Alan Burns
@alanburns.bsky.social
Kilmarnock-born Edinburgher, civil servant who likes a lot of music, niche trivia and funny stuff
Reposted by Alan Burns
You're a Gay Man, Charlie Brown.
December 9, 2025 at 12:37 AM
You're a Gay Man, Charlie Brown.
Now lying in the dark with bedtime listening taking a nice dark turn: hankering for this earlier. Ngl I often love DLS as a proto-Coil album, but it is arguably the best and most satisfying PTV one. Everyone's at their best, one of those lineups that looks like a jawdropping supergroup in hindsight
![Album cover of Dreams Less Sweet by Psychic TV [Some Bizarre, 1983]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:tzkttulzcpjkfy2ohmblfcnf/bafkreiamxpiwa2gatmliff3sgegtespyzd2j4rsnfo67m72ag5ktevqicq@jpeg)
December 9, 2025 at 12:44 AM
Now lying in the dark with bedtime listening taking a nice dark turn: hankering for this earlier. Ngl I often love DLS as a proto-Coil album, but it is arguably the best and most satisfying PTV one. Everyone's at their best, one of those lineups that looks like a jawdropping supergroup in hindsight
(the composition of the piece, not this specific recording which was slightly later.) What a glorious racket
December 8, 2025 at 11:59 PM
(the composition of the piece, not this specific recording which was slightly later.) What a glorious racket
Reposted by Alan Burns
I just use this one simple memory aid, I ask myself: did George Benson release Dukey Treats? Oh, no, that’s right, it was George Duke.
December 8, 2025 at 11:44 PM
I just use this one simple memory aid, I ask myself: did George Benson release Dukey Treats? Oh, no, that’s right, it was George Duke.
Reposted by Alan Burns
once again blown away by the roster of guest artists on William Shatner’s 2013 album “Pondering the Mystery”
December 8, 2025 at 11:29 PM
once again blown away by the roster of guest artists on William Shatner’s 2013 album “Pondering the Mystery”
Reposted by Alan Burns
Important supporting documents for the fuckometer status
bsky.app/profile/harr...
bsky.app/profile/harr...
[Harpo Marx was born Adolf (later Arthur) Marx on this day in 1888. Circa HORSE FEATHERS he was handing out nude photographs of himself as a gag; one was auctioned recently for $5,760. You can see it here, but I've warned you. (Thanks Teakagee!)]
bid.juliensauctions.com/lot-details/...
bid.juliensauctions.com/lot-details/...
December 8, 2025 at 10:22 PM
Important supporting documents for the fuckometer status
bsky.app/profile/harr...
bsky.app/profile/harr...
(So I've been told) I could wire a plug properly, neutral-earth-live in modern colours or the old ones our first record player had, by the age of four. Sometimes wish everything wasn't pre-moulded these days, I had wire-stripping and neat twisting of the ends down pat and everything
What skill did you master that you will never, ever use again?
Archival research feels like it’s full of these, but then there’s always one throwback archive with a microfiche machine or a paper catalogue (or, indeed: NARA)
Archival research feels like it’s full of these, but then there’s always one throwback archive with a microfiche machine or a paper catalogue (or, indeed: NARA)
What skill did you master that you will never, ever use again?
Summer of '95 I had a job assembling single-use film cameras, which I did enough that I can still perform the actions. I don't think they even sell them anymore, but even if they do I'm certainly never going to be making them again!
Summer of '95 I had a job assembling single-use film cameras, which I did enough that I can still perform the actions. I don't think they even sell them anymore, but even if they do I'm certainly never going to be making them again!
December 8, 2025 at 7:17 PM
(So I've been told) I could wire a plug properly, neutral-earth-live in modern colours or the old ones our first record player had, by the age of four. Sometimes wish everything wasn't pre-moulded these days, I had wire-stripping and neat twisting of the ends down pat and everything
Yesss a list where I actually have three of them, rather than one or zero. Had just about forgotten I had that Yazz Ahmed album, no word of a lie - and it's incredible! That's what happens when I go off on some other obsession and it just keeps spiralling, must revisit
I know you've been wondering what the 10 best jazz albums of 2025 were. Well, @stereogum.com and I have you covered:
stereogum.com/2481697/the-...
stereogum.com/2481697/the-...
The 10 Best Jazz Albums Of 2025
So… what kind of a year was 2025 for jazz? Well, it marked the centennial of saxophonist Gene Ammons, drummer Roy Haynes, critic Nat Hentoff, pianist Jutta Hipp, saxophonist Art Pepper, pianist Oscar ...
