After last week’s puzzle went mad for people’s names, it seems this week’s effort went for a mini-theme of animals and, er, bits of animals, what with JACKDAWs, SKYLARKs and BIG CATs with their TALONs, OXTAILs and TENDERLOINs. Overall this was on the easier end of the Jumbo scale – I don’t mind that! – but at least there were a number of well-crafted clues for solvers to enjoy.

As ever you can find my completed grid below along with explanations of my solutions where I have them. I hope you find them useful. If a recent Jumbo has given you night sweats then you might find salvation in my Just For Fun page, where you’ll find links to solutions to the last 100+ of these things. Meanwhile, there’s the usual ancient book reviews and a story of mine.

Thanks once more for the kind words and well wishes. They are always appreciated. Thanks are restored to WordPress for switching back once again to a more readable editing font. I get the feeling they’re making changes off the cuff, which isn’t exactly a good sign. That’s what test servers are for, peeps. You shouldn’t be dicking around with your production environment. (Wags finger authoratively authoritatly authoritatively…)

Anyway, till next time, stay safe, mask up, get vaccinated and keep supporting the NHS and key workers everywhere. Meanwhile, I’ll be counting down the days till the pubs open again. One year on, I’m a bit parched.

LP

Across clues

1. Sizable hat, roomy but not special (9)

Answer: CAPACIOUS (i.e. “sizable”). Solution is CAP (i.e. “hat”) followed by SPACIOUS (i.e. “roomy”) once the SP has been removed (indicated by “but not special” – SP being a recognised abbreviation of “special”), like so: CAP-ACIOUS.

6. Bird’s bill knocked empty, grabbed by rabbit (7)

Answer: JACKDAW (i.e. “bird”). Solution is AC (i.e. “bill”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of “account”) and KD (i.e. “knocked empty”, i.e. the word “knocked” with all its middle letters removed) both placed in or “grabbed by” JAW (i.e. to “rabbit” or talk a lot), like so: J(AC-KD)AW.

10. Car crash driver’s ending in sudden pain (5)

Answer: PRANG (i.e. “car crash”). Solution is R (i.e. “driver’s ending”, i.e. the last letter of “driver”) placed “in” PANG (i.e. “sudden pain”), like so: P(R)ANG.

13. Top partnership’s victory in cricket match over (7)

Answer: TWINSET (i.e. “top partnership”, being “a cardigan and jumper made more or less to match” (Chambers)). Solution is WIN (i.e. “victory”) placed “in” TEST (i.e. “cricket match”) once reversed (indicated by “over”), like so: T(WIN)SET.

14. Deadly killer of toxin in jam (5)

Answer: NINJA (i.e. “deadly killer”). “Of” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: TOXI(N IN JA)M.

15. How baleen may be put another way (9)

Answer: WHALEBONE. “Put another way” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of HOW BALEEN. Baleen, according to Chambers, is “whalebone, horny plates growing from the palate of certain whales”. Very nicely worked.

16. Steal from faculty division after head of profession’s function (11,12)

Answer: PROBABILITY DISTRIBUTION (i.e. a statistical “function”). Solution is ROB (i.e. “steal from”), ABILITY (i.e. “faculty”) and DISTRIBUTION (i.e. “division”) all placed “after” P (i.e. “head of professor”, i.e. the first letter of “professor”), like so: P-(ROB-ABILITY-DISTRIBUTION).

17. Bird settled on quiet lake (6)

Answer: PLOVER (i.e. “bird”). Solution is OVER (i.e. “settled” or finished) placed “on” or after P (i.e. “quiet”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of “piano” in musical lingo) and L (a recognised abbreviation of “lake”), like so: P-L-(OVER).

18. Belt trio out in vital part of opera (8)

Answer: LIBRETTO (i.e. “vital part of opera”, technically a book of the text or words of a musical production). “Out” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of BELT TRIO.

19. Managed a wicket after at least twelve balls (7)

Answer: OVERSAW (i.e. “managed”). Solution is A and W (a recognised abbreviation of “wicket” used in cricket) both placed “after” OVERS (i.e. “at least twelve balls” – an over in cricket comprising six regulation deliveries), like so: OVERS-A-W. Nicely done.

22. Symbolic when he turns to his dissenting (10)

Answer: SCHISMATIC (i.e. “dissenting”). Solution is SCHEMATIC (i.e. “symbolic”) with the HE “turned into” HIS, like so: SC(HE)MATIC => SC(HIS)MATIC. Twigging this one led me to solve 8d.

23. Tool with sharpness Henry concealed in prison (12)

Answer: SLEDGEHAMMER (i.e. “tool”). Solution is EDGE (i.e. “sharpness”) and H (a recognised abbreviation of “Henry”, a unit of measurement setters have been crutching on this last year) both “concealed in” SLAMMER (i.e. slang for “prison”), like so: SL(EDGE-H)AMMER.

27. Set fire to church on hill (5)

Answer: TORCH (i.e. “set fire to”). Solution is CH (a recognised abbreviation of “church”) placed “on” or after TOR (i.e. “hill”), like so: TOR-CH.

29. Air play about high-flying singer (7)

Answer: SKYLARK (i.e. “high-flying singer” or bird). Solution is SKY (i.e. “air”) followed by LARK (i.e. “play about”).

30. Capital is destroyed when idle (3,5)

Answer: NEW DELHI (i.e. “capital” of India). “Is destroyed” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of WHEN IDLE.

32. Man’s man, perhaps, is left to drift without wife (8)

Answer: ISLANDER (i.e. “Man’s man, perhaps” – taken to mean a male inhabitant of the Isle of Man). Solution is IS followed by L (a recognised abbreviation of “left”) and WANDER (i.e. “to drift”) once the W has been removed (indicated by “without wife” – W being a recognised abbreviation of “wife), like so: IS-L-ANDER.

34. Woman wrapped up with a cause of death? (7)

Answer: BANSHEE, a “woman” or female spirit whose shrieks are said to presage a death in the household. The clue generally riffs on this, but is also formed by SHE (i.e. that “woman”) being placed or “wrapped up” in BANE (i.e. “a cause of death”), like so: BAN(SHE)E.

36. Belief Spanish wine is cut with ecstasy (5)

Answer: TENET (i.e. “belief”). Solution is TENT (i.e. “Spanish wine”) wrapped around or “cut with” E (street name of the drug “ecstasy”), like so: TEN(E)T.

39. Weapon photographing by press (8,4)

Answer: SHOOTING IRON (i.e. “weapon”). Solution is SHOOTING (i.e. “photographing”) followed by IRON (i.e. to “press” clothes).

41. Offer line round at home in dodgy district in America (10)

Answer: TENDERLOIN (i.e. “dodgy district in America”, specifically one where police corruption is rife. A new one on me, but interesting. I like it). Solution is TENDER (i.e. “offer”) followed by L (a recognised abbreviation of “line”), O (i.e. “round”) and IN (i.e. “at home”).

44. Canter wildly round course finally to go through again (2-5)

Answer: RE-ENACT (i.e. “to go through again”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “wildly”) of CANTER placed “round” E (i.e. “course finally”, i.e. the last letter of “course”), like so: RE(E)NACT.

46. Working bakery introduces rounds for regular output (8)

Answer: YEARBOOK (i.e. “regular output”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “working”) of BAKERY wrapped around or “introducing” O and O (both “rounds”), like so: YEARB(OO)K.

48. Orders half of paramedics to embrace training at the start (6)

Answer: EDICTS (i.e. “orders”). Solution is EDICS (i.e. latter “half of paramEDICS”) wrapped around or “embracing” T (i.e. “training at the start”, i.e. the first letter of “training”), like so: EDIC(T)S.

50. Daily puff in secret? (10,13)

Answer: CLASSIFIED ADVERTISMENT, the kind one often finds in “daily” newspapers. Clue plays on “puff” being self-promotion or ADVERTISMENT, and CLASSIFIED being “in secret”. You get the idea.

53. Cut? Refrain from using bars (5,4)

Answer: SPARE RIBS (i.e. “cut” of meat. Well, bone, mainly, but you know what I mean). Solution is SPARE (i.e. “refrain from using”) followed by RIBS (i.e. “bars” used to strengthen structures).

54. Ring mother about a hotel in US city (5)

Answer: OMAHA (i.e. “US city”). Solution is O (i.e. “ring”) and MA (i.e. “mother”) wrapped “about” A and H (“hotel” in the phonetic alphabet), like so: O-M(A-H)A.

55. Wealth from a mine in California (7)

Answer: CAPITAL (i.e. “wealth”). Solution is A and PIT (i.e. “mine”) both placed “in” CAL (a recognised abbreviation of “California”), like so: C(A-PIT)AL. Nicely done.

56. Poet’s love interest without name (5)

Answer: DANTE Alighieri (i.e. “poet”). Solution is DATE (i.e. “love interest”) placed around or “without” N (a recognised abbreviation of “name”), like so: DA(N)TE.

57. Polite Liberal is after general support (7)

Answer: GENTEEL (i.e. “polite”). Solution is L (a recognised abbreviation of “Liberal”) placed “after” GEN (a recognised abbreviation of “general”) and TEE (i.e. a “support” used in golf), like so: (GEN-TEE)-L.

58. Think about record beat surrounding one (9)

Answer: ENTERTAIN (i.e. “think about”). Solution is ENTER (i.e. to “record” information) followed by TAN (i.e. to “beat”) once wrapped around or “surrounding” I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”), like so: ENTER-TA(I)N.

Down clues

1. Upset dice (3,2)

Answer: CUT UP. Solution satisfies “upset” and to “dice”.

