Luke and I go back to medical school in the mid 90s. He always says that we were not close there but that’s not how I remember it. Perhaps that’s a key point in trying to understand the man, or at least explain him. For there are few people I know who inspire such devotion and fondness, who retain the ability to charm and beguile, and at once remain hidden in plain view.

We do agree that it was in Australia that our relationship really blossomed. Both of us lost, uncertain of medicine and our places within its conservative and demanding structures. We each have found ways to live with that uncertainty but my great pal “Bannune” perhaps wears the mask more skilfully than I.

Smart, so smart, he could have taken the path to the very highest, most distinguished teaching hospital anaesthetic post. He decided against that for a semi-bucolic life on the New South Wales coast with his adored wife and children. I believe this was the saving of him. We share many of the same demons and every time I meet with him I feel I can breathe again, time vanishes and the world goes away.

Tender-hearted and self-critical I looked forward to this interview so much. It did not disappoint. I learnt things about my old friend and I feel his enormous soul was displayed in the words he found.

First memory of the sheer joyfulness of music, pure family / moment in time happiness, I owe it to my parents too – I truly experienced and was totally present to innocence, exhilaration and fun for those 2 and a half minutes.

I love alcohol and being totally submissive to it, it’s angry fighting music, yet collegiate, boysy and choral. I almost chose Andrew WK, I Get Wet over this. I understand the eroticism of bondage and being out of control, that’s where beer and red wine take me… I look forward to having more time to dalliance with spirits. I also like to think I have ‘discovered’ a new artist (I’m an arrogant cunt) and no one else I knew had heard of him – even Jamesy, my weekly muso source in the US.

Makes me think of Grace and weep, sheer emotion, it builds and keeps its promise of purity whilst delivering a perfectly crescendo when he hands over to Lisa Hannigan, her voice is hauntingly pure.

Reminds me of Cinders and how I have let her down so many times. Despite trying to be a better person for her on an almost daily basis, somehow my innate selfishness always gets the better of me. The song also hits ‘that note’ that it makes you believe it will from the beginning – it doesn’t let you down. It is the exact opposite of Chasing Cars. Adele is the same – I genuinely love her too but it feels less contrived to list Imelda May, cause she’s less well known – see arrogant cunt in 2. I also love her female perspective, that mis