6 Music's Tom Ravenscroft invites a different guest each week to Peel Acres: the home of his dad, former BBC radio DJ John Peel, and his legendary music collection.
Tom's musical guests will lend a hand (and two ears) in making sense of this vast record archive, which comprises tens of thousands of albums and singles, built over a lifetime and meticulously catalogued.
John's broadcasting career spanned five decades, until his death in 2004. He's known for the thousands of Peel Sessions broadcast on his BBC Radio 1 show, and for playing an instrumental role in the early careers of many bands; including Pulp, The Smiths, The Undertones and The White Stripes.
Blur frontman and Gorillaz founder, Damon Albarn is Tom Ravenscroft's first guest to Peel Acres; lending a hand (and two ears) in making sense of his dad's vast record collection - tens of thousands of albums and singles collected over a lifetime. Damon first visited John Peel's home back in the late 90s, when Blur recorded a session for his Radio 1 show.
Presented by Tom Ravenscroft Produced by Kevin Core
Episode Sleeve Notes:
Track 1: The Fall - Kurious Oranj (from I Am Kurious Oranj) Damon instantly hones in on I Am Kurious Oranj; a 1988 album by The Fall which was written to soundtrack a ballet, in collaboration with Scottish dancer Michael Clark. Credited as John Peel's favourite band, the post-punk outfit was led by Mark E Smith - the only constant band member in an ever changing line up.
Track 2: The Idle Race - Please No More Sad Songs (from Idle Race) Taking "a complete punt", Damon next pulls out a 1969 album by the Birmingham band The Idle Race - who he's surprised to discover is the first record produced by Jeff Lynne, who also provides lead vocals. After this album failed to chart, he made the move to… The Move, who later become Electric Light Orchestra (best known for the track Mr Blue Sky).
Track 3: Kevin Ayers - Lady Rachel (from Joy of a Toy) Damon's next pick is another 1969 record, and one he remembers from his own parents' (much more limited) collection. Joy of a Toy was the debut solo album of Kevin Ayres, a founding member of rock band Soft Machine. He compares the "classic English whimsy" of Ayers's voice to that of Syd Barrett, Pink Floyd's original frontman and lyricist.
Track 4: Blah Blah Blah - Why Diddle The next pick is the B side to a 7" single by Blah Blah Blah, a band from Clacton-on-Sea in Essex, which Damon introduces à la Peel. Tom compares their sound to the avant-garde music of Captain Beefheart.
Track 5: Soft Machine - Save Yourself (from The Soft Machine) Fun fact: Damon's dad, Keith Albarn briefly managed the Soft Machine. This debut album is the only one to feature previous pick, Kevin Ayers - alongside lead vocals from Robert Wyatt. Tom reveals that Wyatt was a regular visitor to Peel Acres and still occasionally calls now (he's known to leave wonderfully long answerphone messages).
Track 6: Mahalia Jackson - We Shall Overcome The next pick is "The Queen of Gospel", Mahalia Jackson - who is considered one of the greatest voices of the 20th century and one Damon has known since a child. With a singing career spanning over 40 years, she also took an active role in the American civil rights movement and sang just before Martin Luther King Jr delivered his famous "I Have a Dream speech".
Damon is a fan of early gospel vocal quartets, and says his favourite classical piece is A Child of Our Time, by British composer Michael Tippett - which includes sections of spirituals. Which leads on to talking about polyphony - that is, combining a number of parts, which each form an individual melody and harmonise with each other. He references composer Pérotin, who developed early polophonic work in Notre Dame, Paris in the 12th century.
Track 7: J. R. R. Tolkien - From Poems and Songs of Middle Earth The A side of this 1967 album features writer J. R. R. Tolkien reading poems from his The Lord of the Rings and The Adventures of Tom Bombadil books. Side B features songs from Middle Earth, with music composed by Donald Swann - who features on piano, accompanying the fittingly named singer William Elvin.
Track 8: Love - Alone Again Or Damon's final choice, by the LA psychedelic rock band Love, was apparently a tour bus favourite for Blur. This track appears on their third album Forever Changes which, despite only moderate success in the 1967 charts, is regularly named among the greatest albums of all time.
Damon Albarn - Royal Morning Blue The Idle Race - Please No More Sad Songs The Fall - Kurious Oranj Blah Blah Blah - Why Diddle Kevin Ayers - The Lady Rachel Soft Machine - Save Yourself Mahalia Jackson - We Shall Overcome Love - Alone Again Or Donald Swann & William Elvin - I Sit Beside The Fire / Refrain: A Elbereth Githoniel Damon Albarn - Royal Morning Blue
The low, rootsy twang prevalent in funk music is called 'slap bass' - a tricky, sometimes divisive guitar technique involving whacking the bass strings with your thumb.
Comedian Mitch Benn charts its progression from the upright double basses of the 1930s, through Elvis Presley to the high energy rock of bands like Red Hot Chilli Peppers and Primus.
Talking to players like Yolanda Charles, Mark King and Guy Pratt, and musicologist Sid Griffin, Mitch discovers how the bass guitar emerged from back of the stage to the front, and into the bright lights of disco and '70s funk.
But Mitch is going to do more than talk about slap bass. He's going to learn how to do it and in preparation for a very discerning audience at the legendary Wunjo's Bass and Keyboard Shop in London's Denmark Street.
Producer: Kevin Core
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2011.
