THE SIGNAL

The Signal Show 2008-02

featuring Blood Red Shoes

The Signal Show 2008-02 is now online! Stuart Flanagan meets Blood Red Shoes, the duo from Brighton who have released a series of sizzling 7″s over the past 18 months. The band are now signed to Mercury and will release their debut album “Box Of Secrets” in April. Stuart caught up with Steven as the band started their current tour of Ireland and the UK, and chatted about the trials of the tourbus experience and keeping your voice after a night on the brew! Steven & Laura Mary pick some of their favourite recent tracks for the show, plus we hear the new single “You Bring Me Down”.

Also featured is new music from Hatcham Social, Adam Green and Black Mountain, plus album tracks from British Sea Power and the Maccabees.

To listen to the show click the red Radio Magnetic logo above.

To go to the show site CLICK HERE.

The Signal Show 2008-02

1 JOY DIVISION – Digital (Factory)
2 ADAM GREEN – Morning After Midnight (Rough Trade)
3 ENVELOPES – Party (Brille)
4 POPPY & THE JEZEBELS – Nazi Girls (Reveal)
5 THE SUGARS – The Way To My Heart (Play Louder)
6 BEARSUIT – More Soul Than Wigan Casino (Fantastic Plastic)
7 KIM WESTON – Helpless (Castle)
8 THE SWEET THINGS – I’m In A World Of Trouble (Castle)
9 MACCABEES – All In Your Rows (Fiction)
10 BRITISH SEA POWER – A Trip Out (Rough Trade)
11 BLACK MOUNTAIN – Stormy High (Jagjaguwar) 12 THE CRIBS – Men’s Needs (Wichita)
13 HATCHAM SOCIAL – So So Happy Making (Loog)
14 ORANGE JUICE – Blue Boy (Postcard)
15 Interview – BLOOD RED SHOES – You Bring Me Down (Mercury)
16 Interview – BLOOD RED SHOES – I Wish I Was Someone Better (Mercury)
17 QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE – Sick Sick Sick (Interscope)
18 PJ Harvey – White Chalk (Island)
19 BASIA BULAT – In The Night (Rough Trade)
20 SUPER FURRY ANIMALS – The Gift That Keeps Giving (Rough Trade)

Show 2 of 2008 is now up, and features some great new songs – I especially love the Hatcham Social single which is a perfect distillation of everything that was great about Glasgow’s Postcard label from the early 80s. Good to get some full on rock in the playlist too, with new-proggers Black Mountain and the towering QOTSA – can’t wait to see them play this week.

PJ Harvey’s White Chalk album was one of the most poetic and beautiful of last year so thanks to Laura Mary from Blood Red Shoes for nominating it for a play this time out. And finally drift away to the gorgeous SFA track that closes the show.

Tune in, listen, enjoy and feedback!

The Signal Show 2008-01

featuring Charlotte Hatherley

The Signal returns to Radio Magnetic! For the first edition of 2008, Stuart Flanagan catches up with Charlotte Hatherley, former guitarist with Ash. Since leaving Ash, Charlotte has released her second solo album “The Deep Blue”, a beguiling and dazzling album which was recorded in Italy and features a wealth of influences from Kate Bush to Liz Phair, and Juliana Hatfield to David Bowie. Charlotte collaborated with XTC’s Andy Partridge on one track and in this interview discusses her feelings on leaving Ash, achieving her own style and some of her favourite records.
Also in this show is new music from Cat Power, Supergrass and Sons & Daughters, plus classics from Sandie Shaw and XTC.

To listen to the show click the red Radio Magnetic logo above.

To go to the show site CLICK HERE. 

