Keith Harrison
@keithharrison.bsky.social
Charity CEO. Songwriter. Hill-walker (flat-landscapes also good!)
A pleasure Hedley. I’ve only recently picked up on Jim’s photos and (as I do with yours) really enjoy them … as he posted one from Uffington Castle it just struck me to make a connection between both accounts!
February 14, 2026 at 4:35 PM
A pleasure Hedley. I’ve only recently picked up on Jim’s photos and (as I do with yours) really enjoy them … as he posted one from Uffington Castle it just struck me to make a connection between both accounts!
Fabulous location. Not sure if you are aware of him, but @hedleythorne.bsky.social posts very nice images of that landscape on BlueSky from time to time. Good for what I think is called a “timeline cleanser”!
February 14, 2026 at 2:45 PM
Fabulous location. Not sure if you are aware of him, but @hedleythorne.bsky.social posts very nice images of that landscape on BlueSky from time to time. Good for what I think is called a “timeline cleanser”!
#OrchestralManoeuvres (13): The Romance of the Telescope #OrchestralManoeuvresInTheDark. There’s quite a bit of mellotron orchestration in this, though the strings might be a synth and add glimmer to the glorious arrangement. m.youtube.com/watch?v=DHuN...
The Romance Of The Telescope
YouTube video by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark - Topic
m.youtube.com
February 13, 2026 at 5:57 PM
#OrchestralManoeuvres (13): The Romance of the Telescope #OrchestralManoeuvresInTheDark. There’s quite a bit of mellotron orchestration in this, though the strings might be a synth and add glimmer to the glorious arrangement. m.youtube.com/watch?v=DHuN...
#OrchestralManoeuvres (12): The Rhythm Thief #Sparks. A “banger” without any sort of propulsive drumbeat. There are some seriously frenetic strings however, giving added drama to the musical astonishment Russell Mael sings of. A fantastic record. m.youtube.com/watch?v=kqCm...
The Rhythm Thief
YouTube video by Sparks - Topic
m.youtube.com
February 12, 2026 at 8:04 AM
#OrchestralManoeuvres (12): The Rhythm Thief #Sparks. A “banger” without any sort of propulsive drumbeat. There are some seriously frenetic strings however, giving added drama to the musical astonishment Russell Mael sings of. A fantastic record. m.youtube.com/watch?v=kqCm...
#OrchestralManoeuvres (11): Left To My Own Devices #PetShopBoys. A quite famous use of strings for this selection. Richard Niles’ arrangement even starts the record and goes on to provide melodic moments, transitions and support for the narrative vocal. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Left_to...
Left to My Own Devices - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
February 11, 2026 at 7:39 AM
#OrchestralManoeuvres (11): Left To My Own Devices #PetShopBoys. A quite famous use of strings for this selection. Richard Niles’ arrangement even starts the record and goes on to provide melodic moments, transitions and support for the narrative vocal. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Left_to...
Thanks. It’s a good track. I’m not sure I have a favourite piece on this LP; I tend to listen to it as a whole (there’s a good article on @thequietus.com account re such album relationships, by the way) and it has all sorts of fine moments. By turns funny, melodic, singalong-able etc. #Blancmange
February 10, 2026 at 8:06 PM
Thanks. It’s a good track. I’m not sure I have a favourite piece on this LP; I tend to listen to it as a whole (there’s a good article on @thequietus.com account re such album relationships, by the way) and it has all sorts of fine moments. By turns funny, melodic, singalong-able etc. #Blancmange
#OrchestralManoeuvres (10): I Give To You #NitzerEbb. Andrew Poppy’s orchestration brings drama to Harris & McCarthy’s already urgent song (with Alan Wilder & Flood on production duties.) The string section around the rain in the lyric works especially well. m.youtube.com/watch?v=XqQf...
