Music was my first love…

This is the soundtrack to a life well travelled — classic albums, deep cuts, backstories, playlists and concert memories that deserve a place on your turntable or in your headphones.

You’ll find first-hand reviews of landmark albums, reflections on unforgettable live shows, and playlists to match a mood, a moment, or a destination. Some of the records here are well known. Others might just surprise you.

Getting It Together in the Country
Jamie Riddell Jamie Riddell

Getting It Together in the Country

Before mobile studios and MacBooks, making music in the countryside meant cables through hedgerows and ambient birdsong on tape. From Traffic and Fairport to Led Zeppelin and Oldfield, these are the albums that truly got it together in the country.

Read More
Father’s Day Gifts for the Music-Loving Dad
Gifts Jamie Riddell Gifts Jamie Riddell

Father’s Day Gifts for the Music-Loving Dad

From limited-edition rock art to vinyl classics, here’s your 2025 guide to Father’s Day gifts that go beyond the cliché. Whether he’s into Bowie, Beatles, or just building Lego guitars, these music-inspired ideas are made for the dad who still knows how to turn it up.

Read More