2. Mill’s thing for grinding? It’s what many have sought (12,5)

Answer: PHILOSOPHER’S STONE (i.e. “it’s what many have sought”, being a stone or compound said to transform other metals into gold). Solution is PHILOSOPHER’S (i.e. John Stuart “Mill’s”) followed by STONE (i.e. “thing for grinding”).

3. Go fishing with sons in Spanish sound? (9)

Answer: CASTANETS (i.e. clickety-clackety “Spanish sound”). Solution is CAST A NET (i.e. “go fishing”) followed by S (a recognised abbreviation of “sons”).

4. Type of soup unknown in Old Testament, innards in yak milk (6)

Answer: OXTAIL (i.e. “type of soup”). Solution is X (i.e. “unknown” – setters love referring to X, Y or Z as unknowns) placed “in” OT (a recognised abbreviation of “Old Testament”) and followed by A and IL (i.e. “innards in yak milk”, i.e. the middle letters of “yak” and “milk”), like so: O(X)T-A-IL.

5. Reforming Sybil ties in as a subject of English novel (11)

Answer: SENSIBILITY (i.e. “subject of English novel”, specifically Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility). “Reforming” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of SYBIL TIES IN.

6. Drug addict on a road where there’s little of value (8)

Answer: JUNKYARD (i.e. “where there’s little of value”). Solution is JUNKY (i.e. “drug addict” – can be spelled junkie or junky) followed by A and RD (a recognised abbreviation of “road”).

7. Carriage central heating behaving uncontrollably (7)

Answer: CHARIOT (i.e. “carriage”). Solution is CH (a recognised abbreviation of “central heating”) followed by ARIOT (i.e. “behaving uncontrollably”).

8. Oppressed staff study for working in unreal stately home (11)

Answer: DOWNTRODDEN (i.e. “oppressed”). Solution is DOWNTON (i.e. “unreal stately home”, a reference to TV drama Downton Abbey) with the ON (i.e. “working”) swapped “for” ROD (i.e. “staff”) and DEN (i.e. “study”), like so: DOWNT(ON) => DOWNT(ROD-DEN).

9. Trying, we come to light embracing sacred mantra (9)

Answer: WEARISOME (i.e. “trying”). Solution is WE followed by ARISE (i.e. “come to light”) once wrapped around or “embracing” OM (i.e. “sacred mantra” of Buddhists), like so: WE-ARIS(OM)E.

10. Right to avoid following piano piece by Chopin, perhaps (7)

Answer: PRELUDE (i.e. “piece by Chopin, perhaps” – other composers are available). Solution is R (a recognised abbreviation of “right”) and ELUDE (i.e. “to avoid”) both placed after or “following” P (a recognised abbreviation of “piano”), like so: P-(R-ELUDE).

11. Some filo I asked to be rolled in seasoned sauce (5)

Answer: AIOLI (i.e. “seasoned sauce” – essentially garlicky mayo). “Some” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, while “to be rolled” indicates the solution has been reversed, like so: F(ILO I A)SKED.

12. Verdant area with gardeners working (10)

Answer: GREENSWARD (i.e. “verdant area”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “working”) of GARDENERS and W (a recognised abbreviation of “with”). One I got largely thanks to being subscriber to PS Publishing’s weekly newsletter, in which owner Pete Crowther often signs off with well wishes from the greensward. Rather spooky considering I’ve just today taken receipt of my signed copy of Best New Horror 30 from the same publisher! (Cue Twilight Zone music.)

17. It is work put up in advance (5)

Answer: POSIT (i.e. to put forward or “advance” an argument). Solution is TIS (i.e. “it is”) and OP (i.e. “work”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of “opus”) all reversed (indicated by “put up” – this being a down clue), like so: PO-SIT.

20. Performers of dreadful pathos and corny rhymes (8,9)

Answer: SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA (i.e. “performers”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “dreadful”) of PATHOS and CORNY RHYMES. Nicely done.

21. Congratulated when having lack of parking brought up (6)

Answer: RAISED (i.e. “brought up”). Solution is PRAISED (i.e. “congratulated”) once the P has been removed (indicated by “lack of parking” – P being a recognised abbreviation of “parking” used on maps and signage).

24. Weakness left current head of state (6)

Answer: LIKING (i.e. having a fondness or “weakness” for something). Solution is L (a recognised abbreviation of “left”) followed by I (a recognised abbreviation of an electrical “current” used in physics) and KING (i.e. “head of state”).

25. Advise caution right after beer (5)

Answer: ALERT (i.e. “advise caution”). Solution is RT (a recognised abbreviation of “right”, often used in titles like Rt Hon) placed “after” ALE (i.e. “beer”), like so: ALE-RT.

26. Grass skirts from Burma, low around back initially (6)

Answer: BAMBOO (i.e. “grass”). Solution is BA (i.e. “skirts from Burma”, i.e. the first and last letters of “Burma”) followed by MOO (i.e. “low” – one of the word’s meanings is a cow’s mooing sound) once wrapped “around” B (i.e. “back initially”, i.e. the first letter of “back”), like so: BA-M(B)OO.

28. Detect beat finally in this? (5)

Answer: HEART, upon which the clue largely riffs. The solution is HEAR (i.e. to “detect”) followed by T (i.e. “beat finally”, i.e. the last letter of “beat”).

31. Uses little energy in remote area (6)

Answer: WIELDS (i.e. “uses”). Solution is E (a “little” (i.e. recognised abbreviation of) “energy”) placed “in” WILDS (i.e. “remote area”), like so: WI(E)LDS.

33. Monsoon ruined anyone’s sari (5,6)

Answer: RAINY SEASON (i.e. “monsoon”). “Ruined” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of ANYONE’S SARI.

35. Steady loss putting one into red? (11)

Answer: HAEMORRHAGE. Clue plays on the solution being a sustained or “steady loss” of blood (i.e. “red”). You get the idea, but this was a sod to get.

37. City has close to eight educational establishments (5)

Answer: TUNIS (i.e. “city” of Tunisia). Solution is T (i.e. “close to eight”, i.e. the last letter of “eight”) followed by UNIS (i.e. “educational establishments”, short for universities).

38. Banished old vehicles coming up on off side? (10)

Answer: OSTRACISED (i.e. “banished”). Solution is O (a recognised abbreviation of “old”) followed by CARTS (i.e. “vehicles”) once reversed (indicated by “coming up” – this being a down clue) and an anagram (indicated by “off”) of SIDE, like so: O-STRAC-ISED.

40. Telling number forming a knot around one female (9)

Answer: NOTIFYING (i.e. “telling”). Solution is NO (a recognised abbreviation of “number”) followed by TYING (i.e. “forming a knot”) once placed “around” I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”) and F (a recognised abbreviation of “female”), like so: NO-T(I-F)YING.

42. Soundly studied book on pig in something like a scotch bonnet? (3,6)

Answer: RED PEPPER (i.e. “something like a scotch bonnet”). “Soundly” indicates the solution is formed of homophones of READ (i.e. “studied book”) and PEPPA (i.e. “pig”, as in kids TV show Peppa the Pig).

43. Sailor almost in charge of everyone, primarily (5,3)

Answer: ABOVE ALL (i.e. “primarily”). Solution is AB (i.e. “sailor”, specifically one of Able-Bodied rank) followed by OVER ALL (i.e. “in charge of everyone”) once the last letter of OVER has been removed (indicated by “almost” – can’t say I was too keen on this usage, if I’ve got it right), like so: AB-(OVE-ALL).

45. All Ulster, note, contains not a single lough grave (7)

Answer: AUSTERE (i.e. “grave”). Solution is ALL ULSTER and E (i.e. musical “note”) once all the Ls have been removed (indicated by “contains not a single lough” – lough is an Irish word for “lake”, a recognised abbreviation of which is L), like so: A(LL)-U(L)STER-E => AUSTER-E.

47. Seafood, dab and sole – though last of cod is gone (7)

Answer: ABALONE (i.e. “seafood”). Solution is DAB and ALONE (i.e. “sole”) once the D has been removed (indicated by “though last [letter] of cod is gone”).

49. Piece about George Cross being taken by a top killer (3,3)

Answer: BIG CAT (i.e. “top killer”). Solution is BIT (i.e. “piece”) placed “about” GC (a recognised abbreviation of “George Cross”) and A (the “being taken by” bit I’m taking to mean “place alongside”), like so: BI(GC-A)T.

51. Locally not in favour of protecting area once more (5)

Answer: AGAIN (i.e. “once more”). Solution is AGIN (i.e. “locally not in favour”, in this case a Scots form of the word “against”) wrapped around or “protecting” A (a recognised abbreviation of “area”), like so: AG(A)IN.

52. Volunteers half of the City’s stock (5)

Answer: TALON (i.e. “stock” – both taken to mean the remaining undealt cards in a card game. Another new one on me). Solution is TA (i.e. “volunteers”, specifically the Territorial Army) followed by LON (i.e. “half of the City”, i.e. the first half of LONdon).

UNKLE is back with a new album, and rather good it is too – If We Don’t Make It is an instant toe-tapper – but this week’s post was mostly soundtracked courtesy of Cheerzo’s enormous and really rather good Retrowave/Synthwave playlist. Lacquer your lockdown mullet, pop on your all-round shades and roll up your jacket sleeves. It’s party time. Laters! – LP

Anyone looking for baby names at the moment could have saved themselves a tenner on a book and done this week’s Jumbo instead. Holy crap, there were a lot of them. Setting those aside, this week’s puzzle wasn’t too bad, leavened with a sprinkling of exotic solutions and a couple of spicy clues.

