Sharon O'Connell
@messyectomorph.bsky.social
Music writer (dCS Audio, Electronic Sound, Metro, Uncut). Ex staffer at Melody Maker and Time Out. Coastal dweller. Art, film, books etc.
Further to today’s news item: am old enough to remember a time when teddy bears were not AI-equipped & likely to dispense advice on kink. They were passive companions, like Tessa, whose fur I loved off.
November 29, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Further to today’s news item: am old enough to remember a time when teddy bears were not AI-equipped & likely to dispense advice on kink. They were passive companions, like Tessa, whose fur I loved off.
Sitting outside, actual sun on actual face. It’s 4 degrees. I am immeasurably warmer than I was inside my flat.
November 26, 2025 at 10:54 AM
Sitting outside, actual sun on actual face. It’s 4 degrees. I am immeasurably warmer than I was inside my flat.
“There’s no one else quite like them” is lame praise, I know but really - Tortoise. They were phenomenal: dazzlingly on point & edge-of-the-seat compelling; 90 mins raced by in what truly felt like 30. Props to James Elkington for his more than capable depping for Jeff Parker, too.
November 22, 2025 at 4:42 PM
“There’s no one else quite like them” is lame praise, I know but really - Tortoise. They were phenomenal: dazzlingly on point & edge-of-the-seat compelling; 90 mins raced by in what truly felt like 30. Props to James Elkington for his more than capable depping for Jeff Parker, too.
My excitement has been building. Slowly & steadily, of course…
November 22, 2025 at 2:20 PM
My excitement has been building. Slowly & steadily, of course…
Went to see some “electric rock ‘n’ roll” last night. (No identification needed.) Loved the fact that L was wearing a piece of jewellery modelled on his own image. And that he was going back to London afterwards, on the train.
November 22, 2025 at 11:22 AM
Went to see some “electric rock ‘n’ roll” last night. (No identification needed.) Loved the fact that L was wearing a piece of jewellery modelled on his own image. And that he was going back to London afterwards, on the train.
If you’re a Pavement enthusiast (that’s everyone, right?) then get your paws on this lively & comprehensive Ultimate Music Guide from @uncutmagazine.bsky.social I took a deep dive into Brighten The Corners (their best, imo) & tracked Malkmus’s solo adventuring but there’s a ton of w/e goodness here.
November 7, 2025 at 12:38 PM
If you’re a Pavement enthusiast (that’s everyone, right?) then get your paws on this lively & comprehensive Ultimate Music Guide from @uncutmagazine.bsky.social I took a deep dive into Brighten The Corners (their best, imo) & tracked Malkmus’s solo adventuring but there’s a ton of w/e goodness here.
Birthday felicitations to the brilliant Bill Woodrow, 77 today. I especially love this assemblage, Car Door, Armchair and Incident, from 1981.
November 1, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Birthday felicitations to the brilliant Bill Woodrow, 77 today. I especially love this assemblage, Car Door, Armchair and Incident, from 1981.
A cruel & unjust punishment, I think we’d all agree. His struggle starts now.
November 1, 2025 at 1:30 PM
A cruel & unjust punishment, I think we’d all agree. His struggle starts now.
Halfway through & still dazzled & charmed by this skilful jump-cut of a novel. I loved his ‘… Kavalier & Clay’ but couldn’t get with ‘Telegraph Avenue’. At all. But this is a total joy - vivid, funny, profound, generous. A coincidence that ‘Wonder Boys’ is Michael Douglas’s best film? I think not.
October 30, 2025 at 6:47 PM
Halfway through & still dazzled & charmed by this skilful jump-cut of a novel. I loved his ‘… Kavalier & Clay’ but couldn’t get with ‘Telegraph Avenue’. At all. But this is a total joy - vivid, funny, profound, generous. A coincidence that ‘Wonder Boys’ is Michael Douglas’s best film? I think not.
