Miscellany

Seven of the Best: Songs of July 2026

'It is easy to see the beginnings of things, and harder to see the ends'. Taking her title from the essay by Joan Didion which closed the author's debut collection Slouching Towards Bethlehem, this week Jess Williamson introduces her new album A Mile South of Heaven by way of the single and record opener 'Goodbye to All That'. The singer duly notes: Didion's essay is about leaving New York after eight years and how 'it's distinctly possible...

Seven of the Best: Jazz Albums Not in Downbeat’s 74th Critics Poll

A couple of weeks ago Downbeat published their August issue and with it their 74th annual critics poll of the best in jazz. The list is a lengthy undertaking in so far as it contains 62 categories, which invite critics to vote for a mix of established figures and rising stars. The headlines for this 74th edition of the...

Nobody Wins in the Alexander Isak Transfer Saga

Since media outlets reported in late July of Alexander Isak's desire to 'explore a move away' from Newcastle United, who at the same time left him out of a pre-season tour of Asia citing a minor thigh injury which has now cleared up, the player and club have been locked in an increasingly public standoff. While the player through...

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