The Signal Show 2008-01

1 THE SHOUT OUT LOUDS – The Comeback (Bud Fox)
2 ARCTIC MONKEYS – Teddy Picker (Domino)
3 SUPERGRASS - Diamond Hoo Ha Man (Parlophone)
4 SONS & DAUGHTERS – Darling (Domino)
5 BRITISH SEA POWER – Waving Flags (Rough Trade)
6 EELS – Mr E’s Beautful Blues (Geffen)
7 LUCKY SOUL – Add Your Light To Mine (Ruffa Lane)
8 SANDIE SHAW – Reviewing The Situation (EMI)
9 THE MACCABEES – Toothpaste Kisses (Polydor)
10 BLOOD RED SHOES – It’s Getting Boring By The Sea (V2)
11 LOVE IS ALL – Busy Doing Nothing [Tapedeck Remix] (Parlophone)
12 THE GO! TEAM – Doing It Right (Memphis Industries)
13 CAT POWER – Song For Bobby (Matador)
14 BOB DYLAN – The Man In Me (Mercury – from The Big Lebowski ST)
15 Interview – CHARLOTTE HATHERLEY - Behave (Little Sister)
16 Interview- CHARLOTTE HATHERLEY – I Want You To Know (Little Sister)
17 Interview – CHARLOTTE HATHERLEY – Very Young (Little Sister)
18 XTC – This Is Pop (Virgin)
19 KATE BUSH - Pull Out The Pin (EMI)
20 BLONDE REDHEAD – 23 (4AD)

So the first 2008 edition of The Signal is finally online! It’s been a long time coming, but the new show is packed with cool tunes and classic, as well a brand new interview with Charlotte Hatherley about her recent album The Deep Blue. Charlotte talks about the many influences on her work and collaborating with XTC legend Andy Partridge. That led us to including “This Is Pop” an XTC single Charlotte’s been covering in her live shows.
Plus how great is the new single from Sons & Daughters? The magic touch of Bernard Butler’s production gives it a really dirty dancefloor feel and already its one of the great singles of the year. Plus I play some Bob Dylan for the first time ever (prompted by Cat Power and The Big Lebowski!) and there’s dance-around-inyou-bedroom pop noise from Lucky Soul and The Go! Team. Tune in, listen, enjoy and feedback!

The Signal Show 2006-07

featuring The Long Blondes and 1990s 

The new edition of the Signal is online now!  Just click the link above to hear the show.

On this edition of The Signal, Stuart Flanagan interviews two bands signed to Rough Trade Records who recently toured together, and features a competition to win a copy of The Long Blondes debut album.

The 1990s are a Glasgow 3 piece formed from the ashes of The Yummy Fur and V-Twin. Their debut full release on Rough Trade records is a stomping glam-rock disco-pop classic and the band’s debut album, produced by Bernard Butler, will be one of the early classics of 2007. 

The Long Blondes are one most exciting bands in the
UK, and are particular favourite with The Signal!  The
Sheffield band’s long awaited debut album “Someone To Drive You Home” was finally released to rapturous acclaim in November 2006 and features 12 tales of kitchen sink drama laid to indie-disco melodies, managing to namecheck Edie Sedgewick, Billy Wilder and reference film noir along the way.  We caught up with Screech from the band for a detailed look at the recording of the album.

Also we have classic pop moments from The Wombats, Jarvis Cocker and The Grates as well as classics from Chicks, The Jam and Gene, plus your chance to win a copy of The Long Blondes’ “Someone To Drive You Home”.

THE SIGNAL SHOW 2006-07
Featuring the 1990s and The Long Blondes Interviews & Competition1. THE WOMBATS – Moving To New York (Kids)
2. TOKYO POLICE CLUB – Nature Of The Experiment (Memphis Industries)
3. YO LA TENGO – Bean Bag Chair (Matador)
4. TUNNG – It’s Because We Got Hair (Full Time Hobby)

THE SIGNAL SHOW 2006-06

featuring THE PIPETTES Interview & Session & Competition

To listen to this edition of The Signal, click on the logo above and then click on Listen WMA Broadband or Dial-up.

This edition The Signal is proud to present an exclusive session from The Pipettes and an interview with all 3 girls from the band. The Pipettes’ session includes casio versions of 2 tracks from the debut album “We Are The Pipettes”, and Becky, Rosay and Gwenno joined us in the Signal Studio for a chat about their influences, songwriting and The Cassettes.

