Crossword Roundup: If You Hate the Word ‘Vinyl’, Wait Until You Hear ‘Albums’ | Crossword

In the sample clues below, the links direct you to explanations from our series for beginners. The name of the smuggler is often linked to an interview with him, in case you want to know these people better.

News in clues

It’s hard not to read this hint from Qaos…

13a Record increase in post-holiday clutter (7)
[ wordplay: anagram of (‘in disorder’) RISE, after synonym for ‘parties’ ]
[ SIER after DOS ]
[ definition: record ]

…for FILE and not wondering what will be heard when the next news of a Downing Street bash breaks. A cheese dip ? Tornado? A pantomime horse? In the meantime, Neo may be deliberately anti-news with this clue…

23d Root bats, that run, but this one spins (5)
[ wordplay: anagram (‘bats’ as adjective) of ROOT + abbrev. for ‘runs’ ]
[ ROTO + R ]
[ definition: item that turns ]

… for ROTOR.

This latest model

Here’s a hint from Anto from the quiptic, the Guardian’s puzzle “for beginners and those in a hurry”:

16a Recording Material Bringing Video to New York Libraries (5)
[ wordplay: first letters of (‘introducing’) VIDEO INTO NEW YORK LIBRARIES ]
[ definition: recording ]

Because it was once related to ethylene, VINYL shares a root with “wine” and has accumulated uses since its appearance in the mid-19th century. These days, that means something different to those who grew up with (vinyl records in general) than it means to those who only knew digital music. Now an individual record can be “a vinyl”, creating a generational gap reminiscent of the Not the Nine O’Clock News sketch that now appears as a curious period piece.

We have already talked about how the guitar became an “acoustic guitar” after the appearance of its electric cousin. Likewise the “traditional oven”, “corn on the cob”, etc. If the usual pattern had been followed, we would now have an expression such as “circular album” or “flat song”.

I can’t think of another example; no one calls, say, a conventional cigarette “a tobacco.” Can you think of one? And have you spotted any evidence in the nature of “vinyl” as a verb?

Incidentally, anyone tempted to harass “vinyls” should check that they never said “three-album box set” or “double album”, since the original albums were, as their name suggests, record collections. rather than individual disks. . Which brings us to our next challenge: reader, how about ALBUM?

Without paper

Want another three-dimensional puzzle? Do you have fond memories of Chameleon’s indicedoku? You’re in luck: printable PDF / online version.

Index competition

Thanks for your hints for APP. I enjoyed the many non-application related surfaces, such as “Package missing and signed by someone else” from Smallboat01 and although I enjoyed “A little disappointed in Wordle, for example” from Battledore , should we encourage an acceptance of the app and hack versions of Wordle?

The award for boldness goes to Peshwari for “Programming a collection of animals to shuffle to the right”. The finalists both use the app’s new meaning: “Laptop malfunctioning – ____ lost?” by Lizard. and “Laptop refused to open to unwanted software” from Newlaplandes. The winner, to which I imperiously added a question mark, is “Tap phone with this installed?” by Peter Moore Fuller.

Congratulations to Peter. Please leave the entries for this fortnight’s contest – along with your unprinted finds and picks from the large-format cryptics – below.

The last in our collaborative playlist Healing Music Recorded in 2020-22 to Accompany a Solve or Even Listen to is by Lucinda Williams, who described the process of recovering from a stroke to Rolling Stone magazine.

Lucinda Williams, Save Yourself

Fortnight index

It’s always a treat when you assume a surface reading has nothing to do with the answer, then realize you’ve been cheated thinking you’ve been cheated. Here’s an example, from the start of a Wednesday Telegraph:

1a The speaker’s planned delivery may be affected (4,6)
[ wordplay: anagram of (‘planned’) THEORATORS ]
[ definition: either the whole clue or the last six words ]

SORE THROAT, therefore, and good health.

Here’s a collection of all of our explainers, interviews, and other helpful stuff.

Alan Connor’s thought-provoking shipping forecast book, which is partly but not primarily cryptic, can be ordered from the Guardian Bookstore.

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