You can find my completed solution below along with explanations of my solutions where I have them. I hope you find them helpful. If a recent Jumbo is looking a little gappy for you then you might find my Just For Fun page a useful resource, containing links to solutions for the last 100+ of these things. Also ancient book reviews and a story of mine.

Thanks once again for the kind comments. They are much appreciated. A big raspberry, however, to whichever poison dwarf at WordPress decided to not only revert back to a tiny serif font when editing posts (and so soon after switching to one that was so much easier to read), but to then also tighten the spaces between the lines. You utter, utter sadist. It’d be nice if software designers – oh, I don’t know – perhaps used their own products every once in a while?

Anyway, enough of my bellyaching. Till next time, stay safe, mask up, get vaccinated and keep supporting the NHS and key workers everywhere.

LP

Across clues

1. Vague private record company reportedly put an end to (13)

Answer: INDETERMINATE (i.e. “vague”). Solution is a homophone (indicated by “reportedly”) of INDIE (i.e. “private record company”) followed by TERMINATE (i.e. “put an end to”), like so: INDE-TERMINATE.

8. See man on board, mostly very funny (9)

Answer: BISHOPRIC (i.e. “see” or diocese). Solution is BISHOP (i.e. “man on [chess] board”) followed by RICH (i.e. “very funny” – Chambers offers “full of comic potential” as a definition) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “mostly”), like so: BISHOP-RIC.

13. Old Ottoman governor’s remains buried in Pennsylvania (5)

Answer: PASHA (i.e. “old Ottoman governor”). Solution is ASH (i.e. “remains”) placed or “buried in” PA (US state abbreviation of “Pennsylvania”), like so: P(ASH)A.

14. Like a flat some fellows used in a short story (11)

Answer: APARTMENTAL (i.e. “like a flat”). Solution is PART (i.e. “some”) and MEN (i.e. “fellows”) both placed “in” A and TALE (i.e. “story”) once it’s last letter has been removed (indicated by “short”), like so: A-(PART-MEN)-TAL.

15. Capital invested in Durham mansions (5)

Answer: AMMAN (i.e. “capital” city of Jordan). “Invested in” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: DURH(AM MAN)SIONS.

16. Bubbly lass finally leaving car round back of hotel (9)

Answer: SPARKLING (i.e. “bubbly”). Solution is S (i.e. “lass finally”, i.e. the last letter of “lass”) followed by PARKING (i.e. “leaving car”) once placed “round” L (i.e. “back of hotel”, i.e. the last letter of “hotel”), like so: S-PARK(L)ING.

17. Tiny child – a pest! (4)

Answer: MITE. Solution satisfies “tiny child” and “a pest” or parasite.

18. Detectives can, at court – that’s clear (8)

Answer: DISTINCT (i.e. “clear”). Solution is DIS (i.e. “detectives”, specifically Detective Inspectors) followed by TIN (i.e. “can”) and CT (a recognised abbreviation of “court”).

20. Fury when king escapes power breakdown (6)

Answer: OUTAGE (i.e. “power breakdown”). Solution is OUTRAGE (i.e. “fury”) once the R has “escaped” or been removed – R being a recognised abbreviation of Rex, Latin for “king”.

21. Expert custodians, about fifty, engaging female Scottish lawyer (10,6)

Answer: PROCURATOR FISCAL (i.e. “Scottish lawyer” – in Scotland a fiscal is “an officer who prosecutes in criminal cases in local and inferior courts” (Chambers)). Solution is PRO (i.e. “expert”) followed by CURATORS (i.e. “custodians”), then CA (i.e. “about”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of “circa”) and L (i.e. “[Roman numeral] fifty”). The whole is then placed around or “engaging” FI (i.e. “female” – basically a woman’s name, short for Fiona), like so: PRO-CURATOR(FI)S-CA-L.

24. Repudiation of girl’s article I, for one, read out (9)

Answer: DISAVOWAL (i.e. “repudiation”). Solution is DI’S (i.e. “girl’s” – again a girl’s name, this time short for Diana) followed by A (i.e. “article”, i.e. a word like a, an or the) and a homophone (indicated by “read out”) of VOWEL (i.e. “I, for one” – other vowels are available), like so: DI’S-A-VOWAL.

26. Embarks on journey: TV’s not on (4,3)

Answer: SETS OFF (i.e. “embarks on”). When written as SET’S OFF the solution also satisfies “TV’s not on”.

27. Nutty substance primarily produced in my area (5)

Answer: COPRA (i.e. “nutty substance”). Solution is P (i.e. “primarily produced”, i.e. the first letter of “produced”) placed “in” COR (i.e. “my” – both taken as expressions of surprise) and A (a recognised abbreviation of “area”), like so: CO(P)R-A. A short brute force of my Chambers was needed here.

29. Over vivid in exam about mapping of mountains (12)

Answer: OROGRAPHICAL (i.e. “about mapping of mountains”). Solution is O (a recognised abbreviation of “over” used in cricket) and GRAPHIC (i.e. “vivid”) both placed “in” ORAL (i.e. “exam”), like so: OR(O-GRAPHIC)AL.

31. Recurring passages and runs spoilt trio Melba cut short (10)

Answer: RITORNELLI (i.e. musical lingo describing short “recurring passages” in a vocal work). Solution is R (a recognised abbreviation of “runs” used in a number of ball games) followed by an anagram (indicated by “spoilt”) of TRIO, then Dame NELLIE “Melba”, famed soprano of the late Victorian era – yeah, me neither – once the last letter has been trimmed (indicated by “cut short”), like so: R-ITOR-NELLI.

33. First of two mistakes about small dwelling’s earthenware (10)

Answer: TERRACOTTA (i.e. “earthenware”). Solution is T (i.e. “first [letter] of two”) and ERRATA (i.e. “mistakes”) once placed “about” COT (i.e. an archaic and poetic word for a “small dwelling” or cottage), like so: T-ERRA(COT)TA.

35. Intrepid Reds unexpectedly dominated by clergy (6-6)

Answer: PRIEST-RIDDEN (i.e. “dominated by clergy” – perhaps less so once the results of today’s census is published). “Unexpectedly” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of INTREPID REDS.

38. Old man going around with bearlike mammal (5)

Answer: PANDA (i.e. “bearlike mammal”). Solution is PA (i.e. “old man” or father) wrapped “around” AND (i.e. “with”), like so: P(AND)A.

39. Go back in panic, carrying Mike’s powerful light (3,4)

Answer: FOG LAMP (i.e. “powerful light”). Solution is GO reversed (indicated by “back”) and placed “in” FLAP (i.e. “panic”) once wrapped around or “carrying” M (“Mike” in the phonetic alphabet), like so: F(OG)LA(M)P.

40. Clubs formerly accommodating Laurel’s girl (9)

Answer: CONSTANCE (i.e. “girl” – more girl’s names. Are you spotting a theme?) Solution is C (a recognised abbreviation of “clubs” used in some card games) followed by ONCE (i.e. “formerly”) once wrapped around or “accommodating” STAN (i.e. “Laurel” – Stan Laurel was one half of famed comedy duo Laurel & Hardy), like so: C-ON(STAN)CE.

42. Man harbouring yen to have wee drink before a play (7,4,5)

Answer: KITCHEN SINK DRAMA (i.e. “play”). Solution is KEN (i.e. “man” – a man’s name this time) wrapped around or “harbouring” ITCH (i.e. “yen” or yearning), then followed by SINK DRAM (i.e. “to have wee drink”) and A, like so: K(ITCH)EN-SINK-DRAM-A.

44. Sort of meal friends recalled at university? (4-2)

Answer: SLAP-UP (i.e. “sort of meal”). Solution is PALS (i.e. “friends”) reversed (indicated by “recalled”) and followed by UP (i.e. “at university” – usage you see far more commonly in cryptic crosswords than you do in real life).

47. Writer’s catalogue appearing after fifteen days? (8)

Answer: NOVELIST (i.e. “writer”). Solution is LIST (i.e. “catalogue”) placed “after” the first half of NOVEMBER – being thirty days in length, hence the “fifteen days” bit – like so: NOVE-LIST.

49. Asian’s formal wear mentioned in speech (4)

Answer: THAI (i.e. “Asian”). “Mentioned in speech” indicates homophone. Solution is a homophone of TIE (i.e. “formal wear”).

50. Difference in short seen … differently (9)

Answer: OTHERNESS (i.e. “difference”). “Differently” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of SHORT SEEN.

52. Wading bird biting head off rue (5)

Answer: EGRET (i.e. “wading bird”). Solution is REGRET (i.e. “rue”) with it’s “head” or first letter removed or “bitten off”.

53. Senators met at sea, closest to where the sun rises (11)

Answer: EASTERNMOST (i.e. “closest to where the sun rises”). “At sea” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of SENATORS MET.

54. She’s back, wearing man’s close-fitting cap (5)

Answer: BERET (i.e. “close-fitting cap”). Solution is E (i.e. “she’s back”, i.e. the last letter of “she”) placed in or “wearing” BERT (i.e. “man” – yet more names), like so: BER(E)T.

55. Fit for the main Home Counties area, value unknown (9)

Answer: SEAWORTHY (i.e. “fit for the main” – the main being another word for the sea). Solution is SE (i.e. “Home Counties”, referring to the South East of England) followed by A (a recognised abbreviation of “area”), then WORTH (i.e. “value”) and Y (i.e. “unknown” – setters love referring to X, Y and Z as unknowns).

