After The Noise
Everything Is Equal
18 January 2026
Sleaford Mods – Bad Santa (2026)
It seems surreal in itself that the mods from Sleaford (not sure if they are either, doesn’t matter) are waffling about a Santa — and it’s January. The usual fiery mix of swearing (I love them because they use the word C*nt more than me) over minimal beats.
Jason Williamson, a poet for our generation.
An old bloke like me. Pissed around for years before deserved success. Seems like the kind of bloke to avoid in the pub on a Saturday night, especially when he’s had a few.
Avoid in a don’t wind him up kind of way. I’m sure he helps old ladies cross the road. And raises money for the local church.
Williamson is very vocal and present. It’s the “other bloke” who I find fascinating. The music guy. I’ve sat mesmerised watching them on telly as he stands in front of his laptop with a can of Red Stripe doing ABSOLUTELY NOTHING bar sipping his beer and hitting the space bar between songs.
Makes the likes of Dave Ball (RIP) and Ron Mael look like hard grafters.
Standing cool, nodding his head at the clunky beats whilst Jason rants about The X Factor and other things which make him angry.
But wouldn’t it be the most wonderful thing in the world if Sleaford Mods were to appear on The X Factor.
Or Last Of The Summer Wine.
Marillion – Kayleigh (Live In Rotterdam) (1995)
Steve Hogarth must have been mighty peeved that he still had to warble Fish’s masterpiece, ten years after it was originally released.
You can hear it in his voice. Desperate, fragile, feeling a fraud, as it is not his hit (they never troubled the hit parade with quite the same effect after Fish quit).
A half-hearted Steve Rothery guitar solo introduction. Poor H (not to be confused with him from Steps, they share a nickname), one wonders why they bothered to release this.
H doesn’t want to sing it. Fish doesn’t care.
The zany Dutch crowd seemed happy. And that is what is important.
Billie Holiday – Strange Fruit (1939) vs Kyren Wilson & Rob Walker (2026)
Every now and then, in my humdrum existence, I have those moments where I decorate the moment and wonder what the hell is going on.
I love a sound collage between two very different sound collages.
This was one of those moments. Billie Holiday soothing my soul in one ear. A triumphant interview between newly-crowned Masters champion Kyren Wilson and Rob Walker in the other.
Wilson had triumphed over Higgins (John not the deceased maverick Alex). He’d beaten depression and a damaged cue.
Mrs Wilson was emotional. Tears streaming. The kids milled around, proud of their daddy.
And rightly so.
I paused for a moment and thought life is ok. Billie Holiday made sure of that with a trumpet added to her velvet voice.
Sealing the moment.
John Virgo, Stephen Hendry – Masters Snooker Final, BBC 2 (2026)
“Where’s the cue ball” screams John Virgo. His catchphrase intact with a cheeky schoolboy tone because he knows what we want to hear.
His timing is perfection. The wily old dog.
And mostly, the answer to the question is: “it’s wiping it’s feet”.
I’ve decided to set up a Stephen Hendry “pressure” box. 50 pence of your finest British money every time Hendry says the word. It’s frequent. And irritating. In a snooker irritant kind of way.
And only those who understand the thrill of the crowd going “oooooohhhhh” when a shot goes wonky will understand that.
The comforting tones of balls clacking and the referee refereeing in a calm, polite kind of way.
Is the complete opposite to the shenanigans at Villa Park earlier today. And for that, I am eternally grateful.
Conor McNamara, Dion Dublin – Aston Villa v Everton, Radio Five Live (2026)
Dion Dublin made my day by mentioning my beloved Cambridge United. Barely talked about, constantly struggling in lower leagues. Dion was a legend.
And still is.
Another word, bandied about too much. There’s something reassuring about the hustle and bustle of live football on the radio when trying to do a million jobs at work.
“Villa howling for a penalty”. I’ve started to notice the small details the commentator spouts. Always reassuring – The screech of enthusiasm.
The thrill of a goal going in, never ceases to amaze. Everton ahead. Villa’s title race slipping. Jack Grealish still has ridiculous hair but is playing with a smile. City might regret letting him go for the season.
“Whenever Everton have taken the lead this season, they have never gone on to lose the game”. Or something to that effect.
I’ll never know for sure because the moment is gone.
Epilogue: Everton claimed a priceless victory. Prince William weeps into his caviar.
Tin Machine – Working Class Hero (1989)
David Bowie. Genius. Yes, we all know he’s a genius. Even those who don’t like him know he’s a genius. Yet, here I am listening to David Bowie in a band covering a John Lennon song.
I never knew this was a John Lennon song. Tin Machine is an improvement on the original. Don’t tell Yoko Ono I said that.
She doesn’t like that kind of thing.
George Harrison told me. In a dream about what really happens under the Mersey Wall. One night after I’d watched Cambridge United lose again.
The Listening Log 
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