iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Ricky McAllister @rickymca.bsky.social · 10h

#NowPlaying Comfort of Strangers | Beth Orton Last of the evening & it is so nice to finally have this Beth album on wax. Long been a favourite, it’s stripped-back, intimate vibe makes for perfect autumnal listening.

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Ricky McAllister @rickymca.bsky.social · 13h

Show us the last four albums you listened to: #last4albums It’s a Teenage Fanclub day at HQ, what with the new album and all. And it’s bliss 😊

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Ricky McAllister @rickymca.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

Show us the last four albums you listened to #last4albums Friday night edition.

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Ricky McAllister @rickymca.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

Excellent advice Vincent 😊 Also: this conversation pointed me in the right direction.

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Ricky McAllister @rickymca.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

#last4albums #MusicSky Great 2026 debut albums edition. - How I Became A Wave - The Dead Religion - Shaking Hand - Slow Fiction

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Ricky McAllister @rickymca.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

#NowPlaying The Great Unknown | The Dead Religion One of 2026’s best debuts. 2nd time through now, this is Americana with a British accent, & gorgeous harmonies throughout. Thanks to the gent that is @lonesomebluejay.bsky.social for organising the record with the band. Highly recommended.

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Ricky McAllister @rickymca.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

#last4albums #MusicSky Monday, sole-parenting (better half away, kids in bed) edition. - Tricky | Angels with Dirty Faces - Bowie | Blackstar - Sufjan Stevens | Carrie & Lowell - Stereolab | Transient Random-Noise Bursts with Announcements

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Ricky McAllister @rickymca.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

#NowPlaying Carrie & Lowell | Sufjan Stevens 1 of 2 (surely) indisputable masterpieces by 1 of my 2 favourite artists this century. There is a direct correlation between the strength of a Sufjan album & the banjo. Plenty of banjo here. 11 years old & still as gorgeous as the day it was released.

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Ricky McAllister @rickymca.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

#My9Albums Seems to be doing the rounds, so thought I’d play. Only in a rough order. With apologies to unfairly left out albums.

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Ricky McAllister @rickymca.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

#last4albums #MusicSky Weekend edition. - Chapterhouse | Whirlpool - Beach House | Once Twice Melody - The Beths | Expert in a Dying Field - Yo La Tengo | And Then Nothing…

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Ricky McAllister @rickymca.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

#NowPlaying Expert in a Dying Field | The Beths One of my favourite albums of recent years, courtesy of (IMHO) 1 of the best bands around these days. They have a way with hooks & self-deprecating lyrics that sucks me in every time. Their high-water mark to date is a masterclass front to back.

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Ricky McAllister @rickymca.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

#NowPlaying To The Black Sea | Portrayal Totally new to me, thanks to @richierouse.bsky.social. Indiebeat named them the ‘Best kept secret in the indie/alt world’ in 2013. Hear Victories at Sea, Editors & even Interpol at times. Atmospheric, brooding & very good. Well worth checking out.

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Ricky McAllister @rickymca.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

#NowPlaying Valtari | Sigur Ros So much of this album is breathtakingly beautiful & not sure Jonsi’s falsetto has ever sounded better. Interesting that Georg Holm remarked “it's the only Sigur Rós record I have listened to for pleasure in my own house after we've finished it.”. Stunning.

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Ricky McAllister @rickymca.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

#last4albums #MusicSky Monday edition. - Victories at Sea | Everbody’s Lost - Bon Iver | Sable, Fable - Stereolab | Sound-Dust - Sigur Ros | Valtari

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Ricky McAllister @rickymca.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

#NowPlaying Everybody's Lost & All I Want Is to Leave | Victories at Sea 6 years old-ish & still one of my favourite albums of the decade. Songs like Late & Exit are absolutely flawless, but this is an all killer-no filler album. Would love to have some new material by a really promising band.

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Ricky McAllister @rickymca.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

#NowPlaying Lesser Matters | The Radio Dept Reading about a timely reissue of the excellent Pet Grief put me in the notion for their debut. Recorded for the most part in an apartment, it is a superb album that belies its lo-if, low budget origins. Top drawer👌

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Ricky McAllister @rickymca.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

#last4albums #MusicSky Sunday synths edition. - Beach House | 7 - Nation of Language | Intro, Presence - Pet Shop Boys | Actually - WH Lung | Every Inch of Earth Pulsates

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Ricky McAllister @rickymca.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

#last4albums #MusicSky Saturday evening shoegaze edition. - Hotline TNT | Cartwheel - Blankenberge | Everything - Air Formation | Daylight Storms - Ride | Nowhere

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Ricky McAllister @rickymca.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

#last4albums #MusicSky Autumn soundtrack, edition 2. - Fossil Collective - Wren Hinds - Grandaddy - The Proctors

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Ricky McAllister @rickymca.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

#NowWatching I’m always frazzled at work, but the main indicator of being frazzled-plus is insomnia. So popped downstairs & stumbled across an angry hippo movie. It was as diabolical as I hoped for. A 1 star out of 5 joy. Helped knock work stress out no end. Ingmar Bergman would be horrified.

