Mark Brend

The Invisible Filmstrip Every now and again, the French teacher at my school would click a Tricolore cassette tape into a chunky red tape recorder and inform the class that we were...

I'm experimenting with a longer form screen sound newsletter on Buttondown (I'm hearing dubious things about Substack). My first piece is available to read here, and if you like it you can subscribe. The formatting is basic - not sure if I'll be able to add audio, but learning as I go...

I like that album, too. My memories of the great man here: internationaltimes.it/on-the-third...

internationaltimes.it/on-the-third...

Tom Verlaine, and second hand book and record shops in the 80s internationaltimes.it/on-the-third...

Agreed - deserves more attention.

Agree. Didn't know that MM fact.

Honoured that noted music writer Richie Unterberger has chosen Down River: In Search Of David Ackles as his top music book of 2025: www.richieunterberger.com/wordpress/to...

Today is Tim Hardin’s birthday
He’s long overdue for a posthumous revival
I have every album - including the later ones

Finally watched this last week, and realised I had seen it decades before, but barely remembered it. Very much enjoyed the Devon scenery/electronic music/supernatural mystery crossover.

Wonderful release out today on Buried Treasure. I had the pleasure of writing a short essay for the CD sleevenotes too.

New writing on the ARK blog, where musicians, writers and others choose an album to write about:⁣⁣
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David Sheppard (author of 'On Some Faraway Beach: The Life and Times of Brian Eno') writes about 'Warm and Cool' by Tom Verlaine (1992).⁣⁣
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www.falsewalls.co.uk/ark/warm-and...

Thanks for the tip off. Nice piece. Somebody's sending me an audio copy of that show, which I'm looking forward to hearing.

yes, it is! Buried Treasure are releasing the soundtrack out of the vault, including a short essay by Suzy Mangion

And a joy to be there with my son - a clear 40 years younger than almost all the rest of the audience.

Tend to avoid venerable acts paying tribute to their youth, but couldn't resist The Saints in Bristol last night. And what a show it was. Ed Kuepper one of the last great guitar heroes.

📣 Commission trailer 2! As DD Day 2025 approaches, so does new art inspired by the heritage of Delia Derbyshire and DD Day Archives at @thejohnrylands.bsky.social
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Look out for videos on 23 Nov & see this piece screened at MCR Central Library on Sat. Supported by National Lottery Heritage Fund

Suzy Mangion's new audio work The Music of Uncertain Lives will be premiered (visuals by Andrea Pazos) at next Saturday's FREE Delia Derbyshire Day event, Manchester Central Library, 2-4pm. Made using random number generators, you can hear it at random times. @deliaderbyshireday.bsky.social

A book cover shows a man in profile. He is white with curly dark hair and his eyes appear closed. Is he singing or performing?

I’ve been discovering David Ackles via Mark Brend’s beautifully-written biography. Down River (2025) details the curious recording career of a relatively unknown US singer songwriter in the late 60s & early 70s. Elton John was a fan. Sadly, no #PubLibs are featured in the biog. Excellent otherwise.

Broken treaties, broken vows

Fred Neil & Joni Mitchell backstage at The Last Waltz, 1976. The Band asked Fred to come out and play but he wouldn't do it.

according to digital distributors CD Baby, "Last year, 87% of tracks uploaded to streaming platforms didn’t reach 1,000 streams.". Phew. If that's true, then 87% of tracks played on Spotify last year got ZERO streaming payment from Spotify. (they only pay out if you reach 1000) 87%!!!!! 😱😡

Enjoyed this chat with @almelchior.bsky.social

** IMPORTANT NOTICE: Due to the Postal Service in whole EEC being suspended to the USA temporarily, we have delayed the initial pre-order & release date for our HONEYBUS releases until the Postal Service clarifies how to proceed with shipments to the US. Thanks for your patience. **

Pleased to see Down River in an actual bookshop. Thank you Waterstones, Exeter.

Listed building:

I've never watched this. Clearly, I need to.

Be at peace with yourself

For me, David Ackles along with Tim Buckley (and others) is one of Elektra’s crowning achievements - sadly, Ackles albums are currently out of print - but this brand new biography book by expert Mark Brend is a fabulous detailed account - including input from Ackles family