Haunting The Atom
@hauntingtheatom.bsky.social
The dark stuff: words, pictures, moving images and electronic sound + maker of music videos with '80s-style goth duo Deadlight Dance.
I post about horror/sci-fi, real-life weirdness, synth music and film scores.
🔗 https://linktr.ee/hauntingtheatom
I post about horror/sci-fi, real-life weirdness, synth music and film scores.
🔗 https://linktr.ee/hauntingtheatom
Now playing is an album that always hits the spot: Repeated Viewing & Timothy Fife Explore Paranormal Sounds Of The Synthesizer, a split LP from 2019 that pays homage to library records, and channels the other side* in a pleasingly retro-electronic manner.
* Meaning both 'beyond the veil' and BBC2.
* Meaning both 'beyond the veil' and BBC2.
November 10, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Now playing is an album that always hits the spot: Repeated Viewing & Timothy Fife Explore Paranormal Sounds Of The Synthesizer, a split LP from 2019 that pays homage to library records, and channels the other side* in a pleasingly retro-electronic manner.
* Meaning both 'beyond the veil' and BBC2.
* Meaning both 'beyond the veil' and BBC2.
Remembering that time during the Covid lockdown when I showed up at East Croydon station at 8am to find it deserted and the announcer issuing virus warnings. In my earphones was the title track from Tangerine Dream's Phaedra, and it soundtracked the haunting, sci-fi surreality of it all so well.
November 6, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Remembering that time during the Covid lockdown when I showed up at East Croydon station at 8am to find it deserted and the announcer issuing virus warnings. In my earphones was the title track from Tangerine Dream's Phaedra, and it soundtracked the haunting, sci-fi surreality of it all so well.
Finally saw Late Night With The Devil (it's currently streaming on C4). My verdict? It cheats with its styling - eg, multicam backstage conversations, and modern editing when the drama ramps up. But when the '70s US talk-show aesthetic is on point it's impressive, and despite niggles I enjoyed it.
November 4, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Finally saw Late Night With The Devil (it's currently streaming on C4). My verdict? It cheats with its styling - eg, multicam backstage conversations, and modern editing when the drama ramps up. But when the '70s US talk-show aesthetic is on point it's impressive, and despite niggles I enjoyed it.
Erm, actually, I think you'll find...
Probably a Mail reader.
Probably a Mail reader.
November 2, 2025 at 10:46 AM
Erm, actually, I think you'll find...
Probably a Mail reader.
Probably a Mail reader.
Last night I rewatched Whistle And I'll Come To You. I've long been impressed by the way it captures the terror of seeing something darkly inexplicable. I'm still not sure what I'm looking at in *those* scenes, even in terms of how the effects were done, so they tickle my lizard brain beautifully.
November 1, 2025 at 1:49 PM
Last night I rewatched Whistle And I'll Come To You. I've long been impressed by the way it captures the terror of seeing something darkly inexplicable. I'm still not sure what I'm looking at in *those* scenes, even in terms of how the effects were done, so they tickle my lizard brain beautifully.
Here's me carving a pumpkin tonight: 26 minutes compressed into 1m 18s. Warning: contains blasphemy, gloop and middle-aged sounds.
Happy Halloween to all my followers, including the man with the horns who's staring at me right now through my living-room window (my living room is two floors up).
Happy Halloween to all my followers, including the man with the horns who's staring at me right now through my living-room window (my living room is two floors up).
October 31, 2025 at 9:07 PM
Here's me carving a pumpkin tonight: 26 minutes compressed into 1m 18s. Warning: contains blasphemy, gloop and middle-aged sounds.
Happy Halloween to all my followers, including the man with the horns who's staring at me right now through my living-room window (my living room is two floors up).
Happy Halloween to all my followers, including the man with the horns who's staring at me right now through my living-room window (my living room is two floors up).
Danny Robins leads a séance - well, a theatrical one - last night at the Royal Albert Hall. Fright Night was an entertaining mix of ghostly RAH-centric anecdotes, tongue-in-cheek supernatural fun, and orchestral music: film themes, original pieces and even some Black Sabbath. A spirited evening.
October 31, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Danny Robins leads a séance - well, a theatrical one - last night at the Royal Albert Hall. Fright Night was an entertaining mix of ghostly RAH-centric anecdotes, tongue-in-cheek supernatural fun, and orchestral music: film themes, original pieces and even some Black Sabbath. A spirited evening.
Here's me in 2009: a zombie extra in a report by Myleene Klass about London's FrightFest.
Two years before, I'd taken part in a zombie gathering: a FrightFest world-record attempt, for which 700 people showed up. This time there was about 20 of us, but it was fun. I still have the 'bloodied' shirt.
Two years before, I'd taken part in a zombie gathering: a FrightFest world-record attempt, for which 700 people showed up. This time there was about 20 of us, but it was fun. I still have the 'bloodied' shirt.
October 31, 2025 at 2:50 PM
Here's me in 2009: a zombie extra in a report by Myleene Klass about London's FrightFest.
