iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

TA Inskeep (they/them) @tainskeep.bsky.social · 21/11/2025

Enya is pretty goth. & this is one of my favorite cold-season albums. #NowPlaying #CDFriday (it’s Friday where Enya lives)

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TA Inskeep (they/them) @tainskeep.bsky.social · 12/09/2025

#CDFriday thanks to Wall of Sound in Seattle. $1! This was the first place I — and I suspect many Americans — first heard “Unfinished Sympathy.”

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TA Inskeep (they/them) @tainskeep.bsky.social · 13/08/2025

This is a very important piece worth your time, which clearly enumerates some of my own thoughts this week. But also, c'mon, how could it NOT make me think of this? (@sotoalfred.bsky.social I'm looking directly at you.)

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TA Inskeep (they/them) @tainskeep.bsky.social · 18/06/2025

This album cover -- to a genuinely classic debut -- is a fuckin' MOOD. One that I wish to inhabit every single day.

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TA Inskeep (they/them) @tainskeep.bsky.social · 05/06/2025

I think Mahler might've been a hottie.

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TA Inskeep (they/them) @tainskeep.bsky.social · 03/06/2025

One of my all-time favorite album covers. A damned fine album, too.

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TA Inskeep (they/them) @tainskeep.bsky.social · 07/05/2025

Tell me this photo doesn't just ooze cool.

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TA Inskeep (they/them) @tainskeep.bsky.social · 28/03/2025

Canceled TV show you will never stop thinking about

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TA Inskeep (they/them) @tainskeep.bsky.social · 27/03/2025

Hey, cis folx: check in on the trans folx in your life. Regularly. Because THIS is what we’re dealing with now; I received this lovely letter in the mail today. 🏳️‍⚧️

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TA Inskeep (they/them) @tainskeep.bsky.social · 25/03/2025

Me in the national security team group chat

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TA Inskeep (they/them) @tainskeep.bsky.social · 28/02/2025

#MWE 2/28 Mary J. Blige, Gratitude (2024): An assortment of writers & producers give Blige all they can, w/ ‘90s rappers (Fabo! Fat Joe! Jadakiss!) & influences peppered throughout. She brings it all together as few can, her voice a little deeper now, still singing heartache better than anyone.

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TA Inskeep (they/them) @tainskeep.bsky.social · 28/02/2025

#MWE 2/27 United Future Organization, Jazzin’ (1992): Early singles comp by the Japanese proto Acid Jazzers does what all the best jazz is supposed to do: it grooves & swings effortlessly. Their use of both samples & breakbeats is smart; this could’ve been on Mo’ Wax. These cats were pacesetters.

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TA Inskeep (they/them) @tainskeep.bsky.social · 27/02/2025

#MWE 2/26 Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis Jr., I Hope We Get to Love in Time (1976): Long-married couple from 5th Dimension make lush pop-soul on their debut duo album, sounding completely in sync on both disco-y uptempos and love ballads (go figure). Every single track here works, esp #1 "Star."

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TA Inskeep (they/them) @tainskeep.bsky.social · 27/02/2025

#MWE 2/25 🎄 Erasure, Snow Globe (2013): Evenly mixed between standards & origs, this feels like Vince Clarke musically going back to his early (Yaz, DM) yrs. Most of it works, & those that do, excel (“Bleak Midwinter,” astounding Kraftwerk-meets-high Latin “Gaudete”). Andy Bell sounds good too.

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TA Inskeep (they/them) @tainskeep.bsky.social · 26/02/2025

#MWE 2/24 Bertrand Chamayou, Ravel: Complete Solo Works for Piano (2016): The expressiveness, precision, & emotions with which this French pianist plays mostly romantic Ravel piano compositions! A rare instance in which I wish a double album went on longer, because I can’t stop swooning.

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TA Inskeep (they/them) @tainskeep.bsky.social · 25/02/2025

#MWE 2/23 KC & the Sunshine Band, All in a Night’s Work (1983): He just couldn’t figure out how to move fwd from massive disco success: this is an odd, occ catchy mix of synths, ‘80s arr, his patented horns, and uh a lot of horniness. “Gimme Some More” and the deathless “Give It Up” are highlights.

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TA Inskeep (they/them) @tainskeep.bsky.social · 25/02/2025

#MWE 2/22 Dexter Wansel, Time Is Slipping Away (1979): I was excited for the 4th from the Philly Int’l stalwart thanks to the Terri Wells-featuring “Sweetest Pain,” a gorgeous Quiet Storm landmark. But most of this is warmed over disco-funk, even w/ pros like the Jones Girls involved. Disappointing.

