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sorry - that crossed with yours ...

Thanks Prospero.
Yes, 7 is what I have. There’s also the specific musical reference.
Quite subtle as themes go, but I like that.

Not enjoying it so far. I'm about half done, but dubious about my answers to several. Is 1a a thing? How does "lacking energy caught backsliding" fit in 1d? My answer could be clued by "Limp dwarf"!
I've guessed 2d and hence 20d, but don't see how the latter parses, if I have them right.

chrise - the "or" is significant in 1d. 20 - 7-letter word for less significant minus one "liberal".

Thanks prospero. I had misremembered the dwarfs!

Chrise for 20d you take a word meaning less significant and remove a "liberal." 2 down is a simple letter swap. Perhaps your doing them in reverse order made you overthink them!

I am left with 1a D.S.P.D. Is that right? Help welcome.

Like Chris, I've found this a struggle (and not particularly enjoyable). I've completed all bar 5 and 10. I have a perfectly good answer for 5 from the wordplay but it's a noun whereas the definition is an adjective. Maybe I've got the answer wrong. For 10, I can't see a suitable word that matches my crossers, all of which I think are correct.

yes - and "flighty" is an anagram indicator

Re 1a, yes it is