The Jam (feat. Graham Central Station) I Want Your Love (feat. Guy Pratt) That's Alright Mama (feat. Elvis Presley) Lessons In Love (feat. Level 42) Red Hot Chili Peppers - No Chump Love Sucker Red Hot Chili Peppers - Nobody Weird Like Me Ramones - Blitzkrieg Bop The Beatles - Being For The Benefit Of Mr. Kite! Jonathan Wolff - Seinfeld Tommy The Cat (feat. Primus) Jonathan Wolff - Seinfeld
Liz spends some quality time chatting with Bobbie Gillespie. He talks about growing up in a Glasgow tenement, joining Jesus & Mary Chain and mainstream success singing in Primal Scream, when their album Screamadelica went global in 1991.
Primal Scream - Movin' On Up [Dino] Black Sabbath - Back Street Kids Nazareth - This Flight Tonight Sex Pistols - God Save The Queen [Disky] Generation X - Ready Steady Go [Castle] The Sisters Of Mercy - 1969 (Radio 1 John Peel Session, 25 Aug 1982) The Clash - White Riot [Columbia] Buzzcocks - Ever Fallen In Love (With Someone You Shouldn't've) [EMI] The Damned - New Rose [Big Beat] Billy Paul - Let 'Em In The O'Jays - The Back Stabbers T. Rex - Metal Goru David Cassidy - How Can I Be Sure [Old Gold] The Jesus And Mary Chain - Just Like Honey [Emperor Norton] The Jesus And Mary Chain - The Living End (Radio 1 Session, 3 Feb 1985) The Jesus And Mary Chain - Sidewalking [Reprise] The Jesus And Mary Chain - You Trip Me Up [Rhino] The Jesus And Mary Chain - April Skies (6 Music Festival, Live at Barrowlands 24 Mar 2017) Primal Scream - Rocks (Live at Barrowlands 1994) Primal Scream - Gentle Tuesday Primal Scream - I'm Losing More Than I'll Ever Have [Home] Primal Scream - Loaded [Now] Primal Scream (Feat. Denise Johnson) - Don't Fight It, Feel It [Creation] Neil Young & Crazy Horse - Country Home Primal Scream - Country Girl [Columbia]
American actor George Clooney shares his castaway choices with Sue Lawley
George was born in Lexington, Kentucky in 1961, the son of Nick Clooney, a TV newscaster. From the age of five, George spent time pottering round his father's sets, joining in where possible, shouting out the temperature during the weather report.
After an initial plan to follow his father into broadcasting, then studying for a short while at Northern Kentucky University, George failed to join the Cincinnati Reds baseball team. But then he got a part in a small film through his uncle, the actor Jose Ferrer. The film was never released, but it had persuaded George of his vocation.
Since this programme was made, George has become a family man and more involved in political and humanitarian work.
His Academy Awards include Best Supporting Actor for Syriana in 2005 and Best Picture for Argo in 2012.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 2003.
Hank Williams - I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry [Hit Label] Pink Floyd - Another Brick In The Wall, Part 2 [EMI] Dinah Washington - Destination Moon [Columbia] Frank Sinatra - Nice And Easy [Capitol] Bobby Darin - Artificial Flowers [Warner Bros.] Bill Withers - Who Is He (And What Is He To You?) [Columbia] Van Morrison - Moondance [Warner Bros.] William Shatner - Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds [Universal]
DESERT ISLAND DISCS: ROBERT PLANT (320kbs-m4a/78mb/34mins) BBC Radio 4 broadcast: 13th March 2022 Robert Plant is a singer and songwriter who was Led Zeppelin’s frontman from the band’s inception in 1968 until it disbanded in 1980. Led Zeppelin sold hundreds of millions of albums and in their heyday acquired a reputation for unbridled rock ‘n’ roll hedonism. Since 1980 Robert has gone on to achieve success as a solo artist and has collaborated with other musicians, notably the bluegrass singer Alison Krauss. Their 2007 album Raising Sand won five Grammy Awards.
Robert was born in West Bromwich in 1948. At 15 he appeared on stage for the first time as the lead vocalist for a local band after the regular singer fell ill. In 1965 he started performing with the Crawling King Snakes and it was after one of the band’s gigs that he met his friend, the drummer John Bonham.
In 1968 Robert and John joined up with Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones to form Led Zeppelin. Later that year the band embarked on its first US tour and the enthusiastic response from American audiences heralded a new force in British music. Over the next 12 years the band released eight studio albums including Led Zeppelin IV which featured one of their most popular tracks – Stairway to Heaven.
In 1980 John Bonham died from alcohol poisoning at the age of 32 and Led Zeppelin broke up. Devastated by his friend’s death, Robert took himself off to explore other creative avenues, recording and performing with a wide range of artists.
Robert and Alison Krauss released their second album, Raising the Roof, in 2021.
Robert lives in Worcestershire near where he grew up. He is a committed fan of Wolverhampton Wanderers and Black Country homing pigeons.
BOOK CHOICE: The Earliest English Poems, translated by Michael Alexander LUXURY ITEM: A basket containing photos of homing pigeons CASTAWAY'S FAVOURITE: Serenade by Mario Lanza
Presenter: Lauren Laverne Producer: Paula McGinley
Eddie Cochran - Pink Peg Slacks [Pegasus Entertainment] Mario Lanza - Serenade [CGH Ventures Inc] Howlin' Wolf - I Ain't Superstitious [Geffen] Baba Brooks - Teenage Ska [Island] Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young - Ohio [UME] Mohammed Rafi - Raha Gardishon Main Hardam [Angel] Ali Farka Touré With Ry Cooder - Diaraby [World Circuit] Robert Plant & Alison Krauss - Your Long Journey [Decca]
Leslie Caron is an award-winning actress and dancer who starred in some of the most memorable films of Hollywood's golden age including An American in Paris and Gigi. Leslie was first cast away on Desert Island Discs in 1956 when she was 25, and her return, nearly 66 years later, marks the greatest gap between appearances in the programme's 80-year history.
