DJ Punctum

I'm just not going to bother with it at all. It's the only option they understand.

It bothers me there isn't an independently reported obituary yet, some kind of arm's-length acknowledgement of this life and its conclusion. The death was already deeply painful for those who knew Kaleb, his family, his loved ones; the survivors have assembled some small literary pyres to push back the void. But as a fellow writer, when I think about the idea of a talent passing unrecognized by our culture's remembering machines, I see something that scares me. Here there once lived a man who awaits the stranger's appraisal.

Some extra notes on the late Kaleb Horton, plus a dive into Ezra Klein and Ta-Nehisi Coates’ conflicting visions of who their journalism is for.

mattdpearce.substack.com/p/the-measur...

"Post you from a different era." Sorry, 21st century, I only speak English.

Found and promptly blocked that loudmouthed Observer clickbaiter here. Stick to the old place, wah wah look-at-me-ists.

Are these the folk who used to be in Sutton? Hopefully they'll encounter a more tolerant populace one stop up the railway line. Not really my beat - it's within striking distance of me but I have a well-documented problem with trains at the moment - but good luck to all involved.

Exploring The Wednesday Play’s Legacy At 60 – 03:01: ‘Alice’ (BBC1, 13 October 1965) The Wednesday Play (1964-70, or 1965-70) was a landmark BBC drama series, following ITV’s lead with Armchair Theatre (ABC & Thames, 1956-74) in amplifying working-class voices. Canadian m…

Exploring #TheWednesdayPlay's Legacy At 60 returns with Dennis Potter's Alice, broadcast sixty years ago to the day. A fascinating, overlooked drama concerning Charles Dodgson's life, the Liddells & the creation of Alice in Wonderland:
maysbritain.home.blog/2025/10/06/e...

Shouldn't take that long, I would expect...a generation from now, kids will be asking their parents "what was a Conservative Party?"

CORRECTION: it peaked at 17 (not 18).

Update: I didn't get very much in the way of sleep last night/this morning and am consequently far too tired to go out today without possibly having another accident. Therefore, one more day of rest and I should hopefully be OK for going in tomorrow. As you were...

Nobody has ever satisfactorily figured out exactly what these lyrics mean - this old ILM thread made a valiant attempt:
www.ilxor.com/ILX/ThreadSe...

Imagine your working day was like a 6Music DJ. Someone messaged to say that spreadsheet is 'giving them life'. One email followed by another email? I'm 'on fire' today. Someone said that report was just what they needed on a day like today. A new starter can't believe my meeting went so well.

The Diamond album, when it came out as four boxed 12" singles. That's my idea of a Spandau box set...

I'd like television that makes me laugh to return, if that's possible.

Now figuring out how to go out tomorrow. Am thinking of getting a taxi to work. I'm not right yet.

I think I don't want deluxe reissues with pedantic and ponderous liner notes spelling out everything that happens on each track and completely destroying the magic. Back to band/artist pic on the front, track listing on the back and you work the rest out for yourself.

Bought OTD in 1972: another proper 1967 psych album. Doesn’t have a first class rep but so what - it’s charming, tuneful, inventive and light. Look At Me I’m You is mundanity transformed by musique concrete, Frozen Dog rocks, People of the Royal Parks a protest against a more regimented time. Dig it

Albums listened to this week by: Pinkpantheress, Mr(DJ Kicks mix), Stax compilation, The Hanging Stars, Haai, Music of the Nile, Khalid, Blawan, Park Jiha, Telepathic Fish ambient compilation, Hilda Gudnadottir, The Chamber Brothers, Warrington-Runcorn New Town Development Plan, Brian Eno & Beatie Wolfe, Feeo, Hollie Cook

This week’s listening.

YouTube video by HarryStylesVEVO Harry Styles - As It Was (Official Video)

#TheTwen2ie5 Day 12

AS IT WAS by HARRY STYLES (2022)

The uncertainty of the post-pandemic era in under three minutes: the question of how to carry on against the music insisting you haven’t got the time to answer the question on anything bar instinct.

m.youtube.com/watch?v=H5v3...

That's it for Retro Pop Punctum for this week - back with another historical Top 40 in a fortnight (L's got the Sunday off next week so I'm taking a break)! Keep asking questions and bye just now!

YouTube video by 80rec Dave Stewart & Barbara Gaskin - It's My Party

And at number one, up 7 massive places, staying there for 4 weeks & saving the nation from Birdie hell, it's...Hatfield and the North (sort of); the other Dave Stewart + Barbara Gaskin with their "reimagining" of Lesley Gore! Video features Thomas Dolby as "Johnny":
www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUlc...

YouTube video by TopOfThePopsFan Birdie Song - The Tweets - TOTP - 1981 [Remastered]

Well, I did warn you - MERCIFULLY getting stuck at #2, it's "The Birdie Song" by the Tweets. Incidentally, I have it on good authority that one of these feathered people is David "Isn't She Lovely" Parton:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROaD...

Another overlap with Joyce's Dubliners; listen to this then read "A Painful Case." I did at the time and, wow...

YouTube video by cosycorp Godley and Creme - Under your Thumb

Up one to a peak of #3, Godley and Creme with the bizarre and seemingly entirely uncommercial but who can second guess the public "Under Your Thumb." A splendidly overwrought TOTP performance here:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJ85...

YouTube video by AdamAntVEVO Adam & The Ants - Prince Charming

At #4, down from number one where it had resided for four weeks, Adam and the Ants with the song my mother always thought was about the Royal Wedding ("Prince Charlie?" "No, mum, it's Prince CHARMING oh never mind..."):
www.youtube.com/watch?v=9p__...

YouTube video by Toyah Toyah - Thunder In The Mountains (Promo Video)

Charging up eight places to #5 and it'll climb one place higher, Toyah hurtles down the M1 on a damp Thursday teatime with "Thunder In The Mountains":
www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtPj...

YouTube video by TheHumanLeagueVEVO The Human League - Open Your Heart

Zooming up fifteen places to #6 (but it'll get stuck there because the album's about to come out), it's Human League Blue with the ABBA-nodding "Open Your Heart" #MartinRushent:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAqT...

YouTube video by Николай Ottawan - Hands Up 1981

At #7 it's down two for France's Ottawan and their second top three smash "Hands Up (Give Me Your Heart)." Produced by Thomas Bangalter's dad, this:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbWa...

actually it's only Dave wearing the tuxedo but there you go!

YouTube video by Top Of The Pops Redubbed Depeche Mode - Just Can't Get Enough (TOTP 1981)

Up three to a peak of #8, Depeche Mode with the deathless "Just Can't Get Enough" - THAT TOTP performance with the tuxedos and toy trumpets:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WHc...

YouTube video by ThePoliceVEVO The Police - Invisible Sun (Official Music Video)

Down six to #9, having quickly peaked at number 2, Sting has an important message for you all - "Invisible Sun" by The Polis:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VuD...