I am really enjoying Cantilever. I really lucked out and I think the first new album when I signed up was Shaking Hand’s debut, available a full two weeks earlier on Cantilever than its normal release - the Up the Ante(lope) track is fantastic. Since then the only other 2026 release (it is only the start of February though) has been Dry Cleaning’s Secret Love. The rest has been quite a mix of dates (and genres - excellent). A lot from 2025 and some as early as 2003. Interestingly, although only two have been “new new” nearly all the rest have been “new” to me because they just passed by me in recent years. So technically Cantilever is working for me as a new music fix. It’s exciting seeing what new album is going to be added and at the same time getting as many listens in to an album you like before it leaves.

In addition to Cantilever, as just mentioned, in an effort to keep a “new new” music fix I’ve also been listening to Rapal and BBC Introducing in Scotland via BBC Sounds. I was going to try to keep up with 6music’s New Music Fix as well, but I can’t commit to listening to that volume of output since it’s on every day (a weekly show, fair enough) and quite often we are eating tea when it’s on on the radio anyway so I listen to it that way. I have been wondering, since I’m still paying for Spotify (family plan), whether it’s just daft that I’ve not used Spotify at all in January, but then again I’ve paid my TV License for years and never listened to Rapal nor BBC Introducing in Scotland (more fool me).

However, there’s still stuff on my radar that I want to listen to. These releases so far this year:

• Jenny On Holiday: Quicksand Heart
• Ailbhe Reddy: Kiss Big
• Another Country \(\): Cursed Frame
• TeeZandos: Still Odd

The first three of these are available on Bandcamp so I can avoid Spotify that way, but is streaming for free on Bandcamp actually any better than listening on Spotify? Not really is it? If I buy them, then sure. But that’s if. I don’t really feel comfortable any more “owning” electronic media as I don’t trust companies won’t just pull the files or in my ability to store all the files long-term. I think I’d prefer to purchase physical media, but the number of CDs and tapes that I lost during our last house move makes me upset to go down that route again. I’d love to get into vinyl again, maybe just starting with my albums of year for the last few years, but it’s unfortunately not very practical at the moment. Still thinking about what to do here - I don’t have a good solution yet.

I am keeping a list of everything I’ve listened to on Cantilever, but I’ll probably publish this at the end of the year.

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Since I stopped using Duolingo how have things gone?

For Italian I started reading I Giorni Dell’Abbandono - it has taken me a whole month to read one chapter. To be fair I’ve been quite busy, but it is legitimately slow going. I’m probably at toddler level Italian and should be reading kids’ books as opposed to a proper novel. I tend to read it sentence by sentence with the English version open at the same time but only looking at that as a last resort after the first resort of using Google Translate - there are lots of words and/or forms of words I don’t know! It is interesting (I suppose obviously) how much is not a literal translation and some short parts of sentences don’t even exist in the Italian version, but I guess sound better that way in English. E.g this in the English version:

I roused myself only when I heard the sound of a car parking in the little square of our building.

vs this in the Italian:

Mi riscossi solo quando sentii il rumore di un’auto che parcheggiava.

No mention of “in the little square of our building”, but it would sound odd without that in English.

For Scottish Gaelic I’ve started listening to the SpeakGaelic podcast on BBC Sounds. I should have started years ago, at the same time I did Duolingo, but who has time for these things? It’s interesting just listening and not seeing the words at all - fortunately/amazingly all that time on Duolingo has rubbed off a bit as for some words I can hear them and then see the word in my head and know how it’s spelt (sounding nothing like it’s spelt). I’m trying to do a minimum of one episode a week as I think I can fit that in. That means there is enough to keep me going for well over a year.

For a bit more fun (and linked to changing up how I’m listening to music this year) I’m also listening to Rapal on Radio Nan Gàidheal. I don’t understand it, but I keep hearing the same phrases, so hopefully eventually I’ll figure it out. It’s a new music show and argueably more exciting and interesting than BBC Introducing in Scotland (which I’m also listening to, but that’s a different post).

