Low-Noise

A (relatively) in-depth analysis of British rock band The Railway Children in (just under) twenty minutes. Formed in Wigan in 1984, the group comprised Gary Newby (vocals/guitar/keyboards), Brian Bateman (rhythm/guitar), Guy Keegan (drums), and Stephen Hull (bass). Their debut single A Gentle Sound was released on Factory Records in 1986. This was followed by their debut album, Reunion Wilderness...

A (relatively) in-depth analysis of pop band The Big Dish in (just under) twenty minutes. Named after Steven Lindsay's father's soup, the group formed in Airdrie, Scotland in 1983 and initially comprised Steven Lindsay (vocals/guitar), David Brownlie (drums), Stuart Hall (saxophone), Mark Ryce (guitar), and John Harper (keyboards). The band was subsequently augmented on stage by Paul Albertis (bas...

A (relatively) in-depth analysis of English band The Beat (known in the United States and Canada as the English Beat and in Australia as the British Beat) in (just over) twenty minutes. The band formed in Birmingham in 1978. Their music fuses Latin, ska, pop, soul, reggae and punk rock. After the break-up of the Beat in 1983, Dave Wakeling and Ranking Roger went on to form General Public and had s...

A (relatively) in-depth analysis of German electronic band Kraftwerk and in particular, their performance at the Forever Now festival in (just over) twenty minutes Kraftwerk were formed in Düsseldorf in 1970 by Ralf Hütter and Florian Schneider. They are widely considered innovators and pioneers of electronic music. The band's work has influenced a diverse range of artists and many genres of moder...

A (relatively) in-depth analysis of American singer, songwriter, composer, and actor Isaac Hayes Jr. in (just over) forty five minutes - this is the longest Low-Noise episode to date, which seems rather fitting as Hayes is known for his lengthy musical compositions. As a successful in-house songwriter, session musician and producer, Hayes was one of the creative forces behind Stax Records in the 1...

A (relatively) in-depth analysis of the song 'Why' by Carly Simon (as well as some other general stuff) in just under twenty minutes. The song was recorded for the 1982 film Soup for One. The film was a flop, but the soundtrack, including Simon's song, was a success, particularly in Europe. The song Why, produced by Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards of Chic, also became a top 10 hit in the UK. In 2...

A (relatively) in-depth analysis of the album Mamouna by Bryan Ferry (as well as some other general stuff) in just under thirty minutes. Released on Virgin Records in 1994, Mamouna was Ferry's first album of original material in seven years. Ferry spent six years writing and recording it under the working title Horoscope. The album peaked at number 11 on the UK Albums Chart. Mamouna was reissued i...

A (relatively) in-depth analysis of the album Kiss Me Kiss Me, Kiss Me by The Cure (as well as some other general stuff) in just over thirty minutes. The Cure enjoyed an increased international popularity after the release of The Head on the Door in 1985. Capitalising on this success, the band released a singles compilation 'Standing on a Beach'. They toured to support the compilation and also rel...

A (relatively) in-depth analysis of Exit North, the musical collaboration between Steve Jansen, Thomas Feiner, Ulf Jansson and Charlie Storm in under thirty minutes. Former Japan-drummer Jansen established a co-writing connection with singer Thomas Feiner in 2007 for his first solo album 'Slope'. Feiner co-wrote the track 'Sow The Salt.' For Jansen's second album 'Tender Extinction', Feiner co-wro...

A (relatively) in-depth analysis of English progressive folk band Gryphon in under twenty minutes. Formed in London in 1972, Gryphon are known for their medieval and Renaissance style of music. After gaining notability during the progressive rock heyday of the early 1970s, they retired to pursue other musical activities. The group reformed for a one-off reunion in 2009, retired once more before pl...

A (relatively) in-depth analysis of British funk band Cymande in under thirty minutes. Cymande was formed in London, in 1971. All were members of an Afro-Caribbean community in Balham, originating from nations such as Guyana, Jamaica, and Saint Vincent. Cymande were discovered by British producer John Schroeder while they played in a club in Soho in 1971. Schroeder recorded some demos and convince...

A (relatively) in-depth analysis of Canadian folk band The Weather Station in (just under) fifteen minutes.  Formed in 2006, The Weather Station is fronted by Tamara Lindeman. Their debut album The Line was released in 2009 and their seventh album, Humanhood, was released in 2025. In this episode I am in discussion with Dr. Andrew Webber. Mathew Woodall https://www.facebook.com/share/1F15mx4ea3/ h...