You can win a signed copy of the Pipettes’ “We Are The Pipettes” CD by listening in to the show and sending an email with your answer and contact details.

Also in this show we have amazing power pop from The Be Be See and Art Brut, as well as classic tunes from Billy Bragg and Pulp, plus the best tunes from our ever expanding new releases box!

1. 1990s – You’re Supposed To Be My Friend (Rough Trade)
2. ART BRUT – Nag Nag Nag Nag (Mute)
3. THE BE BE SEE – You K Gold (At Large)
4. THE MACCABEES – First Love (Fiction)
5. CAT POWER – Could We (Matador)
6. JOAN AS POLICEWOMAN – Christobel (Reveal Records)
7. DARTZ! – St Petersberg (XtraMile Recordings)
8. THE LONG BLONDES – Who Are You To Her? (Rough Trade)
9. BILLY BRAGG – Sexuality (Cooking Vinyl)
10. THE STYLE COUNCIL – A Solid Bond In Your Heart (Polydor)
11. THE YOUNG KNIVES – The Decision (Transgressive)
12. HOT CLUB DE PARIS – Sometimesitsbetternottostickbitofeachotherineachotherforeachother (Moshi Moshi)
13. VOXTROT – Soft & Warm (Playlouder)
14. FANFARLO – Talking Backwards (Fortuna Pop)
15. THROWING MUSES – Counting Backwards (4AD)
16. THE PIPETTES – We Are The Pipettes (Signal Session)
17. THE PIPETTES – Judy (Signal Session)
18. THE PIPETTES – I Love You (Memphis Industries)
19. YPPAH - Again With The Subtitles (Ninja Tune)
20. THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE QUEEN – Herculean (Parlophone)
21. GRAHAM COXON – Bloody Annoying (Parlophone)
22. BROADCAST – Where Youth And Laughter Go (Warp)
23. DUSTY SPRINGFIELD – I Close My Eyes And Count To Ten (Eclipse)
24. SPARKLEHORSE – Shade And Honey (EMI)
25. SOL SEPPY – Come Running (Gronland)
26. PULP – Mile End (Island)
27. ODEON BEAT CLUB – Last Gasp (Beat Club Recordings)
28. ECHO & THE BUNNYMEN – Silver (Korova)
29. NICKY WIRE – Break My Heart Slowly (Red Ink)
30. THE GOSSIP – Standing In The Way Of Control (Headman Remix) (Back Yard)

Thanks to the Pipettes for coming in to the studio to record an interview and a few session tracks for us. Becky, Gwenno, and Roasy recorded this session with their trusty Casio keyboard on the 2nd October 2006, before their gig in
Belfast that night.

In other news, thanks to my chums at Radio Indie Rock for giving The Signal a great write-up! Modesty doesn’t prevent me from reprinting their kind words here!

“As the old Radio Indie Rock was breathing its last, we came across a British DJ who was the best potential recruit I’d seen in years – Stuart Flanagan. Great taste in music, and put together a fine-sounding show. Problem was, we were shutting down the station.
But everything seems to have worked out, as Steven and I are still at it, and Stuart has now launched his own show, The Signal. Check it out – highly recommended.” Radio Indie Rock

THE SIGNAL SHOW 2006-05
featuring RUSSIAN FUTURISTS Interview

• Our feature interview in this show is with Matthew Adam Hart from the Russian Futurists. The Toronto based singer songwriter has a distinctive indie-hip-hop mash-up sound, honed over the course of three self-produced albums since 2000. Memphis Industries have just released a compilation of tracks from these albums, entitled “Me Myself And Rye”. We caught up with Matthew before a recent gig in London.
• Don’t forget you can hear a full live set from the Russian Futurists at Radio Magnetic’s Live Circuit.
• Also in this show we feature brand new music from Jeremy Warmsley, Yo La Tengo and Clinic, catch up on some of our favourite recent releases, and get ourselves all excited about the new singles from Dead Disco and Sean Lennon!

