Independent 7412 by Hypnos

*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, CD=cryptic def, DD=double def, sp=spoonerism

I found this fairly straightforward apart from the two down the right-hand edge, neither of which I fully understand. There were a few arty clues, although probably not enough to constitute a full theme. The clues I did follow were very good, 10 across probably my favourite.
 

Across
1 Coalesce: Ales in [s]occe[r]*.
5 Elicit: E + licit.
9 Reminder: Re Minder (eighties TV series with Dennis Waterman).
10 Swivel: W in levis<.
12 Venus De Milo: (Menus I loved)*.
15 Gusto: Hidden in august office.
17 Anecdotal: Deacon* + tal[k].
18 Inelegant: [F]ine leg (cricket fielding position) + ant.
19 Rodin: Robin with b replaced by d.
20 Sierra Leone: Err a Leo in sine.
24 Mirage: Mi + rage.
25 White Lie: Whit + eli[t]e.
26 Take to: Hom of “take two”.
27 Operates: [C]ope + rates.
Down
1 Caravaggio: (A vicar agog)*.
2 Administer: Mini in ads + ter.
3 Ennis: Sinne[r].
4 Creme Caramel: Creel around camera* + m[eringue].
6 Low Loader: (Road well)* around o.
7 Cove: Odd letters of “cool view”.
8 Toll: “Cost in damage ? It could be found in change”. Cost is probably the def, but not sure of the rest.
11 Directorship: Di[g] + rectors + hip.
13 Studio Flat: (Lads outfit)*.
14 Blunderers: “Group containing number of French and Irish mostly, group involved in trip?”. I assume the number of French is un and Irish mostly is ers[e], but don’t see the group.
16 Oversight: Sigh in overt. Def is supervision.
21 Later: La[ugh]ter.
22 Omit: Address to college = “O, MIT”.
23 Trek: Hidden, rev in walker tirelessly.

11 comments on “Independent 7412 by Hypnos”

  1. 8 Bells toll and are rung in changes.

    14 BLUR [a modern beat combo] around UN [Fr number] DE [Fr of] +ERS[e]

  2. I fancy BLUNDERERS to be BLUR around N (number) DE (of French)ERS (mostly ERSE). I have to say it’s not the most elegant clue I’ve ever solved. The rest was good: I liked SWIVEL and SIERRA LEONE in particular.

  3. Beat me to it, Neal. Since I couldn’t see it, I’d put in PLUNDERERS, on the basis that they go off on a trip when they do that rape and pillage stuff. Thanks for the blog, btw.

  4. Had this one for lunch, and came to 15 Squred with exactly the same query! Very nice puzzle, as usual in The Indy.

  5. I parsed 14 like KD, which works fine, but I don’t like the definition ‘group involved in trip’: surely a group of blunderers (or even blunderers as a class/group) would be involved in trips, not trip; unless they all contrived to stumble or bang into a number of lampposts at the same time – but then they wouldn’t really be blunderers.

  6. Thanks Neal.
    I didn’t find this as easy as you but thought it was a pretty good puzzle.
    I always enjoy a puzzle with a wide range of references which this one certainly had.Artists,sculptors,80’s T.V. programmes,British pop groups,cricket, – a fairly diverse list!
    Favourite clues for me – 1 and 20 across and 14 down.

  7. V enjoyable puzzle, agree with those who say it was quite tough with some intricate, but v precise wordplay.

  8. Like yesterday did top half pretty quickly and struggled with bottom half.However did all but 14d which I understand how it was solved but would never have got it.Guessed at 20a with letters I had.Same with 25a.Enjoyable

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