She was born in Paris in 1931 and started ballet lessons at 11 to please her mother, a dancer herself who had performed on Broadway. Her early childhood was marred by the war and growing up in occupied Paris, but when she was 16 she joined Roland Petit's Ballets des Champs-Elysées which opened up a new world of possibility. A year later she was spotted during a performance by a member of the audience - Gene Kelly. He lobbied MGM to cast her as his leading lady in An American in Paris, which launched her Hollywood career.
Leslie played the tile role in Gigi both on stage in London in a production directed by Peter Hall, who she married, and in the feature film directed by Vincente Minelli. The film won all nine of its nominations at the 1959 Academy Awards – a record at the time.
Leslie went on to star in the L-Shaped Room and later played roles in the films Chocolat and Damage. In 2006 she won an Emmy Award for her part in the television series Law and Order: Special Victims Unit. More recently she was on our TV screens playing the Countess Mavrodaki in the drama series The Durrells.
She was awarded the Commandeur de la Légion d'honneur in 2013 and the JF Kennedy Gold Medal in the Arts two years later.
Leslie lives in London and describes herself as "almost retired."
Presenter Lauren Laverne Producer Paula McGinley
Édith Piaf - L'Accordeoniste [EMI] Maria Callas - Si, Mi Chiamano Mimi [Warner Classics] Jacques Brel - Ne Me Quite Pas [Vintage Music] Ella Fitzgerald - Miss Otis Regrets [Pacific] Fred Astaire - One For My Baby (from The Sky's The Limit) [Sharp Edge] Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Requiem Randy Newman - Burn On [Nonesuch] Yves Montand - Les Feuilles Mortes [Discos Cada]
The electronic and audio-visual artist selects an hour of exciting pan-genre music that explores ideas of extremes and intensity ranging from beauty to brutalism, chaos to peace. Including reflective piano, pounding techno and absorbing modulated cello soundscapes from the likes of Max Richter, Aphex Twin and Oliver Coates to name just a few. The playlist marks the release of Cooper's deeply thoughtful and meticulous new album Unspoken Words which is his most personal to date; exploring the difficulties of using words to explain ourselves and our place in the world.
Max Cooper - Everything Max Richter - Horizon Variations Alix Perez - Poison Ivy Blanck Mass - Detritus Nils Frahm - Talisman Ben Lukas Boysen - Only In The Dark Vaetxh - List Of Lists Roots Manuva - Witness (Sugabled Remix) Asquith - Down Oliver Coates - Honey Aphex Twin - Come To Daddy (Pappy Mix) Rival Consoles - What Sorrow Max Cooper - Ascent
Max Cooper has carved a unique space as an audio-visual artist with a science PhD and an international reputation as a leading electronic musician. He merges electronic music and visual art with scientific enquiry through installations, live performance, immersive audio-visual experiences, a range of digital media and award-winning music videos. Unspoken Words is Cooper’s 6th studio album and the latest in an impressive back catalogue that dates back to 2007, when he juggled studying Computational Biology with being resident DJ at a local techno club.
Mark Fell - Part 3: Acids In The Style Of Rian Treanor - 2 [Editions Mego] Portico Quartet & Jono McCleery - Where You Are [Ninja Tune] Rival Consoles - Dreamer's Wake [Erased Tapes] Com Truise - I Dream (For You) [Ghostly International] Beneath - Legs Eleven [Livity Sound Recordings] Lusine - Retrace [Ghostly International] Max Cooper - Unreleased Trentemøller - Gush [Audiomatique Recordings] Splash Pattern - Furnace [Céad] Patrik Berg - Living The Lie [Drumcode] The Prodigy - Poison [XL Recordings] Creatures - Foliage [Ekou Recordings] Roni Size - Brown Paper Bag [Talkin' Loud] Max Cooper - Everything [Mesh]
Few have been so successful in interrogating and furthering the intersection between electronic music, visual art, technology and science in the past decade as Max Cooper. Collaborating with multi-disciplinary artists, and institutions like the Barbican, Zaha Hadid Architects and Dolby Atmos, Cooper has developed a mixed-media approach to the creation of immersive light installations, psycho acoustics, surround visuals, and electronic music. Max has 3 pieces in the Design Museum exhibition "Electronic" which is now available to experience online.
Rob Clouth - Zero Point [Mesh] Max Cooper & Tom Hodge - Symmetry [Mesh] Massive Attack - Unfinished Sympathy [Virgin] Non Square - Hold On [Mesh] Indian Wells - Night Arp Blues [Mesh] Alex Banks - Tephra [Mesh] Reid Willis - The Ocean Won't Allow [Mesh] Rob Clouth - Transition (Ben Lukas Boysen Remix) [Mesh] Alix Perez - Poison Ivy [1985 Music] Mickey Finn & Aphrodite - Badass [Urban Takeover] Laurent Garnier - Man With The Red Face [F Communications]
Blamstrain - Linja (Mosaik Remix) Boards Of Canada - Dayvan Cowboy [Warp] Lusine - Two Dots The Future Sound Of London - Papua New Guinea [Jumpin/Pumpin] Max Cooper - Rule 110 (Synkro Remix) Fuck Buttons - Stalker [ATP Recordings]
Nemone broadcasts the full DJ set from Max Cooper as part of 6 Music Festival Lates.
This year's 6 Music Festival Late club nights are taking place on Friday and Saturday at the Invisible Wind Factory in Liverpool, as part of the station's three day celebration of music, art and culture in the city.
Highlights from the 6 Music Festival are available on 6 Music and BBC Sounds across the weekend, with all the performances from Eventim Olympia and Mountford Hall available to watch live and in full at BBC iPlayer and at bbc.co.uk/6music, with catch up for 30 days afterwards.