56. Trek there and sell reconditioned fairground ride (6-7)

Answer: HELTER-SKELTER (i.e. “fairground ride”). “Reconditioned” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of TREK THERE and SELL.

Down clues

1. In the compiler’s ancient dictionary it’s “with paint thickly applied” (9)

Answer: IMPASTOED (i.e. “with paint thickly applied”). Solution is I’M (i.e. “compiler’s” taken from the point of view of the setter, and taken as a contraction of “compiler is” or I AM, rather than its possessive form) followed by PAST (i.e. “ancient”) and OED (i.e. “dictionary” – specifically the Oxford English Dictionary). Nicely worked.

2. Musical line a chap is unable to compose (7)

Answer: DESCANT (i.e. “musical line”). Solution is DES (i.e. “chap” – yet, yet more names) and CAN’T (i.e. “is unable”) put together or “composed”.

3. Appreciative type, Kev, travelling with his grant (11)

Answer: THANKSGIVER (i.e. “appreciative type”). “Travelling” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of KEV and HIS GRANT.

4. Something fishy about a girl band’s travel organiser (6)

Answer: ROADIE (i.e. “band’s travel organiser” – a very loose definition, but if you really contort the words then the setter just about gets away with it. Only just, mind…). Solution is ROE (i.e. “something fishy” – roe being fish eggs) wrapped “about” A and DI (i.e. “girl”, short for Diana – yet, yet, yet more names), like so: RO(A-DI)E.

5. Speech delivered during summer month on Russian river (9)

Answer: INAUGURAL (i.e. “speech”). Solution is IN (i.e. “during”) followed by AUG (i.e. “summer month”, specifically a shortened form of August) and URAL (i.e. “Russian river”).

6. Chair-covering a northern man, Charlie, carried in a vehicle (12)

Answer: ANTIMACASSAR (i.e. “chair-covering” used to protect upholstery from macassar and pomade and other such manly hair gunk). Solution is A followed by N (a recognised abbreviation of “northern”), then TIM (i.e. “man” – yet, yet, yet, yet more names) and ASS (i.e. “Charlie” or fool) once placed in or “carried” in A CAR (i.e. “a vehicle”), like so: A-N-TIM-A-C(ASS)AR.

7. Reader dined with English voters (10)

Answer: ELECTORATE (i.e. “voters”). Solution is LECTOR (i.e. “reader”) and ATE (i.e. “dined”) both placed after or “with” E (a recognised abbreviation of “English”), like so: E-(LECTOR-ATE).

8. Time to probe extra unit of data (4)

Answer: BYTE (i.e. “unit of data”). Solution is T (a recognised abbreviation of “time”) placed in or “probing” BYE (an “extra” run in cricket, being those not directly scored), like so: BY(T)E.

9. Mercenary desperate for oldies with big money (7,2,7)

Answer: SOLDIER OF FORTUNE (i.e. “mercenary”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “desperate”) of FOR OLDIES followed by FORTUNE (i.e. “big money”).

10. Choose to frame rising academician’s abstract work (2,3)

Answer: OP ART (i.e. “abstract work”). Solution is OPT (i.e. “choose”) wrapped around or “framing” RA (i.e. “academician”, specifically a Royal Academician) once reversed (indicated by “rising” – this being a down clue), like so: OP(AR)T.

11. Like some languages partly for Omani citizens? (7)

Answer: ROMANIC (i.e. “like some languages”). “Partly” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: FO(R OMANI C)ITZENS.

12. Tory woman surprisingly into stars (13)

Answer: CONSTELLATION (i.e. “stars”). Solution is CON (i.e. “Tory”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of “Conservative”) followed by STELLA (i.e. “woman” – yet, yet, yet, yet, yet more names) and an anagram (indicated by “surprisingly”) of INTO, like so: CON-STELLA-TION.

19. Poisonous alkaloid from a harbour over in East (8)

Answer: ATROPINE (i.e. “poisonous alkaloid” found in deadly nightshade). Solution is A followed by PORT (i.e. “harbour”) reversed (indicated by “over” – this being a down clue), then IN and E (a recognised abbreviation of “East”), like so: A-TROP-IN-E. One gotten solely from the wordplay.

22. Like some old Peruvians serving prison sentences? (5)

Answer: INCAN (i.e. “like some old Peruvians”). When written as IN CAN the solution also satisfies “serving prison sentences” – CAN being slang for a prison.

23. Filled with enthusiasm, but brought down to earth, perhaps? (5,3,4,4)

Answer: SWEPT OFF ONES FEET. Solution satisfies “filled with enthusiasm” and “brought down to earth, perhaps” describing the scene if one took the phrase literally.

25. Endlessly regretful about quietly getting a new pouch (7)

Answer: SPORRAN (i.e. “pouch”). Solution is SORRY (i.e. “regretful”) with its last letter removed (indicated by “endlessly”) and the remainder wrapped “about” P (i.e. “quietly”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of the musical lingo “piano”), followed by A and N (a recognised abbreviation of “new”), like so: S(P)ORR-A-N.

28. Knight errant’s son in physical discomfort (7)

Answer: PALADIN (i.e. “knight errant”). Solution is LAD (i.e. “son”) placed “in” PAIN (i.e. “physical discomfort”), like so: PA(LAD)IN.

29. Those not elected dig new head’s frank manner (13)

Answer: OUTSPOKENNESS (i.e. “frank manner”). Solution is OUTS (i.e. “those not elected”) followed by POKE (i.e. “dig”), then N (a recognised abbreviation of “new”) and NESS (i.e. “head”, as in the geographical feature).

30. Trendy label, behold, around one engraved figure (8)

Answer: INTAGLIO (i.e. “engraved figure”). Solution is IN (i.e. “trendy”) followed by TAG (i.e. “label”), then LO (i.e. “behold”, as in lo and…) once wrapped “around” I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”), like so: IN-TAG-L(I)O. Another gotten mostly from the wordplay.

32. Accomplished gangster accepting fate? It’s comparable (12)

Answer: PROPORTIONAL (i.e. “comparable”). Solution is PRO (i.e. “accomplished”) and AL (i.e. “gangster”, specifically Al Capone, a favourite of several setters) wrapped around or “accepting” PORTION (i.e. “fate” – Chambers backs this up, though I can’t bring to mind an example of its use in this way), like so: PRO-(PORTION)-AL.

34. An attempt to embarrass? (5)

Answer: ABASH (i.e. “to embarrass”). When written as A BASH the solution also satisfies “an attempt”.

36. Unbearable to the French mob, a bishop having gone in first (11)

Answer: INTOLERABLE (i.e. “unbearable”). Solution is TO followed by LE (i.e. “the French”, i.e. the masculine form of “the” in French) and RABBLE (i.e. “mob”) once one of the Bs has been removed (indicated by “a bishop having gone” – B being a recognised abbreviation of “bishop” used in chess). The whole is then preceded (indicated by “first”) by IN, like so: IN-(TO-LE-RABLE).

37. Support novel French art, ultimately with a little cash out East (10)

Answer: BACKSHEESH (i.e. “a little cash out East”, specifically a gift or gratuity or tip, also spelled backshish, bakhshish or baksheesh). Solution is BACK (i.e. “support”) followed by SHE (i.e. “novel” by H. Rider Haggard – another favourite of some setters), then ES (i.e. “French art” – another favourite of setters, “art” is taken to be a ye olde form of “are”, the French of which is ES) and H (i.e. “ultimately with”, i.e. the last letter of “with”).

40. Naval officer’s chest of drawers containing gold (9)

Answer: COMMODORE (i.e. “naval officer”). Solution is COMMODE (i.e. “chest of drawers”) wrapped around or “containing” OR (i.e. “gold” in heraldry), like so: COMMOD(OR)E.

41. One who explains riots stirred up after trade fair (9)

Answer: EXPOSITOR (i.e. “one who explains”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “stirred up”) of RIOTS placed “after” EXPO (i.e. “trade fair”), like so: EXPO-SITOR.

43. A French writer briefly visiting army eating-place (7)

Answer: TAVERNA (i.e. “eating-place”). Solution is A and Jules VERNE (i.e. “French writer”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “briefly”). These are then placed in or “visit” TA (i.e. “army”, specifically the Territorial Army), like so: T(A-VERN)A.

45. Seaside entertainer perhaps – and what might cause his downfall? (7)

Answer: PIERROT (i.e. a clown or “seaside entertainer perhaps”). When written as PIER ROT the solution cryptically satisfies “what might cause his downfall”.

46. Naval NCOs collecting raunchy snaps (6)

Answer: PHOTOS (i.e. “snaps”). Solution is POS (i.e. “naval NCOs”, specifically Petty Officers) wrapped around or “collecting” HOT (i.e. “raunchy”), like so: P(HOT)OS.

48. Bachelor leaves in drunken state for game (5)

Answer: LOTTO (i.e. “game”). Solution is BLOTTO (i.e. “drunken state”) with the B (a recognised abbreviation of “bachelor”) removed (indicated by “leaves”).

51. Greyish, like Henry on the outside (4)

Answer: ASHY (i.e. “greyish”). Solution is AS (i.e. “like”) followed by HY (i.e. “Henry on the outside”, i.e. the first and last letters of “Henry”).

Fleet Foxes are back! Yay! Their new album Shore made for a very pleasant first listen, so it wasn’t much of a stretch for me to return to the band’s back catalogue. King of the crop is still their eponymous debut album, the best known song from which you can find below. If lush, folksy Beach Boys-style close harmony is your thing then you’ll lap this up. Enjoy! – LP

An easier time of it this week, thankfully! Another decent puzzle too, perhaps save for one clue that irked me. You might spot which one further on. (Looks away, whistling.)