The surrealistically-inclined artist (& eco protester) Isabel Rock has imagined the need of fish for shoes when they wed - I mean, who would deny them? - & made these extraordinary pairs from papier-mâché accordingly.
October 26, 2025 at 3:10 PM
The surrealistically-inclined artist (& eco protester) Isabel Rock has imagined the need of fish for shoes when they wed - I mean, who would deny them? - & made these extraordinary pairs from papier-mâché accordingly.
This is the beautiful Bella, guardian/boss of my temp residence & bane of the life of resident dog. She’s 14 & could easily live to 60, I’m told. That’s quite the pet commitment. Bit disappointed in her literal parroting, tbh. It’s a LOT of ‘ça va’.
October 10, 2025 at 4:48 PM
This is the beautiful Bella, guardian/boss of my temp residence & bane of the life of resident dog. She’s 14 & could easily live to 60, I’m told. That’s quite the pet commitment. Bit disappointed in her literal parroting, tbh. It’s a LOT of ‘ça va’.
She speaks no English, I speak no Arabic. But there is always the international language of enTREATy.
October 10, 2025 at 8:39 AM
She speaks no English, I speak no Arabic. But there is always the international language of enTREATy.
Please allow me to boast about this empty beach. Not that I made it myself - but I did just nap on it. Magnificent…
October 9, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Please allow me to boast about this empty beach. Not that I made it myself - but I did just nap on it. Magnificent…
I wobbled with “Purity”, which often felt stodgy, I remember. This is fantastic, though- a rich, compelling narrative & perfect pacing, plus recognisably cringe behaviour by believably conflicted characters on almost every page. Also - funny. Perfect #holidayreading (thanks, Oxfam).
October 4, 2025 at 12:35 PM
I wobbled with “Purity”, which often felt stodgy, I remember. This is fantastic, though- a rich, compelling narrative & perfect pacing, plus recognisably cringe behaviour by believably conflicted characters on almost every page. Also - funny. Perfect #holidayreading (thanks, Oxfam).
Trying the daily Three Good Things exercise. Again. Today’s number one…
September 20, 2025 at 10:51 AM
Trying the daily Three Good Things exercise. Again. Today’s number one…
You say ‘sfumato’…
September 12, 2025 at 5:05 PM
You say ‘sfumato’…
Sheesh. How deep were they digging?
August 29, 2025 at 3:26 PM
Sheesh. How deep were they digging?
Just delivered, my first post-Brexit passport - reigniting my anger & despair at everything I/we have lost. Travel/residence freedoms no small part of a disastrous decision we chose to bloody make. Absolute bollix to it.
August 27, 2025 at 1:15 PM
Just delivered, my first post-Brexit passport - reigniting my anger & despair at everything I/we have lost. Travel/residence freedoms no small part of a disastrous decision we chose to bloody make. Absolute bollix to it.
Nobody turns to Philip Roth for shits & giggles but… jeez. In terms of telling life truths, he’s totally unforgiving. This (from ‘Everyman’) is brutal - but beautiful in its boldness, too. (Stiff drink now required.)
August 12, 2025 at 9:06 PM
Nobody turns to Philip Roth for shits & giggles but… jeez. In terms of telling life truths, he’s totally unforgiving. This (from ‘Everyman’) is brutal - but beautiful in its boldness, too. (Stiff drink now required.)
Underwhelming pic of tonight’s truly magnificent (full) moon. Step outside & treat yourself to a good stare…
August 9, 2025 at 9:19 PM
Underwhelming pic of tonight’s truly magnificent (full) moon. Step outside & treat yourself to a good stare…
New to me & a quid very well spent, it turns out. Gives a different charge to the phrase ‘deathless prose’.
August 7, 2025 at 6:23 PM
New to me & a quid very well spent, it turns out. Gives a different charge to the phrase ‘deathless prose’.
Wow, this is quite the bombshell.
July 26, 2025 at 11:31 AM
Wow, this is quite the bombshell.
My tranquility base (no hotel).
July 4, 2025 at 9:07 AM
My tranquility base (no hotel).