1. THE RAPTURE – Get Myself Into It (Vertigo)
2. THE HUSSY’S – Napoleon Dynamite (Fat Cheerleader)
3. GUILLEMOTS – Trains To Brazil (Polydor)
4. JEREMY WARMSLEY – I Believe In The Way You Move (Transgressive)
5. TO MY BOY – I Am X-Ray (Abeano)
6. HELEN LOVE – Junk Shop Discotheque (Elefant)

RUSSIAN FUTURISTS INTERVIEW
7. RUSSIAN FUTURISTS – Paul Simon (Memphis Industries)
8. RUSSIAN FUTURISTS – Let’s Get Ready To Crumble (Memphis Industries)

9. YO LA TENGO – Mr. Tough (Matador)
10. ALBERT HAMMOND JR. – Everyone Gets A Star (Rough Trade)
11. SEAN LENNON – Dead Meat (EMI)
12. LONG BLONDES – Once And Never Again (Rough Trade)
13. THE YOUNG KNIVES – Another Hollow Line (Transgressive)
14. DEAD DISCO – Automatic (Fierce Panda)
15. THE TACTICIANS – London’s Alright (Dancing Giraffe)
16. THE CAGES – Out Of Control (www.myspace.com/thecagesband)
17. I’M FROM BARCELONA – Oversleeping (Interpop)
18. IDHA – Sweet September Rain (Creation)
19. BONNIE PRINCE BILLY – Love Comes To Me (Domino)
20. HOWLING BELLS – Setting Sun (Bella Union)
21. CAMERA OBSCURA – Let’s Get Out Of This Country (Elefant)
22. DR. DOG – I’ve Just Got To Tell You (Rough Trade)
23. SPARKLEHORSE – Don’t Take My Sunshine Away (EMI)
24. THE LA’S – Callin All [BBC Session] (Go! Discs)
25. THE HOUSEMARTINS – Over There [BBC Sessions] (Go Discs!)
26. CLINIC – Harvest (Domino)
27. SHANGRI-LAS – Bulldog (RPM)
28. HIDDEN CAMERAS – Awoo (Rough Trade)
29. CHARLOTTE GAINSBOURG – The Songs That We Sing (Because Music)
30. SERGE GAINSBOURG – Initials B.B. (Mercury)
31. PULP – His ‘n Hers (Universal)

THE SIGNAL SHOW 2006-04
featuring CAMERA OBSCURA

• TracyAnne Campbell joins us for a chat about the new album from Camera Obscura, “Let’s Get Out Of This Country”. Recorded in Sweden, and influenced by the films of David Lynch, 50s doo-wop and Swedish indie-pop in equal measure, the Glasgow band’s 3rd album is set to be one of the finest releases of 2006.
• Also in this show – tributes to Syd Barrett and Arthur Lee, plus a San Francisco inspired mix.
• And we play the brand new Jarvis Cocker track uncensored – be warned : if you don’t like strong swearing this song may offend!

1. THE ROGERS SISTERS – Why Won’t You (Too Pure)
2. THE GRATES – Trampoline (Cherry Tree)
3. SLEEPY JACKSON – God Lead Your Soul (Virgin)
4. THE DEARS – Ticket To Immortality (Bella Union)
5. THE PINK FLOYD – Arnold Layne (EMI)
6. LOVE – The Daily Planet (Elektra)
7. JARVIS COCKER – Running The World (www.myspace.com/jarvspace)
8. SMOG – Rock Bottom Riser (Domino)
9. BONNIE PRINCE BILLY – Cursed Sleep (Domino)
10. CANSEI DE SER SEXY – Let’s Make Love And Listen To Death From Above (Sub-Pop)
11. DEATH FROM ABOVE 1979 – Blood On Our Hands (679)
12. THE PIPETTES – ABC (Memphis Industries)
13. YOUNG KNIVES – Weekends & Bleak Days (Transgressive)
14. THE UNDERTONES – True Confessions (Sire)
15. THE VIEW – Wasted Little DJs (1965 Records)
16. VIVA VOCE – From The Devil Himself (Full Time Hobby)
17. FIELDS – Brittlesticks (Black Lab Records)
18. LUCKY SOUL – Lips Are Unhappy (Ruffa Lane)
19. VELOCETTE – Get Yourself Together (Wiija)