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Ricky McAllister @rickymca.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

#last4albums #MusicSky Autumn soundtrack, edition 1. - Fossil Collective - Sufjan Stevens - The Antlers - Iron & Wine

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Ricky McAllister @rickymca.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

#NowPlaying Sink Into The Ether | Stumbleine Deleted Scene | Stumbleine One of those really busy, stressful weeks in work that had enough drama to fill a month. A level of…decompression was required. This pair of beautiful downtempo, ambient, chillstep etc albums always help at such times 👌

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Ricky McAllister @rickymca.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

#NowPlaying Tell Where I Lie | Fossil Collective Finally got me mitts on this @paulwonvinyl.bsky.social 😊 Full of lush, multi-part vocal harmonies and lovely intricate arrangements. A little cracker of an album for fans of the likes of Midlake, Lord Huron & early Bon Iver.

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Ricky McAllister @rickymca.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

#last4albums #MusicSky Saturday edition. - The Boxer Rebellion - Kiasmos - Beach Fossils - Is Bliss

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Ricky McAllister @rickymca.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

#NowPlaying Changing Light | The Ironsides Thanks to @philk282.bsky.social for this one. Really enjoying it…hard to classify but going for orchestral psych-soul for now. Reminiscent of movies from the 60s & 70s & scores by Morricone. @top10nathan.bsky.social … probably 1 for you.

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Ricky McAllister @rickymca.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

#NowListening The Creek Drank the Cradle | Iron & Wine Sam Beam’s early run of albums is quite something. Later albums become more expansive & experimental, but the lo-fi bedroom folk of his debut takes some beating. Perfect for the post dinner clean-up. Picks: Bird Stealing Bread; Muddy Hynmal

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Ricky McAllister @rickymca.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

#NowListening #DesertIslandDiscs Summerteeth | Wilco The finest album by 1 of the great American bands has long been an all-timer for me. It’s a real kitchen sink affair: ELT is anthemtic; Via Chicago beautiful; She’s A Jar (really) dark & Loneliness is the greatest song they have ever recorded 👌

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Ricky McAllister @rickymca.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

#NowPlaying The Secret to Good Living | Hiding Places Been really enjoying the debut by Hiding Places for the last few days. Fans of Wednesday/MJ Lenderman should find lots to enjoy. They share a lot of the same DNA. Also brings to mind Yo La Tengo in their collage approach to indie-rock.

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Ricky McAllister @rickymca.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

#last4albums #MusicSky Monday edition. - Wojtek the Bear - American Football - Chapterhouse - Bill Ryder-Jones

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Ricky McAllister @rickymca.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

#NowPlaying #MusicSky Heartworm | Whipping Boy I’ve loved this bleak, powerful masterpiece for a few years now, so finally getting it on vinyl was delightful. Even more delightful is finally cracking it on, and up, and it sounds as stunning as hoped for. Desert island album? Oh for sure👌 🔥🔥🔥

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Ricky McAllister @rickymca.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

#last4albums #MusicSky Weekend edition. - The Sundays | Reading, Writing & Arithmetic - New Candys | Bleeding Magenta - Molly | Picturesque - Beach House | 7

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Ricky McAllister @rickymca.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

#LiveMusic #MusicSky Sigur Ros | Waterfront Hall There no words to describe the gig tonight. Lost count of the times I had goosebumps or something in my eye. Hoppípolla got the standing ovation but for me it was the renditions of Sé lest, Untitled 4 & Starálfur that will live long in the memory.

