Reposted by Simon West
Dave Ball was not some bloke in the background of Soft Cell – he drove their startling, subversive sound
Dave Ball was not some bloke in the background of Soft Cell – he drove their startling, subversive sound
Far more than a mute foil to Marc Almond, Ball brought his love of northern soul and strange electronics to bear on some of Britain’s most uncompromising pop
www.theguardian.com
October 23, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Dave Ball was not some bloke in the background of Soft Cell – he drove their startling, subversive sound
Reposted by Simon West
Ah jeez. As officially announced on Soft Cell’s site and social media, the mighty Dave Ball has passed.
Soft Cell | Dave Ball (1959-2025)
www.softcell.co.uk
October 23, 2025 at 1:10 PM
Ah jeez. As officially announced on Soft Cell’s site and social media, the mighty Dave Ball has passed.
Reposted by Simon West
The day we turned off comments on tQ was a happy day, though it was sad to lose this comment left by Diamanda Galás, which is one of the greatest comments left on any comments section ever.
October 22, 2025 at 5:44 PM
The day we turned off comments on tQ was a happy day, though it was sad to lose this comment left by Diamanda Galás, which is one of the greatest comments left on any comments section ever.
Reposted by Simon West
I share this CYOA ending every couple of months, because it comes to my mind every time.
September 3, 2025 at 12:37 PM
I share this CYOA ending every couple of months, because it comes to my mind every time.
Reposted by Simon West
Reposted by Simon West
Remembering Keith Levene on his birthday. Here he is inventing every post-punk guitar sound in one go. Watch the full song and awkward interview at youtu.be/SzjWwfCJ65s
July 18, 2025 at 6:45 AM
Remembering Keith Levene on his birthday. Here he is inventing every post-punk guitar sound in one go. Watch the full song and awkward interview at youtu.be/SzjWwfCJ65s
Reposted by Simon West
CEO of Oreo Cookies: the oreo cookie is as important as oxygen
Nvidia's CEO described AI as essential infrastructure in today’s world, comparable to electricity in its importance.
July 16, 2025 at 3:18 AM
CEO of Oreo Cookies: the oreo cookie is as important as oxygen
If you see this, post a planet
July 13, 2025 at 4:15 PM
If you see this, post a planet
Reposted by Simon West
Totally fake band, AI-generated “psychadelic folk,” polluting streaming playlists, 300k listeners, fake bio with fake quote from Billboard. This has never been about facilitating art—it’s one more way for big tech to siphon as much money from artists as possible.
The Velvet Sundown are a seemingly AI-generated band with 325k Spotify listeners
Fully AI-generated music is only accounting for a tiny proportion of streams on services like Spotify and Deezer at the moment.
musically.com
June 27, 2025 at 9:13 PM
Totally fake band, AI-generated “psychadelic folk,” polluting streaming playlists, 300k listeners, fake bio with fake quote from Billboard. This has never been about facilitating art—it’s one more way for big tech to siphon as much money from artists as possible.
Among other shows, I’ll always remember Nitzer Ebb opening for DM on the US leg of the World Violation Tour, not least because it frightened enough of the latter’s recently-acquired Top 40 fans to let me slide down into the first few rows from the cheap seats. RIP Douglas McCarthy.
Ah, that’s terribly sad news. RIP Douglas McCarthy. One of the greatest frontman ever. #nitzerebb
June 11, 2025 at 11:23 PM
Among other shows, I’ll always remember Nitzer Ebb opening for DM on the US leg of the World Violation Tour, not least because it frightened enough of the latter’s recently-acquired Top 40 fans to let me slide down into the first few rows from the cheap seats. RIP Douglas McCarthy.
Reposted by Simon West
Ah, that’s terribly sad news. RIP Douglas McCarthy. One of the greatest frontman ever. #nitzerebb
June 11, 2025 at 11:07 PM
Ah, that’s terribly sad news. RIP Douglas McCarthy. One of the greatest frontman ever. #nitzerebb
Reposted by Simon West
For Your Everyday People Listening Pleasure:
On Sept. 1, 1969, Denton-born Sly Stone returned home to play the Texas International Pop Festival. Below is the entirety of Sly & the Family Stone's set, which is to be played LOUD.
ia601609.us.archive.org/8/items/slya...
Setlist: tinyurl.com/y42darra
On Sept. 1, 1969, Denton-born Sly Stone returned home to play the Texas International Pop Festival. Below is the entirety of Sly & the Family Stone's set, which is to be played LOUD.
ia601609.us.archive.org/8/items/slya...
