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  • On the River as God or Gods
    2026/02/16

    Running order of the 'culturescape':

    • Prelude from Das Rhinegold by Richard Wagner (Rudolfe Kempe, Bayreuth performance)
    • opening of TS Eliot's 'The Dry Salvages' from Four Quartets
    • Charley Patton, High Water Everywhere Part 1
    • Hermann Broch, The Death of Virgil excerpt
    • Robert Petway, Catfish Blues
    • Pike, Ted Hughes (read by the poet)
    • Má Vlast, 2. Vltava, ou La Moldau, Smetana (Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Vaclav Talich, 1954)
    • Various field recordings of rivers large and small from freesound.org

    For more info about the curator: neil-fitzgerald.com

    If you have an idea for a theme, or want your music or field recording used in a future episode: daytripsfornihilists@gmail.com

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    29 分
  • On Nonsense and Silliness, or why Wittgenstein was right
    2026/02/15

    Wittgenstein was right! Being silly is necessary for human happiness.

    NB. This episode contains contextualised use of the 'n' word in a sound clip from a gangster rapper* (see bold and asterisked below)

    1. Photo of Wittgenstein (see below)
    2. A Life in Pieces (BBC), Peter Cook, Ludovic Kennedy, Ep. 1 Partridge in a Pear Tree (1990)
    3. Take The Money And Run (1969), Woody Allen
    4. Annie Hall (1977), Woody Allen
    5. Tim Dog, Phone Conversation with Reporter (1991)*
    6. Play Better Golf with Peter Aliss: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTOGP7V2ezE&ab_channel=kiuvideo (?)

    Get in touch to nit-pick and/or berate my inadequacies: daytripsfornihilists@gmail.com


    Photo of a serious-looking Wittgenstein:

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    24 分
  • On Bill Callahan and Authenticity
    2026/02/14

    Some reflections on the authenticity that runs like a rich seam of truth in Bill Callahan's songs. How does he do it?

    • 'When It Shows' - an old attempt at song-writing by yours truly
    • 'Say Valley Maker' (live) - from Rough Travel for a Rare Thing (2010) by Bill Callahan
    • 'Jim Cain' - from Sometimes I wish We Were An Eagle (2009) by Bill Callahan
    • 'Cowboy' - from Gold Record (2020) by Bill Callahan

    With huge thanks to Bill Callahan and Drag City Records for permission to use clips from the songs for this audio essay. :)

    Get in touch to nit-pick and/or berate my inadequacies: daytripsfornihilists@gmail.com

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    23 分
  • On Kathleen Ferrier's Vocal Timbre
    2026/02/13

    A meandering exploration of why Kathleen Ferrier's voice is so unbearably moving.

    • 'My Bonnie Lad (trad. Northumbrian folk song)
    • Ca' the Yowes' (trad. Scottish folk song)
    • 'Ich bin der Welt abhanden gerkommen' - Gustav Mahler
    • Symphony No. 4, 3rd movement (Ruhevoll) - Gustav Mahler

    Get in touch to nit-pick and/or berate my inadequacies: daytripsfornihilists@gmail.com

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    23 分
  • On Emptiness
    2026/02/12

    A generally uplifting audio essay on emptiness and its consolations...ideal for day-tripping nihilists, naturally.

    Tracklist:

    • Hailu Mergia & Dahlak Band — Anchin Kfu Ayinkash
    • GF Haas - Concerto Grosso No. 2 for ensemble and orchestra
    • TS Eliiot reading an excerpt from 'Burnt Norton' from his Four Quartets
    • Vilhelm Hammershoi, 'Interior in Strandgade, Sunlight on the Floor'
    • Excerpt from GF Haas - Traum in des Sommers Nacht for orchestra
    • Franz Kafka quote
    • John Fahey - Yes Jesus Loves Me
    • Excerpt from GF Haas - Traum in des Sommers Nacht for orchestra
    • Django Reinhardt - Manoir De Mes Rêves
    • Virginia Woolf, excerpt from 'Time Passes', To The Lighthouse (1927)
    • Philip Larkin reading his poem 'Home is so sad'
    • Beethoven performed by the Busch Quartet - String Quartet No. 12 in E-Flat Major, Op. 127: II. Adagio ma non troppo e molto cantabile
    • Hamlet soliloquy - I have of late but wherefore I know not... from Withnail & I (1987)
    • Macbeth - Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow soliloquy - Orson Welles (1948)
    • GF Haas - String Quartet No. 2 (1998)
    • Hailu Mergia & Dahlak Band — Anchin Kfu Ayinkash

    All the above used under fair usage rights.

    • Get in touch to nit-pick and/or berate my inadequacies: daytripsfornihilists@gmail.com
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    29 分