Two years before, I'd taken part in a zombie gathering: a FrightFest world-record attempt, for which 700 people showed up. This time there was about 20 of us, but it was fun. I still have the 'bloodied' shirt.
Two years before, I'd taken part in a zombie gathering: a FrightFest world-record attempt, for which 700 people showed up. This time there was about 20 of us, but it was fun. I still have the 'bloodied' shirt.
A fine night at EartH in Hackney with Fabio Frizzi and his band playing his composer's cut of The Beyond, plus 20 minutes of other goodies.
'Twas the fifth time I'd seen Mr Frizzi since 2013 - each time around the end of October, and twice on Halloween itself. It's always a pleasure. #OldTraditions
'Twas the fifth time I'd seen Mr Frizzi since 2013 - each time around the end of October, and twice on Halloween itself. It's always a pleasure. #OldTraditions
October 30, 2025 at 10:44 AM
A fine night at EartH in Hackney with Fabio Frizzi and his band playing his composer's cut of The Beyond, plus 20 minutes of other goodies.
'Twas the fifth time I'd seen Mr Frizzi since 2013 - each time around the end of October, and twice on Halloween itself. It's always a pleasure. #OldTraditions
'Twas the fifth time I'd seen Mr Frizzi since 2013 - each time around the end of October, and twice on Halloween itself. It's always a pleasure. #OldTraditions
This landed today: the new 4K release of In The Mouth Of Madness, from Arrow Video. I don't believe that this splendid #JohnCarpenter film has had a physical release in the UK since the VHS days - till now I've made do with the US DVD from 2000 - so this is long overdue.
October 28, 2025 at 7:55 PM
This landed today: the new 4K release of In The Mouth Of Madness, from Arrow Video. I don't believe that this splendid #JohnCarpenter film has had a physical release in the UK since the VHS days - till now I've made do with the US DVD from 2000 - so this is long overdue.
I finally bought my would-be jack-o'-lantern but, man, it was carnage in Tesco's pumpkin bins at 5pm. Pulp and seeds everywhere: an absolute juicebath. After a lengthy and horribly wet search I came across a lone survivor, which I escorted to safety in my basket.
October 28, 2025 at 7:15 PM
I finally bought my would-be jack-o'-lantern but, man, it was carnage in Tesco's pumpkin bins at 5pm. Pulp and seeds everywhere: an absolute juicebath. After a lengthy and horribly wet search I came across a lone survivor, which I escorted to safety in my basket.
Walking home from a gig last night I was stopped in my tracks by this object of beauty, in the window of a shop called Quirky Bits ("quality furniture bought and sold"). To get some scale look at the chair next to it - it's a big 'un! It's also the episode of Bagpuss I didn't know I needed till now.
October 25, 2025 at 9:55 AM
Walking home from a gig last night I was stopped in my tracks by this object of beauty, in the window of a shop called Quirky Bits ("quality furniture bought and sold"). To get some scale look at the chair next to it - it's a big 'un! It's also the episode of Bagpuss I didn't know I needed till now.
Some lovely Friday night electronica at the Rich Mix in Shoreditch (I love a venue that rhymes). Intense hypnotic soundscapes from opener @jo-johnson.bsky.social, and the soundtrack to our urban '80s future, from @warringtonruncorn.com. Plus a bonus dog, 'cos I know that social-media loves a dog.
October 25, 2025 at 9:37 AM
Some lovely Friday night electronica at the Rich Mix in Shoreditch (I love a venue that rhymes). Intense hypnotic soundscapes from opener @jo-johnson.bsky.social, and the soundtrack to our urban '80s future, from @warringtonruncorn.com. Plus a bonus dog, 'cos I know that social-media loves a dog.
A pic from the late '80s of me and a friend in The Pit: a mini canyon in the woods where my friends and I would hang out, sometimes late at night. I still don't know what The Pit's purpose was. It was human-made but there were no machines around; it wasn't a work in progress. It was just... The Pit.
October 24, 2025 at 12:31 PM
A pic from the late '80s of me and a friend in The Pit: a mini canyon in the woods where my friends and I would hang out, sometimes late at night. I still don't know what The Pit's purpose was. It was human-made but there were no machines around; it wasn't a work in progress. It was just... The Pit.
Ooh, I've got one of those featuring Edmund Blake - also by @matpringle.bsky.social (I've just learned!). I picked it up at Derby station in July this year.
October 20, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Ooh, I've got one of those featuring Edmund Blake - also by @matpringle.bsky.social (I've just learned!). I picked it up at Derby station in July this year.
At £23 it's not cheap, but when I think how much I sometimes pay for gigs or theatre shows it puts it into context. I spent 150 minutes there and enjoyed it.
A warning to parents: kids are allowed but I wouldn't recommend it. There's a gory murder scene that will, I guarantee, scar them for life.
A warning to parents: kids are allowed but I wouldn't recommend it. There's a gory murder scene that will, I guarantee, scar them for life.
