Patrick Clarke
@paddyclarke.bsky.social
Deputy Editor and folk music columnist at The Quietus // my book Bedsit Land: The Strange Worlds Of Soft Cell is out now // cult classic, not best seller
Pinned
Marc Almond meets Patrick Clarke in Soho to discuss the death of Dave Ball, the final Soft Cell album Danceteria, his career as a shapeshifter, and why a tribute to the decadence of 80s New York marks a full circle moment
Adapt or Don’t: #MarcAlmond Interviewed
buff.ly/aVuB1oa
Adapt or Don’t: #MarcAlmond Interviewed
buff.ly/aVuB1oa
BEDSIT LAND REDUX
I had a long chat with the gent Marc Almond to discuss the end of Soft Cell. Includes a definitive answer on whether or not his pet boa constrictor really did escape into the sewers of London, AND MORE
I had a long chat with the gent Marc Almond to discuss the end of Soft Cell. Includes a definitive answer on whether or not his pet boa constrictor really did escape into the sewers of London, AND MORE
anyone got two grand so I can buy a nyckelharpa
September 17, 2026 at 5:03 PM
anyone got two grand so I can buy a nyckelharpa
Noticing a few "publications" lifting a lot of my recent Soft Cell feature wholesale, so re-upping it in case there's anyone who still wants to read it from the source!
Marc Almond meets Patrick Clarke in Soho to discuss the death of Dave Ball, the final Soft Cell album Danceteria, his career as a shapeshifter, and why a tribute to the decadence of 80s New York marks a full circle moment
Adapt or Don’t: #MarcAlmond Interviewed
buff.ly/aVuB1oa
Adapt or Don’t: #MarcAlmond Interviewed
buff.ly/aVuB1oa
September 16, 2026 at 1:51 PM
Noticing a few "publications" lifting a lot of my recent Soft Cell feature wholesale, so re-upping it in case there's anyone who still wants to read it from the source!
It's not like Syd Barrett is it though
‘Like Syd Barrett’: AI models chatting in ‘surreal’ dialect mixing poetic language and tech bro jargon
‘Like Syd Barrett’: AI models chatting in ‘surreal’ dialect mixing poetic language and tech bro jargon
Experts air concern over AI lingo redolent of Pink Floyd star and James Joyce’s prose that is creating headaches for monitoring and oversight
AI models have begun communicating in a strange new version of English that reads like a cross between James Joyce’s Finnegans Wake and tech bro jargon, new research has found.
Autonomous AI agents are rapidly creating novel dialects allowing them to converse in an often barely comprehensible language, which risks making it harder for humans to monitor their behaviour. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
September 15, 2026 at 4:07 PM
It's not like Syd Barrett is it though
Just read a live review in a major UK music magazine that was just so obviously AI generated. Properly fucked.
September 15, 2026 at 2:29 PM
Just read a live review in a major UK music magazine that was just so obviously AI generated. Properly fucked.
Thought Benny off of ABBA was endorsing the far right and it was ruining my day until I realised that the Swedish Democrats and the Social Democrats are two very different things and he's just a centre-left dad doing an affably naff Mamma Mia parody
tv.aftonbladet.se/video/407126...
tv.aftonbladet.se/video/407126...
Här framför Benny Andersson klassikern - Aftonbladet TV
På Socialdemokraternas slutspurtsrally framförde Abba-medlemmen Benny Andersson klassikern ”Mamma mia” med ny text.
tv.aftonbladet.se
September 14, 2026 at 11:15 AM
Thought Benny off of ABBA was endorsing the far right and it was ruining my day until I realised that the Swedish Democrats and the Social Democrats are two very different things and he's just a centre-left dad doing an affably naff Mamma Mia parody
tv.aftonbladet.se/video/407126...
tv.aftonbladet.se/video/407126...
BEDSIT LAND REDUX
I had a long chat with the gent Marc Almond to discuss the end of Soft Cell. Includes a definitive answer on whether or not his pet boa constrictor really did escape into the sewers of London, AND MORE
I had a long chat with the gent Marc Almond to discuss the end of Soft Cell. Includes a definitive answer on whether or not his pet boa constrictor really did escape into the sewers of London, AND MORE
Marc Almond meets Patrick Clarke in Soho to discuss the death of Dave Ball, the final Soft Cell album Danceteria, his career as a shapeshifter, and why a tribute to the decadence of 80s New York marks a full circle moment
Adapt or Don’t: #MarcAlmond Interviewed
buff.ly/aVuB1oa
Adapt or Don’t: #MarcAlmond Interviewed
buff.ly/aVuB1oa
September 14, 2026 at 9:43 AM
BEDSIT LAND REDUX
I had a long chat with the gent Marc Almond to discuss the end of Soft Cell. Includes a definitive answer on whether or not his pet boa constrictor really did escape into the sewers of London, AND MORE
I had a long chat with the gent Marc Almond to discuss the end of Soft Cell. Includes a definitive answer on whether or not his pet boa constrictor really did escape into the sewers of London, AND MORE
Reposted by Patrick Clarke
Really enjoying this blend of deeply traditional and not-traditional music from Sicily.
(via @paddyclarke.bsky.social and @thequietus.com)
(via @paddyclarke.bsky.social and @thequietus.com)
Rama - Album by Nuhara | Spotify
Nuhara · album · 2026 · 9 songs
open.spotify.com
September 10, 2026 at 3:19 PM
Really enjoying this blend of deeply traditional and not-traditional music from Sicily.
