Andy Miller

Thanks so much, Mark. That is very interesting. I shall say a little more on the topic of Irish fidelity to C&W in part two.

One thing about listening to a lot of these records was to realise the insane levels of musicianship at work. Often these LPs consist of first takes after only one rehearsal.

Great stuff from Andy.

C&W is always a sensitive subject for Irish people. It's like lederhosen and oompah bands are for Bavarians.

So it's good to see someone exploring the landscape with fresh eyes, finding the gems which not even the industrialisation of the genre can completely crush.

The reverse of Liz Anderson's Husband Hunting is perhaps even more impressive.

Charles Foster Lightyear?

INVENTORY: AN UNRELIABLE GUIDE TO MY RECORD COLLECTION by Andy Miller

WE GOT US A READER! A new instalment of INVENTORY is available now via the @backlisted.bsky.social Patreon.

This week: Country and West Kirby, part one. Fabulous LPs by the likes of Liz Anderson, Moe Bandy, Dallas Frazier, Freddie Hart and (of course) Elvis Costello.

www.patreon.com/backlisted

Was it though, Pete? Deep down?

YouTube video by Gene Parsons - Topic I Must Be a Tree

Thank you, friend! I’m literally writing part two right now, and a para about this song. You like a melancholy, enigmatic ballad, don’t you? x youtu.be/KCzLNs-Lh0g?...

We should say this.

Was Toy Story named in homage to Tokyo Story? Let’s say it was.

You’ve lost your money, it was me (on BACKlisted). :) x

I love Schalcken the Painter but it predates EoD. Red Riding is a good shout.

I know. But there’s only one Edge of Darkness. Well, two, but we don’t count the remake.

Roland, allow yourself this pleasure.

I thought she was wonderful. Do you remember her in Paradise Postponed around the same time? (Loved it then but with hindsight can see it was John Mortimer ‘doing’ A Dance to the Music of Time.)

I’m now available to make a podcast with you i.e. me.

Why Edge Of Darkness Makes So Much Sense in 2025 | The Quietus Judge Rogers speaks to several key members of the team who made the ecologically-minded thriller for the BBC

Fortunately @juderogers.bsky.social and @thequietus.com are here to put Edge of Darkness into perspective. 🙏 thequietus.com/opinion-and-...

It is the only mature work of Eric’s I like.

Don’t worry, everyone does! x

TOTALLY. I wonder if it was in the script. Because even if it was, Bob Peck sells it so beautifully. In fact, watching it again so much of the show are lingering shots of Bob’s face, often expressing little but grief.

But not Backlisted?? ;)

Your memory is entirely accurate.

And bless you Stuart, nice to know you’re there. x

Please direct your comments to one of the million threads with people wanking over Penda’s Fen, this is reserved for Edge of Darkness wanking:

The final episode is so thrillingly opaque and eccentric, and you buy it completely.

TRUST.

Haha, I love that. It’s in this context I can describe Edge of Darkness as underrated and it be true.

It has the intelligence of those Le Carré adaptations without their pretentiousness, yet with a different sort of pretentiousness that doesn’t prevent it being both gripping and terribly moving. And Bob Peck’s performance is totally magnetic.

It’s a minor work overpraised by bloggers.

I don’t want the flying monkeys to descend on me but yes. The most overrated underrated thing ever.