A very personal piece this morning on how The Blue Nile's 'Hats', as well as being a cult classic, is the most important album in my life. RTs, shares and subscribers appreciated 🎶🙏 open.substack.com/pub/top10n…

If you'd have told me at the start of the year that The Strokes released one of my favourite albums of 2026, my face would have looked like a lot of long time fans did when they first heard Julian Casablancas' Auto-Tuned vocals. Been having a jam listening again this afternoon. Still sounds bloody brilliant to these ears.

Massive Attack (feat. Tricky | Take It There Although never an official permanent member of the group, Tricky was as vital as anyone to early Massive Attack. In 2016, he returned once more to the fold, seemingly channelling the devil through his brilliantly bleak vocals. youtu.be/hWSt_q7M3zI?si=FzkV…

#AllThatJazz Getting into jazz at the same time as culling buying records has been a blessing and a curse. But I've found a happy compromise; CDs. It's been years since I bought one but now I'm filling out my jazz loves nicely. The first one through the door is Matana Roberts' harrowingly exquisite Coin Coin Chapter One.

Perfect company for a full moon 🌕

#AllThatJazz Paul Bley | Open, To Love I have to be in a very specific mood for solo piano, but woe betide any jazzhead who doesn't melt at 'Ida Lupina'. This one is so rich and warm, you can play it instead of putting the heating on. At least, that's my money saving tip.

The Smashing Pumpkins | Disarm An autobiographical tale of childhood hell boiled down to three-and-a-bit minutes of alternative rock heaven, detailing the emotional turmoil of a young life overshadowed by emotional turmoil. youtu.be/d1acEVmnVhI?si=FHer…

Today, I present to you the inarguable, completely conclusive and definite ranking of Tom Waits' studio albums...👇 top10nathan.substack.com/p/t…

Anna von Hausswolff | Iconoclasts Spending the first dark evening of Halloween week with this masterpiece. Suitably released on the big day last year, Struggle With The Beast remains my favourite song of 2025. The sax is phenomenal beyond comprehension. youtu.be/4rL3ATRkeKw?si=9zQy…

Spent Monday morning in the company of Dopamine Chamber. New albums create an echo chamber of initial reactions and a whole lotta bickering. I'm enjoying this more with every listen, and it was love at first sight even then. The first 8 tracks are stellar; fully loaded with spine-tingling moments. Happy For You x Demolition x Tongue is just an incredible 3 track punch 👊

#NoGoodMusicAnymore #AllThatJazz Émile Parisien | Floating Haven't checked out nearly enough of the ACT label, but everything I hear I love. This was no different. Inspired by Middle Eastern music, and with simple harmonic playing allowing the four members of this band to venture into wonderfully dreamy soundscapes.

Roast Dinner to finish off the week off. Feels ridiculous after 5 years of a job from hell, but my first full week off from my new job and I haven't got the Sunday scaries whatsoever. I will miss the lie-ins though...🤣

Blasting this one out again while making dinner. Absolutely slams.

Space Afrika | Honest Labour Having listened to and loved their new Quiet Storm, I went back to Honest Labour during a lazy morning and David is, as ever, spot on. A dark and delicate web indeed. These guys are so good at wrapping you up in these distant, dreamlike worlds.

Beth Orton | Galaxy Of Emptiness By the time Trailer Park has reached its final song, a swirling 10 minute epic isn't needed to cement its greatness. But that's exactly what Orton gives us, aching to be swept off her feet while ironically doing just that to us over and over again. youtu.be/yQsjeMyOiz8?si=XzPw…

#NoGoodMusicAnymore Space Afrika | Quiet Storm Perfect company for reading The Unconsoled with the extra hour this morning - a sprawling album that feels like a not-quite-there dream. Wonderful stuff and I need to listen to more of this duo.

I'm a sucker for an appropriately named album and they don't come much more apt than Filth. Swans' debut is doused in dirty, distorted guitar and proto-industrial percussion to the point you need a bubble bath after hearing one song, never mind the full 37 minutes of agonising aural torture. If there's any doubt, I love it.

#NoGoodMusicAnymore Holy Tongue | Basilikum Holy moly, this music was made for the increasingly dark nights. Psychedelic, dub, post-punk...you name it, these guys have got it in bucketloads. So much freedom and propulsion, this is absolutely in the reckoning as another best 2026 album. Orange 28 👇 youtu.be/7S29s5l6G2g?si=Gpfk…

I've not been enamoured with a lot of the highly rated releases this year, but Fine's Jazz Dreams is pretty wonderful. Can't put any of it into words, but it sounds how the cover looks and I think that's wonderful.

Talking Heads | Houses In Motion If the first four songs on Remain In Light are the stars, then the second half is akin to hidden treasure. Houses In Motion is just as funky as what's come before, but with Byrne going full spoken word and Jon Hassell providing ominous trumpet magic. youtu.be/Yt9_uyXgOzc?si=sw_f…

With a week to go until Halloween, my record wall is looking decidedly spooky 🎃🎶