Everything is going wrong, but we're so happy

Heard this on the radio last week, for the first time in a while. It's a perfectly serviceable, if unremarkable, slice of Noughties indie from The Wombats, the sort of danceable guitar-led "records that girls can dance to" popularised at the time by Franz Ferdinand, Kaiser Chiefs and others.

I say unremarkable but here I am, remarking on it. Why? Because at a time large swathes of the nation are getting their knickers in a knot about either the coronation and/or Eurovision, whilst public services and infrastructure are falling apart and the nation slips ever deeper into its post-Brexit, post-politics, post-truth death-spiral ... well, you have to wonder where people's priorities lie. All together now:

Let's dance to Joy Division
And celebrate the irony
Everything is going wrong
But we're so happy

What do I do now?

I went to see Sleeper last night, the opening night of their intimate acoustic tour. Just Andy on rhythm guitar (and rudimentary foot-operated percussion), Jon on lead guitar and Louise singing. The show was divided in two, and peppered with ad-libs, chat and anecdotes. They even threw in an excellent cover of Wave of Mutilation that I'd love to have shared with you, but at the start of the show Louise encouraged photographs but asked the crowd not to film, so... here's a grainy photo from my not-very-good phone.

Anyway, one of the anecdotes Andy told explained how Elvis Costello came to cover this Sleeper track. I had never heard the cover, so naturally this morning I had to find it. And equally naturally, being Declan P. McManus, it is a thing of wonder. Showcases Louise's lyrical prowess too.

Anyway, this isn't a gig review but I will say that if the acoustic Sleeper tour comes anywhere near you, try and get along, it's a lovely way to spend the evening. And for that reason, rather than any photographic merit, here are two more pictures.

On returning to work...

I'm curious as to many people love their jobs. Not like, love. This may or may not have something to do with my returning to work after 11 days off. Anyway, please indulge me and fill in this questionnaire. It's completely anonymous.

Public service announcement

In case, like me, you need reminding sometimes...

New to NA: BC Camplight

I can't remember when or where I heard it, but I rather like this, from Manchester's BC Camplight. You might too. It's from his forthcoming album and is winningly entitled The Last Rotation of Earth. As you might expect, given that title, it feels very end-of-days, with a wonky piano line, an off-kilter middle eight, some scratchy guitar lines late on, and downtrodden lyrics that even seem to reference a Tesco garage - dark days indeed.