Belfast born producer Max Cooper provides our Friday mix and chats to Mary Anne about his new album, One Hundred Billion Sparks. To make the new album, Max spent a full month in complete isolation - no calls, emails, texts, social media, no human contact whatsoever - in a cottage in a remote part of Wales, in an attempt to explore what was left of him. Max also has a PhD in computational biology and his interest in science influences his music.
Revisiting a brilliant atmospheric mix from Max Cooper. First broadcast in 2015, the mix features music from Burial, Nils Frahm, Rockwell, Dorian Concept and Boards of Canada.
"I wanted to make this mix a fusion of everything that I love most about music, without any restraints. As a result it plays a little like a trip through the inside of my head. I was lucky enough to receive some amazing unreleased tracks from some of the best out there; Nils Frahm, Lusine, Rob Clouth and Tim Hecker. I've hidden a couple of new tracks of mine in there too. I hope there's something in there you enjoy!". Max Cooper February 2015
Max Cooper - 4D Wave Interference [White Label] A Winged Victory For The Sullen - Atomos VI [Erased Tapes] Max Cooper - Untitled [White Label] Vaetxh - List Of Lists [Detroit Underground] Lusine - Arterial [Ghostly International] Kimyan Law - Eclairage [Blu Mar Ten Music] Fran Seven - At Least [Atomnation] Isaac Delusion - Pandora's Box (Lusine Remix) [White Label] Burial - Rough Sleeper [Hyperdub] Gidge - Huldra [Atomnation] Kiasmos - Looped [Erased Tapes] Samu.l - Beach [Surface] Fennesz - Before I Leave [Mego] Rob Clouth & Max Cooper - Untitled [White Label] Tessela - C'mon Lets Slow Dance [R&S] JoeFarr - Tape 7 (Tessela Remix) [DSNT] The Future Sound Of London - Papua New Guinea [Jumpin' & Pumpin'] Faib & Synkro - Inhale [Smoking Sessions] Nils Frahm - Peter (Max Cooper Remix Edit) [White Label] Tom Hodge & Max Cooper - The Smallest Measurable Space [Quotient Series] Rob Clouth - The Smallest Measurable Space [Leisure System] Alberto Ruiz & Hugo Bianco - Haze [Be One] Rrose - 23 Lashes [Eaux] Dyad - From Another Place [Dyad] Pfirter - Supraventricular [Stroboscopic Artefacts] Rival Consoles - Haunt [Erased Tapes] OneOhTrixPointNever - Rush [Warp] Rob Clouth - Deep Field [Leisure System] JoeFarr - Mormon Shuffle [Leisure System] Satirist & Skew - Untitled [White Label] Dorian Concept - The Sky Opposite (Tim Hecker Remix) [Ninja Tune] Tom Hodge & Max Cooper - Remnants [Fields] Kimyan Law - Daimyo [Blu Mar Ten Music] Rival Consoles - Recovery [Erased Tapes] Boards Of Canada - Dayvan Cowboy [Warp] Rockwell - Full Circle [Shogun Audio] Cirrus - Shiver Shrapnel (Woulg Remix) [Terra Null Recordings] Vaetxh - List Of Lists [Detroit Underground] The Rustle Of The Stars - Sleeping Land (Part 1) (Max Cooper Remix) [Quotient Series] Nils Frahm - Them [White Label]
To complement the 6 Music Arctic Monkeys Artist Collection, another chance to hear their friend, inspiration and collaborator John Cooper Clarke exploring the important part that the suit has played in music.
The bespoke and bespectacled Bard of Salford spins sartorial songs for the switched on generation. John will join his tailoring mate, the Savile Row taught Tom Baker at his Soho establishment to get his inside leg measured and chat about the many intricacies of the modern day suit.
Expect music from Eddie Cochran, the Hives, Nancy Sinatra, Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds and Adam Ant.
John Cooper Clarke is an English performance poet who first became famous during the punk era of the late 1970s. He released several albums in the late 1970s and early 1980s and a written anthology of his work entitled Ten Years In An Open Necked Shirt.
At the end of the 1990s, he was included as part of the English GCSE syllabus, which led to a whole new audience discovering his work. This is where Alex Turner of Arctic Monkeys first came across him and it was the championing done by Alex and others that led to John's return to the tour circuit.
First broadcast in 2014.
Nancy Sinatra - Cuff Links And A Tie Clip Lou Rawls - Street Corner Hustler Blues/World Of Trouble (Live) David Bowie - Be My Wife Fats Waller - Got A Bran' New Suit Wilson Pickett - She's Lookin' Good Charlie Rich - Mohair Sam Elvis Presley - Blue Suede Shoes Clarence Carter - Looking For A Fox Ricky Shayne - Uno Dei Mods The Hives - Born To Cry Dion - Donna The Prima Donna Dr. Horse - Jack, That Cat Was Clean
To complement the 6 Music Arctic Monkeys Artist Collection, another chance to hear their friend, inspiration and collaborator John Cooper Clarke exploring the important part the suit has played in music.
The bespoke and bespectacled Bard of Salford spins sartorial songs for the switched on generation. John will join his tailoring mate, the Savile Row taught Tom Baker at his Soho establishment to get his inside leg measured and chat about the many intricacies of the modern day suit.
Expect music from Eddie Cochran, the Hives, Nancy Sinatra, Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds and Adam Ant.
John Cooper Clarke is an English performance poet who first became famous during the punk era of the late 1970s. He released several albums in the late 1970s and early 1980s and a written anthology of his work entitled Ten Years In An Open Necked Shirt.