You can find my completed grid below along with explanations of my solutions where I have them. I hope you find them helpful. If a recent Jumbo has you jiggered, then head on over to my Just For Fun page where you’ll find links to solutions for the last 100+ of these things. Meanwhile there’s the usual ancient book reviews and a story of mine.

Thanks once more for the kind comments. They are much appreciated. Thanks also to whoever at WordPress decided to change the editing font from some tiny serif creation to something much easier to read. Now if only someone can help me consistently strike the right keys on this laptop. This 2,500 word post has felt more like 10,000!

Till next time, stay safe, mask up, get vaccinated and let’s look forward to all this Covid rubbish getting knocked on the head. In the meantime, keep supporting the NHS and key workers everywhere.

LP

Across clues

1. Store form of isotope in desert (10)

Answer: DEPOSITORY (i.e. “store”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “form of”) of ISOTOPE placed “in” DRY (i.e. “desert”, both descriptive of a lack of moisture), like so: D(EPOSITO)RY.

6. Some knitting order a pain (6,6)

Answer: GARTER STITCH (i.e. “some knitting”). Solution is GARTER (the highest “order” of knighthood) followed by STITCH (i.e. “a pain” sometimes felt during exercise).

14. As one man is on, two union leaders off (9)

Answer: UNANIMOUS (i.e. “as one”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “is off”) of MAN IS ON, U and U (i.e. “two union leaders”, U being the first letter of “union”).

15. Pull away from wife and sleep (5)

Answer: WREST (i.e. “pull away”). Solution is W (a recognised abbreviation of “wife”) followed by REST (i.e. “sleep”).

16. Country cutting an American test (7)

Answer: AUSTRIA (i.e. “country”). Solution is A US TRIAL (i.e. “an American test”) with its last letter removed (indicated by “cutting”).

17. Corrupt lot parliament, pure down-and-outs (6,11)

Answer: LUMPEN PROLETARIAT (i.e. “down-and-outs”). “Corrupt” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of LOT PARLIAMENT PURE. Nicely worked.

18. Cause of ferment, Irish poet turning tail (5)

Answer: YEAST (i.e. “cause of ferment”). Solution is William Butler YEATS (i.e. “Irish poet”) with its last two letters swapped (indicated by “turning tail”), like so: YEA(TS) => YEA(ST).

19. Does loveless couple give up hope? (7)

Answer: DESPAIR (i.e. “give up hope”). Solution is DOES with the O removed (indicated by “loveless” – “love” being a zero score in tennis) and the remainder followed by PAIR (i.e. “couple”), like so: DES-PAIR.

21. Inside scrapheap hid some bugs (6)

Answer: APHIDS (i.e. “bugs”). “Inside” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: SCRAPHE(AP HID S)OME.

22. Taking hour to go in, hospital department has one seat (8)

Answer: ENTHRONE (i.e. to “seat” someone). Solution is HR (a recognised abbreviation of “hour”) “going in” between ENT (i.e. “hospital department”, specifically Ear Nose and Throat) and ONE, like so: ENT-(HR)-ONE.

24. In brief, run is for trainer (7)

Answer: TRELLIS (i.e. “trainer” for plants). Solution is TELL (i.e. to “brief” someone) with R (a recognised abbreviation of “run” used in a number of ball games) placed “in” it, and then followed by IS, like so: T(R)ELL-IS.

26. Sign drenched clothes most worn out (8)

Answer: WEARIEST (i.e. “most worn out”). Solution is ARIES (i.e. “sign” of the zodiac) placed in or “clothed” by WET (i.e. “drenched”), like so: WE(ARIES)T.

27. Son isn’t wearing any trousers (6)

Answer: SLACKS (i.e. “trousers”). Solution is S (a recognised abbreviation of “son”) followed by LACKS (i.e. “isn’t wearing any”).

30. What a stone being catapulted is, for sure (4,3,4)

Answer: HARD AND FAST. Solution satisfies “what a stone being catapulted is” and “sure”.

32. Not in Italy, a flying race (11)

Answer: NATIONALITY (i.e. “race”). “Flying” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of NOT IN ITALY A.

33. A row I stomach, concealing bit of a pout for one always (2,9)

Answer: AD INFINITUM (i.e. “always”). Solution is A, DIN (i.e. “row”), I and TUM (i.e. “stomach”) all wrapped around or “concealing” FIN (i.e. “bit of a pout” – a pout is a fish of the cod family), like so: A-DIN-(FIN)-I-TUM.

35. Sporting event turning live, though somewhat on the periphery (3,4,4)

Answer: THE BOAT RACE (i.e. “sporting event”). Solution is BE (i.e. to “live”) reversed (indicated by “turning”) and placed in or having “on the periphery” THO (a poetic contraction of “though”) and A TRACE (i.e. “somewhat”), like so: TH(EB)O-A-TRACE.

37. Improvement finished, go (6)

Answer: UPTURN (i.e. “improvement”). Solution is UP (i.e. “finished”) followed by TURN (i.e. a “go”).

38. In middle of bodega, is kitchen fixture perhaps cut off? (8)

Answer: DISUNITE (i.e. to “cut off”). Solution is DE (i.e. “middle [letters] of bodega”) wrapped around or having “in” IS and UNIT (i.e. “kitchen fixture”), like so: D(IS-UNIT)E.

39. Pertinent European programme’s back (7)

Answer: GERMANE (i.e. “pertinent”). Solution is GERMAN (i.e. “European”) followed by E (i.e. “programme’s back”, i.e. the last letter of “programme”).

42. Charm shown by boxer’s attendant after end of bout (8)

Answer: TALISMAN (i.e. “charm”). Solution is ALI’S MAN (i.e. “boxer’s attendant” – the boxer in question being Muhammad ALI) placed “after” T (i.e. “end [letter] of bout”), like so: T-(ALI’S-MAN).

44. Swindle involving right number of racehorses, for example? (6)

Answer: STRING (i.e. a drove or “number of racehorses, for example”). Solution is STING (i.e. “swindle”) wrapped around or “involving” R (a recognised abbreviation of “right”), like so: ST(R)ING.

46. A boy embracing me in front of a Spanish promenade (7)

Answer: ALAMEDA (i.e. “Spanish promenade”). Solution is A and LAD (i.e. “boy”) wrapped around or “embracing” ME, and then the whole then placed “in front of” A, like so: A-LA(ME)D-A.

48. Gripping last of rocks, anchor found resting place (5)

Answer: ROOST (i.e. “resting place”). Solution is ROOT (i.e. “anchor”) wrapped around or “gripping” S (i.e. “last [letter] of rocks”), like so: ROO(S)T.

49. Proving inconsistent, like sirocco and mistral? (7,3,3,4)

Answer: BLOWING HOT AND COLD (i.e. “proving inconsistent”). Clue plays on siroccos and mistrals being hot and cold winds respectively.

51. Clump of vegetation seen, jumbo part circling island to the west (7)

Answer: TUSSOCK (i.e. “clump of vegetation”). Solution is TUSK (i.e. “jumbo part”, i.e. body part of an elephant) wrapped around or “circling” COS (i.e. a Greek “island”) once reversed (indicated by “to the west” – this being an across clue), like so: TUS(SOC)K.

52. Papers etc dismissing knight from holy city (5)

Answer: MEDIA (i.e. “papers etc”). Solution is MEDINA (i.e. “holy city” in Saudi Arabia) with the N removed (indicated by “dismissing knight” – N being a recognised abbreviation of “knight” used in chess).

53. Honest work out to protect ailing housing estate, initially (9)

Answer: GUILELESS (i.e. “honest”). Solution is GUESS (i.e. “work out” – no, in a word. I sincerely hope the setter doesn’t work in a profession upon which lives depend if they honestly believe guesswork equates to working something out. Scary if they do…) wrapped around or “protecting” ILL (i.e. “ailing”) once it has itself been wrapped around or “housing” E (i.e. “estate, initially”, i.e. the first letter of “estate”), like so: GU(IL(E)L)ESS.

54. Pad, something soft for carpeting (8,4)

Answer: DRESSING DOWN (i.e. “carpeting” or what-I-just-did-above-in-53a). Solution is DRESSING (i.e. medical “pad”) followed by DOWN (i.e. “something soft”).

55. Alleges car has crashed into comprehensive (5-5)

Answer: LARGE-SCALE (i.e. “comprehensive”). “Has crashed” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of ALLEGES CAR.

Down clues

1. Nonsense – boast of bigamist? (6,5)

Answer: DOUBLE DUTCH (i.e. “nonsense”). Clue plays on “dutch” being cockney rhyming slang for “wife”, supposedly after the Duchess of Fife – we had this last week’s puzzle too, and how bigamists get hitched to more than one person.

2. Hand in part penning second song (5)

Answer: PSALM (i.e. “song”). Solution is PALM (i.e. “hand in part”, or part of the hand) wrapped around or “penning” S (a recognised abbreviation of “second”), like so: P(S)ALM.

3. Over everyone, small earwigs and beetles primarily creep (9)

Answer: SLIMEBALL (i.e. “creep”). Solution is SLIM (i.e. “small”) and E and B (i.e. “earwigs and beetles primarily”, i.e. the first letters of “earwigs” and “beetles”) placed “over” – this being a down clue – ALL (i.e. “everyone”), like so: (SLIM-EB)-ALL.

