divisive in the extreme. A…
monolithcocktail.com
January 9, 2026 at 10:31 AM
Plucked from the archives, my original piece on #DavidBowie Blackstar (10 this month) and Station To Station (50), plus a new preface and updated playlist special. Remembrance and celebration.
monolithcocktail.com/2026/01/09/o...
monolithcocktail.com/2026/01/09/o...
In-between Bowie's birthday, the remembrance of his passing a decade ago, and anniversaries of both Blackstar and Station To Station (50 this month), I'm posting a special tomorrow. It will include my updated playlist, originally created on news of Bowie's death.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQGo...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQGo...
Watch That Man (2013 Remaster)
YouTube video by David Bowie - Topic
www.youtube.com
January 8, 2026 at 2:05 PM
In-between Bowie's birthday, the remembrance of his passing a decade ago, and anniversaries of both Blackstar and Station To Station (50 this month), I'm posting a special tomorrow. It will include my updated playlist, originally created on news of Bowie's death.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQGo...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQGo...
Out this Friday: Clémentine March ‘Powder Keg’. "...freed-up chamber-pop, alt-folk, country waned and glitterball hybrid of gathered thoughts, romantic encounters and introspections voiced by Brigitte Fontaine, Cate Le Bon and Gina Birch."
clementinemarch.bandcamp.com/album/powder...
clementinemarch.bandcamp.com/album/powder...
Powder Keg, by Clémentine March
12 track album
clementinemarch.bandcamp.com
January 8, 2026 at 9:27 AM
Out this Friday: Clémentine March ‘Powder Keg’. "...freed-up chamber-pop, alt-folk, country waned and glitterball hybrid of gathered thoughts, romantic encounters and introspections voiced by Brigitte Fontaine, Cate Le Bon and Gina Birch."
clementinemarch.bandcamp.com/album/powder...
clementinemarch.bandcamp.com/album/powder...
Reposted by The Monolith Cocktail
My inaugural reviews column of 2026 is here. Features the debut album from the Animal Collective's Geologist, plus albums & EPs from @sarahshaunofficial.bsky.social @prahrecordings.bsky.social Clémentine March, Foster Neville @subexotic.bsky.social and more...
monolithcocktail.com/2026/01/05/p...
monolithcocktail.com/2026/01/05/p...
Perusal #75: Geologist, Clémentine March, Sis and the Lower Wisdom…
A world of sonic/musical discoveries reviewed by Dominic Valvona. All entries are in alphabetical order. Geologist ‘Can I Get A Pack Of Camel Lights?’(Drag City) 30th January 2026 Owing to their in…
monolithcocktail.com
January 5, 2026 at 1:37 PM
My inaugural reviews column of 2026 is here. Features the debut album from the Animal Collective's Geologist, plus albums & EPs from @sarahshaunofficial.bsky.social @prahrecordings.bsky.social Clémentine March, Foster Neville @subexotic.bsky.social and more...
monolithcocktail.com/2026/01/05/p...
monolithcocktail.com/2026/01/05/p...
My inaugural reviews column of 2026 is here. Features the debut album from the Animal Collective's Geologist, plus albums & EPs from @sarahshaunofficial.bsky.social @prahrecordings.bsky.social Clémentine March, Foster Neville @subexotic.bsky.social and more...
monolithcocktail.com/2026/01/05/p...
monolithcocktail.com/2026/01/05/p...
Perusal #75: Geologist, Clémentine March, Sis and the Lower Wisdom…
A world of sonic/musical discoveries reviewed by Dominic Valvona. All entries are in alphabetical order. Geologist ‘Can I Get A Pack Of Camel Lights?’(Drag City) 30th January 2026 Owing to their in…
monolithcocktail.com
January 5, 2026 at 1:37 PM
My inaugural reviews column of 2026 is here. Features the debut album from the Animal Collective's Geologist, plus albums & EPs from @sarahshaunofficial.bsky.social @prahrecordings.bsky.social Clémentine March, Foster Neville @subexotic.bsky.social and more...
monolithcocktail.com/2026/01/05/p...
monolithcocktail.com/2026/01/05/p...
2025 marked our 15th anniversary. To celebrate we compiled a series of playlists featuring a track (when possible or available) from every release we reviewed during that time. In alphabetical order, here's Part 1: the A's.
open.spotify.com/playlist/5J0...
open.spotify.com/playlist/5J0...
The Monolith Cocktail's A to Z: Part 1
open.spotify.com
December 19, 2025 at 2:10 PM
2025 marked our 15th anniversary. To celebrate we compiled a series of playlists featuring a track (when possible or available) from every release we reviewed during that time. In alphabetical order, here's Part 1: the A's.
open.spotify.com/playlist/5J0...
open.spotify.com/playlist/5J0...
A final push before winding down for Christmas. Here's part 2 of our most rated, returned to and loved records of the year.
monolithcocktail.com/2025/12/15/e...
monolithcocktail.com/2025/12/15/e...
End of the Year Revue For 2025: Part Two: N to Z
Choice Highlights From The Last Year Part Two In case you missed Part One of this illustrious list, here’s a recap. I said I wasn’t going to do it this year. And this may be the last. But her…
monolithcocktail.com
December 19, 2025 at 2:05 PM
A final push before winding down for Christmas. Here's part 2 of our most rated, returned to and loved records of the year.
monolithcocktail.com/2025/12/15/e...
monolithcocktail.com/2025/12/15/e...
Reposted by The Monolith Cocktail
Alt choice albums from the year part 1, starring @paisleyshirt.bsky.social Cindy, Theon Cross @newsoil.bsky.social @joelcusumano.bsky.social @dyrfaser.bsky.social @farrurob.bsky.social @eikoishibashi.bsky.social @ltheadtrip.bsky.social @intlanthem.bsky.social
monolithcocktail.com/2025/12/11/e...
monolithcocktail.com/2025/12/11/e...
End of the Year Revue For 2025: Part One: A to M
Choice Highlights From The Last Year I said I wasn’t going to do it this year. And this may be the last. But here is the first part of a comprehensive revue listing of choice albums (some extended …
monolithcocktail.com
December 11, 2025 at 5:47 PM
Alt choice albums from the year part 1, starring @paisleyshirt.bsky.social Cindy, Theon Cross @newsoil.bsky.social @joelcusumano.bsky.social @dyrfaser.bsky.social @farrurob.bsky.social @eikoishibashi.bsky.social @ltheadtrip.bsky.social @intlanthem.bsky.social
monolithcocktail.com/2025/12/11/e...
monolithcocktail.com/2025/12/11/e...