Nitzer Ebb - I Give To You
YouTube video by NitzerEbbVEVO
m.youtube.com
February 10, 2026 at 5:16 PM
#OrchestralManoeuvres (10): I Give To You #NitzerEbb. Andrew Poppy’s orchestration brings drama to Harris & McCarthy’s already urgent song (with Alan Wilder & Flood on production duties.) The string section around the rain in the lyric works especially well. m.youtube.com/watch?v=XqQf...
#OrchestralManoeuvres (9): Unfinished Sympathy #MassiveAttack. Wil Malone arranged the strings for this and they certainly are a key ingredient in the emotive perfection of the composition. There’s not a sound, instrumental or vocal, out of place in this record. m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWmr...
Massive Attack - Unfinished Sympathy
YouTube video by MassiveAttackVEVO
m.youtube.com
February 9, 2026 at 7:23 AM
#OrchestralManoeuvres (9): Unfinished Sympathy #MassiveAttack. Wil Malone arranged the strings for this and they certainly are a key ingredient in the emotive perfection of the composition. There’s not a sound, instrumental or vocal, out of place in this record. m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWmr...
#OrchestralManoeuvres (8): Sex Object #Kraftwerk. Much of this song features an arrangement (Synclavier sampled strings?) that might suit a real orchestra. At the end it becomes magical as the bass “cellos” give lift by playing a new section under the main theme. www.shazam.com/en-gb/song/8...
Sex Object - Kraftwerk: Song Lyrics, Music Videos & Concerts
Listen to Sex Object by Kraftwerk. See lyrics and music videos, find Kraftwerk tour dates, buy concert tickets, and more!
www.shazam.com
February 8, 2026 at 10:18 AM
#OrchestralManoeuvres (8): Sex Object #Kraftwerk. Much of this song features an arrangement (Synclavier sampled strings?) that might suit a real orchestra. At the end it becomes magical as the bass “cellos” give lift by playing a new section under the main theme. www.shazam.com/en-gb/song/8...
#OrchestralManoeuvres (7): Pilots #Goldfrapp. As across the ‘Felt Mountain’ LP this song involves a range of melodic moods (from intimate to gloriously soaring); the strings hold everything together perfectly IMHO during it. m.youtube.com/watch?v=8jgz...
Goldfrapp - Pilots (Official Audio)
YouTube video by Goldfrapp
m.youtube.com
February 7, 2026 at 7:04 AM
#OrchestralManoeuvres (7): Pilots #Goldfrapp. As across the ‘Felt Mountain’ LP this song involves a range of melodic moods (from intimate to gloriously soaring); the strings hold everything together perfectly IMHO during it. m.youtube.com/watch?v=8jgz...
#OrchestralManoeuvres (6): Storm #FrazierChorus. Very synthy and almost certainly sequenced, the frenzied sections used in this (with more mournful flute & clarinet) add drama to Tim Freeman’s disappointment-tinged narrative. m.youtube.com/watch?v=NxiR...
Storm
YouTube video by Frazier Chorus - Topic
m.youtube.com
February 6, 2026 at 8:44 AM
#OrchestralManoeuvres (6): Storm #FrazierChorus. Very synthy and almost certainly sequenced, the frenzied sections used in this (with more mournful flute & clarinet) add drama to Tim Freeman’s disappointment-tinged narrative. m.youtube.com/watch?v=NxiR...
#OrchestralManoeuvres (5): Getting Away With It #Electronic. As with the Chic song I chose on day 3, much of what works here (Anne Dudley being the arranger) is quite subtle but then there’s also the rather celebratory part, on its own at the very end. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Getting...
Getting Away with It - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
February 5, 2026 at 7:25 AM
#OrchestralManoeuvres (5): Getting Away With It #Electronic. As with the Chic song I chose on day 3, much of what works here (Anne Dudley being the arranger) is quite subtle but then there’s also the rather celebratory part, on its own at the very end. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Getting...