At the end of the 1990s, he was included as part of the English GCSE syllabus, which led to a whole new audience discovering his work. This is where Alex Turner of Arctic Monkeys first came across him and it was the championing done by Alex and others that led to John's return to the tour circuit.
First broadcast in 2014.
Bob Crosby & His Orchestra - A Zoot Suit Etta James - Mellow Fellow Frank Sinatra - Sunday Nick Cave & Shane MacGowan - What A Wonderful World Gene Vincent - Bluejean Bop The Beatles - Chains The Coasters - Shoppin' For Clothes The Rolling Stones - Brown Sugar Sex Pistols - Pretty Vacant Barry Manilow - Copacabana (At The Copa) Led Zeppelin - Stairway To Heaven Led Zeppelin - Immigrant Song James Brown - Out Of Sight The Horrors - I See You The Beatles - Baby's In Black Eddie Cochran - Pink Peg Slacks Sex Pistols - Anarchy In The UK Arctic Monkeys - I Wanna Be Yours The Contours - First I Look At The Purse
When Facebook changed its name to Meta at the end of 2021, the word "metaverse" got everywhere.
But the idea of a virtual reality, fully immersed life, spent in a structured, created, illusory perceived universe has its roots a lot deeper than that, even before the writer Neal Stephenson coined the term in his 1992 novel Snow Crash.
Pygmalion's Spectacles, a science fiction novella by Stanley G Weinbaum has hints of the idea. Perhaps it goes back to the beginnings of ancient philosophical traditions. It’s hard to nail down, so ubiquitous is the idea. Indeed, "world building" is in many ways just what film-makers, game-writers, authors and story-tellers have been doing for centuries.
More recently, it has even become fashionable to speculate that the universe as we perceive it now is actually some kind of a simulation, running in some sort of super-real computing medium outside of what we can sense.
On top of the growing sophistication and growing numbers of VR-headsets and AR devices, immersive games today and of the near future will involve artificial characters that try their best to emulate real people in their interactions with players.
So how might you convince one of them that their universe is a synthetic creation, merely the latest in a long continuum of human technological creativity? And why would that matter anyway?
Featuring contributions from Keza MacDonald, Guy Gadney and David Chalmers With Colin Salmon and Clare Reeves Inc music by Cyrus Shahrad Written and Presented by Colin Harvey Produced by Alex Mansfield
"Long afloat in shipless oceans": So begins Song To The Siren whose lyrics were inspired by Homer's Odyssey and the story of the Sirens who lured unwitting sailors to their deaths on the rocks. There is something so ancient and enchanting about the Siren that appeals to us. For the wildlife sound recordist Chris Watson listening to the song reinforced his belief that the eerie calls of seals at night were in fact the original siren voices whose sound and shape convinced sailors that they were being called by strange mer-creatures. His collaboration with poet Alec Finlay led to Chris recording two singers singing to each other across a bay in the North East of England "Here I am waiting to enfold you". Song To The Siren fills him with melancholy.
The image of lives lost at sea is one that Meg Bignell strongly associates with the song and when a family friend drowned in the ocean surrounding her native Tasmania she was comforted by the version by This Mortal Coil and Elizabeth Fraser's haunting vocals.
Larry Beckett regrets the song's association with death as he intended the lyrics to tell a more hopeful story about love. However Tim Buckley's death at 28 and the tragedy of his son Jeff's drowning in 1997 weigh Song To The Siren with a heavy sorrow that comforts those who have lost a loved one. Former Olympic runner Anthony Famiglietti lost his childhood friend Rob in an accident when they were both 21. Rob introduced Anthony to the music of John Frusciante whose version of Song To The Siren astounded him when he first heard it. It has a profound effect on him and it speaks to him of fathers and sons communicating across time and space, when one has passed on as in the case of Tim and Jeff Buckley, and Anthony's friend Rob and his father, the man who inspired Anthony's career as a runner.
When director Zack Snyder lost his daughter he stopped working on his Justice League film but when he completed it four years on he wanted to include Song To The Siren. Singer Rose Betts who recorded it for him explains how she immersed herself in the song to express the love, longing, grief and loss that it evokes. Musician and singer Dominic Stichbury sets out the musical elements that make this such a simple yet devastatingly powerful song.
Personal stories inspired by Massive Attack's breakthrough single. Featuring the vocals of Shara Nelson, the track together with its iconic video would help catapult this band from Bristol onto the global stage. Stories include the photographer Giles Duley whose work was displayed during the song at the band's 2016 homecoming show in Bristol. Mountaineer Dmitry Golovchenko who named an attempt on the Nepalese mountain of Jannu after the track, and solicitor Marti Burgess who saw early sets from The Wild Bunch, the collective from which Massive Attack emerged, and for whom 'Unfinished Sympathy' helped crystallise her identity. Music Producer Ski Oakenfull deconstructs the track, peeling back the layers of beats, bells and samples. Belgian singer Liz Aku recorded a version of the track during lockdown, bringing back memories of her first love. Melissa Chemam, author of 'Massive Attack Out Of The Comfort Zone' explains the origins of Massive Attack, how 'Unfinished Sympathy' was written and why, when the track was released in 1991, the band had to drop the word 'Attack' from their name. A radio producer and DJ who spent New Year's Eve in a detox centre in London was asked to pick the tune to be played at midnight, and she chose 'Unfinished Sympathy'.
Long before it was a worldwide hit for Rod Stewart, the Cat Stevens song 'First Cut is the Deepest' made a name for the former Ike and Tina Turner backing singer, PP Arnold.
In an interview for Soul Music she describes the emotional connection she felt to the lyrics, having emerged from an abusive marriage shortly before recording it.
Also contributing to the programme is the song's original producer, Mike Hurst. He describes how he achieved the huge 'wall of sound' production using double drums, a huge string section, and a harp instead of a guitar to play the signature riff at the the start of the track.