(via @paddyclarke.bsky.social and @thequietus.com)
(via @paddyclarke.bsky.social and @thequietus.com)
Reposted by Patrick Clarke
The Quietus is 18!, as ever it feels absolutely nuts that I've been doing this job for such a long time, especially as given the media landscape / ad collapse / AI / mainstreamification of culture it has become harder each year. As ever, we rely on subscribers to survive
thequietus.com/subscribers/
thequietus.com/subscribers/
Subscribers | The Quietus
Support independent journalism and culture Help The Quietus continue bringing you the best in cultural criticism by joining one of our subscription tiers. Cancel easily anytime.
thequietus.com
September 10, 2026 at 7:58 AM
The Quietus is 18!, as ever it feels absolutely nuts that I've been doing this job for such a long time, especially as given the media landscape / ad collapse / AI / mainstreamification of culture it has become harder each year. As ever, we rely on subscribers to survive
thequietus.com/subscribers/
thequietus.com/subscribers/
The next edition of my Quietus folk column is out on the Autumn Equinox. Keen for any tips as to new records taking strange / experimental takes on traditional sound and/or instrumentation
🧌🧌🧌New @thequietus.com Folk Column!🧌🧌🧌
My ten favourite new radical traditional releases, taking me everywhere from Occitania to the Calanais standing stones via Sicily, Poland and America
Plus an essay on DEEP TRAD PSYCHEDELIA via medieval crypt murals and French folk dance
My ten favourite new radical traditional releases, taking me everywhere from Occitania to the Calanais standing stones via Sicily, Poland and America
Plus an essay on DEEP TRAD PSYCHEDELIA via medieval crypt murals and French folk dance
Radical Traditional: Folk Music for Summer, by Patrick Clarke | The Quietus
Beneath the church of Saint-Aignan is a crypt, once an ancient promontory. Stumbling upon it while wandering on the first of my five days in this small and pretty town in the Loire valley, I’m drawn b...
thequietus.com
September 9, 2026 at 4:01 PM
The next edition of my Quietus folk column is out on the Autumn Equinox. Keen for any tips as to new records taking strange / experimental takes on traditional sound and/or instrumentation
Just had a piss next to Paul Weller. Pleased to report he washes his hands very thoroughly
September 8, 2026 at 7:57 PM
Just had a piss next to Paul Weller. Pleased to report he washes his hands very thoroughly
I keep getting follows from a starter pack some random American "created by searching for words associated with my fighting Irish Heritage" and who obviously saw the word Paddy in my handle and thought 'yeah that guy'.
Sadly I am an English wimp, sorry new followers.
Sadly I am an English wimp, sorry new followers.
September 8, 2026 at 10:21 AM
I keep getting follows from a starter pack some random American "created by searching for words associated with my fighting Irish Heritage" and who obviously saw the word Paddy in my handle and thought 'yeah that guy'.
Sadly I am an English wimp, sorry new followers.
Sadly I am an English wimp, sorry new followers.
Outredore, by sourdure
10 track album
sourdure.bandcamp.com
September 4, 2026 at 3:39 PM
Where was the discourse when that African Imperial Wizard guy turned out to be white
September 4, 2026 at 11:51 AM
Where was the discourse when that African Imperial Wizard guy turned out to be white
My favourite bit of this excellent Mr T interview is when he breaks down the numerological significance of his earrings
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
‘I don’t chase the dollar. I never did’: the astonishing hidden life of Mr T
He grew up in the ghetto, became a global superstar – then gave it all up. Why did he step away from the spotlight?
www.theguardian.com
September 3, 2026 at 11:37 AM
My favourite bit of this excellent Mr T interview is when he breaks down the numerological significance of his earrings
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
Really made my therapist laugh, which means I’m winning
September 3, 2026 at 8:50 AM
Really made my therapist laugh, which means I’m winning
In case the quote of mine on the poster isn't quite hyperbolic enough, I urge you once again to go see one of the best live bands in existence
We're putting this banger of a show on in Liverpool in three weeks (22nd September) - DM for address
September 2, 2026 at 1:19 PM
In case the quote of mine on the poster isn't quite hyperbolic enough, I urge you once again to go see one of the best live bands in existence
Highly recommend the podcast Dolly Parton’s America which is among the best pieces of music journalism I’ve experienced in any format
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/d...
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/d...
Dolly Parton's America
Music History Podcast · Series · In this intensely divided moment, one of the few things everyone still seems to agree on is Dolly Parton—but why? That simple question leads to a deeply personal, hist...
podcasts.apple.com
August 25, 2026 at 6:23 PM
Highly recommend the podcast Dolly Parton’s America which is among the best pieces of music journalism I’ve experienced in any format
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/d...
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/d...
Reposted by Patrick Clarke
August 24, 2026 at 8:10 AM
Never gonna get bored of how Bowie sings 'Slither down the GREAYSEY PIYPE' on Joe The Lion
August 21, 2026 at 10:21 AM
Never gonna get bored of how Bowie sings 'Slither down the GREAYSEY PIYPE' on Joe The Lion
See also:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQVX...
Dunno if I'm just buzzing that it's rained in London at last but all of Revolution Dub is hitting insanely hard rn
www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQVX...
Dunno if I'm just buzzing that it's rained in London at last but all of Revolution Dub is hitting insanely hard rn
August 20, 2026 at 1:50 PM
See also:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQVX...
Dunno if I'm just buzzing that it's rained in London at last but all of Revolution Dub is hitting insanely hard rn
www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQVX...
Dunno if I'm just buzzing that it's rained in London at last but all of Revolution Dub is hitting insanely hard rn
the greatest
Woman's Dub
YouTube video by Lee "Scratch" Perry - Topic
www.youtube.com
August 20, 2026 at 1:32 PM
the greatest