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Fear used to stalk me after sunset. Things change, though. And strike a light, spring is around the corner Listen to the entire ‘audio essay’, complete with the songs and me reading the text below, by clicking here https://www.mixcloud.com/tom-morton2/beatcrofting-in-the-darkbut-with-light-on-the-way/ The darkness comprehendeth it not… James King and the Lonewolves — My Queen Has Lost Her…

Two hours of Zetlandic (and Zetland-approved) music, plus a meditation: Here Come The Pacifist Vikings, by Elvis Voe and His Fitful Head And so, for another year…it begins! Up Helly Aa season has erupted via the Scalloway Fire Festival and of course the gigantic Lerwick affair, but there is so much more to go. Sunday…

As Up Helly Aa looms, a song about the Norse from a parochial point of view, and news about what I’m up to on the big day itself (Tuesday 30 January) Live shows! commentary! Women vikings! Apologies for the lack of Beatcrofting recently, but I’m getting ready, with the Shetland Webcams team, for the frenzy…

Can you bring sufficient personal light to make it through a Shetland winter? You can listen to this sonic newsletter, all the words and tunes in full, on Mixcloud by clicking the link here: https://www.mixcloud.com/tom-morton2/unpromoting-shetland-come-and-have-a-go-if-you-think-youre-hard-enough/ You know Shetland, the TV series? It’s been the biggest boost to tourism in these Northern Isles since…well. Ever. That…

A song by the enigmatic artiste currently known as Elvis Voe’s Fitful Head Too many dogs  There’s too many dogs There’s too many dogs in Troon Plastic bags in the South Beach dunes Too many dogs in Troon A French bulldog and a Bichon Frise A Labradoodle and a Pekinese Owned by men in shorts…

21 songs and an essay about leftovers You can listen to this lightweight essay on Mixcloud, read by me, complete with interludes of actual music as specified below, by clicking on this link: https://www.mixcloud.com/tom-morton2/and-on-the-12th-day-of-christmas-my-true-love-said-to-me-hoover/ On the Twelfth Day of Christmas, my true love said to me: “Hoover!” Or in my case, “Henry!” The generic term…

I’m told the French call Shetland Les Îles du Vent, the Islands of Wind. As the gales drop, temporarily, it’s time to actually hear that sigh of relief… I’ve recorded this as a three-minutes-or-thereabouts write’n’read. This is  the new year, the back-to-work, leftovers-in-the-dog 3rd of January. And something is wrong. Susan was wandering about claiming…

Three Poems and 20 songs. Including a manifesto for compulsory rock’n’roll retirement Here Come the Old Drugs: A Prescription for 2024 Listen to the whole thing, with all the music and me reading the verse, on Mixcloud here: https://www.mixcloud.com/tom-morton2/a-prescription-for-2024-three-poems-and-20-songs/ Bruce Springsteen — State Trooper Rolling Stones — Tumbling Dice Disaster, tragedy, folly, distress Joy, disappointment,…

It’ll be lonely this Christmas…or will it? An extended soundtrack and story for a snowbound Yule… Once upon a time… Phoebe Bridgers — If We Make It through December Lucy Dacus — Last Christmas Pretenders — Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas John Mellencamp — I Saw Mummy Kissing Santa Claus Dave Edmunds and Plum…

And long, long ago – how on earth did we even find out what music we were supposed to like? As usual, you can read this and dig out the tunes mentioned yourself (they’re on a Spotify Playlist you can find at the end, with the exception of Pete Atkin’s National Steel – it’s on…