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Posed myself a question as to whether I had any further thoughts on Olivia Dean: The Art of Loving? Lady Lady? I already mentioned that one last time. Close Up is also good. Does lose it a bit in the second half of the album until the closing track, I’ve Seen It.

Also, decided I really like Georgina on Coach Party’s Caramel.

Since it’s the last chance of the year there is a lot of stuff here from throughout the year and that I’d missed earlier.

Leftover from September:

• Sprints: All that is over. Don’t love it as much as I hoped I would unfortunately. They will always be great live though. I probably like Descartes best of all, but also like Need, Something’s Gonna Happen, Pieces and Better most of all.
• Wednesday: Bleeds. Punk and country. Very discordant opening. Very abrupt ending. I don’t mind this at all, but nothing stays with me.
• Joy Crookes: Juniper. Probably the single I Know You’d Kill is best. Maybe actually First Last Dance - almost disco vibes. Would listen to this album sat outside in the sunshine or inside in the warmth.
• Frost Children: Sister. Cannot recall how this ended up on my list. Gives me 90s Euro dance vibes. But too cheesy for me. Dirty Girl is ok.
• James K: Friend. Super chilled electronic. Great Tree stage late night stuff. Beautiful vocals. But no standout tracks. I think this is best experienced as a whole. I guess if had to pick a track I’d go for Blinkmoth (July Mix).
• Kojey Radical: Don’t look down. Oh, what’s this? A track featuring Cristale. Was super-excited when I saw that, but it ended up not being by favourite - I think I like the James Vickery one best. It’s a nice enough album, but probably won’t re-visit.

And then:

