Line Noise Podcast

My guest on Line Noise this week is Dominick Martin, AKA Calibre, a hugely renowned producer from Belfast best known for drum & bass but who has also made everything from jazzy folk to deep house. We were talking ahead of the release of his new Calibre record, Tricklemore Sea (released on May 1), an album of elegant and often elegiac downtempo beats on which Martin’s voice features heavily. Over the course of an hour, we spoke about everything from Martin's lack of confidence in his voice to his upbringing in 80s Belfast, passing by Lankum, Sun Ra, Swerve, perfect pitch, bringing his parents to gigs and what his daughter thinks of his music. Line Noise comes to you with the support of Cupra. Photo by JakeDavis_@jakephilipdavis_@khromacollective-9772

Ben Cardew spoke to French producer Malibu (a.k.a. Barbara Braccini) ahead of her gigs in Barcelona (April 14) and Madrid (April 15) about the profound impact of her live shows, music as a diary, growing up in a small town and the loneliness of LA. Line Noise comes to you with the support of Cupra.

Ben Cardew spoke to the don of techno, Mr. Jeff Mills, about Live at the Liquid Room, the importance of dancing, making music every day and more, when Jeff was in Barcelona for the Liquid Room anniversary tour. Line Noise comes to you with the support of Cupra. Photo by Yuichiro Nora.

To mark the release of his Stereolab book, Space Age Batchelor Pad Music, Ben Cardew reads 10 minutes from the opening chapter, in what is the closest you're probably going to get to an audiobook. Here, we discover why he wanted to write the book in the first place and what makes Stereolab so special.

Johann Wald takes a turn hosting Line Noise this week, as regular host Ben Cardew comes on the show to promote his new book, Space Age Batchelor Pad Music: The Story Of Stereolab In 20 Songs.

Ben explains the how, whys and wherefores of the new book, including why he decided to write it in the first place, the choice of the 20-song structure and trawling the Stereolab back catalogue for themes and oddness. They also talk about why Stereolab are one of the most unique bands of the last few decades, explore the idea of inefficiency in music and wonder at the sheer size and improbability of the Stereolab back catalogue. As a bonus: their favourite Stereolab songs.