4. Soldier drunk, other ranks caught up (7)

Answer: TROOPER (i.e. “soldier”). Solution is OR (a recognised abbreviation of “other ranks” of the British Army) reversed (indicated by “up” – this being a down clue) and placed in or “caught by” TOPER (i.e. a “drunk”), like so: T(RO)OPER.

5. Rash having two drinks, don’t start the second (7)

Answer: ROSEOLA (i.e. “rash”). Solution is ROSE and COLA (i.e. “two drinks”) with the first letter of COLA removed (indicated by “don’t start the second”). Chalk one to my Bradford’s here.

7. A law on mummification finally accepted by Roman ruler, not head of ancient Egypt (11)

Answer: ALEXANDRIAN (i.e. “of ancient Egypt”). Solution is A followed by LEX (i.e. “law” in Latin) and N (i.e. “mummification finally”, i.e. the last letter of “mummification”) once placed in or “accepted by” HADRIAN (i.e. “Roman ruler”) once the first letter has been removed (indicated by “not head”), like so: A-LEX-A(N)DRIAN.

8. Rubbish match for a Scottish vegetable (6)

Answer: TATTIE (i.e. “Scottish vegetable”, i.e. Scots word for a potato). Solution is TAT (i.e. “rubbish”) followed by TIE (i.e. “match”).

9. Call to keep oven hot (8)

Answer: ROASTING (i.e. “hot”). Solution is RING (i.e. to “call”) wrapped around or “keeping” OAST (i.e. a kiln or “oven” used to dry hops), like so: R(OAST)ING.

10. Putting it mildly, a Trappist’s remit? (2,3,3,5)

Answer: TO SAY THE LEAST. Solution satisfies “putting it mildly” and “a Trappist’s remit” – Trappist monks being known for keeping vows of silence.

11. Devastating thing having ruined a trick (7)

Answer: TORNADO (i.e. “devastating thing”). Solution is TORN (i.e. “ruined”) followed by A and DO (i.e. “trick”, as in to con someone).

12. Sumo like this is so without mercy (11)

Answer: HEARTLESSLY (i.e. “without mercy”). The first half of the clue cryptically plays on how one takes the middle letters or HEART of “sumo” to get “so”.

13. Honey in soft centre? (10)

Answer: SWEETHEART (i.e. “honey”, both terms of endearment). Solution is SWEET (i.e. “soft”, as in fancying someone) followed by HEART (i.e. “centre”).

20. Strong flavour merits pan being given a stir (9)

Answer: SPEARMINT (i.e. “strong flavour”). “Given a stir” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of MERITS PAN. Nicely worked.

23. Soft of a perch right to feed baby (2,2,4)

Answer: AS IT WERE (i.e. “sort of”). Solution is A followed by SIT (i.e. to “perch”) and WEE (i.e. “baby”) once wrapped around or “fed” by R (a recognised abbreviation of “right”), like so: A-SIT-WE(R)E.

25. Track I’d sing out of tune (6)

Answer: SIDING (i.e. “track”). “Out of tune” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of I’D SING.

26. Success securing wire to become less convincing (4,4)

Answer: WEAR THIN (i.e. “become less convincing”). Solution is WIN (i.e. “success”) wrapped around or “securing” EARTH (i.e. “wire” in an electrical flex), like so: W(EARTH)IN.

28. Face piece, knowing pottery (9)

Answer: CHINAWARE (i.e. “pottery”). Solution is CHIN (i.e. “face piece”) followed by AWARE (i.e. “knowing”).

29. With unlimited food comes yen for tea (6)

Answer: OOLONG (i.e. “tea”). Solution is OO (i.e. “unlimited food”, i.e. the word “food” with its first and last letters removed) followed by LONG (i.e. “yen” or yearning). One I recalled from a previous puzzle, if I’m honest.

31. Acknowledging limitations, this train’s last stop? (2,3,2,2,4)

Answer: AS FAR AS IT GOES. Solution satisfies “acknowledging limitations” and “this train’s last stop”.

33. Post-watershed screening time ultimately spoiled (11)

Answer: ADULTERATED (i.e. “spoiled”). Solution is ADULT-RATED (i.e. “post-watershed” telly) wrapped around or “screening” E (i.e. “time ultimately”, i.e. the last letter of “time”), like so: ADULT-(E)-RATED.

34. Netting second of goals, Man United playing with spirit (8,3)

Answer: MOUNTAIN DEW (i.e. “spirit”, specifically an informal name given to illicitly distilled whisky (thanks, Chambers)). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “playing”) of MAN UNITED wrapped around or “netting” O (i.e. “second [letter] of goals”) and the whole then followed by W (a recognised abbreviation of “with”), like so: M(O)UNTAINDE-W. Nicely worked.

35. Train a girl until fluent in three languages (10)

Answer: TRILINGUAL (i.e. “fluent in three languages”). “Train” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of A GIRL UNTIL.

36. Drennan’s country remedies all rubbished (7,4)

Answer: EMERALD ISLE (i.e. poet William “Drennan’s country”). “Rubbished” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of REMEDIES ALL.

40. Again look at article penned by communist outfit (9)

Answer: READDRESS (i.e. “again look at”). Solution is A (i.e. “article”, i.e. a word like a, an or the) placed in or “penned by” RED (i.e. “communist”) and followed by DRESS (i.e. “outfit”), like so: RE(A)D-DRESS.

41. Family of essayist warmer? (8)

Answer: LAMBSKIN (i.e. “warmer”). When written as Charles LAMB’S KIN the solution also satisfies “family of essayist”. Yeah, me neither (pat’s Bradford’s).

43. Forget to secure permit before European check (4-3)

Answer: LOOK-SEE (i.e. “check”). Solution is LOSE (i.e. “forget”) wrapped around or “securing” OK (i.e. to “permit”) and then followed by E (a recognised abbreviation of “European”), like so: LO(OK)SE-E.

45. Country girl on my mind in old song (7)

Answer: GEORGIA. Solution satisfies “country” and “girl on my mind in old song”, a reference to Georgia On My Mind, most famously recorded by Ray Charles.

46. A life protecting mother, sublime (7)

Answer: AMAZING (i.e. “sublime”). Solution is A and ZING (i.e. “life”, as in pzazz, zip, that kind of thing) wrapped around or “protecting” MA (i.e. “mother”), like so: A-(MA)-ZING.

47. Overlooking sea, private room appeared (6)

Answer: LOOMED (i.e. “appeared”). Solution is LOO (i.e. “private room”) placed before or “overlooking” – this being a down clue – MED (i.e. “sea”, specifically the Mediterranean).

50. Last of twenty-four, nothing major (5)

Answer: OMEGA (i.e. “last of twenty-four”, a reference to the number of letters in the Greek alphabet). Solution is O (i.e. “nothing”) followed by MEGA (i.e. “major”).

With Everything Everything dropping new music this week I thought I’d try once more to get into their last album, RE-ANIMATOR. It’s still a not-quite from me, but it gave me a good reason to revisit their back catalogue. Pick any of their first four albums and you’ll be in for a treat. Here’s the track that got me into them. And, yes, it’s well weird! – LP

Stinker alert! This week’s offering leaned a little too heavy into general knowledge for my tastes – too many people and places, and as for 13d… sheesh! – but setting those aside there was some rather clever clueing to enjoy. One of the better stinkers on reflection. (Note how I am writing this the day after solving it. I didn’t exactly feel this way at the time!)

You can find my completed grid below along with explanations of my solutions where I have them. I hope you find them useful. If a recent Jumbo has done for you then you might find succour in my Just For Fun page, where I list links to solutions for the last 100+ of these things. Elsewhere there’s the usual ancient book reviews and a story of mine.

Thanks once more for the kind comments. They are much appreciated and do help to ease the cabin fever. I and my fourteen other selves thank you. Till next time, stay safe, mask up, get vaccinated and keep flying the flag for the NHS and key workers everywhere.

LP

Across clues

1. Relish large thing sold dishonestly? (3,2)

Answer: LAP UP (i.e. “relish”). Solution is L (a recognised abbreviation of “large”) followed by A PUP (i.e. “thing sold dishonestly”).

4. Male boss with this foolish ritual (5,5)

Answer: MUMBO JUMBO (i.e. “foolish ritual”). Solution is M (a recognised abbreviation of “male”) followed by UMBO (i.e. the central knob or “boss” of a shield – no, me neither), then JUMBO (i.e. “this”, i.e. the Times Jumbo crossword).

9. Girl visited by doctor – one stiff walking? (6)

Answer: ZOMBIE (i.e. “stiff walking” – stiff as in a dead body). Solution is ZOE (i.e. basically a “girl’s” name) wrapped around or being “visited by” MB (i.e. “doctor”, specifically a Medicinae Baccalaureus or Bachelor of Medicine) and I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”), like so: ZO(MB-I)E.

14. Note rubbish bags keep Cockney’s hat (3,3,3)

Answer: TIT FOR TAT (i.e. “Cockney [rhyming slang for] hat”, often shortened to titfer – insert my characteristically lame dig at Cockerneys here). Solution is TI (i.e. “note” in the sol-fa or doh-ray-me notation) and TAT (i.e. “rubbish”) wrapped around or “bagging” FORT (i.e. “keep”), like so: TI-T(FORT)AT.

15. Eccentric solver cut long hair, displaying an old head (10,3)

Answer: NUTCRACKER MAN (i.e. “old head” – referring to “a hominid whose bones were found in Tanzania in 1959” (Chambers). Again, me neither…) Solution is NUT (i.e. “eccentric”) followed by CRACKER (i.e. “solver”) and MANE (i.e. “long hair”) once it’s last letter has been removed (indicated by “cut”), like so: NUT-CRACKER-MAN.

