As well as being more proactive in discovering more music, 2025 has also been the year I’ve made an effort to read more books instead of endlessly scrolling and faffing around on the internet... So to make a change from the constant music posts, I thought I’d share the books I’ve read so far this year.

I was only familiar with opening track and UK Top 12 hit, I Got You. I love the song enough to have added it to my Fave Songs playlist, so I was hoping to find equally fantastic delights within the album.

We watched as a very well-dressed man and woman took to the stage and performed an acapella version of the sublime Rivers of Orchids, then some of the organisers said a few words, before we were treated to a short video titled Welcome To Swindon, which I think was narrated by The Actor Kevin Eldon.

With April being the month I properly fell in love with the band XTC, I did worry that this latest New (To Me) Music post would be quite sparse, but looking at my list of what I’ve been hearing for the first time, I'm pleasantly surprised that there's more than I'd thought.

I’ve been watching many videos of XTC live performances on YouTube over the past few weeks, and I can safely say Chambers is just as exceptional as he was over 40 years ago.

I’ve been marvelling in some of XTC’s back catalogue for the past week or so (I’ve not yet listened to half of their studio albums) and bloody hell, they’re rather good, aren’t they?!