Podcast 20

Welcome good people to this week's podcast. New music awaits...

Click here to listen now!

Sleephouse Radio - Podcast 20 by sleephouseradio

Tracklisting:
1. Felt Letters - '600,000 Bands'
2. Chain And The Gang - 'Interview With Chain Gang'
3. Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti - 'Evolution's A Lie'
4. The War On Drugs - 'Taking The Farm'
5. Art Museums - 'S.H.O.P.P.I.N.G'
6. Prins Thomas - 'Wendy Not Walter'
7. Anthony 'Shake' Shakir - 'Assimilated'
8. Richard McGraw - 'Asheville'
9. Clogs - 'Last Song' (Featuring Matt Berninger)

1. Felt Letters - '600,000 Bands'
2. Chain And The Gang - 'Interview With Chain Gang'


The damn near inscrutable Ian Svenonious does it again. A deft puncturing of ego-inflated balloons on both sides of the artist / critic divide here. The first from Felt Letters is out on 7 inch right now and the second comes from last year's Chain And The Gang LP. Chain And The Gang are touring right now too. Check the MySpace for details.

Felt Letters MySpace

Chain And The Gang


3. Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti - 'Evolution's A Lie'


There's been a massive amount of focus on Ariel Pink's forthcoming album and quite rightly so - the current vogue for chillwave, hypnogogic pop and tape hiss (and hipness) certainly wouldn't have happened without him.

I'm disappointed in the new teaser track though - 'Round and Round' showcases Ariel's 80s FM Radio fascination, while I prefer the flipside hazy experimental Ariel Pink. I was hoping with the help of a full band and proper studio he'd go in the direction suggested by this awesome krautrocking, Darwin-baiting B-side from last year's 'I Can't Hear My Eyes' single.

Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti MySpace


4. The War On Drugs - 'Taking The Farm'


I've been digging Kurt Vile for a good while now - but I've had this MP3 unlistened on my computer for much longer than that. Random rediscovery threw it up again and I'll be damned if I haven't fallen in love.

If you love Vile and you haven't checked out The War On Drugs - the band of his like-minded best friend Adam Granduciel - then you're missing out.

From the 2008 album 'Wagonwheel Blues'.

The War On Drugs MySpace


5. Art Museums - 'S.H.O.P.P.I.N.G'


More melodious goodness from Woodsist records - this time it's Guided By Voices as re-imagined by the house band in a John Hughes movie. Or something. Excellent stuff once again.

Art Museums MySpace


6. Prins Thomas - 'Wendy Not Walter'


I have a love/hate thing going with the Norwegian Space Disco scene. I want to love them but some of their smoother tones keep pushing me away.

Not this track though. Could this be the start of something beautiful? From Prins Thomas' hotly-anticipated "nye plate" (that's "new record" in Norwegian, folks).

More info at Prins Thomas' Full Pupp Record Label MySpace


7. Anthony 'Shake' Shakir - 'Assimilated'


If you think inspirational music journalism is dead then you really should read Dusted Magazine's review of Anthony 'Shake' Shakir's retrospective anthology Frictionalism 1994-2009

Journalist Ben Tausig does everything right and there's samples of the music too. It got me so excited that I had to check this record out and I'm sure glad I did.

Frictionalism is a fantastic record of Anthony Skakir's radiant brilliance and it's all brand new to me. Three CDs worth of wonder await. Thank you Mr Skakir and Mr Tausig.

8. Richard McGraw - 'Asheville'


Illustration by Kevin Sprouls

Flat out "fucking" flawless songwriting from a fella I'd never previously heard of. I can't remember how I found out about him either.

Then again, all you need to know is that he's a fantastic songwriter, has a cracking new album out and spending sometime with his music would be a damn good investment.

Also, it's the modern age people - visit his MySpace below and do your own damn homework. Lots more music and videos await you.

Richard McGraw MySpace


9. Clogs - 'Last Song' (Featuring Matt Berninger)


The National are on their way back as we speak - and I personally can't wait to have another one of their excellently crafted records to cherish.

