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New Order were formed after the death of Ian Curtis ended the career of Joy Division. At first they struggled. They seemed to, er, quite like dance music and the first album was over-produced. But when 'Temptation' was released you knew something was afoot. Brilliant drumming, years ahead of its time and worth waiting for the lines towards the end: 'oh you've got green eyes, oh you've got blue eyes, oh you've got grey eyes'. Yes, a love song. 

More famous songs were to come, but any better than this?

PhD student Vishal Gupta is putting together a band and he needs a bassist, a drummer and a singer, ideally to play (not too heavy) rock music.  Interested? @email

And I will be in touch soon with those of you who play an instrument to talk about making sweet music and sweet films.

Bubble Tea will be available in the Café from Monday, 3rd February. 

Join us for the launch and enjoy free samples. For more details, feel free to ask café staff.

Can were part of the German Krautrock (a crass label from UK journalists that stuck) or Kosmische Musik (Cosmic Music) genre of which Kraftwerk are the best known, though it was about more than electronic music as Can demonstrate with their mix of styles and experiment.

If at first it is not your thing, stick with it because it will get you. Hard to believe that it is over 50 years old.

This clip from David Spiegelhalter's recent Public Lecture where he uses card shuffles to demonstrate probability has attracted widespread interest and comment. Understandably a lot of people don't get it, some just won't believe it and some are confident that magicians disprove the maths. But maths is the magic.

Petula Clark was a child star in the Second World War, first as entertainer and then actress, continuing to do both until, in the 1960s, she hit her stride with a series of bangers like this one which gave her international fame. Now 92, she still performs.

Veganuary special: switch to plant-based milk in our cafes at no extra charge. Available all day, every day throughout January.

January saver deal: add a drink for only £1.50 when you purchase a hot meal, jacket potato, or salad bar at any Beyond Ordinary Food outlet.

Take the "A' Train was composed in 1939, after Ellington offered composer Billy Strayhorn a job and gave him money to travel from Pittsburgh to New York. Ellington wrote directions for Strayhorn to get to his house by subway. The directions began with the words "Take the A Train", referring to the then new A subway service in New York City.

Happy 2025 Bulletinies

Model railway obsessive Rod Stewart has gone through many guises in his career from the blues to that dodgy disco phase to the inevitable music royalty status of today.

But when he was good, he was very good.

Chill time.

O Sapientia (O Wisdom) is one of the seven Great Advent Antiphons sung in Christian churches dating back to the sixth century. In fact we are a little early as O Sapientia, the first of the seven, is usually sung on 17th December.