Each of the Indy setters has their own distinctive talent – with Phi it’s immaculately constructed clues that I always find I can understand. This was a typical example, where I was able to work out from the wordplay two words that were completely new to me, verifying them after. These were both in the lower half of the grid which I found much trickier than the top half. Solving time, 19 mins.
* = anagram < = reversed
ACROSS
1 AN (AB APT IS) T Member of certain Protestant movements in the 1500s ant = soldier apt = appropriate AB = sailor
6 A BUT
10 T ROOP poor<
11 ARRIVISTE r (right) in (varies it)*
12 (p)LOT
13 FUG (obscure stuff) UsEd Odd letters. Not the first or last musical reference in a Phi clue.
14 SUPERNOVA (prove a sun)* &lit
15 OUT OF THE FRYING PAN INTO THE FIRE range = oven
22 ATROCIOUS O (nothing) in (a court is)*
24 D (I V) OT Driver = golf club V = see
25 HUB (bub)
26 VAPORETTI (top variety)* less y = unknown (algebra) New word number 1 (boats used in Venice)
27 OCTET Hidden < Appearing for second day in a row.
28 (c)RUSH
29 VESTRY-ROOM (over stormy)* A brilliantly concealed anagram in a great surface reading.
DOWN
1 ACT OF GOD Excluded from insurance policies usually.
2 A (MO) NGST
3 APPLE OF DISCORD (displaced proof)* From Greek mythology (prelude to Battle of Troy)
4 T (HAT’S) T HAT Middle of guTTer
5 STRAP parts<
7 B (ASS) OON
8 TO (ERA) G(s) Or it could be toga.
9 OVER MY DEAD BODY Double definition – split is at you/put
16 FETISHI ST (thief is)* Obsessive is a noun here.
17 TEE TOT (r)UM New word number 2 (old spinning top).
19 A PROP O S First letters Good flow in the surface reading
20 IN VIT(e) R O First letters again for the last two.
21 SA (L) VER
22 OUTRE r moving down in ROUTE
I took ages to get VESTRY ROOM, which I agree was a good clue, because I’d over-hastily put TEETOTAL at 17 down. I know, it doesn’t work on any level, but there you go.
In 13ac nmsindy refers to Phi’s frequent musical references. No doubt the first thing he thinks of when he writes a clue is music: he produces a monthly crossword for the BBC Music Magazine. The crosswords, although of course utterly sound, are very easy, but how he manages to bring a connection to music into every single clue is quite brilliant.