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Ricky McAllister @rickymca.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

#LiveMusic #MusicSky Sigur Ros loading… In my favourite concert venue, waiting on one of my favourite bands of all time, with the world-famous Ulster Orchestra & a pint of Guinness. Bring it on😊🙌👍

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Ricky McAllister @rickymca.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

#NowPlaying #MusicSky Dollhouse | Slow Fiction Such a superb debut. The band don’t put wrong from start to finish…well worth a gander. The closer ‘Turning Down Flowers’ is possibly my song of the year. Picks: Mouthpiece; Bottle Episode; Turning Down Flowers. Thanks @richierouse.bsky.social🙌

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Ricky McAllister @rickymca.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

#NowPlaying #MusicSky Cherlokolate | Jane Weaver Lovely, and very welcome, release of her 2nd full length. Good to see these early recordings out in the wild. Perfect for post-dinner cleanup👌

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Ricky McAllister @rickymca.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

#LiveMusic #MusicSky Allah-Las (Belfast) 1st time seeing the fellas…really good night. Had to force myself to go as it is a school night, but glad I did. Excellent set, very tight band & top hosts. Closed out with superb renditions of ‘Could Be You’ & then ‘Catamaran’, good mix of old/new.

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Ricky McAllister @rickymca.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

#last4albums #MusicSky Irish edition. 4 stellar albums no doubt. One of which I’m officially declaring, with all the executive decision making powers I can muster, the single greatest Irish album of all time. - Just Mustard - Van Morrison - Boa Morte - Whipping Boy

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Ricky McAllister @rickymca.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

#NowPlaying #MusicSky Zoned Out | Hurry A really personal album about struggling with anxiety, fatherhood & big decisions. Sounds familiar😊 Wasn’t sure they could top Fake Ideas, but ZO is equally as good. Classic Hurry on display: Just Fine, Moving After You are right up with their finest songs.

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Ricky McAllister @rickymca.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

#last4albums #MusicSky ‘Sunday bliss’ edition. The calm before the (Man Utd) storm later😬. - Wojtek the Bear | NME - How I Became A Wave | S/T - Constant Follower | Smile You Send - Sufjan Stevens | Seven Swans

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Ricky McAllister @rickymca.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

#NowPlaying #MusicSky S/T | How I Became A Wave After the glorious noise of Belfast’s shoegaze festival yesterday (headliners: Deary), this is the perfect Sunday morning palette cleanser. It’s a beautiful thing and easily one of my favourite Irish albums of recent times. Sublime.

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Ricky McAllister @rickymca.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

#MusicSky Watching Episode 3:9 of Silo tonight. The last person I expected to see make an appearance was the one and only Peter Gabriel. Right up there with the most surprising celebrity cameos since John Prescott appeared on Gavin & Stacey.

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Ricky McAllister @rickymca.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

#last4albums #MusicSky Been one of those days at work…called for music to get lost in. Oh, and a couple of gins. And some nuts.

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Ricky McAllister @rickymca.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

#25albumstogettoknowme Saw someone do this, and thought why not. Don’t waste my lunch breaks😉

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Ricky McAllister @rickymca.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

#NowPlaying #MusicSky Atta | Sigur Ros Just over a week until I see these fellas play with the Ulster Orchestra in the beautiful Waterfront Concert Hall. Don’t remember looking forward to a gig as much in my lifetime. No hyperbole here…have goosebumps listening to this & thinking about it.

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Ricky McAllister @rickymca.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

#NowPlaying #MusicSky Angels With Dirty Faces | Tricky Still waiting on his latest to land at HQ, so spinning this again. 1 of his more divisive albums, it’s a pretty abrasive, claustrophobic listen. It was criticised at the time for being chaotic, but I’ve always liked the frequent gear changes.

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Ricky McAllister @rickymca.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

#last4albums #MusicSky Properly back to work after 7 weeks off, and the intention was drown out the sound of that by giving these albums of outstanding noise a spin. It hasn’t worked. The music was glorious. The thought of work less so😊 - Air Formation - Pale Saints - Blankenberge - Ride

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Ricky McAllister @rickymca.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

Show us the last four albums you listened to: #last4albums #MusicSky - Shaking Hand - Sunstack Jones - The Hanging Stars - Grandaddy

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Ricky McAllister @rickymca.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

#NowPlaying #musicsky Allah-Las Normal (weather) service has resumed in these parts, so the sunny, garage-psych West Coast 60s vibe of Allah-Las is a perfect corrective. Looking forward to seeing these guys at the start of September.

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Ricky McAllister @rickymca.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

#NowPlaying #musicsky Celebration, Florida | The Felice Brothers Saw the bros perform around 16 years ago & to call their highly entertaining show chaotic is an understatement (with Ian absolutely sloshed). Their most divisive album comes closest to the spirit of their live shows to my ears.

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