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James Tansley

@tansleyjames.bsky.social

1.9K followers 1K following 4.5K posts

Artist. Decorator. Lost in music… always have been, always will be. Ex-serial music challenge host, now part-time (sort of). #MDANT @tansleyjames on Twitter.

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James Tansley @tansleyjames.bsky.social · 1h

I have no idea what you are on about.

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James Tansley @tansleyjames.bsky.social · 4h

#StandaloneSingles
Starts 1st February 2026.

Throughout February choose your 28 favourite standalone singles. Singles that don’t appear on a parent studio album.

Singles recorded for Best Of collections can be included as most standalone singles end up on a compilation album as some stage.

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James Tansley @tansleyjames.bsky.social · 4h

😂 Thank you Shirley. I do suffer for my art. 😂

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James Tansley @tansleyjames.bsky.social · 4h

No. None at all. 😂

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James Tansley @tansleyjames.bsky.social · 4h

It’s the only way I can do it. It’s a curse really. 😂

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James Tansley @tansleyjames.bsky.social · 4h

I maybe should have placed it higher (I’m ranking them) but it wasn’t possible. ☹️

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James Tansley @tansleyjames.bsky.social · 4h

May well feature for me in approximately 19 days time. 😉

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James Tansley @tansleyjames.bsky.social · 5h

I hope so. It hasn’t had too many votes yet but I’m hoping it’s higher in some lists. 🤞

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James Tansley @tansleyjames.bsky.social · 5h

#OrchestralManoeuvres
Starts 1st February 2026.

Select your favourite string arrangements in songs. Solo, full orchestra, electric, synthetic or sampled. Singles, b-sides, album tracks, live versions and remixes can all be included.

Post one song per day throughout February, ranked or unranked.

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James Tansley @tansleyjames.bsky.social · 5h

🖤

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James Tansley @tansleyjames.bsky.social · 5h

Nor did I but I know of that part. Thank you for asking though.

James Tansley @tansleyjames.bsky.social · 7h

#90sTop30 Near Misses (Random Order)

High Hopes | Pink Floyd | 1994

The Division Bell closer is a wash with nostalgia. High Hopes is beautifully paced and constructed but the interplay between David Gilmour’s guitar and the orchestra elevates it to another level.

youtu.be/7jMlFXouPk8

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James Tansley @tansleyjames.bsky.social · 7h

Everything’s fine. It’s just a play on words from the film Trainspotting.

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James Tansley @tansleyjames.bsky.social · 7h

#80sTop30 20

Forbidden Colours |
Riuichi Sakamoto / David Sylvian | 1983

Single version of the theme tune to Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence. That enchanting melody is one of the most beautiful I’ve ever heard and with added vocals from Mr Sylvian, it couldn’t fail to resonate.

youtu.be/jsG2M66-_xc

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James Tansley @tansleyjames.bsky.social · 17h

#ArtistFave15 5
Siouxsie And The Banshees

Into The Light | 1981

Back to Juju and my second of three selections from the album. Into The Light would have made a great single.

youtu.be/pictArFbX_A

James Tansley @tansleyjames.bsky.social · 21h

I get you. I’m finding as I hear certain songs and they have strings, I add them to a playlist but like you say I’m sure I’m missing out some obvious ones. 😬

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James Tansley @tansleyjames.bsky.social · 23h

I’m the opposite. Too many to fit in the 28 days. 😬

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James Tansley @tansleyjames.bsky.social · 1d

Definitely. Loads of potential DC tracks.

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James Tansley @tansleyjames.bsky.social · 1d

👏

James Tansley @tansleyjames.bsky.social · 1d

#90sTop30 Starts 1st November.
Choose an artist. Choose a song. Choose another song. Choose a single. Choose a b-side. Choose an album track. Choose a classic. Choose a fucking classic. Choose a music challenge. Choose this music challenge. Choose wasting your life competing in music challenges…

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James Tansley @tansleyjames.bsky.social · 1d

No you haven’t. #OrchestralManoeuvres starts in February.

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James Tansley @tansleyjames.bsky.social · 1d

#NewWaveNovember Starts 1st November.

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James Tansley @tansleyjames.bsky.social · 1d

#90sTop30 Near Misses (Random Order)

Lenny Valentino | The Auteurs | 1993

Another one of those classic singles that stalled at number 41 in the charts. It clocks in at just over two minutes long but doesn’t need to be any longer. It’s perfect as it is.

youtu.be/yLmZoynBgnc

James Tansley @tansleyjames.bsky.social · 1d

#80sTop30 21

Infected | The The | 1986

I first heard Infected on the compilation album Hits 5. It was one of those “alternative” tracks always tagged on towards the end of side 4. It wasn’t an actual hit of course but it really should have been.

youtu.be/A66CErNBrwA

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James Tansley @tansleyjames.bsky.social · 1d

#ArtistFave15 6
Siouxsie And The Banshees

Playground Twist | 1979

The only single to be taken from Join Hands. It’s not a nursery rhyme but the dark and twisted lyrics certainly make it feel like one.

youtu.be/kyZ0-FtNvf4