G is for: ghosts, ghoulies and gremlins

Just over a month ago - well 1st of November to be exact Piley, myself and our three guests: local author Syd Moore, Roman Jugg (ex of The Damned) and Paul Pouch-of-Douglas were all ready to roll with the Halloween/horror edition of Radio Podrophenia.

The questions were prepared and the playlist had been picked - including one tune that's been the cause of some historical hi-jinks for Piley and I. It won't mention it by name (I daren't mention it by name) but will clue you in as much as it's the closing track to side one of Eno and Byrne's My Life in the Bush of Ghosts.

Previous spooky doings based around this art-rock oddity include: perfectly workable DJ decks going dead on the spot and flickery electrical faults and blow outs(captured on this podcast) - We've now become so superstitious about the tune and it's voodoo routines that we ran a should we/shouldn't we poll on Facebook. Of course the votes were all in favour of 'play not pass' - so, it got plonked on the playlist.

When Tuesday the 1st rolled around, it was more of a disappointment than surprise to find there would be no show that night! Why - an unknown electrical malfunction had taken the station out of action and off-air for the evening. Technical gremlins, pesky gremlins and variations on the gremlin themes were repeat motifs for the rest of the evening spent in the pub.

Although the last surprise was still to come - reviewing the a team photo - we spotted something odd over my shoulder. A stone gremlin. But not just any ol' gremlin. This was a musical gremlin - plonked atop a gramophone...and facing towards us - gurning at the group...

Left to right: Syd Moore, Roman Jugg, Piley, Paul P.O.D, me - our stonefaced lurker

Hopefully we'll be free of heavier level spookery as Syd Moore joins us for Take 2 tonight with a live reading from her debut novel the Drowning Pool. The perfect book for tucking into by a roaring winter fireside. If you haven't read it yet - check out my debut book review here at Plectrum - The Cultural Pick

Also joining us in Podrophenialand tonight is Fi Jacobs from the Railway Hotel for a bumper December edition of the Railway Roundup..

We're live from 9 on Chance Radio. And If you missed last week's edition (sport) - you can reserve a ringside seat for an action replay below..

Radio Podrophenia - Sport


Or via itunes

G - is also for Gallic a go-go...

Seasons to be Cheerful, Part 23

A medley of seasonal sounds is on the menu for tonight's Radio Podrophenia - our 23rd editon

Including: two types of Fall {one song, one band} Summertime, Rain and David Alexandre Winter's Qu'est-Ce Que J'Ai Danse! Although for all the scouting about - I couldn't for the life of me find a springy-thing. Any suggestions - let me know. Also piping hot off the press is a live Damned track recorded at The Roundhouse during their 35th Anniversary gig last Saturday

Natter abouts may include real life shop names: Touching Cloth, Threads Atomic Dustbin. And body  parts that sound like place names (Biffin's Bridge, Pouch of Douglas) or vice versa..

And coming in to pitch some live acoustic tunes in our general direction is Canvey's own Darren Jones

We'll be parked up from 9pm hereabouts at Chance Radio. Should you fancy catching up on the last couple of back issues - grab both below

Podrophonic Alphabet - E

Keeping it Peel

The Code Zodiac Tapes: legendary lost spy-fi soundtrack remastered, restored and debuting here today..

If you're a fan of the Italo spy-fi film genre you may be familiar with the long-shifting whispers about low budget cult-flick The Code Zodiac Tapes. Made in 1969 it received just a handful of European screenings before being shelved due to international wrangles over distribution rights.

Zodiac dropped out of circulation and with no sightings, leaked footage or dodgy copies filtering into the public domain since, it's been widely accepted that the film had become lost, wiped or stolen. However, canisters containing the original broadcast masters were recently discovered in the basement of an abandoned Riviera mansion. Damp, dust and neglect have left the film stock, shooting notes and script damaged beyond recovery or repair..

Thankfully a handful of production details, storyboards and publicity shots survived - along with some concept art for set designs (pleasure units, undersea casinos, moonbased pods and modules ) and some costume credits....

Hair by Laurence of Park Lane
Wardrobe by Mr Hipster
M.O.N.D.O Mobile by George Barris

Concept art by uncredited artist

More significantly the 16 track Ampex analogue master tapes of the Zodiac soundtrack were found to be salvageable. These tapes - and any scraps and snatches of dubbed dialogue - were taken to Shabby Road studios for digital restoration. Today the freshly mastered, previously unreleased Code Zodiac soundtrack receives it's international debut. A teaser trailer is available here along with an OST stream - but the full 19 track album is available as a limited-edition free download over at Budd Schifrin's site..

Code Zodiac Trailer



Code Zodiac OST

Keith Mansfield's composition Soul Confusion was originally used to score a deleted scene (scripted as - Scene 34: How does that grab you?) and has been included here as a bonus track

Keith Mansfield - Soul Confusion

Original storyboard panels

Vunky Vendredi - French Lessons

It's a tricolore of treats for this week's Funky Friday, and almost a cyber-style student exchange, wherein Anglo-pop gets the Français translation treatment and a cult Kids TV star (from La Maison de Tu Tu) goes undubbed and au naturel .

You may not recognise the titles - but you'll know the tunes pop pickers..

Johnny Hallyday - Noir c'est noir



Eileen - Ces Bottes Sont Faites Pour Marcher



Marie Laforêt - D'Etre A Vous



Behold - Hector's actual speaking voice