Earlier this month Ennio Morricone performed at Royal Albert Hall in London – along with a 100 piece orchestra, and 100 singers, and I was fortunate enough to be there. Words can’t even begin to describe how grand and beautiful it was… I had goosebumps throughout the entire performance.

The first song I heard was the ‘Deborah’s Theme‘ from Once Upon a Time in America, it plays when Noodles (De Niro) takes Deborah to dinner at the empty restaurant, the scene in the film ends badly but it’s probably one of the most beautiful pieces of music I’ve ever heard.

I managed to record a few minutes of
‘Ecstasy of Gold’
from The Good, The Bad and The Ugly on my iPhone.. EPIC!

The new Yotam Ottolenghi cookbook, Plenty, will hit the shelves in early May – just in time for summer BBQ season. The last one was full of delicious salads, tarts and sweet treats that could (mostly) be prepared in advance, meaning there wasn’t any fussing about when guests are around.

I look forward to trying out the new recipes on my unsuspecting BBQ friends in the coming months.

There is everything right about this man (very fittingly) named Ernest’s music – all dreamy with great drums and psychedelic keys. Lucky for me and thanks to Upset the Rhythm he’ll playing live in London on Tuesday 1 June at Cargo… if this Icelandic volcanic ash ever disperses and they start letting the planes fly again.

Tickets £8 from WeGotTickets

More songs up on his Facebook for your listening pleasure and full list of U.S. (with Beach House) and European tour dates on lastfm.com

Aloe Blacc intros what has to be probably the best part of this new HBO series, the soundtrack, with what might just be his finest tune yet, I Need a Dollar. With that and Mayer Hawthorne, the guys at Stones Throw must be feeling pretty good these days!

How to Make it in America is a new comedy offering from the producers of Entourage (which I LOVE). This one is set in Manhattan (and other bits probably in Williamsburg) with a couple of man-boys trying to make it in the world of premium denim/street wear.  They’re hustlers, hopeless, but kind of endearing. There’s also the token nerd-guy and tough Hispanic uncle just out of prison. I’m only 4 episodes into the first season, it’s full of hipster parties, skating and street art – but it’s entertaining.

It’s no Entourage, but the soundtrack (Phoenix, Broken Bells, Otis Redding, Sharon Jones, Talib Kweli etc etc…) I have to say is brilliant!

I’ve just been in Miami for some spring sunshine and this song came on the radio while I was driving across one of those amazing bridges over the turquoise water of the Florida Keys. It became the theme song of the holiday and I can’t stop listening to it… love it!

The Dream ‘Falsetto’