16. Cocktail of note, two rupees a shot (7)

Answer: FARRAGO (i.e. a mishmash or “cocktail”). Solution is FA (i.e. “note”, again in the sol-fa notation) followed by R and R (i.e. “two rupees” – R being a recognised abbreviation of “rupee”), then A and GO (i.e. “shot”, as in having a shot at something).

17. De La Mare’s wild gypsy heroine (9)

Answer: ESMERALDA (i.e. “gypsy heroine” of Victor Hugo’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame). “Wild” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of DE LA MARE’S. Nicely worked.

18. Gongs eclipsing old woodwind instruments (5)

Answer: OBOES (i.e. “woodwind instruments”). Solution is OBES (i.e. “gongs”, specifically Orders of the British Empire) wrapped around or “eclipsing” O (a recognised abbreviation of “old”), like so: OB(O)ES.

19. Where something sweet’s to be had between flights, or less pleasant after one? (7,7)

Answer: PANCAKE LANDING. Clue plays on how one might add “sweet” toppings to PANCAKEs, how one finds LANDINGs “between flights” of stairs, and how a PANCAKE LANDING is where an aeroplane is forced to land belly first due to landing gear malfunction, which would indeed be not “pleasant”. You get the idea.

22. In texts, you and I would add one last letter, enlarged (7)

Answer: UPSIZED (i.e. “enlarged”). Solution is U (i.e. “in texts, you”, as in how “you” gets contracted to U in some text messages) followed by PS (i.e. “I would add”, i.e. a postscript), then I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”) and ZED (i.e. “last letter” of the alphabet). Spend most of this clue trying to shoehorn WE or US into this one? Me too.

25. Man United playing without a single female (6,4)

Answer: MAIDEN AUNT (i.e. “single female”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “playing”) of MAN UNITED wrapped around or placed “without” A, like so: M(A)IDENAUNT. Nicely done.

27. Fancy piece of filming remains – I land Oscar (4,1,5,2)

Answer: TAKE A SHINE TO (i.e. “fancy”). Solution is TAKE (i.e. “piece of filming”) followed by ASH (i.e. “remains”), then I, then NET (i.e. to obtain or “land”) and O (“Oscar” in the phonetic alphabet).

30. Joints: cats need one to move back (5)

Answer: LOINS (i.e. “joints”). Solution is LIONS (i.e. “cats”) with the I or Roman numeral “one” “moved back”, like so: L(I)ONS => LO(I)NS.

31. Join trail east to find body of fighter? (8)

Answer: FUSELAGE (i.e. “body of fighter [plane]”). Solution is FUSE (i.e. “join”) followed by LAG (i.e. “trail”) and E (a recognised abbreviation of “east”).

32. German and Irish article, deep, in the main? (8)

Answer: UNDERSEA (i.e. “in the main” – the main being a reference to the sea). Solution is UND (i.e. “German and”, i.e. the German for “and”) followed by ERSE (i.e. a variant of ‘Irish’ “sometimes used for Irish Gaelic, as opposed to Scottish Gaelic” (Chambers)) and A (i.e. “article”, as in a word like a, an or the).

35. Container, not exactly small, I made smaller (8)

Answer: CASSETTE (i.e. “container”). Solution is CA (i.e. “not exactly”, i.e. a recognised abbreviation of “circa”) followed by S (i.e. a recognised abbreviation of “small”) and SETTER (i.e. “I” from the point of view of the setter) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “made smaller”), like so: CA-S-SETTE.

36. Capital that’s not for investing in cereal product (8)

Answer: SANTIAGO (i.e. “capital” city of Chile). Solution is ANTI (i.e. “that’s not for”) placed or “invested” in SAGO (i.e. “cereal product”), like so: S(ANTI)AGO. Nicely done.

37. Shower that’s needed after washing? (5)

Answer: AIRER. Solution satisfies “shower” – as in one who shows or airs something as opposed to a fall of water – and “that’s needed after washing”, as in a clothes airer.

39. Steam bath, say, being prepared? Perhaps (5,2,3,2)

Answer: THAT’S AS MAY BE (i.e. “perhaps”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “being prepared”) of STEAM BATH SAY.

41. This corn one twice cooked with ham? (10)

Answer: HISTRIONIC (i.e. “with ham”, i.e. overacting or excessive staginess). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “cooked”) of THIS CORN, I and I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one twice”).

43. Turning off at sideroad, avoiding some stick (7)

Answer: DISTAFF (i.e. “stick” used in spinning wool etc). “Avoiding some” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, thus requiring the solver to remove part of it, while “turning” indicates the solution has been reversed, like so: O(FF AT SID)EROAD.

45. Fish, spare, kept in reserve outside, to be in a pickle? (5,2,4,3)

Answer: SKATE ON THIN ICE (i.e. “to be in a pickle”). Solution is SKATE (i.e. “fish”) followed by THIN (i.e. “spare”) once placed in or having “outside” ON ICE (i.e. “kept in reserve”), like so: SKATE-(ON-(THIN)-ICE).

48. Cancel a year’s events, for a university (5)

Answer: ANNUL (i.e. “cancel”). Solution is ANNAL (i.e. “a year’s events”) with the second A swapped “for” U (a recognised abbreviation of “university”), like so: ANN(A)L => ANN(U)L.

49. Plaything that’s half dots, and lines on other half? (5,4)

Answer: DUTCH DOLL (i.e. “plaything”). Solution is DO (i.e. “half dots”, i.e. the first half of “dots”) and LL (i.e. “lines” – L being a recognised abbreviation of “line”) both placed “on” or after DUTCH (i.e. “other half” – more bleedin’ Cockerney, innit, this time rhyming slang for “wife”: “perhaps short for Duchess of Fife” (Chambers). Okay, if you say so…), like so: DUTCH-(DO-LL).

51. Carp egg with cream (3-4)

Answer: NIT-PICK (i.e. “carp”). Solution is NIT (i.e. the “egg” of a louse) followed by PICK (i.e. “cream”, as in the pick of the bunch).

53. Writer got out of bed – time to nurse very sick sheep (9-4)

Answer: Vita SACKVILLE-WEST (“writer”). Solution is SACK (i.e. “bed”) and T (a recognised abbreviation of “time”) wrapped around or “nursing” V (a recognised abbreviation of “very”), ILL (i.e. “sick”) and EWES (i.e. “sheep”), like so: SACK-(V-ILL-EWES)-T. One of those where I dropped “Sackville” into Google on a hunch.

54. Not appreciated in UK, and then abroad (9)

Answer: UNTHANKED (i.e. “not appreciated”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “abroad”) of UK AND THEN.

55. Mate appearing before judge is sorry (6)

Answer: PALTRY (i.e. meagre or “sorry”). Solution is PAL (i.e. “mate”) followed by TRY (i.e. to “judge”, as in being tried in court).

56. Writer dear to the French when French is in fashion (10)

Answer: G. K. CHESTERTON (i.e. “writer”). Solution is CHER (i.e. “dear to the French” i.e. the French for “dear”) wrapped around or having “in” EST (i.e. “French is”, i.e. the French for “is”), then followed by TON (i.e. “fashion”, one of the word’s variant meanings and a common play used by setters. I’ve still yet to see this used in the wild, mind), like so: CH(EST)ER-TON.

57. Dance that one watches as one pales? (5)

Answer: TANGO (i.e. “dance”). When written as TAN GO the solution also satisfies “that one watches as one pales”.

Down clues

1. After check, turned to make excuse (3,3)

Answer: LET OFF (i.e. “excuse”). Solution is LET (i.e. “check” – a variant meaning of LET is to obstruct or hinder) followed by OFF (i.e. “turned”, as in food going bad).

2. Safe to differ with impartial head of household (13)

Answer: PATERFAMILIAS (i.e. “head of household”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “to differ”) of SAFE and IMPARTIAL.

3. A brief mea culpa after upsetting Indian community (5)

Answer: POONA (i.e. “Indian community”, seemingly a city known for the last forty-odd years as Pune). Solution is AN OOPS (i.e. “a … mea culpa”) with its last letter removed (indicated by “brief”). The remainder is then reversed (indicated by “upsetting” – this being a down clue), like so: POO-NA. One gotten solely from the wordplay, if I’m honest.

4. English town, one often conveying a welcome security (7)

Answer: MATLOCK (i.e. “English town” in Derbyshire). Solution is MAT (i.e. “one often conveying a welcome”) followed by LOCK (i.e. “security”). Another gotten from the wordplay.

5. Taking good care to accept different punishment in writing (12)

Answer: MOTHERLINESS (i.e. “taking good care”). Solution is OTHER (i.e. “different”) and LINES (i.e. “punishment” given to naughty schoolkids) both placed in or “accepted by” MS (i.e. “writing”, i.e. a recognised abbreviation of “manuscript”), like so: M(OTHER-LINES)S.