Until then - and not counting the mp3 leaks that have already begun - there's a brand new Clogs record out. It's called 'The Creatures in the Garden of Lady Walton' and this time it not only features National guitarist Bryce Dessner but also lead singer Matt Berninger, guesting on this epic piece of late night stillness.

Clogs MySpace

The Sleephouse Radio Mixtape - Number One

Thought I'd try something a little different this week and roll all the songs into one coherent and calming whole. Ladies and gentlemen, may I present the very first Sleephouse Radio mixtape...



Click here to listen now!

Sleephouse Radio - Mixtape One by sleephouseradio


Tracklisting:

1. Brain Machine – Pulsations
(taken from Thisisnotanexit Manifesto One CD)

2. Nest - 'Amroth'
(taken from the album 'Retold')

3. Sun Araw - 'Bump Up (High Step)
(taken from the 7" 'Sun Ark')

4. Liars - 'No Barrier Fun'
(taken from the album 'Sisterworld')

5. Inch-time - 'Icicles & Snowflakes'

6. Lemonade - 'Bliss Out (Gold Panda remix)'
(taken from Ewan Pearson's excellent 'We Are Proud Of Our Choices' compilation CD)

7. A Ldric - 'Birds On Tree'
(taken from Ewan Pearson's excellent 'We Are Proud Of Our Choices' compilation CD)

8. Mokira - 'Storspov / Fjäderreverb'
(taken from Various Artists – Ström - Pausfågeln Remixad - More info here)

9. Stimming - 'Song For Isabelle'
(taken from the album 'Reflections')

10. Fieldhead - 'Of October'

11. Paul Simon - 'Can't Run But'
(taken from the album 'The Rhythm Of The Saints')

12. Lucky Dragons - 'Take Turns'
(taken from the album 'Rara Speaks')

13. Cults - 'Go Outside'

Join the Sleephouse Radio Facebook Page now - and get the podcast in your news feed.

Podcast 18 - The Save 6music Special

The sad news - the rumour that the BBC is to close down its often excellent radio station 6music was confirmed this week.

The good news - there's been widespread condemnation of the decision and a massive amount of public support for the campaign to save the station from the controller's axe.

This week I've turned Sleephouse over to tunes that've been played on the station (and the Asian Network, which is also facing closure) during the past week.

This, ladies and gentlemen, is precisely what we'll be losing...

Click here to listen now!

Tracklisting:
1. The Impressions - 'We're A Winner'
2. Django Django - 'Wor'
3. Captain Beefheart - 'Big Eyed Beans From Venus'
4. Martin Carthy - 'The Devil And The Feathery Wife'
5. Canned Heat - 'On The Road Again'
6. Ulrich Schnauss: 'Knuddelmaus'
7. Asha Bhosle & Mohammed Rafi — 'Chura Liya Hai'
8. The Fall - 'Edinburgh Man'
9. Eden Ahbez - 'Full Moon'

Join the campaign:



1. The Impressions - 'We're A Winner'


A more fitting way to start the podcast I couldn't think of - Curtis Mayfield really knew how to write a protest song. Lesson number 1: Always focus on the positive. In this case, the incredible music.

A cut from this week's edition of the ever enthusiastic Craig Charles' Funk and Soul Show which goes out prime time on Saturday night.


2. Django Django - 'Wor'


Marc Riley's weekday evening show is often an essential listen, not least for those of us who grew up with the classic Mark and Lard show in the mid-90s. Live sessions, the best in new music and some cracking banter make this show an important part of any emerging band's bread and butter.

Django Django are a case in point - Marc's been hammering the releases of these up-and-coming young chaps for almost a year and he's already had them in for a live session.

Listen to Marc Riley weeknights right here - and buy this 7" single from Django Django's Bandcamp site.


3. Captain Beefheart - 'Big Eyed Beans From Venus'


Stuart Maconie's Freak Zone is a national treasure (© Luke Turner of The Quietus) - and it represents just the kind of show that wouldn't even get elbow room on any other station. Every Sunday evening from 5.30pm Stuart pries the lid of a a great big barrel of crazy and broadcasts a show that heads straight for the outerlimits.