Setlist: tinyurl.com/y42darra
June 9, 2025 at 9:25 PM
For Your Everyday People Listening Pleasure:
On Sept. 1, 1969, Denton-born Sly Stone returned home to play the Texas International Pop Festival. Below is the entirety of Sly & the Family Stone's set, which is to be played LOUD.
ia601609.us.archive.org/8/items/slya...
Setlist: tinyurl.com/y42darra
On Sept. 1, 1969, Denton-born Sly Stone returned home to play the Texas International Pop Festival. Below is the entirety of Sly & the Family Stone's set, which is to be played LOUD.
ia601609.us.archive.org/8/items/slya...
Setlist: tinyurl.com/y42darra
Reposted by Simon West
Reposted by Simon West
An urgent message from The Wire magazine
Running an independent music magazine is becoming increasingly difficult. We need your support
www.thewire.co.uk/in-writing/e...
Running an independent music magazine is becoming increasingly difficult. We need your support
www.thewire.co.uk/in-writing/e...
An urgent message from The Wire magazine - The Wire
Running an independent music magazine is becoming increasingly difficult. We need your support
www.thewire.co.uk
May 23, 2025 at 1:57 PM
An urgent message from The Wire magazine
Running an independent music magazine is becoming increasingly difficult. We need your support
www.thewire.co.uk/in-writing/e...
Running an independent music magazine is becoming increasingly difficult. We need your support
www.thewire.co.uk/in-writing/e...
Reposted by Simon West
Reposted by Simon West
“New Woke Pope”. Three more from them later in the show.
May 8, 2025 at 6:38 PM
“New Woke Pope”. Three more from them later in the show.
Alison Moyet at Webster Hall last night. Lively crowd and a great set. Highlights: an acoustic It Won’t Be Long, Whispering Your Name, and a barnstorming Situation.
May 3, 2025 at 6:33 PM
Alison Moyet at Webster Hall last night. Lively crowd and a great set. Highlights: an acoustic It Won’t Be Long, Whispering Your Name, and a barnstorming Situation.
Reposted by Simon West
Reposted by Simon West
Massimo Vignelli vindication complete.
Say hello to a new subway map! 🗺️
Today, the MTA unveiled a new subway diagram that provides riders with essential travel information in an easily readable, bright, and orderly manner.
Today, the MTA unveiled a new subway diagram that provides riders with essential travel information in an easily readable, bright, and orderly manner.
April 2, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Massimo Vignelli vindication complete.
Reposted by Simon West
Importing the archive:
The New Scientist is the only source of band names you’ll ever need.
#newscientistbandnames
The New Scientist is the only source of band names you’ll ever need.
#newscientistbandnames
December 2, 2024 at 12:28 PM
Importing the archive:
The New Scientist is the only source of band names you’ll ever need.
#newscientistbandnames
The New Scientist is the only source of band names you’ll ever need.
#newscientistbandnames
Reposted by Simon West
I get why techbros and their ilk like gen-AI: artists and writers to them are just an obstacle to be bypassed. But I'll never get an author/artist/musician who uses it. "I want to be a writer." No you don't. You fetishize ideas but hate the work. You don't respect the craft or its practitioners.
March 27, 2025 at 1:01 PM
I get why techbros and their ilk like gen-AI: artists and writers to them are just an obstacle to be bypassed. But I'll never get an author/artist/musician who uses it. "I want to be a writer." No you don't. You fetishize ideas but hate the work. You don't respect the craft or its practitioners.
This is a fantastic article - simultaneously a strong defense of its central thesis, a fascinating sociological grounding of the band, and an ideal introduction for anyone unfortunate enough to not yet have heard Can. Looking forward to further installments.
'If Can were simply ahead of their time, like Kraftwerk or Neu!, when did we catch up? The truth is we haven’t caught up with Can, and there is less and less chance of us ever doing so, because they’re outside of time'
3 Album Run: Can’s Tago Mago, Ege Bamyasi & Future Days
buff.ly/Tzp4nC2
3 Album Run: Can’s Tago Mago, Ege Bamyasi & Future Days
buff.ly/Tzp4nC2
March 25, 2025 at 6:15 PM
This is a fantastic article - simultaneously a strong defense of its central thesis, a fascinating sociological grounding of the band, and an ideal introduction for anyone unfortunate enough to not yet have heard Can. Looking forward to further installments.
Reposted by Simon West
It's 60 degrees and sunny outside in New York right now. Just a reminder that the eateries that were able to get roadway dining permits under the City's new outdoor dining rules still can't legally operate them for another two weeks.
March 18, 2025 at 8:04 PM
It's 60 degrees and sunny outside in New York right now. Just a reminder that the eateries that were able to get roadway dining permits under the City's new outdoor dining rules still can't legally operate them for another two weeks.