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My Top Tracks: The Only Ones, Another Girl, Another Planet

https://lukesnotes.mataroa.blog/blog/my-top-tracks-the-only-ones-another-girl-another-planet/

Published: May 13, 2026 00:00

The eleventh track of My Top Tracks When I was doing A levels at my local college in the early '80s the were two groups of students that hung out in the common room. One was the trendy types into Culture Club and so on with floppy fringes and fashionable…

On Half-Earth Socialism

https://lukesnotes.mataroa.blog/blog/on-half-earth-socialism/

Published: February 18, 2026 00:00

On the book Half-Earth Socialism, an advocacy of a utopian ecological society that can stop the catastrophe of climate change. Lots of big problems hang over humans and other life on earth. I'm in my 60s and this feels like the worst period in my country…

My Top Albums 2025

https://lukesnotes.mataroa.blog/blog/my-top-albums-2025/

Published: February 9, 2026 00:00

These are some of my favourite albums I listened to in 2025; not all I listened to, just some highlights for me. Quite a few were new releases in 2025, but not all by any means. I use the music streaming app Qobuz which doesn't have any 'wrapped' or 'most…

My Top Tracks: The Kinks, Lola

https://lukesnotes.mataroa.blog/blog/my-top-tracks-the-kinks-lola/

Published: January 1, 2026 00:00

I hated my very conservative school. At age 16 the other pupils all went on to the sixth form except, I think, one other person who left education altogether and me who left to do my A levels elsewhere. I went to the local further education college where…

Fenner Brockway: Towards Tomorrow and 98 Not Out

https://lukesnotes.mataroa.blog/blog/fenner-brockway-towards-tomorrow-and-98-not-out/

Published: December 29, 2025 00:00

These notes on these two books by Fenner Brockway were originally discussed in Books I Read in 2025 Part 2 but I've taken them from there and put them here in their own post. Fenner Brockway, Towards Tomorrow To return to the High Wycombe theme from the…

Books I Read in 2025 Part 2

https://lukesnotes.mataroa.blog/blog/books-i-read-in-2025-part-2/

Published: December 25, 2025 00:00

Continued from Books I Read in 2025 Part 1 Fenner Brockway, Towards Tomorrow To return to the High Wycombe theme from the Martin O'Neill book outlined in part 1, I met Fenner Brockway in December 1982. When I say 'met', we both spoke at a demonstration,…

Books I Read in 2025 Part 1

https://lukesnotes.mataroa.blog/blog/books-i-read-in-2025-part-1/

Published: December 15, 2025 00:00

Spies, detectives, and terrorists; westerns and Native American life; war and violence; gangs and prisoners; animals and humans; rebels and resistance; women and feminism; autobiography and memoir; racism and sectarianism; music and pop stars; football and…

Books I Read in 2021

https://lukesnotes.mataroa.blog/blog/books-i-read-in-2021/

Published: December 5, 2025 00:00

Communism and leftists; change and alternatives; colonialism and development; spies and terrorists; psychoanalysis and grief; crime and heroes; climate and sustainability; poverty and survival; football and footballers. 2021? I've been putting together a…

My Top Tracks: The Ruts, In a Rut

https://lukesnotes.mataroa.blog/blog/my-top-tracks-the-ruts-in-a-rut/

Published: October 5, 2025 00:00

The 9th post of My Top Tracks I was depressed as a teenager. Who wasn't? There were probably some hormones going around. But for me it was mainly about society and circumstances. I lived in a suburban-feeling small town where most people seemed most…

My Top Tracks: Anouar Brahem, The Astounding Eyes of Rita

https://lukesnotes.mataroa.blog/blog/my-top-tracks-anouar-brahem-the-astounding-eyes-of-rita/

Published: September 25, 2025 00:00

This is the 8th post on my top tracks I had an Oud. It's a Middle-Eastern lute-like instrument. Roundabout 2000 or so I was given one as a gift. There are various types and mine was an Arabic oud from Egypt. I meant to learn how to play it. I can play…