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TA Inskeep (they/them) @tainskeep.bsky.social · 25/02/2025

#MWE 2/21 Sonny & Cher, Look at Us (1965): Their quickly-assembled debut is cover-heavy (8 of 12 songs), but considering most of Sonny Bono’s songs, that’s not so bad. Poor song selection doesn’t help though; the same for his vocals. But goddamn if Cher didn’t have IT right from the start.

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TA Inskeep (they/them) @tainskeep.bsky.social · 24/02/2025

#MWE 2/20 Olly Alexander, Polari (2025): Sweet queer baby Alexander’s first non-Years & Years-branded LP is very solid dance-pop, in a league with Troye Sivan’s last (though not quite that good). V good prod by him & Danny Harle, & I love the confidence with which he sings & writes. & it's *gay*.

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TA Inskeep (they/them) @tainskeep.bsky.social · 21/02/2025

#MWE 2/19 Prepared, Module (2025): An astounding album on which a tight German trio of bass clarinet, prepared piano and drums make not jazz by most views, but very Reich-ian almost-drone almost-techno. This is hypnotic, worthy of close listening but also great background for reading. Breathtaking.

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TA Inskeep (they/them) @tainskeep.bsky.social · 20/02/2025

#MWE 2/18 Sister Sledge, All American Girls (1981): Post disco, prod by Narada Michael Walden & the Sledges - but still fairly disco. & I’m good with that; these songs, prod, & of course singing are pretty hot. Title track and “Happy Feeling” ride a Chic groove w/o Chic. Great almost beg->end.

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TA Inskeep (they/them) @tainskeep.bsky.social · 19/02/2025

#MWE 2/17 Dinosaur L, 24->24 Music (1981): Avant-garde NYC disco rec’d in ‘79 by a composer/musician, Arthur Russell, who could seemingly do anything. Very proto-Ze Records; it’s disco but it’s *weird* alt-universe disco in all of the ways you might hope. Note: orig LP only has 6 trax.

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TA Inskeep (they/them) @tainskeep.bsky.social · 17/02/2025

#MWE 2/16 Fela Kuti & Afrika 70, Zombie (1976): Kuti was an unqualified genius, capable of locking his band Afrika 70 into a horn-soaked rhythmic groove and riding, mutating, doing whatever he wanted with it for as long as he wanted. That’s what he/they do here on 4 tracks of varying tempos.

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TA Inskeep (they/them) @tainskeep.bsky.social · 17/02/2025

What's one movie you'd most like to add to the Criterion Collection? For me it's been TÁR for the past couple years.

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TA Inskeep (they/them) @tainskeep.bsky.social · 17/02/2025

#MWE 2/15 Chappell Roan, The Rise and Fall of a Midwestern Princess (2023): She is *thoroughly* an original, isn’t she? A smart young queer woman making pop the way she wants it, forging what feels like her own path. Her pop star breakthrough is encouraging & delightful. And what a songwriter!

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TA Inskeep (they/them) @tainskeep.bsky.social · 14/02/2025

#MWE 2/14 Richard Simmons, Reach (1982): An orig album of uptempo early '80s L.A. studio pop sung by Simmons, written by him + pro tunesmiths & played by session kings, w/ occ aerobic exhortations atop, & you know what? This isn’t half-bad, & is actually quite charming. I'll return to it, no joke.

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TA Inskeep (they/them) @tainskeep.bsky.social · 13/02/2025

#MWE 2/13 Gerald Albright, Just Between Us (1987): You might hear the prod here and think it’s by LA & Babyface, but no, the saxman did his debut all by himself. It’s v au courant ‘87 R&B, mostly but not all instrumental, & sounds great from start to finish. This is ‘80s Smooth Jazz perfection.

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TA Inskeep (they/them) @tainskeep.bsky.social · 12/02/2025

#MWE 2/12 Ray Barretto, Acid (1968): His first Fania record is a classic for good reason: this is some hot-ass music. Like much boogaloo (and its child salsa), it’s incessant percussion, incredible trumpet riffs & not-alot lyrics, perfect for dancing. & his congas! This band is *so* well-oiled.

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TA Inskeep (they/them) @tainskeep.bsky.social · 11/02/2025

#MWE 2/11 Olivia Newton-John, The Rumour (1988): I’m a stan for the perky Elton/Bernie title track, but there’s more here, esp thanks to Davitt Sigerson’s tough, commercially-savvy prod. ONJ makes these tracks work, singing the hell outta them (no surprise), cf. “Big and Strong.”