There are many personal stories associated with the track: Carsten Knauff recalls a childhood sweetheart - his first true love - and explains why the Cat Stevens' version brings back bitter-sweet memories for him.
Rosemarie Purdy saw PP Arnold give an extraordinary live rendition at a club in Portsmouth in 1967. Never before had she seen such a heartfelt, emotionally charged performance. It's something she's never forgotten.
The Sheryl Crow version reminds Rachel Batson of a very difficult phase in her life; it's a song she says reflects her own faith journey.
And former Radio Caroline DJ, Keith Hampshire, describes the circumstances that led to him having a No.1 hit with the song in Canada. It was the first time 'First Cut' reached No.1 anywhere in the world.
"It's the kind of music that makes you feel like you're just hurting so good."
People of different ages reflect on why the pop country classic 'Crazy' made famous by Patsy Cline brings out such strong emotions in them, including a young woman mourning the loss of a father's love after divorce, broadcaster Fiona Phillips on losing her father to Alzheimers and 87 year old Wayne Rethford who as a young man in 1961 met Patsy Cline and two years later happened upon the crash site where she died after her plane came down in a heavy storm in Tennessee.
"That music becomes embedded in your soul" he says.
Contributors: Trish Broom Paul Kingsbury Fiona Phillips Gus Sanchez Wayne Rethsford Norma Nicholls
Uninterrupted music chosen by the man behind the score for the new HBO/BBC drama series 'Industry'.
Son.sine - Mudita Global Communication - 14:31 Stars Of The Lid - Music For Twin Peaks Episode #30, Part 1 Vangelis - Abraham's Theme Kate Bush - Nocturn Taylor Swift - Invisible String James Blake - I Only Know (What I Know Now) Kath Bloom - Odyssey Alabaster dePlume - Visit Croatia Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross - Big Wide World Adrianne Lenker - Anything Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross - Just Us Khotin - Water Soaked In Forever Telefon Tel Aviv - Fahrenheit Fair Enough Nathan Micay - Don't Speak To The Press (For My Love) Julianna Barwick - Someway Jóhann Jóhannsson - Forces Of Attraction Thomas Newman - Road To Perdition Nathan Micay - LeafCutAngelicDepths Nathan Micay - V Nathan Micay - Harper's Morning Pitch Hiroshi Yoshimura - Sheep Land Of The Loops - Multi-Family Garage Sale (Bargain-Bin Mix) Nathan Micay - Industry Nathan Micay - End Credits (Let's Go Make Some Money)
Never filmed screenplay by Dylan Thomas, adapted for radio for the centenary of his birth, and narrated as a 'Film for Voices' by Matthew Rhys.
Wiltshire arrives on an unnamed Pacific island hoping to trade in copra. But an encounter with rival trader Case leads to a macabre wedding. Shunned by the locals, Wiltshire sets out to uncover the secret behind Case's mysterious hold over the islanders, and the truth in the tales of the singing devils living deep in the bush.
Dylan Thomas adapted the short story of the same title by Robert Louis Stevenson to create this screenplay but it was never filmed, despite interest from Richard Burton. So this radio adaptation for the centenary of his birth is the world premiere of a work that blends some of the wordplay of Under Milk Wood with the brooding mystery of Heart of Darkness.
Producer Alison Hindell came across The Beach of Falesa when her stepdaughter moved into a new house in Sydney and found the published edition of the text amongst the remnants left behind by the previous owner.
Narrator ..... Matthew Rhys Wiltshire ..... Matthew Gravelle Case ..... Nicky Henson Uma ..... Fiona Marr Jenkins / Captain ..... Simon Armstrong Randall ..... Stephen Critchlow Little Jack ..... Steve Toussaint
Original music composed by Roger Goula
Sound, Nigel Lewis
Adapted for radio and directed by Alison Hindell
A BBC Cymru Wales production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in May 2014.
Bambii is a global club DJ known for her genre jumping sets that push music exploration and the spirit of dance and rave culture everywhere.
Conrad Subs - Little Vibey Thing [Nuusic] Artikal Junglist - 6blocc [Liondub International] Planet X - Samurai [RUA Sound] Sean Paul - Get Busy (Junglord Remix) Busy Signal & Bounty Killer - Bang Bung [Gorilla Music Source] Adam F - Circles [F-Jams] Kelela - The High (Mike Q & Divoli S'vere Remix) [Warp] Panjabi Hit Squad (Feat. Ms Scandalous) - Hai Hai [Def Jam] K-65 - Bad Tabs [Maison Fauna] Blaqstarr - Shake It To The Ground (Remix) Erykah Badu - On & On (Booty Fade Remix) [Universal] Overmono - BMW Track [Polykicks] Jill Scott - He Loves Me (Remix) [Hidden Beach] Black Out - Groove Trickz Fiyah Dread - Anyway Do It [Hyperdub] Bambii - Twitch (Swing Ting Remix)
Goldie brings the 90s vibes with an epic old skool jungle guest mix featuring Roni Size, Ragga Twins, Inta Warriors, Dillinja and Andy C.
Goldie - Ghost Edit [Subjective] Deep Blue - The Helicopter Tune [Moving Shadow] System X - Mind Games (Dub Mix) [3rd Eye] Tom And Jerry - Maximum Style [Tom & Jerry] Rebel MC - I Can't Get No Sleep [Big Life] Cutty Ranks - Armed & Dangerous (Goldie Remix) [BMG] Studio 2 - Who Jah Bless [Not On Label] Ragga Twins - 18 Inch Speaker [Shut Up And Dance] Lennie De Ice - We Are I.E [I.E.] The House Crew - Euphoria (Nino's Dream) [Production House] Inta Warriors - Aqua Pura [Dee Jay Recordings] Dillinja & Mystery - Deep Love [Logic Productions] Shimon & Andy C - Genetix [RAM] Roni Size & Reprazent - Trust Me [Talkin' Loud Classics] Andy C - Roll On [RAM]
Godfather of house music Marshall Jefferson takes you back to the eighties with his mix.
