James Tansley
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tansleyjames.bsky.social
James Tansley
@tansleyjames.bsky.social
Artist. Decorator. Lost in music… always have been, always will be. Ex-serial music challenge host, now part-time (sort of). #MDANT @tansleyjames on Twitter.
ArtistFaveLP
Attack Of The Grey Lantern | Mansun | 1997

1 | Disgusting

It should have been a single according to Paul Draper and I agree. I love the Ants-like percussion and the whole feel of the track. It stood out on the first listen and still does now.

youtu.be/HR6633q0c08
November 28, 2025 at 10:25 PM
My final #MusicChallenge of the year is #SimpleMindsTop30 starting on 1st December. The twelfth one I’ve hosted this year so a big thank you to everyone who has contributed to any of them over the past eleven months. 7-9 more planned for January-April next year then another stab at retirement. 😁🎧💿
November 28, 2025 at 2:57 PM
#1985AlbumsTop20 9

Heads And Hearts | The Sound

The Sound’s fourth studio album. Reissued again this year as a 2CD set, if you don’t know it (or them), it’s well worth checking out. You won’t regret it.

Burning Part Of Me
youtu.be/6rj08UzrjoM
November 28, 2025 at 7:44 AM
#B-SidesandBonusTracks 3

Be Kind To My Mistakes | Kate Bush | 1989

Originally written for the Castaway Soundtrack in 1987, it was remixed and issued on b-side of This Woman’s Work (1989).

youtu.be/0Kws17H150I
November 28, 2025 at 7:39 AM
#NewWaveNovember 3

Games Without Frontiers | Peter Gabriel | 1980

Peter Gabriel wasn’t necessarily a New Wave artist but on his groundbreaking third solo album he definitely bent more New Wave than Prog. The otherworldly Games Without Frontiers fits the genre perfectly.

youtu.be/3xZmlUV8muY
November 28, 2025 at 7:28 AM
#90sTop30 3

Being Boring | Pet Shop Boys | 1990

The most affecting song in their catalogue. I can’t quantify the amount of times I’ve heard it but it always moves me. “But I thought in spite of dreams, You'd be sitting somewhere here with me” floors me every single time.

youtu.be/BLAyPWGTjyA
November 28, 2025 at 7:21 AM
#ArtistFaveLP
Attack Of The Grey Lantern | Mansun | 1997

2 | Wide Open Space

Where my adoration for all things Mansun started. Their most well known track and certainly one of their best.

youtu.be/DSkWqd5E03A
November 27, 2025 at 10:02 PM
#1985AlbumsTop20 10

What Does Anything Mean? Basically |
The Chameleons

Album number two from The Chameleons. Why they never broke through is baffling to say the least.

Perfume Garden
youtu.be/EFihJB6G_78
November 27, 2025 at 8:06 AM
#B-SidesandBonusTracks 4

Almost (Hannett / Cargo Studios Version |
Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark | 1979

The original Martin Hannett / Cargo Studios produced version of Almost is still my number one OMD track.

youtu.be/e9LDb3bgq3c
November 27, 2025 at 7:40 AM
#NewWaveNovember 4

Dog Eat Dog | Adam & The Ants | 1980

The opening track on “Kings” still sounds thrilling. That initial rush and excitement I got from hearing it aged 8, still remains today. If “Dirk” was Post-Punk, then “Kings” was definitely more New Wave.

youtu.be/Z5WNZxoTnAA
November 27, 2025 at 7:28 AM
#90sTop30 4

A Huge Ever Growing Pulsating Brain That Rules From The Centre Of The Ultraworld (Loving You) (Peel Session) | The Orb

20m 14s of perfection, the definitive version of The Orb’s masterpiece. I’d listen to this for days on end. Broadcast in late 89, released in 91.

youtu.be/12aotY3Cg2Q
November 27, 2025 at 7:23 AM
#ArtistFaveLP
Attack Of The Grey Lantern | Mansun | 1997

3 | The Chad Who Loved Me

The album’s opening track and the best Bond Theme that never was. The template for the sheer scale, ambition and invention that runs through the whole album is evident here.

youtu.be/Sqkm17Ufb_s
November 26, 2025 at 10:03 PM
#1985AlbumsTop20 11

Hunting High And Low | a-ha

a-ha’s debut album. It took a while for Take On Me to break through but when it did there was no stopping them. Pure melodic pop at it’s finest.

