A New Radio Show + Recommended Books I've Read in 2024
Music ‘zine Planet of Sound returns in audio form.
In this edition I will cover my book recommendations from 2024.
But first, I wanted to announce that I’ll be doing a radio show on Slack City Radio from tomorrow, Monday 16th. The show is called Planet of Sound and is named after the music ‘zine I ran way back, stocked in indie record stores like Rough Trade - this experience set me on a journey, writing about music, reviewing records and interviewing bands, eventually signing artists and making records myself. I learnt a lot writing Planet of Sound. Some questionable poetry slipped into the very first edition. Generally, it was a very different time, the music ecosystem for artist development, livelihoods and careers was a lot healthier. However, I’m happy to announce that after a protracted absence Planet of Sound is returning in audio form; an eclectic mix of music, new and old, rediscovered and discovered, to entertain and enlighten. There will be some ‘old gold’ classics, avant-garde, experimental, brand-new music and more besides. I’m playing with the format. In the new year there may possibly be interview guests; writers, musicians, artists, producers, creatives. This is the first time I’ve hosted a radio show, so one step at a time as I work out how I balance this with my usual urgency to be as productive as possible across a number of fields. I’ve always wanted to host a music and culture-based show. Ever since listening to the likes of John Peel and The Evening Session all those years ago. So here goes. Watch this space.
Planet of Sound will be broadcast on Monday at midday on Slack City Radio, it will be on DAB Radio, online and On Demand. Take a listen. Follow me on Instagram for more information as it develops.
In recent weeks I got an award grant from Arvon and attended a week at Arvon’s Totleigh Barton centre in Devon where I met lots of fellow writers working on memoir (and so much more…). I spent the last two articles here on Substack writing about the writing life and its opportunities and challenges. I want to do a piece here more specifically on sharing my insights on seeking guidance on the journey as an emerging writer at some point. Having returned to writing only in my middling years, like many, having previously been consumed by a hugely demanding day job for far too many years prior, I have learnt a lot in recent years - their are lessons to be shared. More in the course of time. I did a panel and Q&A with author Ania Card at Real Writers Circle in October where I expanded on this article on the intertwined worlds of music and writing, songwriting and storytelling, alongside the way music features in Ania’s debut novel Above Us The Sea.
Back to books, and recommendations from the many I’ve read this year. These are my standout reads of 2024. Some are old, some are new, but all have been read for the first time this year. While supporting book shops, I’ve also frequented charity shops too for some great finds.
Stand Out Reads of 2024.
Above Us The Sea – Ania Card.
Great debut novel about loss, grief, identity and self-discovery.
Out Of The Woods – Luke Turner.
Memoir. Debut exploring unanswered questions of self-discovery, sexuality, anchored around a gravitation to Epping Forest.
The Last Days: A Memoir of Faith, Desire and Freedom – Ali Millar
A debut exploring the journey of escape to freedom from an up-bringing in the cultish Jehovah Witnesses movement in Scotland.
Tomorrow, Tomorrow, Tomorrow – Gabrielle Zevin
Zevin’s story of friendship between three successful gaming programmers.
Therese Raquin – Emile Zola
Lust, murder and consequence in 19th century Paris.
The Player Of Games – Iain M Banks
Banks does world building so well. Futuristic adventure, terror and greed.
Stay True - Hua Hsu
A great memoir about outsiderhood and healing, set in 90s California. Won the Pulitzer Prize for Memoir.
Them – Jon Ronson
Ronson explores characters within emerging 21st century extremist movements of various kinds. Fascinating.
The Years – Annie Ernaux
Through her personalised snapshots, this explores life within French society from the end of WW2 to the 2000’s. Deborah Levy’s favourite memoir.
Mediations – Marcus Aurelius
Philosophical usings from the Roman emperor, and one who wasn’t as mad as a box of frogs.
The Creative Act – Rick Rubin
Worth the hype. Calm mediative insights to creative flow from the eclectic producer (Slayer and Run RMC in 1986 alone), who rarely touches the studio desk himself. Chill.
Killing Thatcher – Rory Carroll
Gripping account of the IRA plot to assassin Thatcher in Brighton in 1984. Reads like a great page-turner thriller. Just finished it.
A Swim in a Pond in the Rain (In Which Four Russians Give a Master Class on Writing, Reading and Life) – George Saunders
Saunders has taught Russian literature at Syracuse University for over twenty years and here explores short stories by Chekhov, Turgenev, Tolstoy, and Gogol, seven complete stories in all in the book are accompanied by Saunders analysis and insight on the connection made from writer to reader.
There is always a book on the go. I post on Good Reads too, when I remember to, where I seem to be behind my stretch goal for this year due to being busy - see sense of productivity above. Sometimes it feels like; there are so many books I want to read, and so little time.
What about Music of 2024?
I did a favourite albums of the year article last year as you may recall, listing twenty albums I recommended, including Daughter, Slowdive, Harp, and many more, like such lists it felt incomplete, like I was missing something. It felt like over time some albums would grow on me more, and then I discovered more in the preceding year, months after their moment of release; like Manchester’s Mandy, Indiana for example, who lead singer sings in French. This year if pushed I would recommend St Vincent’s All Born Screaming album, the rest you can hear about on my show. Many readers will have picked up I’m a massive Cure fan, but for me, much that I appreciate a new album by The Cure, and particularly the stunningly epic Endsong, somewhat controversially I don’t think it’s album of the year. I don’t think it’s their best, or even in their top five albums of all-time either, unlike some over eager album reviewers have stated who wanted tickets for the Troxy show. There is so much great new music out there that it would be foolish to hype Songs of a Lost World so highly, especially when there is the context of that glorious back catalogue as well, taking in their consistent golden run of output from 1979 to 1992, and for me, Disintegration sitting at its pinnacle.
Looking forward to more great music in 2025, some of which from acts I have not even heard of yet, and in particular the prospect of new Nine Inch Nails material.
Until next time.
