Author: Ian France
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Quicksilver
This playlist is taken from my Converse radio station series, which focuses on whole-album play-throughs. Quicksilver plays back to back albums from Mercury Prize alumni. Quicksilver / 1: Get a load of some block rockin’ beats with The Chemical Brothers’ masterwork, Dig Your Own Hole (nominated 1997): hard, funky and bass-heavy breaks. Follow that with…
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What You Are Looking For Is In The Library
Title: What You Are Looking For Is In The Library Author: Michiko Aoyama (translated by Alison Watts) Rating: ★★★★★ Review: A beautiful, thought-provoking book, full of inspirational ideas and concepts. The premise of a librarian handing out life advice and tips for self-improvement, but in a round-about kind of way is a wonderful one. The…
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Trainspotting (Music From The Motion Picture)
Album: Trainspotting (Music From The Motion Picture) Artist: Various Artists Year: 1996 Genre: Alternative Run Time: 1h16m Rating: 86.76% Review: This album features a number of tracks heard and referenced in the titular film — and it’s wonderful. Britpop rubs shoulders with techno, and more besides. There are several numbers here not easily available from…
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White Moss
Title: White Moss Author: Anna Nerkagi (translated by Irina Sadovina) Rating: ★★★★★ Review: I mean, just wow! This has dethroned A Prayer For Owen Meaney as my favourite book of all time. There is so much to say here. The book describes the lives of the Nenets, nomadic natives of Siberia, or at least a…
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Like Paper Lanterns In The Breeze
This is my attempt at a sonnet. It was written for my fiancée, Faye. Paper Lanterns In The Breeze There’s a force at work within my life nowAnd none may know its influence on meIt twists and turns and tears my heart – but how!I might never fully, its work to seeBlowing like paper lanterns…
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Wasteman
Film: Eastman Year: 2026 Director: Cal McMau Rating: 100% Review: The sheer claustrophobia of this film is enough to propel it to high acclaim. This prison thriller / drama pits the viewer against the modern prison underbelly — drugs, beatings, betrayals. The protagonist is due for early parole, but is drawn into a spiral of…
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Prisoners’ Escape: Answer
So, have the prisoners escaped? I like to think they did. But how did they maximise their chances? If you haven’t seen it, read the original puzzle here; and get a hint here, if you need it. Here’s what the prisoners should have decided: when the first prisoner goes in, they should open their number…
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Healthiest Breakfast Stack
Something I’ve not eaten for some time is a fry-up. This is because for a few years now, I’ve been trying to make my diet a little healthier. Obviously I don’t always succeed, because I’m only human, but this was a little win. For a time, I made a healthier version of the dish, but…
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GOAT
Film: GOAT Year: 2026 Director: Tyree Dillihay Rating: 85% Review: The wannabe becomes underdog plot has been done many times over. When the other elements of this film are added, you definitely feel you’ve seen it all before. But… it is a fun film, with great characters, exciting settings, and good-quality set pieces. The animation…
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Prisoners’ Escape – Hint
A couple of weeks ago, I set you a puzzle based on prisoners escaping their captivity. Read it here if you haven’t seen it. If you’ve given it some thought and are struggling with it, here’s a hint for you. Clearly they’re not going to just open lockers at random. Think about, as a prisoner…
Centred 