• Nightbus: Passenger. Very, very cool late-night electronic x shoe-gazy stuff. I should listen to this more, will probably pick Angles Mortz as my fav. Although False Prophet is really cool too.
• Princess Nokia: GIRLS. For me it’s all about Blue Velvet. Pink Bronco deserves a mention because it’s not actually Lana Del Rey.
• Skullcrusher: And Your Song is Like a Circle. Suitably morose. Really beautiful and flows as an album. Exhale had already made it to my picks of 2025 list.
• Florence + The Machine: Everybody Scream. Music by Men makes me sad and is my favourite .The Old Religion similarly (just pipped by Music by Men - I think)
• Allie X: Happiness Is Going to Get You. I preferred the craziness of Girl With No Face. Stay Green is probably the best.
• Rosalia: Lux. Not for me. For sure she can sing, but a bit too churchy for me.
• Sigrid: There’s Always More That I Could Say. Didn’t hate it. Didn’t love it. Kiss The Sky best for the chorus? Hush Baby, Hurry Slowly maybe pips it? Two Years is pretty much a banger too. On that note, Sigrid will forever make me think of Christmas because of Hjem til Jul; She’s definitely “Christmassy, but not Christmas” music.
• Florry: Sounds Like…. I missed this from earlier in the year, but the standout is the very first track and the one I already liked, First It Was A Movie, Then It Was A Book.
• Rio Kosta: Unicorn. Same deal as Florry, but you have to wait until the very last track, It’s Starting; Extra credit for the name for the last track on the album. Snocaps: Snocaps. Not as good as just Waxahatchee for me unfortunately.
• Anna von Hausswolff: ICONOCLASTS. Undeniably good, but also not really my thing. Skip the Iggy Pop one. Struggle With the Beast is interesting. Quite jazzy.
• Luvcat: Vicious Delicious. Was really looking forward to this based on the earlier single, Lipstick, because it is superb. It’s the opening track on the album and also easily the standout track.
• Daniel Avery: Tremor. Daniel Avery, but different! This is really cool. I think my favourite is The Ghost of Her Smile just because it features Julie Dawson from NewDad, but Rapture in Blue, A Silent Shadow, and I Feel You are great too. This is a good album, that deserves more listens than I’m going to be able to give it.
• Low Girl: Is It Too Late Too Freak Out? Just SUPERB. Up there as album of the year contender with Heartworms and Carla Aakre for me. The best of the best (since it’s all good) are 2007, Driveway, Overgrown and Handbrake. Oh and I Love All My Friends. How does this make me feel? All the feelings. Like someone reaching inside of you and making you dissolve.
• TYGERMYLK: Local Girl, Always Tired. Really rather beautiful, Confetti is the clear standout. The Deverills is for Taylor swift fans (it’s good though).
• The Hellp: Riviera. The Country Road song is pure class. This is good. Gives me The Dare / The Itch vibes… But that could just be the name.
• Still Blank: Still Blank. Supporting Royel Otis at the moment which would have been good if we’d got tickets as A could have gone for the main act and me for support. All about Ain’t Quite Right for me. Which is better than anything Royel Otis have written (sorry).
• False Reality: FADED INTENTIONS. So good. Reality Slips is the best but this is all perfect for those angry dog walks to vent and de-stress.
• Runo Plum: Patching. Can’t remember now what I heard off this to make me pre-save the album. Really beautiful and chill. Probably Lemon Garland? No it must have been Halfway Up The Lawn. Oh my! So beautiful.
• Swim School: Swim School. Very underrated. Say It All (massive tune) and Am I Good Enough Now are my favourites. These are easily New Dad / Wolf Alice levels of good.
• Mollie Collins: Another Day in the Office. She has had some bangers in the past, but drum and bass albums are hard to pull off. I guess Call Me is the massive choon on this one. Dancing Til The Sun Comes Up for the festivals (but a bit too cheesy for me). Thayu Bass is pretty cool though.
• Ella Eyre: everything, in time. Adding because randomly saw her performing in Camden the day elder M moved down and I just thought “what a life she’s going to be living”. I like High On The Internet.
• Lorde: Virgin. Not really my thing. Intentionally didn’t go and see her at Glastonbury and have zero regrets. I can appreciate her though (Green Light is so good it gives me goosebumps: Ribs I don’t get the huge appeal of though. Also Solar Power seems underrated. Will love Disclosure’s Magnets forever. As if that is ten years old). Anyway… What Was That has a great chorus. Cool Vermont (I will forget this joke one day and have to listen to the album again to work out which song I’m referring to) makes my smile. There is something about Favourite Daughter I like.
• Dogshow: Coming out Canine. Much much better live than on record. Definitely interesting to watch. The last song, End of the Night is my favourite.
• Oklou: Choke Enough. Very chill. Not quite my thing though. Blade Bird is good. Probably won’t revisit the rest.
• The Belair Lip Bombs: Again. Not quite my thing, although Back Of My Hand is really nice and comes close. Burning Up too.
• Sorry: COSPLAY. Today Might Be The Hit is the obvious standout and sounds a bit different from everything else on the album too. It reminds me of some early 90s stuff. like Linus’ Yougli or Deus. Life In This Body is very different, but I like that too.
• Lausse The Cat: The Mocking Stars. Not for me. Nice and chilled rap/spoken word though.
• The Last Dinner Party: From the Pyre. This is the Killer Speaking is the big/obvious single. Think I prefer The Rifle though. I don’t like it as much as the first album.
• Vagrant Real Estate: Neither Collar Nor Crown. Would I like this as much (or even listened?) if it wasn’t (mostly) from Aberdeen? Maybe not. But All I Want is a banger (it’s in my Picks of 2025 list).
• Doja Cat: Vie. Feel like this didn’t get much attention. The are some good songs, but none I absolutely love. Probably the start of the album (Cards, Jealous Type, Ahhh Men!) is the strongest. Silly! Fun! Is pretty cool. Love Doja Cat’s voice. Come Back sounds like it’s from a different album though.
• Ninajirachi: I Love My Computer. Interesting late night noise and raving.
• Ceebo: blair babies. The politics is 100% my thing, the music less so unfortunately.
• Eliza McLamb: Good Story. Is really nice. Just going to get over-looked as I’ve listened to too much other stuff. Like The Boys, California, Talisman, Girls I Know and Getting Free are all worth a listen.
• bloodsports: Anything Can Be a Hammer. Great album name. Mostly noise. Don’t hate it: Don’t love it.
• Bedridden: Moths strapped To Each Other’s Backs. Another great album name. More noise. Kind of same as bloodsports, don’t hate it, don’t love it. Younger me would have probably listened more.
• Humour: Learning Greek. I picked a run of noisy bands to listen to here. Surprisingly these aren’t American, but from Glasgow! I never would have guessed it. If they pop up in Aberdeen I would be inclined to go see them.
• They Are Gutting a Body of Water: LOTTO. More (noisy) music where I like the band or album name more than the actual music.
• FKA Twigs: EUSEXUA (Alternative). Much prefer the original one. Listened to them back to back to be sure. But no Perfect Stranger!
• FKA Twigs: EUSEXUA Afterglow. Starts hard. Wild and Alone is ok. And ends HARD… As in everything after the fourth track just blends to the background for me which is a shame.
• Yazmin Lacey: Teal Dreams. Two Steps is good. Then Wallpaper is nice. Actually this album is kind of beautiful. No Promises could be my favourite? Ooh, Wild Things is good as well. And Ain’t I Good For You. Also Ribbons. She’s very, very good. Crutch is ok too. Hmm, it’s hard to pick - it’s all good. The chorus on Longest Way Round. Oh my. Makes me want to melt. That’s the one. (Although Water before it is ace too).
• Sudan Archives: THE BPM. Enjoyed this more than I thought I would since it’s not really my thing (which is the whole point in listening) I’ll probably pick MY TYPE as my favourite. Funky.
• KPOP B!TCH: The Deep. Listened because of the single KPOP B!TCH, but also liked Lucky Star and SOLO.
• Paria: Love Don’t Come easy. Actually really good. Listened to this a few times. Overly Attached uses the chorus from Superstar, but it works really well in this song. Also love Selling Art.
• Eli: Stage Girl. Not for me. A bit too X-Factor groupy for me.

