The Starling, One Of The Most Original Singers I’ve Ever Heard

Have a listen to this: https://xeno-canto.org/1066013 This is an example of one of my absolute favourite birdsongs. Indeed, the sound of starlings often gets me to do another bit of recording even when I'm really tired and need to go home. When I'm recording birds, I go into such a state of hyperfocus that my … Continue reading The Starling, One Of The Most Original Singers I’ve Ever Heard →

The Sedge Warbler, The Frank Zappa Of The Bird World

During the Summer of this year (2025), I spent many happy days in the Glen River Park listening to the birds singing. Whether it was the jovial baritone of the wood pigeon, the achingly beautiful tones of a blackbird, or the relentless, breathless clicking of the stonechat, all of these sounds brought me great joy, … Continue reading The Sedge Warbler, The Frank Zappa Of The Bird World →

New Sights And Sounds Around Courtmacsherry

I often see or hear new birds I've never seen before around Courtmacsherry. This is in large part because the area is effectively three bird friendly environments in one. It's got few if any of those Coilte plantations, and I've written about those here: https://autismneurodiversity.com/2025/06/12/bottlehill-forest-is-a-great-place-to-listen-to-bird-song-but-it-shouldnt-be/ And a lot more proper woodlands that are nice places … Continue reading New Sights And Sounds Around Courtmacsherry →

The Music Of Other Minds

As I write this, I can hear music outside. It's the music of a mind so different from mine. A brain diverged from my own by at least 300 million years of evolution. It's the music of, a woodpigeon! The sound of a wood pigeon I recorded: https://xeno-canto.org/977080 https://imgur.com/7UYfcA5 WOO-WOO-WOO-WOO!!!!! I love the song of … Continue reading The Music Of Other Minds →

On “Separating The Art From The Artist”

So, let's start with an obvious statement. Brilliant musicians are often shitty people. Miles Davis, who re-invented jazz so many times that you can nearly get a good idea of the genre's history just by listening to him, admitted to beating his third wife, Cecily Tyson. https://www.gq.co.za/culture/entertainment/miles-davis-a-problematic-life-a-problematic-legacy-46651610 So, it's a fairly obvious fact, great musicians … Continue reading On “Separating The Art From The Artist” →

The Andy Irvine Gig in St Luke’s Was One Of The Highlights of This Year

So a few weeks ago I reviewed Rainy Sundays Windy Dreams by Andy Irvine. Here’s that: https://autismneurodiversity.wordpress.com/2024/03/18/rainy-sundays-windy-dreams-from-ireland-to-the-balkans-and-back-again And I mentioned in it I would soon be going to see Andy Irvine and Donal Lunny playing in St Luke’s. Sadly, Donal Lunny couldn’t make the gig due to health issues, and I hope he makes a … Continue reading The Andy Irvine Gig in St Luke’s Was One Of The Highlights of This Year →

Rainy Sundays… Windy Dreams, from Ireland to the Balkans and Back again

In 1979, Andy Irvine released his first solo album. This was far from his first encounter with the music world, he had at this point already been in two quite innovative and memorable Irish trad groups, Sweeney’s Men in the 1960’s, and in the 1970’s, the one, the only, Planxty, the band that took Irish … Continue reading Rainy Sundays… Windy Dreams, from Ireland to the Balkans and Back again →

My Fears And Hopes For 2024

2023 was a strange beast of a year. It marks some of the best experiences of my life, but also, if not the worst experiences, at least some very bad ones. So I don’t know what this post will be like, I’m thinking it might lie somewhere between coherent and incoherent, but here goes. Cycling … Continue reading My Fears And Hopes For 2024 →

The Devin Townsend Concert Of December 2019, It Cured All Of My Sorrows

Content Warning: This won’t just be a concert review, I’ll also be talking about issues related to anxiety and depression. “Ah, that’s a hyperbolic title,” you must be thinking. “It was a really good concert sure, but surely not enough to pull you out of feelings of sadness.” “Surely this, “progressive metal”, as you young … Continue reading The Devin Townsend Concert Of December 2019, It Cured All Of My Sorrows →

I Have Absolute Pitch. Eh, It’s Alright I Suppose

So, years before I realized I was autistic, and years before I was diagnosed with autism, I found out I was actually neurodivergent in another way. That is, I have absolute pitch. So, does this give me a massive advantage when it comes to music? No. Thanks for reading and enjoy the rest of your … Continue reading I Have Absolute Pitch. Eh, It’s Alright I Suppose →