CAMERA OBSCURA Interview

20. CAMERA OBSCURA – Tears For Affairs (Elefant)
21. CAMERA OBSCURA – If Looks Could Kill (Elefant)

22. ARCTIC MONKEYS – Baby I’m Yours (Domino)
23. THE CHI-LITES – Stoned Out Of My Mind (Music Club)
24. JOAN AS POLICEWOMAN – The Ride (Reveal Records)
25. BLACK REBEL MOTORCYCLE CLUB – Love Burns (Virgin)
26. JEFFERSON AIRPLANE – White Rabbit (RCA)
27. SLY & THE FAMILY STONE – Everday People (Epic)
28. PETER BJORN & JOHN – Paris 2004 (Wichita)

I really love the Lucky Soul single – wonderful shimmering 60s style pop with great vocals. It reminds me so much of one of my favourite songs of the past 10 years – Velocette’s “Get Yourself Together”, which manages to combine a gorgeous sweeping melody, and lyrics to get you through any dark night (they even reference Roy Orbison!).

The CSS song made me try to think of some songs which reference other bands in the title. If you can think of any more leave a comment here – I’m always on the look out for potential features!

How brilliant is the first sing in aaaages from JC?? About time someone stood up and spoke the truth.

Thanks to TracyAnne Campbell of Camera Obscura for taking the time to chat with us just prior to the band’s gig at London Cargo in June. TracyAnne has become a big fan of Swedish pop and gave us a few names to check out for future shows!

We’ve made a few changes with the show – let us know what you think and if you like them. Don’t forget to leave any suggestions for bands for us to play in the comments section below!

THE SIGNAL SHOW 2006-03
featuring The Long Blondes Interview

1. THE FLAMING LIPS – The W.A.N.D. (Warners)
2. SLEATER-KINNEY - Entertain (Sub Pop)
3. THE DIVINE COMEDY – Diva Lady (Parlophone)
4. MY LIFE STORY – Strumpet (Exilophone)
5. DEAD DISCO - City Place (Play Louder)
6. GRAHAM COXON – I Can’t Look At Your Skin (Parlophone)
7. ARCHIE BRONSON OUTFIT – Dead Funny (Domino Records)
8. ARCTIC MONKEYS – Leave Before The Lights Come On (Domino Records)
9. THE RACONTEURS – Hands (XL Recordings)
10. TAPES N’ TAPES – Insistor (XL Recordings)
11. THE JAM – Billy Hunt (EMI)
12. LOVE IS ALL - Make Out, Fall Out, Make Up (Polydor)
13. BELLE & SEBASTIAN - I’m Waking Up To Us (Jeepster)
14. GIANT DRAG – This Isn’t It (Polydor)
15. THE DOORS – The Changeling (Elektra)

THE LONG BLONDES INTERVIEW

16. LONG BLONDES - Weekend Without Make-Up (Rough Trade)
17. LONG BLONDES – Fulwood Babylon (Rough Trade)
18. THE CARRIE NATIONS – Find It (Soundtrack Classics)
19. GOOD SHOES – All In My Head (Brille)
20. BRICOLAGE – Flowers Of Deceit (Play Louder)
21. THE SUGARS – T.V. (Play Louder)
22. THE KINKS - Shangri-La (Castle)

So the new edition of The Signal is online now!

Really thrilled to have the Long Blondes interview in this show – if you’ve heard any of the previous shows you’ll know I’m pretty obsessed with the band at the minute!  All five band members were in great form when this interview was recorded around the release of Weekend Without Make-Up.

It’s always good to delve into the psyche of your heroes, so we had to find out the Long Blondes’ favourite “illicit Russ Meyer film” and “old Kinks records” you can dance ’til dawn to.  So we’ve included “Find It” by the Carrie Nations – the supercool all-girl trio from the 1970 cult classic Beyond The Valley Of The Dolls, plus “Shangri-La” from the Kinks’ 1969 album “Arthur – Or The Decline & Fall Of The British Empire”.  That song was actually on the first ever Kinks compilation that I had when I was at primary school so it holds fond memories for me!