A (relatively) in-depth analysis of London-based jazz /afrobeat/hiphop fusion band Kokoroko in under thirty minutes. Their track Abusey Junction, from their first eponymous EP boasts 59 million views on YouTube. They released their debut album 'Could We Be More' in 2022 and their second album ‘Tuff Times Never Last’ was released in 2025 on the Brownswood label. In this episode I am in discussion w...

A (relatively) in-depth analysis of English post-punk band Gang of Four in under thirty minutes. Gang of Four played a stripped-down mix of punk rock, funk and dub, with a lyrics addressing societal/political issues. Their acclaimed debut album, Entertainment!, was released in 1979. Their early 80s albums (Songs of the Free and Hard) found them softening some of their abrasive qualities, progressi...

A (relatively) in-depth analysis of English rock band Soft Machine in under thirty minutes. Soft Machine's music can be categorised into various genres and subgenres, including progressive rock, experimental rock, jazz rock, jazz, proto-prog, psychedelic rock and art rock. The band are part of the Canterbury scene of progressive rock Although they achieved little commercial success, critics consid...

A (relatively) in-depth analysis of the single Rip It Up by Orange Juice (as well as some other general stuff) in just under thirty minutes. After releasing a series of singles on the independent Postcard label, the debut album by Orange Juice 'You Can't Hide Your Love Forever', was realeased by Polydor in February 1982. The album received mixed reviews. Retrospectively, however, it is often regar...

A (relatively) in-depth analysis of the rock classic (Don't Fear) The Reaper by Blue Öyster Cult (as well as some other stuff) in just under thirty minutes. The song, written and sung by lead guitarist Donald 'Buck Dharma' Roeser is taken from the 1976 album Agents of Fortune and explores the theme of eternal love and the inevitability of death. The band name Blue Öyster Cult features an umlaut. T...

A (relatively) in-depth analysis of the single Down in the Tube Station at Midnight by the Jam (as well as some other stuff) in just under thirty minutes. Released in October 1978, Down in the Tube Station at Midnight was the second single from the Jam's third album, All Mod Cons. It reached No. 15 on the UK Singles Chart. This episode is dedicated to Paul Richard Buckler (1955 – 2025) and I am in...

A (relatively) in-depth analysis of English rock band Led Zeppelin in under thirty minutes. Led Zeppelin are one of the best-selling music artists of all time, with estimated record sales of between 200 and 300 million units worldwide. Their debut album, Led Zeppelin, was released in 1969. In 2025, Becoming Led Zeppelin, a documentary which charts the formation and early years of the band was rele...

A (relatively) in-depth analysis of the critically aclaimed album Broken English by English singer-songwriter and actor Marianne Faithfull in under thirty minutes. After a long absence, Faithfull made a musical comeback in 1979 with Broken English. The album was a commercial success and marked a resurgence of her musical career. The album earned Faithfull a nomination for a Grammy Award for Best F...

Released in 1999, the film Magnolia was film written, directed and co-produced by Paul Thomas Anderson. The movie is an epic mosaic of interrelated characters in search of happiness, forgiveness and meaning in the San Fernando Valley. The script was inspired by the music of Aimee Mann, who contributed several songs to its soundtrack. Anderson met Aimee Mann in 1996 when he asked her husband, Micha...

A (relatively) in-depth analysis of English singer-songwriter Lloyd Cole in under thirty minutes. Cole was the lead vocalist of Lloyd Cole and the Commotions from 1984 to 1989. Since then he has enjoyed a prolific solo career with his first album 'Lloyd Cole' being released in 1990. 'Downtown' from his first album was featured in the 1990 film Bad Influence. 'Pay for It' from Cole's 1991 album 'Do...

A (relatively) in-depth analysis of English singer-songwriter Peter Skellern in under thirty minutes. Peter Skellern rose to fame in the 1970s and had two top twenty hits on the UK Singles Chart: 'You're a Lady in 1972, which typifies his signature use of brass bands and choral arrangements and 'Hold On to Love' in 1975. In the 1980s, a decade before the Gallagher brothers, Skellern formed the ban...

A (relatively) in-depth analysis of unique English singer-songwriter Julia Fordham in (just over) fifteen minutes. Fordham's professional career started in the early 1980s, when she was known as Jules Fordham, singing backing vocals for Mari Wilson and Kim Wilde. In 1988, she released her first album on Circa Records. Her second album, Porcelain, followed in 1989. It was Fordham's only album to ch...

A (relatively) in-depth analysis of American singer-songwriter Natalie Prass in (just over) fifteen minutes. Prass grew up in Virginia, where she met fellow musician Matthew E. White. They played in a band together in the early 2000s, then White moved to Richmond to study jazz. Prass’ own journey took her to Berklee and Middle Tennessee State before she settled in Nashville. Eventually she reconne...