Desert Isolation Discs

Desert Isolation Discs

Desert Isolation Discs aims to capture the essence of the people we interview through their music choices in a cheekily familiar format. We talk to creative types and music lovers about what eight songs they couldn't live without if stranded in a desert. The show is hosted by London-based journalist and ShadowPlay fanzine editor Alex Lawson. Tweet him @MrAlexLawson and more on the show at http://desertisolationdiscs.blogspot.co.uk/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episodes

September 19, 2018 50 mins
Luke Moore of the acclaimed Football Ramble podcast tells us the eight songs he couldn’t live without. In a fusion of two pods - world football and music show Rabonas & Rhythms and cheeky parody pod Desert Isolation Discs - we talk music, football and #travel with one of podcasting’s biggest talents. Luke is quizzed on boybands, Portsmouth, podcast projects and even gives some Moorstradamus predictions. (Oh and Rabonas series t...

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Toby Litt is a writer of impressive breadth and daring. Over two decades as a published author Litt has spanned crime, romance and the down right weird in his novels and short stories. Famed for naming his novels in order, from A to Z, his writing is anything but predictable. As well as his acclaimed works, Litt is a university lecturer in creative writing at Birbeck in London, has written comics, songs and even worked on an opera....

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June 26, 2016 47 mins
Mark "MJ" Hibbett is one of the most unique, funny and intelligent figures on the British indie pop scene. The man knows how to write a tune and, what's more, get a crowd going. He's been making music since forming his first band on the way home from a school art trip in 1981 and, along with his troupe the Validators, has been gigging for years. His list of accolades include releasing the first ever internet single and getting load...

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March 31, 2016 46 mins
Nick Helm is a man so rock'n'roll the discipline is not even big enough for him. A fine musician - in fact his latest album, Nick Helm is Fucking Amazing is out this month - he's also made his name as a comedian and actor, providing heavy entertainment to the masses. His star has shone brightest in hit comedy Uncle, in which he plays a layabout musician trying to make it big and he discusses how nerves could've killed the whole sho...

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Whether it's tinkling the ivories or tapping the keyboard, James Heather is a master in his endeavours. By day, he promotes some of Britain's most innovative artists as head of communications at record label Ninja Tune. By night he works on his own fantastic compositions. It's a pleasure to turn the spotlight around on the man who has spent the last 14 years bigging up the likes of Bonobo, Cinematic Orchestra, Kate Tempest, Wiley a...

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December 14, 2015 32 mins
Broadcaster Ruth Barnes is a certified selector. After a career spent largely in music radio – she knows how to pick a tracklist. With an all-female playlist on her Amazing Radio show The Other Woman and through work with everyone from BBC 6Music to Resonance FM, Ruth has adeptly curated choice cuts for years.She’s achieved an absolute shedload – working as a continuity announcer for BBC One and Two, voicing long reads for the Guar...

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As the frontman of caketronica starlets Yunioshi, Mr Rob Garner has toured everywhere from festivals in Canada and Iceland to local gigs when he's been living in Nottingham or London, where he's from. A designer by day and an axe wielder by night, he's also played in other bands including Spaceships are Cool and the ridiculously weird Revenge of Calculon. I was very happy to host him on the podcast as his love of music has massivel...

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September 13, 2015 42 mins

Gordon ‘Mac’ McNamee has played a crucial role in the way the UK has consumed soulful music - from reggae to house - over the last four decades. As founder of Kiss FM, he helped bring black music to London’s rapidly evolving 80s club scene. He took the pirate station on to FM and continued to manage it when taken over by Emap. 

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Simon Read is one of a kind: comfortable sipping Sidecars and talking shop or banging in the goals on a pre-season European footy tour. Known as The People’s Champion, he’s a fire fighter of personal finance - solving the problems of his readers in The Independent and Evening Standard.


...

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As author of Fanzines: The DIY Revolution, Teal Triggs has been on the Desert Isolation Discs wish list for some time. Her study of publishing’s finest form is an excellent examination of their loudmouth birth (titles included Crap Hound and Beer Can Fanzine) and cultural influence. The American living in London has enjoyed a lengthy career first as a photograph...

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Mr Tom Whalley is used to making difficult choices where music is concerned. As producer of The Huey Show, fronted by Huey Morgan of the Fun Lovin’ Criminals, on BBC Radio 6 Music, Nottingham’s finest flatcap wearer is a master selector. The London resident is also known for lectur...

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The Hats of Liz O’Keefe is a musical that has never been written. But it if had, it would’ve doubtless have gone a little like this. This show has the variety to switch from Trilby chic to peak cap capriciousness. Which of course means nothing, but  here, Liz in typically colourful manner discuss...

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One half of the podcasting world’s most amusing, esoteric and silly duo, Helen Zaltzman is our guest. Her question and answer podcast, launched in 2007 and presented in tandem with Olly Mann, has won an armful of gongs, a world full of followers and imparted important knowledge in response to teasers such as why do round pizzas come in square boxes.

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Angela Penhaligon, aka country-folktronica songstress Piney Gir, is my latest guest on Desert Isolation Discs as she tells me the eight tunes she couldn’t live without in a desert.


Piney is an acclaimed artist...

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Mr James Lambert tells me the eight songs he’d save from the wreckage if stranded in the desert after a freak extreme air ironing accident. 

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Barcelona-based record label head honcho and talented marketer Anders Knight is my latest guest on Desert Isolation Discs. He became the lynchpin in the arts and culture scene of Nottingham when based there through his excellent stewardship of craft night Jumpers for Goalposts as co-host of the Pretty Dandy Flea markets and enticing us to watch great films...

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It is an absolute pleasure to welcome a very special guest to Desert Isolation Discs… my mother! Part of the reason I began recording these missives was as an excuse to quiz mum on her choices. She is an avid listener to a certain similar show and has also hosted DiD parties. 

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As vanity projects go, recording your own Desert Isolation Discs podcast is right up there. But nonetheless, here’s your blogging host Alex Lawson’s eight tunes he would save from the wreckage after a freak sky diving accident. Tom Bonnett manfully steps in as host. More details and full songs here - http://desertisolationdiscs.blogspot.co.uk


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Anoraks presenter and long-time ShadowPlay collaborator Tom Bonnett is our guest on Desert Isolation Discs - a podcast presented by Alex Lawson. Tom he tells us which eight tracks he would save from the wreckage when stranded in the desert after a freak hang gliding accident.

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September 9, 2013 46 mins

Anoraks Tom Bonnett and Alex Lawson discuss the beauty of the tape ahead of Cassette Store Day. Alex explains why a handmade cover and a curated collection of songs can make a couple of magnetic reels in a plastic case come to life and why tapes may be making a comeback. For a blog on Cassette Store Day, visit http://shadowplayfanzine.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/could-tapes-follow-vinyl-and-make....

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