6. Rub out start of interview not intended for broadcast (8)

Answer: OINTMENT (i.e. “rub”). Solution is O (a recognised abbreviation of “out” used in several ball games) followed by I (i.e. “start of interview”, i.e. the first letter of “interview”), then N’T (a contraction of “not”) and a homophone (indicated by “for broadcast”) of MEANT, like so: O-I-N’T-MENT.
[EDIT: Chris in the comments offers an alternative route for this one, using “out” as an anagram indicator for I and NOT to get OINT. Sounds good to me. Cheers, Chris! – LP]

7. Express being closer, no longer quiet (5)

Answer: UTTER (i.e. “express”). Solution is PUTTER (i.e. “closer” in a hole of golf) with the P removed (indicated by “no longer quiet” – P being a recognised abbreviation of “piano” or quietly in musical lingo).
[EDIT: Thanks to Mike in the comments for another route to this, taking SH from SHUTTER to get the solution. I’ve a feeling this was more what the setter had in mind. Cheers, Mike! – LP]

8. Wearing shorts, perhaps, in Tube half-heartedly encouraged (10)

Answer: BARELEGGED (i.e. “wearing shorts, perhaps”). Solution is BARREL (i.e. “tube” of, say, a gun) with one of the two middle Rs removed (indicated by “half-heartedly”) and the remainder followed by EGGED (i.e. “encouraged”), like so: BAREL-EGGED.

10. Cats you can see round church often (7)

Answer: OCELOTS (i.e. “cats”). Solution is O (i.e. “round”) followed by CE (i.e. “church”, specifically the Church of England) and LOTS (i.e. “often”).

11. Young deer mostly left going through mud floor (9)

Answer: BAMBOOZLE (i.e. to “floor” someone). Solution is BAMBI (i.e. “young deer” of a certain Walt Disney movie, the name of which escapes me at the moment…) with its last letter removed (indicated by “mostly”) and the remainder followed by L (a recognised abbreviation of “left”) once placed in or “through” OOZE (i.e. “mud”), like so: BAMB-OOZ(L)E.

12. Strayed, without ending up in Irish town (5)

Answer: ENNIS (i.e. “Irish town”). Solution is SINNED (i.e. “strayed”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “without ending”) and the remainder reversed (indicated by “up” – this being a down clue).

13. Shun coca served with nougat – the response? (1,6,3,4)

Answer: A CHACUN SON GOUT, which translates as “each person to his own taste” (Chambers), supposedly “the response” one may hear if shunning coca served etc etc. Solution is an anagram (indicated by “served”) of SHUN COCA and NOUGAT. It’s in the dictionary I guess, but FFS this was a bastard to get. That said, it’s another of those handy phrases that help detect pretentious arseholes, so I’ve at least learned something this week.

20. Lots of pieces first of all removed from revolutionary’s property (5,4)

Answer: CHESS SETS (i.e. “lots of pieces” – lots probably meaning “collections” in this sense). Solution is CHE’S ASSETS (i.e. “revolutionary’s property”, specifically CHE Guevara) with the A removed (indicated by “first of all removed from…” – A being the first letter of “all”).

21. I called, worried, making a scandal (8)

Answer: IRANGATE (i.e. “a scandal” of the 1980s when the US government was rumbled selling arms to Iran to help fund anti-Communist forces in Nicaragua, despite Congress saying no. Let’s face it, all they really needed was Chuck Norris). Solution is I followed by RANG (i.e. “called”) and ATE (i.e. “worried”, as in what’s eating you?) Another gotten from the wordplay, though took my Oxford to confirm it. Interestingly, Wikipedia’s page on the whole sorry affair doesn’t use this particular epithet, so maybe this was something coined by the UK press.

23. Speak out of turn, letting a dependable person down? (4,1,5)

Answer: DROP A BRICK (i.e. “speak out of turn”). Clue plays on how dependable people are sometimes referred to as BRICKs. You get the idea.

24. A party to act, having suggested involving whip (10)

Answer: IMPLICATED (i.e. “a party to act”, as in one involved or implicated in a particular action). Solution is IMPLIED (i.e. “suggested”) wrapped around or “involving” CAT (i.e. “whip”, specifically a cat-o-nine-tails), like so: IMPLI(CAT)ED.

26. Like a blooming con? (2,3,2,1,6)

Answer: AS FIT AS A FIDDLE. From what I can see the clue plays on “blooming” being in good health, and a “con” being a FIDDLE, otherwise this seems another of those nothing clues you sometimes get in these things. If I’ve missed something devilishly clever, let me know and I’ll update the post.

28. Antiriot force finally deployed, getting done over (9)

Answer: ITERATION (i.e. an action “done over”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “deployed”) of ANTIRIOT and E (i.e. “force finally”, i.e. the last letter of “force”).

29. Palace supporter, not born in Balham to start with! (8)

Answer: ALHAMBRA (i.e. a “palace” complex in Spain whose name has seemingly spread to venues and hotels far and wide). Solution is BRA (i.e. “supporter”) with BALHAM placed “to start with” once the B has been removed (indicated by “not born in…” – B being a recognised abbreviation of “born”), like so: ALHAM-BRA. Clever given the proximity of Balham to Crystal Palace, but it took my Bradford’s to nail this one.

33. Young one from betting syndicate in Bluegrass State (6,7)

Answer: SPRING CHICKEN (i.e. “young one”). Solution is SP (i.e. “betting” – specifically the Starting Price) followed by RING (i.e. “syndicate”), then CHIC (i.e. “in” or stylish) and KEN (a recognised abbreviation of Kentucky, sometimes referred to as the “Bluegrass State”).

34. Not the flat we’ve been searching the country for? (8,4)

Answer: NATIONAL HUNT also known as jump racing, as opposed to “flat” racing. Clue plays on the solution being a “search” across “the country”. Clever.

38. Mock set repetition of echo in high voice, endless hours (5,5)

Answer: FALSE TEETH (i.e. “mock set”). Solution is E and E (i.e. “repetition of echo”, “echo” being E in the phonetic alphabet) both placed “in” FALSETTO (i.e. “high voice”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “endless”). This is all then followed by H (a recognised abbreviation of “hours”), like so: FALSET(EE)T-H.

40. As related, in charge of getting in weapons (9)

Answer: ARSENICAL (i.e. “As related” – As being the chemical symbol of arsenic). Solution is IC (a recognised abbreviation of “in charge”) placed “in” ARSENAL (i.e. “weapons”), like so: ARSEN(IC)AL. Probably my favourite clue this week.

42. Exile with feet tied up, but force not used (8)

Answer: DEPORTEE (i.e. “exile”). Solution is FEET and ROPED (i.e. “tied”) reversed (indicated by “up” – this being a down clue) once the F has been removed (indicated by “force not used” – F being a recognised abbreviation of “force”), like so: DEPOR-TEE.

44. Quite the gangster’s moll? (3,4)

Answer: ALL OVER (i.e. “quite”). When written as AL LOVER the solution also satisfies “gangster’s moll”, the gangster in question taken to be Al Capone.

46. Stumble upon trapping leg in lace (7)

Answer: HONITON (i.e. “lace”). Solution is HIT ON (i.e. “stumble upon”) wrapped around or “trapping” ON (i.e. “leg” side in cricket), like so: H(ON)IT-ON. Chalk another to my Bradford’s.

47. Winter vehicle taking second child round and round (6)

Answer: SKIDOO (i.e. “winter vehicle”). Solution is S (a recognised abbreviation of “second”) followed by KID (i.e. “child”), then O and O (i.e. “round and round”).

48. Proust, eg, an oddly uplifting story teller (5)

Answer: AESOP (i.e. “story teller”). “Oddly” indicates the solution can be found in every other letter of PROUST EG AN once reversed (indicated by “uplifting” – this being a down clue).

50. For audition, gets better tips (5)

Answer: HEELS (i.e. “tips”, probably taken to mean tilting or listing or tipping over). “For audition” indicates homophone. Solution is a homophone of HEALS (i.e. “gets better”).

52. Drink to spot on round dresser, in centre (5)

Answer: TOAST (i.e. “drink to”). Solution is TO A T (i.e. “spot on”) wrapped “round” S (i.e. “dresser, in centre”, i.e. the middle letter of “dresser”), like so: TO-A-(S)-T.

With Peturbator dropping his first new music for ages this weekend (potted review: it might take a few more listens), this prompted a whole lotta synthwave to accompany this week’s post. Retrofuture-tastic! Give these beauties a try the next time you’re streaming (links are to Spotify):
=> Peturbator: Dangerous Days – basically the album that got me into synthwave. ‘Future Club’ remains a foot-stomping cyberpunk highlight no matter how many times I hear it, but there are a good half dozen go-to tracks here;
=> Makeup and Vanity Set: Chrome EP – the guy’s prolific so his output varies, but this EP is mighty fine from beginning to end;
=> Makeup and Vanity Set: Breaking News – plays like a modern day classic 70s zombie movie soundtrack, if any of that makes sense. Great cover image too!
=> Carpenter Brut: Blood Machines soundtrack – well, the first two tracks anyway. It gets very… um… soundtracky after that;
=> Carpenter Brut: Leather Teeth – sets itself up as a soundtrack to a non-existent 80s slasher film and pulls it off with aplomb. The title track kicks all kinds of ass. Some of the videos are… ah… unreconstructed to put it mildly, but I guess that’s the point;
=> Carpenter Brut: Trilogy – yeah, you might have guessed I’m a bit of a fan. I was once told by Spotify I was in the top 1% of his listeners, which wasn’t something I particularly wanted to know. Anyway, this is a (mostly) awesome collection of his earlier stuff. ‘Turbo Killer’, ‘Paradise Warfare’ and ‘Looking For Tracy Tzu’ are each superb;
=> Danger: July 2013 EP – if you like all those BBBWWWAAAHHHMMM!!!!! moments you get in Hans Zimmer soundtracks then you’ll love this. Pro tip: play it loud. I swear the big key change during ‘1:09’ still puts goosebumps on my goosebumps. Danger broadened his output soon after this EP, but if he ever returns to this kind of stuff again I’ll be all over it like a rash.

Enjoy! – LP