Sid Smith
@sidsmith.bsky.social
Freelancer writing about music & musicians in print & online. I share an office with a cat called The Bug.
Contact me here or via [email protected]
Contact me here or via [email protected]
Into the evening shift with Bill Connors' Of Mist And Melting
January 20, 2026 at 7:58 PM
Into the evening shift with Bill Connors' Of Mist And Melting
I gave Sommermørket, the new album from Bergen-based band Kronstad23, an enthusiastic thumbs-up in the latest edition of Prog magazine. Today, a copy of said album arrived thanks to those nice people at El Paraiso. Great vibe. Check them out here: youtu.be/PsphDcMZYGU?...
January 20, 2026 at 2:16 PM
I gave Sommermørket, the new album from Bergen-based band Kronstad23, an enthusiastic thumbs-up in the latest edition of Prog magazine. Today, a copy of said album arrived thanks to those nice people at El Paraiso. Great vibe. Check them out here: youtu.be/PsphDcMZYGU?...
On this day six years ago, I was with Mark Ellen & David Hepworth for their AWIYE podcast, talking about my King Crimson book. Also there, discussing his prog rock opus A New Day Yesterday, was mighty Mike Barnes. Lots of fun. The podcast can be heard here: shows.acast.com/word-in-your...
January 20, 2026 at 12:25 PM
On this day six years ago, I was with Mark Ellen & David Hepworth for their AWIYE podcast, talking about my King Crimson book. Also there, discussing his prog rock opus A New Day Yesterday, was mighty Mike Barnes. Lots of fun. The podcast can be heard here: shows.acast.com/word-in-your...
Bringing the brightness in this morning. These two guys had it all.
January 20, 2026 at 11:08 AM
Bringing the brightness in this morning. These two guys had it all.
Remembered Sky
London 2020
London 2020
January 20, 2026 at 8:34 AM
Remembered Sky
London 2020
London 2020
Azimuth and Ralph Towner made some wonderful music together on the album, Depart. Only Norma Winstone is still with us now.
January 19, 2026 at 5:07 PM
Azimuth and Ralph Towner made some wonderful music together on the album, Depart. Only Norma Winstone is still with us now.
Ralph Towner's passing yesterday reminded me that my first encounter with his sparkling creativity was Weather Report's I Sing The Body Electric. Slowly but surely, I found more music bearing his imprint. His name on a cover was both an invitation and a guarantee of quality.
January 19, 2026 at 1:58 PM
Ralph Towner's passing yesterday reminded me that my first encounter with his sparkling creativity was Weather Report's I Sing The Body Electric. Slowly but surely, I found more music bearing his imprint. His name on a cover was both an invitation and a guarantee of quality.
Remembered Sky
West Allotment 2024
West Allotment 2024
January 19, 2026 at 8:58 AM
Remembered Sky
West Allotment 2024
West Allotment 2024
My kind of Chapel on a Sunday…
January 18, 2026 at 1:35 PM
My kind of Chapel on a Sunday…
Remembered Sky
Whitley Bay 2021
Whitley Bay 2021
January 18, 2026 at 10:42 AM
Remembered Sky
Whitley Bay 2021
Whitley Bay 2021
Into the office and revving up with Swedish outfit, Sol Sol, and their last album, Oscillations.
Click the link for further details:
sailcabinrecords.bandcamp.com/album/oscill...
Click the link for further details:
sailcabinrecords.bandcamp.com/album/oscill...
January 17, 2026 at 12:35 PM
Into the office and revving up with Swedish outfit, Sol Sol, and their last album, Oscillations.
Click the link for further details:
sailcabinrecords.bandcamp.com/album/oscill...
Click the link for further details:
sailcabinrecords.bandcamp.com/album/oscill...
The Bug interrupts play for some urgently needed fussing.
January 17, 2026 at 10:44 AM
The Bug interrupts play for some urgently needed fussing.
Remembered Sky
Whitley Bay 2020
Whitley Bay 2020
January 17, 2026 at 8:08 AM
Remembered Sky
Whitley Bay 2020
Whitley Bay 2020
What’s that you say?