The Blue Sky
youtu.be/SOKqF3OEit4
November 26, 2025 at 7:49 AM
#B-SidesandBonusTracks 5

Barriers | Soft Cell | 1983

The b-side of 1983’s Numbers single. A very Numan-esque feel to this one.

youtu.be/N0yWWlqnb0M
November 26, 2025 at 7:45 AM
#NewWaveNovember 5

Talk Of The Town | The Pretenders | 1980

Having discovered one of Johnny Marr’s favourite guitarists was James Honeyman-Scott, it’s easy to see why I love this song so much. Chrissie’s vocals are wonderful but it’s those guitars that make it so special.

youtu.be/-Kdt1IARNkI
November 26, 2025 at 7:33 AM
#90sTop30 5

Time After Time | The Beloved | 1990

In the year of Violator and Behaviour, Happiness remains my most played album of the year. 10 tracks, all of which could have been singles. Time After Time is the best of the lot and is genuinely one of my favourite songs ever.

youtu.be/PCXM-1PKn20
November 26, 2025 at 7:26 AM
#ArtistFaveLP
Attack Of The Grey Lantern | Mansun | 1997

4 | You, Who Do You Hate?

Track four on the album and a change of pace. A semi-acoustic and brooding affair with a quiet / loud dynamic that works brilliantly. The shortest song on the album.

youtu.be/N2Ms55tyz4o
November 25, 2025 at 10:02 PM
#1985AlbumsTop20 12

Boys And Girls | Bryan Ferry

Suave, sophisticated, high production values, classic songs… Boys And Girls has it all. Avalon Part 2? Well maybe, but when a formula works so well and you’re capable of pulling it off again then why not.

The Chosen One
youtu.be/Ap8xH_AD7E8
November 25, 2025 at 7:43 AM
#B-SidesandBonusTracks 6

Crystal Japan | David Bowie | 1980

A Berlin-esque instrumental track that was originally intended for inclusion on Scary Monsters. It ended up as the b-side of Up The Hill Backwards but I wish they’d found space for it on the album.

youtu.be/h_sNUlrMy30
November 25, 2025 at 7:41 AM
#NewWaveNovember 6

Frederick | Patti Smith Group | 1979

One of the standout tracks from the album Wave. The track is dedicated to Fred ‘Sonic’ Smith of the MC5.

youtu.be/a-befOtn9GQ
November 25, 2025 at 7:30 AM
#90sTop30 6

Disarm | The Smashing Pumpkins | 1993

Lyrically it’s unsettling but musically it struck a nerve from the very first listen. A darker side of the Pumpkins, the acoustic/orchestral backing adds drama and pathos. It hits home hard, every time.

youtu.be/d1acEVmnVhI
November 25, 2025 at 7:23 AM
#ArtistFaveLP
Attack Of The Grey Lantern | Mansun | 1997

5 | Mansun’s Only Love Song

Track two on the album (UK version). I thought at the time that the album echoed the 80s production values of Chris Hughes (Ants, TFF) and that’s the case here. The flow into Taxloss is 👌

youtu.be/JWh2lCIPT_I
November 24, 2025 at 10:04 PM
#1985AlbumsTop20 13

7 Day Weekend | The Comsat Angels

Their second and final album for Jive Records. It’s not a patch on their earlier material but there are some great songs on it. You Move Me and High Tide are standouts but there are others.

High Tide
youtu.be/ThRfyBqZPPk
November 24, 2025 at 7:57 AM
#B-SidesandBonusTracks 7

4 Ever Delayed |
Manic Street Preachers | 2002

It’s only available on the Lipstick Traces compilation but this should have been a single (I mean they named a Best Of after it). I still think it’s one of the best things they’ve ever released.

youtu.be/K6MKCCCWVus
November 24, 2025 at 7:47 AM
#NewWaveNovember 7

Dreaming | Blondie | 1979

Propelled along by Clem Burke’s powerhouse drumming, Dreaming is Blondie at the peak of their powers.

youtu.be/TU3-lS_Gryk
November 24, 2025 at 7:32 AM