For the second month running, we have nothing to call a Book of the Month. Apparently there isn’t a lot published in January, but going by the rave of the reviews I think if we had read Lullaby by Leïla Slimani or Palaces by Simon Jacobs in time, they would both be contenders for the hallowed title. I can also recommend the book I just finished — Ma’am Darling: 99 Glimpses of Princess Margaret by Craig Brown. A supremely well written and hilarious romp through the disgusting behaviour of one seriously ridiculous human being.

So, as with December, in the absence of a book we’re gonna go with a record again. This month we’ve chosen El Tapado by Alan Tyler. You may know Alan as the founder member and singing songwriter of The Rockingbirds, and you may even recognise his name from these pages. Whether you do or don’t we suggest you check out the record: it’s mighty fine. Alan and his band will be launching the album at The Social, London W1, on Monday 15 January. (JB)