Marshall Jefferson - Move Your Body [Trax] Ten City - Devotion Ten City - Right Back To You Chip E - Time To Jack (House Mix) Mr. Fingers - Can You Feel It Joe Smooth - Promised Land
Wilkinson's debut Essential Mix. Featuring 'Afterglow', 'Take You Higher' and 'Too Close'.
Break - Love So True [Symmetry Recordings] Breakage (Feat. Jess Mills) - Fighting Fire (Loadstar Remix) [Digital Soundboy] Bro Safari - The Drop [Ultra] Chase & Status - No Problem [Mercury/Vertigo] Chase & Status (Feat. Jenna G) - In Love [MTA] MJ Cole - Sincere (Nero Remix) [Prolific Recordings] Commix - Be True [Metalheadz] Culture Shock - Machine [RAM] Culture Shock - I Remember [RAM] Cyantific - Cyantific Dub [CYN Music] Cyantific - Ice Cream [CYN Music] DC Breaks - Gambino [RAM] Dimension (Feat. Cyantific) - Detroit [CYN Music] Disclosure - Tenderly [Make Mine] Empire Of The Sun - We Are The People (Sub Focus Remix) [New State Music] Adam F - Circles [Section 5] Gofrilab - Dub Style [Cold Busted] Gramatik - So Much For Love [Pretty Lights Music] DJ Hazard - Time Tripping [Playaz Recordings] High Contrast (Feat. Diane Charlemagne) - If We Ever [Hospital] Jazzy Jeff & Will Smith - Summer Time (Summertime Still Remix) Jonny L - Back to Your Roots (DJ Friction & K.Tee Remix) [Shogun Audio] Karma - Terminal Knife Party - LRAD (Prototypes Bootleg) Kove - Searching [MTA] Kove - Night Thought [MTA] Loadstar - Link To The Past [RAM] Logistics - Inside My Soul [Hospital] Logistics - Together [Hospital] Logistics - Eastern Promise [Hospital] Lomax - Artisan (VIP) [RAM] LTJ Bukem - Atlantis (Marky & S.P.Y. Rework) [Goodlooking] DJ Marky & XRS (Feat. Stamina MC) - LK [V Recordings] Matrix & Futurebound - Sandstorm [Metro Recordings/Viper Recordings] Metrik - Drift My Neighbour Is - Little Freak [Cold Busted] The Nextmen - No Survival Noisia - Stigma [Vision Recordings] Omni Trio - Renegade Snares (High Contrast Remix) [Moving Shadow] Optical & Ed Rush - Chubrub [Virus Recordings] The Prodigy - Smack My Bitch Up (Pendulum Remix) Ed Rush & Optical - Bacteria (Pendulum Remix) [Virus Recordings] Sub Focus - Rock It (VIP) Sub Focus - Out Of The Blue [RAM] Tantrum Desire - Reach [Technique Recordings] TC - Get Down Low Top Cat - Special Dedication (Sigma Remix) [Street Life] Wilkinson - Casino [RAM/EMI] Wilkinson - Refugee [RAM] Wilkinson - Redemption [RAM/Virgin/EMI] Wilkinson - Machine [RAM] Wilkinson - Every Time [RAM] Wilkinson - Direction [RAM] Wilkinson - Heartbeat [Ultra] Wilkinson - Tonight [RAM] Wilkinson & K.Flay - Heatwave [RAM] Wilkinson - Perforation [RAM] Wilkinson (Feat. Detour City) - Too Close Wilkinson (Feat. IMAN) - Need To Know [RAM] Wilkinson (Feat. Tom Cane) - Half Light [RAM] Wilkinson - Sleepless [RAM] Wilkinson - Afterglow Wilkinson - Overdose (VIP) [RAM] DJ Zinc - 138 Trek [True Playaz]
Relive a classic D&B rinse out from Danny Byrd! First broadcast in August 2010 and featuring tunes from Camo & Krooked, Metrik and Nu:Tone.
