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krj
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BBC listeners' notebook
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Mar 8 08:37 UTC 2002 |
Four days into my discovery of BBC Radio's Real Audio programming,
and I'm just bouncing off the walls with excitement.
The BBC runs a sizable number of channels. The three which
I draw on are:
-- BBC Radio Scotland, which offers two folk music shows during
the week, and more on weekends
-- BBC Radio 3, the "classical / fine arts" station.
The treasure here is the LATE JUNCTION show
-- BBC Radio 2, which offers the venerable program FOLK ON 2
So far I've listened to about six hours of LATE JUNCTION and
four hours of the midweek folk shows. And I'm so dazzled I
can't sleep.
I have not felt this much excitement about music since WEN.com went
out of business in January 2001. WEN offered canned "radio shows"
selected by folk & world music experts such as Ian Anderson (not the
Jethro Tull one) and Charlie Gillett. The BBC shows aren't
producing quite as much concentrated rapture as WEN did -- there was
one WEN one-hour show which led me to buy 8 of the 13 CDs sampled
-- but on the other hand, the BBC is likely to stay in business,
and they are producing about 16-20 hours per WEEK of stuff I want
to listen to.
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| 154 responses total. |
krj
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response 1 of 154:
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Mar 8 08:55 UTC 2002 |
If your eyes glaze over when Mickey, Twila and I start rattling on about
folk music, then you can skip everything I write about the midweek
folk shows. But I think many of the readers of this conference will
be interested in trying the LATE JUNCTION show. It airs at 22:15-midnight
UK time, which is 5:15 - 7 pm USA eastern time. LATE JUNCTION is a
delightful blend of musical styles; it's very reminiscent of the
early days of CBC's program BRAVE NEW WAVES from back in 1984, but
JUNCTION screens out the punk rock and poetry readings which were
staples on WAVES because it is a somewhat mellower program.
Things I want to remember from Monday's playlist: mostly a track from
the Shetland Islands band Fiddler's Bid, a mostly-fiddle folk band.
Other interesting stuff which was part of that hour: some kora music,
some American blues, four more UK folk tracks, and a section from
John Adams' SHAKER LOOPS.
Tuesday's show opened with a catchy song from Eileen Rose, who I found
described on Amazon as a cross between Janis Joplin and Tori Amos.
Definitely must buy her CD when it comes out in two weeks in the US.
Next was a "Toccata for Harp" by Nina Rota, followed by a fascinating
African lute piece set against a Cuban percussion backing.
I still have more of Tuesday's show to cover, but looking at the website
I see the show goes on to include early keyboard music composed by
William Byrd; the new Eliza Carthy album, marking her flight back to
traditional music; Steve Reich, Brian Eno and Charles Ives.
Note for Mike McNally: on Wednesday, the show aired a Yo La Tengo song,
can't remember precisely which one now.
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orinoco
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response 2 of 154:
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Mar 9 17:21 UTC 2002 |
Damn, but this is ma,king me wish I had a worthwhile net connection....
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gelinas
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response 3 of 154:
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Mar 10 16:03 UTC 2002 |
For the newbies around here, can give you us an idea of how to get to the BBC?
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gelinas
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response 4 of 154:
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Mar 10 16:07 UTC 2002 |
(I'm not totally hopeless; I am listening to WEMU's offering right now.)
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krj
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response 5 of 154:
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Mar 10 20:04 UTC 2002 |
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio is a page indexing lots of the BBC
radio channels.
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krj
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response 6 of 154:
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Mar 10 20:27 UTC 2002 |
For 17 years I've been reading about the shows by renowned radio host
Andy Kershaw, and so when I finally got to hear one on Friday evening
it was a bit of a disappointment. I may just not have been in the
right mood. However, the two songs which did make my ears perk up
were by Richard Thompson and Linda Thompson. They have separate
contributions on a new Cajun music project called EVANGELINE MADE.
(Sniffing around elsewhere on web: the album was put together by noted
Cajun traditional musician Ann Savoy, and other participants in the
project include John Fogerty, Maria McKee and Nick Lowe.)
I think this is the first new Linda Thompson recording I've heard
since '85.
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gelinas
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response 7 of 154:
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Mar 11 00:43 UTC 2002 |
Looks like iTunes won't cut it. I'll have to try this later.
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krj
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response 8 of 154:
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Mar 11 15:24 UTC 2002 |
On the Internet, the BBC is sending Real Audio. I don't know what you
need to do to get Real to cooperate with your net browser, since you are
a Mac user.
The BBC launched a new station today. Radio 6 appears to be some sort
of "serious rock" station, covering stuff from "classic rock" up through
PJ Harvey and The Strokes. I've only had a chance to listen for a few
minutes. The new station is only being broadcast on UK digital and
satellite radio, and on the net. (The UK is substantially ahead of
the US in digital radio broadcasting. UK classical music magazines
have been carrying ads and reviews for digital radio receivers for
some time.)
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krj
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response 9 of 154:
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Mar 12 20:42 UTC 2002 |
Today's Celtic Connections show on Radio Scotland has been just
delightful. More from Martyn Bennett's new "Glen Lyon" album, and
also the Peatbog Faeries (from an album I owned which was stolen, grrr);
Natalie MacMaster (with singing!). Despite my allergy to singer-songwriters,
I was very pleased by the duo from Chris While and Julie Matthews, from
an album which seems to be a Carole King tribute. Also: the new
La Bottine Souriante, and finally a chance to hear the Taj Mahal &
Toumani Diabate album -- nothing more celtic than that, I tell you!
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krj
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response 10 of 154:
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Mar 12 21:00 UTC 2002 |
Add in Alyth McCormack, yet another Scottish artist setting traditional
material to contemporary dance sounds.
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anderyn
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response 11 of 154:
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Mar 13 01:16 UTC 2002 |
Oooooh.,
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krj
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response 12 of 154:
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Mar 13 18:48 UTC 2002 |
Radio 6 was being fun this afternoon; of particular note was
The Mighty Lemon Drops (I think, and the track title got lost)
and Beth Orton's song "Best Bit." Argh, I have a Beth Orton CD
somewhere but the house ate it before I ever played it.
There was also an interview with Billy Bragg and I caught just the
last track from his new album, which sounded a little too preachy
for my taste.
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