Profile avatar
ddaviesscribe10.bsky.social
Broadcast & AV technology journalist, editor & consultant. Primarily here for the arts-related chat. #MDANT
25 posts 412 followers 253 following
Prolific Poster
Conversation Starter

Martin Bell is spot on here. Cutting back the World Service seems like a colossal act of self-sabotage, and especially difficult to justify at a time when reliable news is at a premium in so many countries. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

VERY classy touch by BBC Sounds to release a Dolby Atmos version of Matthew Sweet’s superb new Ray Dolby documentary. Dolby, of course, celebrates its 60th birthday in 2025. www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

And, in keeping with tradition, we have a Pope accused of covering up sexual abuse in the church.

It was a pleasure speaking with Joseph Patel about the extraordinary Sly Lives! doc - one of the most thrilling and insightful docs of recent years.

There was some wonderful programming to mark VE Day, but this ep of Front Row - presented by @samiraahmeduk.bsky.social and featuring contribs from @kategarnermusic.bsky.social, Michael Billington etc - was exceptional. A vivid snapshot of the arts emerging out of WWII. www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

This is shaping up to be one of the more exciting Proms seasons for some time. The attention given to Ravel and Shostakovich is very welcome, as is the somewhat reduced exposure of Beethoven, who has arguably been over-represented in recent years. www.theguardian.com/music/2025/a...

Europeans should take over Radio Free Europe if Trump cuts it - because Europe will need more than just weapons to defend itself, writes @peterpomerantsev.bsky.social on.ft.com/42hSOEO

Such a brilliant piece by Kate Mossman about Paul Brady, whose extraordinary subtle political songs still don't get the credit they deserve. He is one of the songwriting greats, make no mistake.

I'd take issue with 'descending into' - it started off deeply authoritarian and is getting more and more horrific every single day - but otherwise this is an excellent overview of the present moment of terrible danger in the US. (1/2) www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-i...

I wouldn’t normally highlight this - but I think it is important to understand the sort of mind Peter Hitchens has - he lacks empathy - if he doesn’t experience it then it is made up and can be dismissed. An arrogance devoid of imagination and sadly prevalent in our world.

RIP percussionist and painter Jamie Muir. An integral part of the extraordinary King Crimson line-up that made Larks' Tongues in Aspic. And his life after Crimson was every bit as novel and intriguing. www.nme.com/news/music/t...

I was led to believe by R.E.M. that I would feel a lot better about this.

A third runway at #Heathrow in the midst of a climate emergency is a vile act of vandalism. Rachel Reeves is happy to burn the planet for a tiny (probably elusive) increment of GDP. How does this benefit us? Article coming later today.

The last member of The Band falls silent. RIP to the astonishing multi-instrumentalist Garth Hudson. www.theguardian.com/music/2025/j...

The jokey flippant lads down the pub way @bbcradio4.bsky.social Today programme is covering Trump Day One is perhaps the most worrying indication of how the creep of fascism is now officially in the room. Grow up.

To the crowds cheering Trump's withdrawal from the Paris Agreement: Do you think you live on a different planet, which climate breakdown does not affect? Do you imagine only greens and progressives will be harmed by Earth systems collapse? Do you believe you can win an argument with physics?

I had the great misfortune to catch a few minutes of last night's 'Nuremberg Warm-Up Gig', ahead of today's inauguration. Several clips of Full Metal Jacket were used - surely without permission? Is the Kubrick Estate (and its legal representatives) aware?

Maybe I'm too attached to the original show, which is surely one of the most ingeniously written and brilliantly performed sitcoms ever, but I just couldn't see the point of a reboot without the incredible David Hyde Pierce and Peri Gilpin being part of the cast. www.radiotimes.com/tv/comedy/fr...

Can we send her a cease and desist letter, for reputational damage, on behalf of the country?

One of the all time great tributes. Just beautiful 🙏

Well, this really is a must-listen. Fantastic choices and conversation from one of the most exciting creative people of her generation. www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

Any hope of Starmer and Reeves applying this 'ruthlessness' to corporate tax evasion and off-shore interests? Because that sure seems to have dropped off the radar since the election, in favour of more raids on public services that are already pared to the bone. www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

Just catching up on this. Curated by our dearly beloved Chris Addison. Come for the Bernstein, stay for the Ives, remain ironically for the Haydn, have some Sibelius, go to the toilet during Sullivan, then Monteverdi, Panufnik, Shostakovich, bosh! Lovely. www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

Just filled this in. by which I mean I wrote the same answer in each box. "Total copyright protection. It's not hard." Please join me if you're not a thief.

The age of stupid.

It seems entirely fitting that the journalist credited here is one Chas Geiger. Meanwhile, questions abound whenever I read an article about the prospect of a 'major war'... www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Brian Eno on climate change: "Hardly any of our politicians are talking about the most important problem" www.nme.com/news/music/b...

Psyched to announce my next book, Volcanic Tongue: A Time Travelling Evangelist’s Guide To Late-Twentieth-Century Underground Music, coming March 2025 from @whiterabbitbks.bsky.social Pre-order: geni.us/VolcanicTongue

Really enjoyed this week's Radio 4 Profile, presented by the reliably excellent Stephen Smith, of the still intensely-driven Ridley 'were you there?' Scott, who will be 87 on November 30th. www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...