October 18, 2025 at 8:52 AM
At £23 it's not cheap, but when I think how much I sometimes pay for gigs or theatre shows it puts it into context. I spent 150 minutes there and enjoyed it.
A warning to parents: kids are allowed but I wouldn't recommend it. There's a gory murder scene that will, I guarantee, scar them for life.
A warning to parents: kids are allowed but I wouldn't recommend it. There's a gory murder scene that will, I guarantee, scar them for life.
Yesterday I visited Dark Secrets at The Vaults, beneath Waterloo station, for a bit of the ol' Devil worship.
The exhibition houses a large collection of objects, covering the history of the macabre, and is nicely atmospheric. Lots to read too, though not much about where exhibits were sourced.
The exhibition houses a large collection of objects, covering the history of the macabre, and is nicely atmospheric. Lots to read too, though not much about where exhibits were sourced.
October 18, 2025 at 8:52 AM
Yesterday I visited Dark Secrets at The Vaults, beneath Waterloo station, for a bit of the ol' Devil worship.
The exhibition houses a large collection of objects, covering the history of the macabre, and is nicely atmospheric. Lots to read too, though not much about where exhibits were sourced.
The exhibition houses a large collection of objects, covering the history of the macabre, and is nicely atmospheric. Lots to read too, though not much about where exhibits were sourced.
Last night I rewatched The Eclipse, an Irish ghost story from 2009 - my fourth viewing in 10 years. First time I saw it its jump scares sent me through the roof. But it's its subject that I find most haunting and which has me returning to it. Lovely piano/choral score too, by Fionnuala Ní Chiosáin.
October 14, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Last night I rewatched The Eclipse, an Irish ghost story from 2009 - my fourth viewing in 10 years. First time I saw it its jump scares sent me through the roof. But it's its subject that I find most haunting and which has me returning to it. Lovely piano/choral score too, by Fionnuala Ní Chiosáin.
Been playing by a pylon on the edge of town. It stole my kite but I think I'll leave it. #PublicInformationFilms
October 13, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Been playing by a pylon on the edge of town. It stole my kite but I think I'll leave it. #PublicInformationFilms
Today's purchase is the freshly reissued Crush by OMD, featuring a bonus disc of goodies. Cover me, I'm going in...
...but not before trimming around the label on the cellophane and slipping it inside the packaging, as nature intended.
...but not before trimming around the label on the cellophane and slipping it inside the packaging, as nature intended.
October 11, 2025 at 6:38 PM
Today's purchase is the freshly reissued Crush by OMD, featuring a bonus disc of goodies. Cover me, I'm going in...
...but not before trimming around the label on the cellophane and slipping it inside the packaging, as nature intended.
...but not before trimming around the label on the cellophane and slipping it inside the packaging, as nature intended.
"What does music mean to you?" asks the Musical Museum. And the people reply.
October 5, 2025 at 12:56 PM
"What does music mean to you?" asks the Musical Museum. And the people reply.
Hanging out with vintage synths and their 'do not touch' signs at the London Synth Show, a compact Korg-run event held yesterday at the Musical Museum in Brentford. Lots of stuff to play with too, of course (hello, Opsix mkII - I hope we meet again), plus talks, including Queen's Spike Edney.
October 5, 2025 at 10:28 AM
Hanging out with vintage synths and their 'do not touch' signs at the London Synth Show, a compact Korg-run event held yesterday at the Musical Museum in Brentford. Lots of stuff to play with too, of course (hello, Opsix mkII - I hope we meet again), plus talks, including Queen's Spike Edney.
Shops' pumpkins are calling to me but I'll resist for as long as possible. Here's one I bought a few years ago in mid October, and retrieved from the cupboard on Halloween. Naturally I performed a satanic ritual over its corpse, but it was no good: it was gone. Don't be me, folks. #BestBefore31stOct
October 1, 2025 at 12:49 PM
Shops' pumpkins are calling to me but I'll resist for as long as possible. Here's one I bought a few years ago in mid October, and retrieved from the cupboard on Halloween. Naturally I performed a satanic ritual over its corpse, but it was no good: it was gone. Don't be me, folks. #BestBefore31stOct
At the matinee of #Uncanny: Fear Of The Dark, in Brighton yesterday, doing my best 'Team Sceptic but I love an unsettling mystery' face (aka my normal face, aka 'cheer up, mate, it might never happen'). Enjoyed the show. The gang were, as ever, good fun, and the staging was a delight.
September 28, 2025 at 12:23 PM
At the matinee of #Uncanny: Fear Of The Dark, in Brighton yesterday, doing my best 'Team Sceptic but I love an unsettling mystery' face (aka my normal face, aka 'cheer up, mate, it might never happen'). Enjoyed the show. The gang were, as ever, good fun, and the staging was a delight.
"A nice drop of the ol'..."
I was in the area today and couldn't resist a snap.
I was in the area today and couldn't resist a snap.
September 12, 2025 at 6:08 PM
"A nice drop of the ol'..."
I was in the area today and couldn't resist a snap.
I was in the area today and couldn't resist a snap.