Ode to Joy

February 13, 2026

Today I feel somewhat detached from reality. This time last week I was in Sweden, probably squinting into the sun as its rays bounced off an enormous frozen lake; there was almost complete silence. Then I returned home via Gothenburg - most definitely not silent - and I have been adjusting to “real life” back home. I have had a friend staying, so real life has been more joyful, and also somewhat out of routine.

We did find time to go to the Stygian Bough and 40 Watt Sun show in Manchester. Stygian Bough were incredible, a beautiful performance that led up to a big rock show crescendo of lights and frenetic energy. 40 Watt Sun was (of course) absolutely spellbinding; Patrick Walker has developed a disarming and truly excellent line in stage tales and jokes. It’s quite a contrast to his emotionally charged songs but, trust me, it works.

I think it’s also hard to adjust to normality, because it’s easier to shut out the horrors of the world when you’re on an aeroplane, when you’re sat in a cafe across the table from a friend sharing some cookies, or when you’re sleeping in a remote log cabin with snow gently falling outside. Once you’re back at your desk the horrors return. I don’t know how to deal with that, not sure that any of us really do (but if you think you do, please feel free to share your wisdom*).

We announced Cult of Luna for Roadburn this week; preparing for that announcement was also something waiting for me at my desk, but it wasn’t part of the horrors to be clear. It led me to revisiting the first two albums by French rock band Phoenix. I listened to United - their 2000 debut - religiously in my early twenties. Thomas Hedlund is the drummer for Cult of Luna, and also for Phoenix, which is which led me to that particular line of listening. I went off on a tangent, basically.

I am going to keep this short, summon my brain cells into action, collect the threads of dozens of tangents and return next week with some more concise and considered thoughts. I promise. In the meantime you should go and see Stygian Bough but probably only if you live in or near Nijmegen or Hannover because that’s the only shows they have left.

See you next week, thank you for being here.

~Becky

*Sweet Jimmy’s wisdom for overcoming an every day type of horror - a palate cleanser if you will - is the video below.