Danny Byrd (Feat. Netsky) - Tonight Serum - Rat Trap Enei & Engage - Carnage Camo & Krooked - Shoreless Nu:Tone (Feat. Natalie William) - Shine In Brookes Brothers (Feat. Danny Byrd) - Paperchase Original Sin & Taxman - Casino Cyantific - Anything Danny Byrd (Feat. I-Kay) - Ill Behaviour Cyantific - 305 Sky Ferrari - One Logistics Remix Magical Gravity - Best Of Friends Mikaln - Saying Nothing Danny Byrd - We Can Have It All (Sigma Remix) Xample & Lomax - Link To The Past Reso - War Machine Manix - Feel Real Good Krome & Timem - Sound For Underground Acen - Trip II The Moon Part 1 DJ Seduction - Hardcore Heaven The Prodigy - Fire Nookie - Give A Little Love (94 Lick) Danny Byrd (Feat. Tomahawk) - Hot Fuzz Level 2 - Ghetto Sounds Mikal - New World Subliminal Cuts - Le Voie Le Soleil (L-While Remix) Metrik - T1000 Cyantific - Bounce It Muffler - Can You Feel LTJ Bukem - Horizons Metrik - Lightspeed Fred V & Grafix - Long Distance Lauren Pritchard - Not The Drinking (Sigma Remix) Danny Byrd (Feat. Cyantific & I-Ka) - Judgement Day Q Project - Slowly But Surely Furlonge - Duel Original Sin & Taxman - Penamana Die & Interface - Bright Lights (Netsky Remix) The Prototypes - Cascade Danny Byrd (Feat. I-Kay) - Red Mist (VIP Alternate Mix) Agent Alvin - Move Unicorn Kid - Wild Life (Nu:Tone Remix) Fresh & Sigma - Lassitude Double 99 - Rip Groove DJ Zinc (Feat. Ms Dynamite) - Wile Out Sticky (Feat. Ms Dynamite) - Boo DJ Zinc - 138 Trek Cyantific - Streets Of Rave Friction Vs. Camo & Krooked (Feat. Dynamite MC) - Stand Up Fred V & Grafix - Decades Supra - Smash Danny Byrd (Feat. Liquiq) - Sweet Harmony (Jungle Mix) Nu:Tone (Feat. Logistics) - New Technique Danny Byrd - Amen Alley Brookes Brothers - War Cry Benny Page - Badman (War For '94 Remix) Duck Sauce - Barbra Streisand (Sigma Remix) Cyantific & Logistics (Feat. Natalie William) - Brighter Day Taxman - Navigator Camo & Krooked - Can't Get Enough Shapeshifter - The Touch (Netsky Remix) Mutated Forms (Feat. Jenna G) - Last Time Unquote & Molecular Structures - Lubov Moya
UK drum & bass legend Danny Byrd brings the heat with an hour of non-stop DNB!
Sigma - Friday Feeling [3beat] The Prodigy - No Good (TC Remix) (Dub) Danny Byrd & D Double E - Selecta (VIP) [Ministry Of Sound] Nightshift - Hornets VIP (Dub) Mozey & Taxman - Number 1 (Dub) Renegade - Terrorist (Dan Aux Remix) (Dub) Serum - Ride The Dx [Souped Up] Calvin Harris - Hypnagogic (Krakota Remix) (Dub) Danny Byrd - Unknown [Hospital] Oram - Scalp Dem (DJ GAW Remix) (Dub) Son - Over [Hospital] Azifm - Take It Back [Must Make Music] Upgrade - Visuals (Dub) Madface - Paralyze (Dub) [Viper] Krakota & Fred V - Back To Me [Sleepless Music] Nightshift - Day Dreamer (Dub) Napes & Bruk - Deep Cover 98 [Nemesis Music] DJ Hazard - Butter [Hazardous Material] DJ Gas - Hyper (Dub) Acen - Trip To The Moon (Danny Byrd Remix) [Kniteforce] Levela & MC Eksman - Zone Out (Dub) Taxman - Ganja [Playaz] Magnetic Man - I Need Air (SIN Bootleg) (Dub) Mozey - Unknown [Souped Up] DJ Limited - Losing Control (Dub) Adele - Easy On Me (High Contrast Remix) (Dub) DJ GAW - Dutchie VIP (Dub) Delta Heavy - Heartbeat [UKF] Upgrade - Empty (Dub) Georgia Phoenix - Ganja Smuggling (Dub) Serum - Chop House VIP [Souped Up] T>I - Ruffest Gun Ark (Dub) Danny Byrd - Burn Down The SP1200 (Dub) Sigma - Trumpets [3beat] Bou - Magic Carpet (DJ Limited Remix) [Basslayerz] DJ Phantasy - Junglist (DJ Kara Remix) [Viper] DJ Friction - Set Me Free [Elevate] High Contrast & Bou - Don't Need You [Gossip] Mandidextrous & BiSH - Techno On My Mind [Program] T>I - Step Back (Dub)
Don kicks back with a selection box of reggae cover versions.
Paul Blake & Bloodfire Posse - Pink Panther [Studio Worx] The Chosen Few - Children Of The Night [Duke] Shanti Powa - Uncertain Smile [Shanti Powa] The Tamlins - Smiling Faces Sometimes [Trojan] The Dynamics - Seven Nation Reggae [Red Ark] Junior Byles - Fever [Trojan] Quantic - All I Do Is Think About You [Tru Thoughts] Capitol 1212 (Feat. Earl Sixteen) - Love Will Tear Us Apart [Scotch Bonnett] Devon Russell - Move On Up [CS Sweetest] Danny Briottet & Rico Conning - Feel Like Makin Dub The Fabulous Flames - Holly Holy [Trojan] Radio Riddler (Feat. Sinéad O'Connor) - I Would Die For You [MITA] Dobby Dobson - Endlessly [Trojan] Donovan Carless - Be Thankful For What You Got [Giant] Rosalyn Sweet & The Paragons - Blackbird Singing [Recall] Zoe Devlin Love - Once In A Lifetime [NFI] Rico Rodriguez - Ska Wars [UMEImports] Yasushi Ide Presents Lonesome Echo Strings & U‐Roy - Ain't No Sunshine [Tartown] John Holt - Baby I'm A Want You [Trojan] Highfield Rockers - Dub Rider Hollie Cook - It's So Different Here [Mr Bongo Worldwide] Kotch - Ooo Baby Baby [Mango] Susan Cadogan - Hurt So Good [Trojan] mcthfg & Supercozi - Fearless (Supercozi Remix) [Dubmission] Big Youth - Hit The Road Jack [Trojan] Ken Boothe - Everything I Own [Trojan] Willie Lindo - Norwegian Wood [Union Square] Junior Murvin - Give Me Your Love [Blood And Fire] Archives (Feat. Lenny Kurlou) - One More Time Easy Star All‐Stars - Within You Without You [Easy Star] Shinehead - Billie Jean [African Love] Janet Kay - Loving You [Sanctuary] The Dualers - Fix You [Cherry Red]