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TA Inskeep (they/them) @tainskeep.bsky.social · 10/02/2025

#MWE 2/10 AHNONI and the Johnsons, My Back Was a Bridge for You to Cross (2023): AHNONI's voice is powerfully distinctive & she uses it to great effect on this successfully ambitious cross-genre record, rooted in classic soul but not afraid of art-rock either. & those lyrics: wow. Trans rights now.

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TA Inskeep (they/them) @tainskeep.bsky.social · 09/02/2025

#MWE 2/9 Eddie “Cleanhead” Vinson, Cleanhead’s Back in Town (1957): Kind of a post-Louis Jordan jump bluesman: he even covers “Is You Is...” and “Caldonia,” along w/ Gershwin, Big Joe Turner, lots of originals. Mean saxman but his singing is a little (uh) clean for my taste.

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TA Inskeep (they/them) @tainskeep.bsky.social · 08/02/2025

Late #CDFriday post - a great companion to watching snowy train videos on YT & also one of my all-timer bands.

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TA Inskeep (they/them) @tainskeep.bsky.social · 08/02/2025

#MWE 2/8 Britny Fox (1988): I like a good b-list hair metal LP, but this ain’t it. “Girlschool” is a hoot, like Cinderella if they weren’t as good. But much of the rest is barely d-list: dull lyrical tropes, competent-at-best playing, not enough of Dean Davidson’s screeching vocals. Great hair tho.

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TA Inskeep (they/them) @tainskeep.bsky.social · 07/02/2025

#MWE 2/7 Shalamar, Friends (1982): Their sole US #1 R&B LP spun off 4-count-em-4 top 15 UK singles at a moment when US radio was largely allergic to post-disco soul popping like this. Leon Sylvers III’s glistening production ably supports the trio, great singers individually & in harmony.

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TA Inskeep (they/them) @tainskeep.bsky.social · 06/02/2025

#MWE 2/6 Heart, Passionworks (1983): At their commercial nadir, rock had seemingly passed them by, but this is actually prep for their ‘85 comeback - only w/o the catchy songs & prod. Linn drums were a bad move for ‘em. But Ann Wilson still sounds great. Pick hit: #1 AOR hit “How Can I Refuse.”

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TA Inskeep (they/them) @tainskeep.bsky.social · 05/02/2025

#MWE 2/5 Doechii, Alligator Bites Never Heal (2024): She’s a great rapper - “Nissan Altima” alone proves that - & the beats here are fun, but this leaves me cold as it never entirely coalesces. I recognize this as good (& Doechii as an exciting queer talent) while not really enjoying it.

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TA Inskeep (they/them) @tainskeep.bsky.social · 04/02/2025

#MWE 2/4 Deodato, Love Island (1978): Occ disco-y jazz fusion from the Brazilian Fender Rhodes master, mostly riding an instrumental ‘70s EW&F vibe. No surprise that the arrangements and prod are immaculate, great for both dancing (“Whistle Bump”) and at-home listening (title track).

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TA Inskeep (they/them) @tainskeep.bsky.social · 03/02/2025

#MWE 2/3 Sara Isaksson & Rebecka Törnqvist, Fire in the Hole (2011): A genuine stunner. 2 Swedish singers strip down selections from the Steely Dan catalog (both hits & deep cuts) to vocals & mostly just piano/keys, focusing on lyrics and some beautiful harmonies. Can’t recommend enough.

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TA Inskeep (they/them) @tainskeep.bsky.social · 02/02/2025

#MWE 2/2 Xscape, Hummin’ Comin’ at ‘Cha (1993): So So Def’s first was from a femme quartet styled hard, equal parts Jodeci and TLC in their DNA; Jermaine Dupri knew what he was doing. Mostly good songs & production, & they can sing so ballads aren’t a problem either. Pick hit: “Understanding.”

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TA Inskeep (they/them) @tainskeep.bsky.social · 01/02/2025

#MWE 2/1 Lyle Mays (1986): Pat Metheny Group’s right hand goes solo w/predictably gorgeous results. His piano playing is very Jarrett-influenced, while his waves of heavy synths are something almost otherworldly. Jazzy and percolating at times, contemplative and new agey at others.

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TA Inskeep (they/them) @tainskeep.bsky.social · 26/01/2025

#NowPlaying too late for #CDFriday: remember mixtapes? Remember how great so many of them were? Remember when J. Period ruled the world?

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TA Inskeep (they/them) @tainskeep.bsky.social · 20/01/2025

This 2 hours from Christmas Eve 1988, hosted by Ozzy Osbourne and Zakk Wylde, is an extremely good use of my Sunday night. I regret nothing.

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