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.
Deciphering Kate Bush’s Cloudbusting: The Meaning Behind the Song
Kate Bush’s Cloudbusting is more than a song about strange machines on a hillside. We look at the book that inspired the song, and the location of that famous music video.
In Search of the Division Bell
In search of Pink Floyd’s Division Bell, we travelled to Ely Cathedral and the Cambridgeshire Fens to trace the iconic album sleeve. Along the way we explored the cover’s location, its meaning, and why the silent heads still hold so much power today.
What Does Hotel California Really Mean? Unlocking the Eagles’ Dark Allegory
Hotel California isn’t just a song—it’s the overture to an album that unravels the excesses, illusions, and ultimate disillusionment of rock stardom. By starting at The Last Resort and working backwards, we see how the Eagles crafted a thematic journey akin to a rock opera, where the title track sets the stage for the rise and fall that follows.
Elton John’s “Song for Guy”: The Story Behind the Instrumental Tribute
A gentle instrumental, a single whispered line, and a title given in memory — “Song for Guy” is one of Elton John’s most personal tracks. Here’s the story behind the song, the boy, and the break from Bernie.
Peter Gabriel's Solsbury Hill - Where is it and can you climb it?
Peter Gabriel's "Solsbury Hill," a reflection on his departure from Genesis and solo career contemplation, holds a deeper connection to an actual hill near Bath, UK. The 1977 song features metaphorical lyrics about transformation and decision-making. The writer's personal journey to the hill mirrored Gabriel's, offering them perspective. The hill is accessible from Bath and is a serene vantage point with historical and soul-searching significance.
Happiness is Easy
Happiness Is Easy by Talk Talk isn’t as straightforward as its title suggests. With haunting melodies and thought-provoking lyrics, the song explores themes of war, religion, and innocence—wrapped in the atmospheric brilliance of The Colour of Spring. But is Mark Hollis being ironic, or is there something deeper beneath the surface? Let’s take a closer listen