Hi, I’m James and this is my personal journal.
I have difficulty sometimes with words, so I wanted to keep a journal that wouldn’t involve them. Instead I try to communicate by improvising a piece of music every week.
Some call it ambient and post-rock. It has things in common with those, and others. Abstract and impressionist, it changes.
It’s me, recorded most often in a moment and not repeated, it contains all the happy accidents* that occur with this sort of thing. It often has a soothing effect and is meant to be listened to, but can work in the background.
Check out other things I do at strangetextures.com (https://strangetextures.com/).
Simple one this week - I’ve been to Hardwick Hall (https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/peak-district-derbyshire/hardwick). It’s been a long time since I could actually go in the house, and it was lovely.
Get your muniments in order and enjoy!
3 Nov 2026
Bright in the fields
I fully intend to not talk this season unless I have to. I might do some additional notes episodes, and I suppose I might need to make announcements, but I’d rather not. I’m aiming at a more full abstraction if you like, although I’d say the words are the abstraction and this is reality. Unless I’m slipping away?
Things I’m enjoying this week:
For the Setting Sun (https://mirlo.space/socool/release/for-the-setting-sun) by CommsBreakdown & Socool listening to it as I write this in fact.
Witch (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/m001mc4p) BBC radio show exploring what it means to be a witch today
Julie Enfield Investigates (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julie_Enfield_Investigates) another BBC radio show which is a deep and peculiar crime drama
I’m also reading this article from Liz Pelly (https://lizpelly.ghost.io/the-state-of-listening-doesnt-make-headlines/) that I found vis the Mirlo newsletter - a quick and interesting read
27 Oct 2026
Halloween Special
Back for a special before Season 7 starts! It’s been a while, and a while longer than I expected. But I think I’m back and heading into another season.
Important News - I will be livestreaming an episode as part of the 3rd W3dn35day online gigs organised by this occasional society (https://www.thisoccasionalsociety.com/) and hosted by Mel at Gravitons (https://gravitons.org/). Long time listeners will know I’ve been trying to sort something like this for a long time and failed regularly so thanks to T.O.S. for signing me up, and Mel for making it all work!
Also, new album from a side project - I’ve mentioned the band many time before, and now Steve and I have an album out:
Sinister Viscosity
Digital download direct (https://music.strangetextures.com/sinister-viscosity/index.html) from me
Bandcamp (https://toastan.bandcamp.com/album/sinister-viscosity) - download and/or CD
I’m so glad to finally have a something tangible after playing music with Steve for so long!
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