stereogum.com
December 8, 2025 at 7:07 PM
Yesss a list where I actually have three of them, rather than one or zero. Had just about forgotten I had that Yazz Ahmed album, no word of a lie - and it's incredible! That's what happens when I go off on some other obsession and it just keeps spiralling, must revisit
Reposted by Alan Burns
tired: GG Allin
wired:
wired:
December 8, 2025 at 5:08 AM
tired: GG Allin
wired:
wired:
Reposted by Alan Burns
Glad I saved this by @longwall26.bsky.social
December 7, 2025 at 7:06 PM
Glad I saved this by @longwall26.bsky.social
On to this perennial favourite now: can never get enough of that incredible soundtrack that sounds part Dijvan Gasparyan record and part Reichian gamelan
December 7, 2025 at 6:56 PM
On to this perennial favourite now: can never get enough of that incredible soundtrack that sounds part Dijvan Gasparyan record and part Reichian gamelan
Stop The The Cavalry
#xmasbands
#xmasbands
Tidings of comfort and joy division #xmasbands
Adam and the Antlers #xmasbands
December 7, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Stop The The Cavalry
#xmasbands
#xmasbands
This afternoon's viewing, which has got us constantly googling IRL ages for the ensemble cast, as so many of them didn't feel plausible as characters who went to school together. TIL that Oscar Isaac, Chris Pratt and Channing Tatum were in fact all born within a 13-mth run, which has broken my brain
December 7, 2025 at 5:09 PM
This afternoon's viewing, which has got us constantly googling IRL ages for the ensemble cast, as so many of them didn't feel plausible as characters who went to school together. TIL that Oscar Isaac, Chris Pratt and Channing Tatum were in fact all born within a 13-mth run, which has broken my brain
Online ads update: have finally encountered one of Etsy's 'Rees Mogg watching from the cuck chair' assemblages that you're all getting. Anthea is still his favourite; the blonde ladies in nightwear seem to be new. They're laughing at him. He asked for it; it's his favourite humiliation kink.
December 6, 2025 at 10:23 PM
Online ads update: have finally encountered one of Etsy's 'Rees Mogg watching from the cuck chair' assemblages that you're all getting. Anthea is still his favourite; the blonde ladies in nightwear seem to be new. They're laughing at him. He asked for it; it's his favourite humiliation kink.
Reposted by Alan Burns
Quote with your model of masculinity
December 5, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Quote with your model of masculinity
Bit of Tombeau de Couperin now to go into the weekend
![2CD cover of Debussy/Ravel: Piano Music performed by Kathryn Stott [recorded for Conifer 1988-90; this compilation Sony Classical, 2009]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:tzkttulzcpjkfy2ohmblfcnf/bafkreihpri35orjxw4yk6f53dbfyghkjnigvwo5thfsrw6asqi3g5xzpku@jpeg)
December 5, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Bit of Tombeau de Couperin now to go into the weekend
Reposted by Alan Burns
I’m ecstatic to announce my new double LP, Autechre Guitar, is now available for preorder from Bill Orcutt’s Palilalia Records. Ten songs by the English electronic music duo, Autechre, transcribed and arranged for solo acoustic guitar. 🙏 🟩
shaneparish.bandcamp.com/album/autech...
shaneparish.bandcamp.com/album/autech...
December 5, 2025 at 2:06 PM
I’m ecstatic to announce my new double LP, Autechre Guitar, is now available for preorder from Bill Orcutt’s Palilalia Records. Ten songs by the English electronic music duo, Autechre, transcribed and arranged for solo acoustic guitar. 🙏 🟩
shaneparish.bandcamp.com/album/autech...
shaneparish.bandcamp.com/album/autech...
Something that's been going round my head: what's the more proper pronunciation of Chopin?
1) show-pan
2) shaw-pan
Or is it just that one's more Polish and one's more French or something?
1) show-pan
2) shaw-pan
Or is it just that one's more Polish and one's more French or something?
Now this, still haven't properly listened to it yet but do like Biret's Chopin
![CD cover of Chopin: Ballades etc performed by Idil Biret [Naxos, 1992]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:tzkttulzcpjkfy2ohmblfcnf/bafkreif5ncopflfwtvkime2z2xsq3rckr5y7lf4s4as6edims2meaxbi6y@jpeg)
December 5, 2025 at 1:50 PM
Something that's been going round my head: what's the more proper pronunciation of Chopin?
1) show-pan
2) shaw-pan
Or is it just that one's more Polish and one's more French or something?
1) show-pan
2) shaw-pan
Or is it just that one's more Polish and one's more French or something?
Now this, still haven't properly listened to it yet but do like Biret's Chopin
December 5, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Now this, still haven't properly listened to it yet but do like Biret's Chopin
![2CD cover of Chopin: Complete Nocturnes performed by Daniel Barenboim [DG, 1982]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:tzkttulzcpjkfy2ohmblfcnf/bafkreic27lkx2aktuuvxs6dgjx25hntab67q7z7ayohhcsytsfahpf5jzi@jpeg)
![CD cover of A Winter’s Solstice by Windham Hill Artists [Windham Hill, 1985]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:tzkttulzcpjkfy2ohmblfcnf/bafkreicvc4wl6mubt2vtmygequqwv3enrrjw62ssinj2znamlektpn7xwq@jpeg)
Reposted by Alan Burns
Dump Him, Girl www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
You be the judge: Should my best friend stop trying to set me up on dates?
Whitney thinks Haile would be happier in a relationship. Haile says she’s fine by herself. You decide who’s being too single-minded
www.theguardian.com
December 5, 2025 at 9:30 AM
Dump Him, Girl www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
Reposted by Alan Burns
This is exactly why it’s great. It sounds like Paul wrote it while drunk. More Christmas songs should do that.
Everyone dunks on Wonderful Christmastime, but I think it's beautiful that we have a holiday classic that sounds like if an armed gunman broke into your home and said "You have fifteen minutes to write a Christmas song that uses every cue on this Baby's First Casio, or I'll kill your family."
December 5, 2025 at 7:09 AM
This is exactly why it’s great. It sounds like Paul wrote it while drunk. More Christmas songs should do that.