Other highlights in this show include some great stuff from the PlayLouder roster – check out the brilliant T.V. by The Sugars which is the B-Side to their Doo-Wop 7″ only single from earlier in the year.

We were playing catch-up on this show with some of the best of the recent releases.  Next time out there’ll be a bit more pre-release stuff as well as tributes to Syd Barret and Arthur Lee of Love.

THE SIGNAL – RADIO MAGNETIC SHOW 2006-02

1 THE GOSSIP – Standing In The Way Of Control (Kill Rock Stars)
2 REGINA SPEKTOR – On The Radio (Sire)
3 THE CONCRETES – On The Radio (EMI)
4 THE BOYFRIENDS – Adult Acne (Booby Trap)
5 THE PIPETTES – Pull Shapes (Memphis Industries)
6 THE REVELATIONS – You’re The Loser (Fierce Panda)
7 ROBOTS IN DISGUISE – Turn It Up (President)
8 BELLE & SEBASTIAN INTERVIEW
To Be Myself Completely / White Collar Boy (Rough Trade)
9 THE MONKEES – You Just May Be The One (Rhino)
10 THE LONG BLONDES - Last Night In Northgate Street (Rough Trade)
11 PSAPP – Tricycle (Domino)
12 YEAH YEAH YEAHS – Turn Into (Polydor)
11 HEY GRAVITY! – Inside Out (Riser Recordings)
12 AMY MILAN – Losin You (V2)
13 JEREMY WARMSLEY – I Promise (Transgressive)
14 SOUND TEAM - In The Dark No-One Can Hear You Sweat (Parlophone)
15 FUTUREHEADS – Yes/No (679 Recordings)
16 EL PERRO DEL MAR – Dog (Memphis Industries)

The second edition of The Signal is online now! 

THE SIGNAL – RADIO MAGNETIC SHOW 2006-01
 
   1. THE LONG BLONDES – Weekend Without Make Up (Rough Trade)
   2. CAMERA OBSCURA – Lloyd, I’m Ready To Be Heartbroken (Elefant)
   3. THE ORGAN – Brother (Too Pure)
   4. THE YOUNG KNIVES – She’s Attracted To (Transgressive)
   5. ABSENTEE – We Should never Have Children (Memphis Industries)
   6. THE RUSSIAN FUTURISTS – Paul Simon (Memphis Industries)
   7. M. CRAFT – Silver & Fire (679 Recordings)
   8. KEITH – Back There (Lucky Numbers)
   9. DR. DOG – The World May Never Know (Rough Trade) 

THE RAKES INTERVIEW with Alan & Matthew

  10. THE RAKES – Strasbourg / 22 Grand Job / All Too Human (V2)
  12. LOVE IS ALL – Busy Doing Nothing (Parlophone)
  13. COMET GAIN – The Ballad Of A Mix Tape (Track & Field)
  14. THE GRATES – 19-20-20 (Polydor)
  15. CANNONBALL JANE – Slumber Party (Fortuna Pop)

So The Signal’s first transmission is online!  Hopefully this first edition gives you an idea of what the focus of the show is – great alternative music mixed in with features and chat with the people responsible for the sounds we love. 

Recording the Rakes interview was a real joy for me.  It was recorded with Alan and Matthew before the Rakes played support to Franz Ferdinand at the Belfast Odyssey in November 2005.  The boys were on great form – they were just coming to end of the tour and were looking forward to their first appearance on Later With Jools Holland a few days later.  In fact about a week or so after the interview was recorded they started work on a new single, which ended up being All Too Human, released in Feb 2006.

There’s a hell of a lot of good music out there at the minute, and we couldn’t fit it all in this show – but fortunately that means there’ll be loads more for next time!  I’m just really pleased we could kick off The Signal with two singles as amazing as the current ones from The Long Blondes and Camera Obscura.  I can’t wait to hear more from Love Is All too.

So that’s The Signal Show #1 – let us know what you think by adding a comment!