This is not even everything. There will be albums I’ve forgotten. And this obviously doesn’t include the random singles, etc that are in my “Picks of 2025” list. That’s coming tomorrow. And is excessive.

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Came very close to it being Heartworms with Glutton For Punishment, especially because I saw them live, but then I thought Lambrini Girls have five tracks in my “Picks of 2025” list and I saw them live (excellent!), but it doesn’t feel like album of the year emotionally to me. Then there is also Carla Aakre’s things i forgot to tell you, which is outstandingly beautiful. Oh, and NewDad’s Altar. But I went with Low Girl after a recent re-listening of them all. I can’t recall how this ended up on my radar, but it is just superb. I don’t really have much to say about each indiviual song, but have highlighted my favourites. In general, the layering of all the instruments and vocals is so good - I know that is the point of a band, but it’s just done so well here.

• This House Is On Fire - Initially I overlooked this, but the more I listen the more it sticks in my head and I find myself singing it. It’s a beautiful building opening to the album and just transitions seamlessly to…
• ♡ 2007 - Which is just stonkingly good.
• Doing My Time - Great use of piano.
• Ctrl - Great use of guitar.
• ♡ Driveway - Reminds me (emotionally) of Embrace’s Gravity. Really, really breaks you down, but in a most beautiful way - you really don’t mind being desolated. Plus the brass! And piano! Oh my.
• ♡ Overgrown - The lyrics suggest otherwise, but the chorus in this really picks me up after Driveway.
• ♡ Handbrake - Is just utterly beautiful with an uplifting chorus (actually, here again, the lyrics are in opposition to the mood of the music).
• No Reasons - Has a really good ending.
• White Gown
• Spite
• ♡ I Love All My Friends - Just a beautiful ending to the album. I actually love the fake/extended ending on this too. I assume they finish all their sets with this and everyone in the crowd just hugs and cries?

How does this make me feel? All the feelings. Like someone reaching inside of you and making you dissolve.

I guess if I went for a top five albums it would be: 1) Low Girl, 2) Heartworms, 3) Carla Aakre, 4) NewDad, 5) Lambrini Girls. Maybe. Probably.

I used the word beautiful as many times as was appropriate.

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