Adaption

 I was in London, for various reasons, and having an afternoon available, having negotiated a crowded shop or two I headed to the Saatchi Gallery. I'd not been there before, but the photography exhibition by Anastasia Samoylova had some rather excellent reviews. https://www.instagram.com/p/DDSH_ZnxLEN/?img_index=1

I was completely blown away by this work. The work is subtle, thoughtful and complex. There were a couple or three images, particularly in the Image Cities section that I especially enjoyed, and could live with. The scale of this introduction to AS's work is breathtaking. I love the referencing of earlier photographers, and artists. But the political point is that our world is slowly, but surely drowning. For an intelligent species we are so fucking stupid.

Outside the Saatchi (photographer unknown).

 Whilst in London I snapped away, mostly in a couple of cemeteries for wildlife recording reasons, but, I quite liked these snaps which are as is usual  for me opportunistic; I rarely plan pictures.

Phone.

Half of London walk around not seeing, just looking down. A higher proportion are not hearing, their listening is elsewhere.

Perhaps that's why we all need to be reminded...

Music; a new album by Advance Base, the four minute storyteller.

Horrible Occurences, buy here (click)

Not to everyone's taste perhaps and, like a book of short stories, Owen Ashworth's tales often unravel slowly, but usually within four minutes.

The next was an accidental discovery, I think it popped up, as things do, on Spotify and instead of ignoring it as usual I pressed play. A younger, somewhat more obtuse version of Bill Callaghan? Maybe/ not. The stories are complex, the instrumentation likewise. This album is a gem.

Heavy Metal by Cameron Winter, to purchase, click.

Could this be my favourite release of 2024, time may tell.