#OrchestralManoeuvres (4): World In My Eyes #DepecheMode. It’s the string section in the almost euphoric coda, adding fluidity and drama to the post-Kraftwerkian synths and rhythm which carry the vocal refrain, that impresses here. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_i...
World in My Eyes - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
February 4, 2026 at 6:41 PM
#OrchestralManoeuvres (4): World In My Eyes #DepecheMode. It’s the string section in the almost euphoric coda, adding fluidity and drama to the post-Kraftwerkian synths and rhythm which carry the vocal refrain, that impresses here. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_i...
2023, I think. It seems more recent though.
February 3, 2026 at 9:27 PM
2023, I think. It seems more recent though.
This one is in my selection too.
February 3, 2026 at 7:51 PM
This one is in my selection too.
#OrchestralManoeuvres (3): Le Freak #Chic. Here it is the deceptively simple gliding ‘Chic Strings’ over the sublime rhythmic weave of Rodgers, Edwards & Thompson (which itself has exquisite space around each instrument) that makes the magic. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Le_Freak
Le Freak - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
February 3, 2026 at 7:46 PM
#OrchestralManoeuvres (3): Le Freak #Chic. Here it is the deceptively simple gliding ‘Chic Strings’ over the sublime rhythmic weave of Rodgers, Edwards & Thompson (which itself has exquisite space around each instrument) that makes the magic. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Le_Freak
#OrchestralManoeuvres (2): Lorraine’s My Nurse #Blancmange. Lynton Naiff arranged the strings on this Arthur/Luscombe composition. There are orchestral instruments beyond strings too, plus Neil Arthur’s great “western Pennine” vocal tones. m.youtube.com/watch?v=T9y7...
Blancmange - Lorraine's My Nurse
YouTube video by London Records
m.youtube.com
February 2, 2026 at 7:20 AM
#OrchestralManoeuvres (2): Lorraine’s My Nurse #Blancmange. Lynton Naiff arranged the strings on this Arthur/Luscombe composition. There are orchestral instruments beyond strings too, plus Neil Arthur’s great “western Pennine” vocal tones. m.youtube.com/watch?v=T9y7...
#OrchestralManoeuvres (1): The Sea Still Sings #MarcAlmond. Billy McGee is seemingly responsible for an arrangement that builds, surges and swells as Almond goes full chansonnier. Underpins Jack Emblow’s fine accordion playing too. www.shazam.com/en-gb/song/6...
The Sea Still Sings - Marc Almond: Song Lyrics, Music Videos & Concerts
Listen to The Sea Still Sings by Marc Almond. See lyrics and music videos, find Marc Almond tour dates, buy concert tickets, and more!
www.shazam.com
February 1, 2026 at 8:36 AM
#OrchestralManoeuvres (1): The Sea Still Sings #MarcAlmond. Billy McGee is seemingly responsible for an arrangement that builds, surges and swells as Almond goes full chansonnier. Underpins Jack Emblow’s fine accordion playing too. www.shazam.com/en-gb/song/6...
For musical accompaniment to this, might I suggest @warringtonruncorn.com?
January 28, 2026 at 7:47 PM
For musical accompaniment to this, might I suggest @warringtonruncorn.com?
If there was a band called Sharpness, that would surely make an outstanding album title!
January 26, 2026 at 6:17 PM
If there was a band called Sharpness, that would surely make an outstanding album title!
Thanks for reading :-) We don’t use LinkedIn. We do work with corporate partners, a protected landscape body, national charities, numerous schools and - thanks to owning a cafe, holiday lets & an events venue, 20k+ visitors a year. Many of these just aren’t that (if at all) active on #BlueSky!
January 20, 2026 at 8:34 PM
Thanks for reading :-) We don’t use LinkedIn. We do work with corporate partners, a protected landscape body, national charities, numerous schools and - thanks to owning a cafe, holiday lets & an events venue, 20k+ visitors a year. Many of these just aren’t that (if at all) active on #BlueSky!