This week's featured album was apparently "Beefheart's most accessible album" - 1972's blistering 'Clear Spot' - but as is normal with music from The Freak Zone that still means it's about as twitchy as a tree full of itchy monkeys.


4. Martin Carthy - 'The Devil And The Feathery Wife'


The ghost of John Peel hovers above everything that 6music does and one of the greatest things about the station is their ability to showcase the incredible 'John Peel Session' Archive.

This week the Freakzone dipped in and pulled out a stunning acoustic set by Martin Carthy, recorded for John Peel's show in 1983 and beginning with a rather endearing flub.

Click here to listen to The Freakzone every Sunday - it will definitely improve your life.

[INTERLUDE - Guy Garvey introduces Canned Heat]

5. Canned Heat - 'On The Road Again'


One of the things that 6music really does well is true passion for music and Guy Garvey's show is perhaps the most obvious example of this. The Elbow lead singer is clearly completely in love with the music he plays and he does a great job of making you fall head over heels too.

He's doesn't really have to try hard with this classic but the story with which he introduced this week was just the kind of a priceless and unique insight that 6music listeners won't get anywhere else.

Listen to Guy Garvey's Finest Hour every Sunday night from 10pm

And yeah, I know this is an obvious track but it's still amazing and that's what 6music is all about - not being a snob, just being an enthusiast.


6. Ulrich Schnauss: 'Knuddelmaus'


Of course, it's not just 6music that's faced with the chop - it's the Asian Network too. And there's been a hell of a lot of "What about the Asian Network? Don't you Indie music types care about that?" comments flying about. I personally have never listened to the Asian Network before but this week I've dipped in my toe.

What I found wasn't Asian in the slightest - he was German and he was making a wonderful DJ mix on a show called 'Pathaan's Musical Rickshaw'. Ulrich Schnauss popped up somewhat unexpectedly and you can listen his DJ mix right here until Sunday (7th March). I'd highly recommend it.

'Knuddelmaus' comes from Ulrich's excellent 'Far Away Trains Passing By' album which came out in 2002.

7. Asha Bhosle & Mohammed Rafi — 'Chura Liya Hai'


It's probably tokenism of the highest order - stereotypical certainly - but I simply had to include this fantastic track from Bollywood great Asha Bhosle. I heard it on this week's edition of Retro Selection on the Asian Network. I have no idea what this song is about but it's beautiful nonetheless. Just like the show that played it.

For me, the bottom line is that a good public service radio station is a something that only a non-commercial entity like the BBC can properly provide. Cut the websites, the magazines, and the expensive foreign TV imports - but keep the things that contribute to understanding, education and community in the UK. Asian Network and 6music are two such things.

8. The Fall - 'Edinburgh Man'


6music and Jarvis Cocker are a match made in broadcasting heaven. His new Sunday Service show is superb - featuring music, art and poetry discussion and readings by Jarvis himself - it's a uniquely English gem.

Just like The Fall, without whom a podcast supporting a station that champions UK independent music would by no means be complete.

This week Jarvis chose this unusually gentle track from 1991's 'Shift Work' album - like John Peel used to say of The Fall: "Always the same, always different."


[INTERLUDE - Jarvis reads 'The Goalkeepers Revenge' by Bill Naughton. Now you don't hear that kinda thing on many radio stations.]


9. Eden Ahbez - 'Full Moon'


It's also thanks to Jarvis' that I now know about the enigmatic Eden Ahbez - a proto hippy in the late 50s who was also responsible for writing the song 'Nature Boy' for Nat King Cole.

I'll be investigating Eden Ahbez further and this is what I love about 6music - and the BBC in general - they both entertain and educate me. One of the very principles at the heart of the corporation's foundation all those years ago.


Help 6music (and The Asian Network hopefully) - join the Facebook group here and find out what you can do to keep these stations alive.