I feel we're in a society where we are consumed by a need for visual/pictorial representation. Film adaptations of books; passing off tl;dr as a form of wit; a "need" for a video to listen to music. The World Wide Web is primarily a text-based medium, and yet we found ways of applying video and pictures to it, to the point where this is seen as essential for any web-site.

As you can guess from this, I don't prioritise pictorial media, although I am very much into typography [which is something I need to sort out for this site—one day] and calligraphy. It may be why I still can't read standard Western music notation fluently. I like words, and love reading. Specifically, I love reading about ideas, and what people think: and I like it best when it's dressed in good writing.

So it's been a joy to read the essays at Francois Matarasso's Regular Marvels, especially the sub-set called Bread And Salt, which deals with the experiences of migrants and diaspora. I found lots of resonances with the two collections I made a few years ago, Popular Delusions and Songs for The New Folk, both of which deal with the issues and feelings around being from somewhere where you are not from. Francois' own experience of this is fascinating; there's a lot to delve into.

I got interviewed by those great people at Jazzre:freshed. Bit of a chat about don't overthink it, and lots of words from me on some really tough questions!

don't overthink it has arrived. I'll try to get the orders out as soon as I can—off to Liverpool tomorrow so a slight delay, but still. IT IS HERE. And it's already got a lovely review courtesy of All About Jazz. Go get it!

Here's the two highly enjoyable sets I played with Seth Bennett and Sam Andreae at the Whitworth Art Gallery in Manchester. Such a fantastic space: I'd love to play there again!

Really nice to have two tracks from don't overthink it featured on Mystery Lesson, a great show of improv, noise and other exciting musical happenings put together by the writer Daniel Spicer. The love for the new recording has been really humbling.

Although the audience was small, had a great gig last night with Martin Archer's Engine Room Favourites! Really nice to hear a bit of Matthew Bourne and Seaming To's duo Billy Moon, and a bit of Andy Champion's ACV before leaving. The Highways Agency had plans to scupper Walt Shaw's carefully planned route by shutting exits to the M6, so it was a long journey home. Some quiet reflection today; and some thinking around wordless love songs—ideas for solo work are flowing right now.