Graham Rickson 🇮🇪
@grahamrickson.bsky.social
London-raised, Leeds-based primary music teacher, horn and ukulele player, film and classical CD critic, responsible dog and cat owner. Writing things for www.theartdesk.com (@theartsdesk.bsky.social)since 2009. Proud Irish citizen ☘️.
'Odd Man Out' is considerably more interesting than 'The Gentle Gunman', an early 1950s Ealing Studios IRA drama starring Dirk Bogarde and John Mills. One to avoid: theartsdesk.com/film/blu-ray...
November 30, 2025 at 7:30 PM
'Odd Man Out' is considerably more interesting than 'The Gentle Gunman', an early 1950s Ealing Studios IRA drama starring Dirk Bogarde and John Mills. One to avoid: theartsdesk.com/film/blu-ray...
I’ve always wanted one of those, but will have to make do with this pair. Both in good working order despite their age.
November 30, 2025 at 9:08 AM
I’ve always wanted one of those, but will have to make do with this pair. Both in good working order despite their age.
Needed music about cities to play to a class this morning. Having 30 six year olds singing 'Downtown' with Petula was the highlight of my day. #petulaclark #primaryteaching #musicteaching
November 26, 2025 at 5:10 PM
Needed music about cities to play to a class this morning. Having 30 six year olds singing 'Downtown' with Petula was the highlight of my day. #petulaclark #primaryteaching #musicteaching
Didn't know that! There's also the kitchen scene in the same film, where buzzers sound and he bounces the rubber jug before breaking the glass. That the sound effects aren't properly synchronised makes it funnier. I've got this double album, crammed full of incidental music and sound snippets.
November 23, 2025 at 7:07 PM
Didn't know that! There's also the kitchen scene in the same film, where buzzers sound and he bounces the rubber jug before breaking the glass. That the sound effects aren't properly synchronised makes it funnier. I've got this double album, crammed full of incidental music and sound snippets.
This is a recent Paavo J/Arvo Part album on Alpha Classics - it’s stunning, and the best AP disc I’ve heard. Probably my favourite album of the year.
November 23, 2025 at 2:46 PM
This is a recent Paavo J/Arvo Part album on Alpha Classics - it’s stunning, and the best AP disc I’ve heard. Probably my favourite album of the year.
I used to go to free concerts in the Borough Hall in Greenwich, SE London. I think it's now been flogged off and converted into a hotel.
November 23, 2025 at 9:30 AM
I used to go to free concerts in the Borough Hall in Greenwich, SE London. I think it's now been flogged off and converted into a hotel.
Wow. 'Why you should NOT use ChatGPT' summed up in a single handy image. Made me think of Louis Couperin's unbarred keyboard preludes.
November 23, 2025 at 8:51 AM
Wow. 'Why you should NOT use ChatGPT' summed up in a single handy image. Made me think of Louis Couperin's unbarred keyboard preludes.
A great building. Surely it must have influenced architects in Los Angeles and, er, Barnsley....?
November 23, 2025 at 8:46 AM
A great building. Surely it must have influenced architects in Los Angeles and, er, Barnsley....?
We also have this one:
November 22, 2025 at 10:36 PM
We also have this one:
Further up the main road from those beauties is this octopus bollard. Chapel Allerton in Leeds is art-bollard central.
November 22, 2025 at 10:33 PM
Further up the main road from those beauties is this octopus bollard. Chapel Allerton in Leeds is art-bollard central.
Al fresco egg and chips at a beachside cafe followed by a bracing dog walk in bright winter sunshine - bliss. #northyorkshire #redcar #marske #eggandchips #bordercollie
November 22, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Al fresco egg and chips at a beachside cafe followed by a bracing dog walk in bright winter sunshine - bliss. #northyorkshire #redcar #marske #eggandchips #bordercollie
Adés and ABBA? Both are name-checked in the most eclectic Saturday morning classical CD review column out there: theartsdesk.com/classical-mu... @bernardhughes.bsky.social @seb-scotney.bsky.social @thomasades.bsky.social @pentatonemusic.bsky.social #bach #poulenc #piano
November 22, 2025 at 6:22 AM
Adés and ABBA? Both are name-checked in the most eclectic Saturday morning classical CD review column out there: theartsdesk.com/classical-mu... @bernardhughes.bsky.social @seb-scotney.bsky.social @thomasades.bsky.social @pentatonemusic.bsky.social #bach #poulenc #piano
And to think that she also had a bit part in Powell and Pressburger’s ‘I Know Where I’m Going!’ What a career…
November 16, 2025 at 12:56 PM
And to think that she also had a bit part in Powell and Pressburger’s ‘I Know Where I’m Going!’ What a career…
I’ve finally got a copy of this book. It’s a chunky tome. #leonardbernstein
November 6, 2025 at 5:02 PM
I’ve finally got a copy of this book. It’s a chunky tome. #leonardbernstein
It's an extraordinary tale. Craig Brown's Beatles biography introduced me to the Jimmy Nichol story. Hisvertiginous rise to megastardom and back down to obscurity must have been mentally exhausting.
