The Melancholaholic

E&J in B&W, West Sands, St Andrews, Scotland

This view never really gets old.

“And for those other faults of barbarism, Doric dialect, extemporanean style, tautologies, apish imitation, a rhapsody of rags gathered together from several dunghills, excrements of authors, toys and fopperies confusedly tumbled out, without art, invention, judgement, wit, learning, harsh, raw, rude, fantastical, absurd, insolent, indiscreet, ill-composed, indigested, vain, scurrile, idle, dull and dry; I confess all (’tis partly affected), thou canst not think worse of me than I do of myself.”

• Robert Burton The Anatomy of Melancholy

🍰 Caramel Apple Upside-Down Cake, courtesy of Anna Rebecca. Exquisite.

Thank you for the music, Mimi Parker.

“Nothing we do is better than the work of handmind. When mind uses itself without the hands it runs the circle and may go too fast; even speech using the voice only may go too fast. The hand that shapes the mind into clay or written word slows thought to the gait of things and lets it be subject to accident and time.” — Ursula K. Le Guin, Always Coming Home

I love being part of a family of readers and writers. Anna is reading to us tonight from her latest story, “The Eclipse”.

🎵Now Listening: Being Funny in a Foreign Language

First Impression: The 1975 ditch their maximalist tendencies and makes their first album that feels tossed off—in a really good way. No overthinking. Just a band playing to their strengths.

It may not be their best record (time will tell), but as of today it is their most consistent by a mile.

Also, Jack Antonoff is quietly making the case for himself as one of the all-time great pop record producers.

I am increasingly convinced that 7 or 8 tracks is the sweet spot for album length. What are your favourite albums with no more than 8 tracks?

🎵Now Listening: Cool it Down - Yeah Yeah Yeahs