It’s early. House Beast Millie was not taking no for an answer when it came to rousing one of us to get her breakfast—at 5am she was stomping up and down the bed, shoving her nose in our faces. I tried a bait-and-switch, getting up so she’d rush out of the bedroom giving me a moment to shut the door behind her. By then, of course, I’m just awake enough to make any attempt at renewed slumber a doomed exercise. So I’m up, dang it. Millie has eaten her pouch of Bozita, a posh Swedish cat food which she absolutely does not deserve and is now sitting on the desk next to me in the office, purring her face off, waiting for an opportunity to zip onto the chair she feels is hers by right while head-butting the iPad.
With all these distractions, it’s amazing I manage to get any Swipery out to you at all.
Wherever you are, whenever you are, however you are, welcome to The Swipe.
Rob is reading…
The Wine Of Angels by Phil Rickman. The first of the Merrily Watkins novels, about a Church Of England-sponsored exorcist. Or as Phil calls the post, Deliverance Consultant. It’s an interesting mix of folk horror and cosy crime, put together in a pleasingly wry manner. A gift from Pal Clive, who always knows about the good stuff.
Rob is watching…
Gardener’s World usually ends up playing in the background on a Friday night, mumbling away agreeably while C and I take stock of the week and plan the next couple of days. It’s all very inoffensive, pretty pictures and gentle commentary. However, I agree with a lot of the sentiments in the post below. Yes, it’s smug and middle-class. Yes, it could do with a broader spread of voices and experiences. Ultimately, gardening is not a pastime which translates well to telly. It’s a five-sense experience, an immersion in the living world that a screen cannot successfully duplicate. Smell, touch, taste—all are lost. There’s simply no substitute for getting out there in all weathers (not just the glowing sunshine in which Monty and Frances seem to bathe in at all times) and touching dirt.
Rob is listening…
A striking bit on nostalgia, memory and the power of music from Brendan at Semi-Rad. I’m sure you’ll come away with a tune or two in mind that you’ll simply need to replay right now. Well jel of that huge boombox, too.
Oh, and Happy Record Store Day to those who celebrate! May all your vinyl dreams come true.
Rob is eating…
I’m always a bit wary of food articles which talk about forgotten foods which we need to rediscover, before banging on about prawn cocktails or rice pudding, both of which can be found regularly on contemporary menus—just not in the restaurants said writers are paid to frequent. However, Tim Hayward’s exploration of some old shelf-stable classics has me ready to do a little exploratory shopping on the Granny Shelf. Sandwich Spead on a smashburger sounds like a winner to me.
Oh, and just in time for publication, Vittles has sent out a six-part bulletin on places to eat outside London, including a glowing recommendation of a Dingtown favourite. A strong recommend from me. Hie thee to the Lizzie line and grab something good for your tea on Castle Street.
Rob’s Low-Key Obsession Of The Week…
A dose of cosmic perspective. You’ve come a long way, baby.
I would love to visit this lovely bit of rural art, which I sense is another one of those experiences you need to have in person. Looks like a nice walk. I’m perturbed by the lede which presents an either-or choice—moving and immersive sculpture or just a bit of scaffolding? Let the viewer make up their own mind, perhaps, and stop slapping a clickbait teaser on everything.
The power of ignorance—or rather, having the confidence to say ‘I don’t know’ and then making the effort to research and discover. How to redefine FAFO in one easy move. To be honest, I believe that’s how most important breakthroughs in science have been made. Something weird or unexpected happens. The scientists finds out why and discovers penicillin, or gravity, or Post-Its.
A film course with the mighty Werner Herzog in a wild and isolated island in the North Atlantic. I love the focus the great man puts on embracing the unexpected, in getting the shot, in the way film-making is at heart practical, hands-on and all about on-the-fly inventiveness.
The 21st century urban equivalent of the Victorian gentleman’s folly. There’s a story behind every one of these examples which needs to be told. I detect an air of SFnal or urban fantasy creepiness at play here. Like there’s an invisible portal at the top of the staircase which seemingly leads to nowhere. You just need a key or a code to open the mystical gate and step through to adventure.
As a fan of far-future narratives like Michael Moorcock’s Dancers At The End Of Time or Gene Wolfe’s Tales Of The New Sun, I was very taken by this extensive look at the sub-genre. Lots to enjoy here, including a few picks for you gamers. Lovely to see Brandon Graham’s Prophet getting a nod—a reimagine of a 90s superhero on a very long, strange trip.
Hmm. I’m including this bit from Joan Westenberg to broaden what may be perceived by some members of The Readership as a Swipe bias against machine learning tools. True yes but. In certain contexts I agree there are applications in which said tools could prove to be transformatively beneficial. I do not believe that to be the case for creative outlets, and I know I’m not alone. However, I’m always willing to listen to the other side. Witch-hunt, though? Not a helpful accusation.
A long and utterly charming piece on the growth in themed cruises based around fandoms, focussing here on the most unlikely of stars. There’s quite a bit to unpack around the question of how artists continue to thrive and survive in the streaming age, and how they build and retain their audiences. Support for a small but extremely loyal fan base used to be called The Long Tail, and it’s an approach which has served bands like Marillion very well indeed. These cruises remind me of the All Tomorrows Parties weekends at a slightly shabby Butlin’s—a more curated and intense iteration, sure, but the vibe is definitely in place.
We should not be celebrating these stories (there are a lot, carry on down into the comments). It’s a failure of society as a whole and the fucking patriarchy in particular that entitled and predatory behaviour needs to be called out or hit back at.
We do not advocate violence. But under the right circumstances we’re not not advocating it.
Some more context from an actual author (as opposed to the hot takes from the usual pack of honking commentarians) on Helen DeWitt turning down the Windham-Campbell literary award. There’s a lovely twist at the end of the story which almost seems too perfect. But hey, you know what? I’ll take it.
No context from me on this last link. Go ahead and immerse yourself.
I got all excited a couple of weeks ago about the potential for new music from Tom Waits. I suspect this collab with of all people Massive Attack is not it, but it’s still a stirring and forceful gambit. Play loud, get your gruffest voice on.
See you in seven, fellow travellers.
EXCUSES AND HALF TRUTHS 