November 3, 2025 at 6:53 PM
It's an extraordinary tale. Craig Brown's Beatles biography introduced me to the Jimmy Nichol story. Hisvertiginous rise to megastardom and back down to obscurity must have been mentally exhausting.
This week's reviews,. A proper big heap this time: theartsdesk.com/classical-mu... @bernardhughes.bsky.social @seb-scotney.bsky.social @infinemusic.bsky.social #brahms #arthurbliss #williamwalton #philipglass #solgabetta #simoneporter #cello
November 1, 2025 at 6:57 AM
This week's reviews,. A proper big heap this time: theartsdesk.com/classical-mu... @bernardhughes.bsky.social @seb-scotney.bsky.social @infinemusic.bsky.social #brahms #arthurbliss #williamwalton #philipglass #solgabetta #simoneporter #cello
Did some brutalist sightseeing today and visited Trellick Tower, impressive in the rain. Even better was Denys Lasdun’s beautiful Royal College of Physicians, which is open to visitors and has a good museum inside.
October 29, 2025 at 6:10 PM
Did some brutalist sightseeing today and visited Trellick Tower, impressive in the rain. Even better was Denys Lasdun’s beautiful Royal College of Physicians, which is open to visitors and has a good museum inside.
'Wendy and Lucy' is a small masterpiece, beautifully acted. It also has an excellent dog in one of the lead roles. www.theartsdesk.com/film/blu-ray...
#kellyreichardt #michellewilliams #dogs @secondrun.bsky.social
#kellyreichardt #michellewilliams #dogs @secondrun.bsky.social
October 28, 2025 at 6:00 AM
'Wendy and Lucy' is a small masterpiece, beautifully acted. It also has an excellent dog in one of the lead roles. www.theartsdesk.com/film/blu-ray...
#kellyreichardt #michellewilliams #dogs @secondrun.bsky.social
#kellyreichardt #michellewilliams #dogs @secondrun.bsky.social
Tove J was a genius. As was writer and artist Mervyn Peake, whose Gormenghast is really something. He also illustrated ‘Alice’.
October 27, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Tove J was a genius. As was writer and artist Mervyn Peake, whose Gormenghast is really something. He also illustrated ‘Alice’.
'Lost Hearts' is brilliant, and terrifying, though the fact that the soundtrack doesn't feature an actual hurdy gurdy has always bugged me...
October 26, 2025 at 7:25 PM
'Lost Hearts' is brilliant, and terrifying, though the fact that the soundtrack doesn't feature an actual hurdy gurdy has always bugged me...
Maybe this is what she was thinking of
October 26, 2025 at 6:49 PM
Maybe this is what she was thinking of
I don't know much Bliss, apart from the Colour Symphony. My orchestra @sinfoniaofleeds.bsky.social is giving the second performance of a newly-orchestrated version of his Viola Sonata in a few weeks - what I've heard so far is good. Bliss had an excellent moustache, up there with Elgar's.
October 26, 2025 at 9:48 AM
I don't know much Bliss, apart from the Colour Symphony. My orchestra @sinfoniaofleeds.bsky.social is giving the second performance of a newly-orchestrated version of his Viola Sonata in a few weeks - what I've heard so far is good. Bliss had an excellent moustache, up there with Elgar's.
Love the Barbican - I grew up in London and it’s a place I return to often, as it’s so civilised. This book has a fascinating chapter about its history. And here’s a fab 60s pop video filmed on the Barbican building site: m.youtube.com/watch?v=zstZ...
October 25, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Love the Barbican - I grew up in London and it’s a place I return to often, as it’s so civilised. This book has a fascinating chapter about its history. And here’s a fab 60s pop video filmed on the Barbican building site: m.youtube.com/watch?v=zstZ...
Are you selling BH fridge magnets?
October 25, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Are you selling BH fridge magnets?