Dr Leo Chadburn
leochadburn.bsky.social
Dr Leo Chadburn
@leochadburn.bsky.social
Composer, performer, writer. FKA Simon Bookish. 🏳️‍🌈

www.leochadburn.com
leochadburn.bandcamp.com
Wonderful and perceptive writing about "Sleep in the Shadow..." from Tim Rutherford-Johnson here, touching on place, Englishness and Russell Hoban... Thank you! johnsonsrambler.wordpress.com/2025/10/15/t...
October 16, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Thanks to The Wire (500th issue published this week!) for these words about my new album:
September 3, 2025 at 12:35 PM
It's #BandcampFriday, which means today is an ideal day to pre-order 'Sleep in the Shadow of the Alternator', (out next Friday, 8th). As ever, your support for my work is massively appreciated; album sales enable me to keep on releasing music. Thank you! X leochadburn.bandcamp.com/album/sleep-...
August 1, 2025 at 8:40 AM
Thanks to Elizabeth Alker for previewing my new album on BBC Radio 3's 'Unclassified' last night! "..the narrative just keeps you gripped all the way through, and the electronics carry you along beautifully...” 🙌 Listen again here (album preview is 4:15 into the show): www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
July 28, 2025 at 9:16 AM
I’m excited to announce my new album, ‘Sleep in the Shadow of the Alternator’, which comes out on Friday 8th August. This album has been a long time in the making: it's dear to my heart. I really hope it resonates with you too. Info and pre-orders here: leochadburn.bandcamp.com/album/sleep-...
July 21, 2025 at 9:07 AM
Also... the new album is very, very nearly finished...
June 26, 2025 at 10:32 AM
5 years ago today I released my album The Subject / The Object: two 20-minute tracks: a sprawling monologue and an amorphous drone choir. It’s an intense one, but I’d love you to hear it. There's about a dozen tapes left, if you’d like to buy a physical copy:
leochadburn.bandcamp.com/album/the-su...
June 26, 2025 at 10:30 AM
I'm working hard finishing a new album. A dreamlike monologue with some delicate music. Quite personal, so I'm slighty afriad of putting it out into the world, but also excited for you to hear it later this Summer. Tam tam features heavily on one track. Had to take my noisy boots off in the studio.
June 12, 2025 at 2:13 PM
Nice to see my name among the credits on the new Pulp album (released today), alongside a whole load of brilliant friends and amazing musicians. Delighted to be even a tiny part to this.
June 6, 2025 at 2:22 PM
Surprised and flattered that an old tweet of mine is quoted in Ian Penman's new book on Erik Satie ("Three Piece Suite" on Fitzcarraldo Editions)! Also it's my only remaining tweet, since I've deleted and abandoned that awful website now.
May 7, 2025 at 2:51 PM
View from the vocal booth: Currently finishing making a new album. If you don't own my previous album(s), today ( #BandcampFriday ) is an ideal day to buy one. Everything goes towards funding the next one, on my tiny little DIY record label. Hugely grateful for the support: leochadburn.bandcamp.com
May 2, 2025 at 10:18 AM
...He yelps. He squawks. He declaims, in a voice made of dog roses and manuka honey and tar and plums and pebbles..."

No photographs of the yellow jumpsuit exist, but here's the "sex wellies" in action (2004):
April 7, 2025 at 11:24 AM
Here's an excerpt from Jeff Nuttall's "Poem" (1969)
March 6, 2025 at 2:48 PM
I have on occasion bought a book based on how handsome the cover is, such as this one (I was also intrigued by the idea of 'science fiction verse'). Unfortunately, it contains what I believe to be the worst poetry ever written.
March 6, 2025 at 2:39 PM
We're putting on this gig on Friday (21st Feb) with Weston Olencki and Laura Cocks (launching their album FATHM), two excellent experimental musicians from the USA who I am sure some of you know. Please come to this gig! Sign up here: www.city.ac.uk/news-and-eve...
February 18, 2025 at 8:19 PM
Nostalgia! I released this 20 years ago: METAL HORSE was part of Tomlab Records' "Alphabet" series of thirty 7" singles (one for each letter of the German alphabet). In case you'd like to hear this lo-fi, anxious, synth pop curiosity again, it's on Bandcamp: leochadburn.bandcamp.com/album/metal-...
February 13, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Russell Hoban's centenary is today. Here's the "sexy glockenspiel" passages from his 1974 novel Kleinzeit. Like everything else he wrote, it's a book that's uniquely funny, deeply weird, and completely unsettling. #Hoban100
February 4, 2025 at 12:32 PM
"Iconic", the now most meaningless word in the English language, here being used to describe a venue that isn't even open yet. So iconically iconic.
February 3, 2025 at 9:09 PM
Sorry to hear Marianne Faithfull is no longer with us. 'Broken English' is a unique record - ice cold production, but that VOICE, full of invective, fire, heartbreak, experience. No one else ever sounded like that. Her version of "Ballad of Lucy Jordan" is almost too much to bear: despair & dignity.
January 30, 2025 at 8:09 PM
Although it's 10th January, I'm heartened to see my favourite local Christmas display is still up. So much festive spirit.
January 10, 2025 at 4:00 PM
December 2024: Invited by the Elysian Collective to record some choral vocals for one of my favourite bands. Wow.
December 31, 2024 at 12:30 PM
November 2024: Nominated for, but didn't win an Ivors Award, but had a fun night anyway...
December 31, 2024 at 12:29 PM
October 2024: Live premiere of my piece "De La Salle (Violins)" at LSO St Lukes, 25 years after it was written!..
December 31, 2024 at 12:28 PM
August 2024: Released an album. Some very nice reviews, and some touching responses. Thanks a million to everyone who listened...
December 31, 2024 at 12:28 PM
July 2024: Invited to lead a "masterclass" at Trinity Laban for young composers. Inspiring to hear such engaged and imaginative work from everyone. Really good...
December 31, 2024 at 12:27 PM