January 16, 2026 at 6:42 PM
What’s that you say?
The Music Improvisation Company ECM 1005
Bristling with coarse textures, energetic bursts, and Jamie Muir's atomised clattering, the microscopic hurly-burly of what, in 1970, felt bruisingly new comes with a cover that hints at something insurgent and wild about to break through.
#ECMFirst100 #ECM
Bristling with coarse textures, energetic bursts, and Jamie Muir's atomised clattering, the microscopic hurly-burly of what, in 1970, felt bruisingly new comes with a cover that hints at something insurgent and wild about to break through.
#ECMFirst100 #ECM
January 16, 2026 at 4:08 PM
The Music Improvisation Company ECM 1005
Bristling with coarse textures, energetic bursts, and Jamie Muir's atomised clattering, the microscopic hurly-burly of what, in 1970, felt bruisingly new comes with a cover that hints at something insurgent and wild about to break through.
#ECMFirst100 #ECM
Bristling with coarse textures, energetic bursts, and Jamie Muir's atomised clattering, the microscopic hurly-burly of what, in 1970, felt bruisingly new comes with a cover that hints at something insurgent and wild about to break through.
#ECMFirst100 #ECM
Into the afternoon shift with a recent #ECM arrival. I'd not heard of it before, but added it to a Discogs order simply because it was a fiver. Cello and a massive church organ start off serene, then go full-on end-of-the-world batshit crazy. In other words, right up my strasse.
January 16, 2026 at 1:39 PM
Into the afternoon shift with a recent #ECM arrival. I'd not heard of it before, but added it to a Discogs order simply because it was a fiver. Cello and a massive church organ start off serene, then go full-on end-of-the-world batshit crazy. In other words, right up my strasse.
Remembered Sky
Northumberland 2018
Northumberland 2018
January 16, 2026 at 8:53 AM
Remembered Sky
Northumberland 2018
Northumberland 2018
Enjoying some Family time
January 15, 2026 at 5:41 PM
Enjoying some Family time
Remembered Sky
Whitley Bay 2017
Whitley Bay 2017
January 15, 2026 at 8:06 AM
Remembered Sky
Whitley Bay 2017
Whitley Bay 2017
Into the evening shift with the strange and sometimes beautiful sounds from Vault Of Blossomed Ropes. You can find out more here:
vaultofblossomedropes.bandcamp.com/album/etidor...
vaultofblossomedropes.bandcamp.com/album/etidor...
January 14, 2026 at 6:27 PM
Into the evening shift with the strange and sometimes beautiful sounds from Vault Of Blossomed Ropes. You can find out more here:
vaultofblossomedropes.bandcamp.com/album/etidor...
vaultofblossomedropes.bandcamp.com/album/etidor...
I thought I'd give Soused another go. I wasn't convinced the first time around in 2014. After the previous and brilliant SW releases, it seemed a bit ordinary - even when played at the recommended ear-bleeding volume.
January 14, 2026 at 5:29 PM
I thought I'd give Soused another go. I wasn't convinced the first time around in 2014. After the previous and brilliant SW releases, it seemed a bit ordinary - even when played at the recommended ear-bleeding volume.
After a day spent time travelling between 1970 and 1971, I'm now in the office accompanied by the gently spacious sounds of Maceij Obara's quartet from 2019.
January 14, 2026 at 4:18 PM
After a day spent time travelling between 1970 and 1971, I'm now in the office accompanied by the gently spacious sounds of Maceij Obara's quartet from 2019.
Remembered Sky
Whitley Bay 2020
Whitley Bay 2020
January 14, 2026 at 7:18 AM
Remembered Sky
Whitley Bay 2020
Whitley Bay 2020
There are some days when I think that Save Me from this album is the best sound in the universe. Today is one of those days.
January 13, 2026 at 5:43 PM
There are some days when I think that Save Me from this album is the best sound in the universe. Today is one of those days.
Remembered Sky
Whitley Bay 2017
Whitley Bay 2017
January 13, 2026 at 7:24 AM
Remembered Sky
Whitley Bay 2017
Whitley Bay 2017