From The Bottom Of The Record Box

Tom Dibb, multi-instrumentalist and singer songwriter of merit is bookending the show this week. Live from Grand Chapel Studios. It's a sound of alt-country or could indeed spawn a new genre of Briticana, if that makes any sense. It certainly will once you listen to this aspiring artist. Join us as we head to South East England for the sounds of Tom Dibb. Tobin becomes tetchy this week as Richard introduces Belbury Poly to the show. Despite Tobin's love of all things literary, he denounces Chanctonbury Rings as a derisory reading of a novel to music. Phillistine that Tobinis, Richard thinks he's completely missed the point. However, to redress the balance, Tobin brings us Lord Cut Glass with his Gaelic lilted vocals and interesting musical phrasing. There is some pronunciation argument here. It's a hands down winner and a firm placement in the FTBOTRB Jukebox of Fame. New Music Selection Tobin, as ever, painfully dedicated to New Music as he is, brings Storme's latest track to the studio. It's a stark reminde

Godknows Ronnie Jr is our featured artiste this week. Soulful, Rasta vibes from this ultra-talented Zimbabwean now working and living in Cape Town. It's a cover of a classic track originally recorded by a giant. You'll get to know a little bit more about this Zimbabwean musician, comic, actor, host and performing artist later on in the show notes. For now, just listen to that voice and marvel. Bookending the show this week is the mighty Vulfpeck, drawing on such talent as Corey Wong and Blake Mills the band are a monolithic funk force to be reckoned with. They've recently successfully ended a crowd funding event with a nearly 4000% success rate. You can join in the fun and order the Live at Madison Square Garden vinyl package here. UK tour kicking off soon too. Listener Recommendation extraordinaire We have what is quite simply one of the best Listener Recommendations to date as well on the show. The sublime vocal arresting Fight Like Apes entertain us with a vitriolic tale of a woman scorned. Sadl

The best of 2019 round up is finally here! We here at From the Bottom of the Record Box have brought together some of our favourites from the show over the last 12 months. It is nearly an impossible task and there are many tunes that could have easily made the list but for the constraints of time. We have tried to pick the very best of 2019 and present them to you in a complimentary way. We also announce Listener Recommendation of the Year 2019! So dear listener, get ready for some excellent music as we reveal some amazing tunes in our Best of 2019 playlist.   Cardboard Man The Cool Greenhouse Laundry Room The Avett Brothers Major League Chemicals Unknown Mortal Orchestra Summer Sickness Shards I'm Tired of your Repeating Story Otoboke Beaver Hey Beau Dillon Simpatico People W.H. Lung I'm Lonely (But I Ain't That Lonely Yet) Laura Jean Anderson Hunnu Guren Batzorig Vaanchig & AULI Got So Long Andi Hanley Every Loving Herd Does As It Should Mike Pope Good Kisser Lake Street Dive R

Welcome one and all and Merry Christmas, it's our Christmas Special 2019. Tobin & Richard relax in the studio and play some alternative Christmas gems. As part of putting together this Christmas Special 2019 we have chosen to eschew the usual banal Christmas offerings. Richard and Tobin have gunned down some tunes that will not necessarily feature anywhere else this Christmas. Check out that turkey dinner playlist! There's the usual family disparity and abject dislike from The Therapy Sisters. Tobin once again proclaims that Christmas isn't Christmas without bluegrass with The Clarke Family and he finishes the Christmas Special 2019 with a more traditional feel. In between you'll meet the unlikely bedfellows of William Shatner and Iggy Pop, with some useful insight from a listener. Song introduction maestro Red Simpson is Truckin' Trees for Christmas and dressing up his truck. Yeah, right. There's much festive music to go at in our Christmas Special 2019 Louis Armstrong offers some tra

John Schooley duets with punk rock harmonica player Walter Daniels in an empty shopping mall. This is Dead Mall Blues and it's one awesome recording. Recorded back in 2014 it features John Schooley on resonator guitar and Walter Daniels on harmonica. It's an eclectic mix up of reworked classic blues tunes from way back. The cover artwork is a collection of photographs of "dead malls". It's really thought provoking and eerie to see the malls with no people milling about in them. It sort of sets the tone for the record really. The music certainly has a haunting quality and a theme of empty space runs through the recording. It was really difficult to pick just one track to feature on today's show, the LP is just brimming with belting tunes. We've been lucky enough to catch up with John Schooley, so read on to find out more about this unique recording and the man himself. More stuff you'll learn today We're also introducing you to The Rezillos by way of a back to back Double Cover Shot. Two clas

James Holt and Inez Hargaden are your spotlight artistes this week. Multi-intrumentalist James Holt transcends to Indie-pop greatness with his newest single release Little Green Light. This song has clearly everything it needs to break James Holt into the higher echelons of music makers. In quite stark contrast to James Holt's toe tapping track is the gentle sounds of Inez Hargaden. Inez's bell like clarity vocal delivery with plaintive guitar melodies is reminiscent of faraway singer/songwriter tunes. However, there's a newness and fresh breeze running right the way through her song. Moving on through the show despite Tobin's hangover, we meet Winston Surfshirt. This causes a sense of disagreement in the studio as the two boys try to reach some common ground. Agreed the title of the band is epic, but the vocals at least cause some division. It's New Music so there's a saving grace that Richard may warm to Winston Surfshirt in future. Dillon is our bookend artist for this week and opens with the classic tune

Phat Phil Cooper has the perfect antidote to the colder months with his Winter Warmers compilation from NuNorthern Soul. It releases December 6th. However, we've been luck enough to have been treated to a prerelease of it and we share a track with you today. It's Phil's edit of a classic B.J. Smith tune. Tobin describes it as "sublime" - listen on to see if you agree. There's so much more to go at in NuNorthern Soul's compilation too, so be sure to check it out fully and give it the time it deserves. It's richly rewarding. Furthermore, we've got music-as-art specialist Alabaster dePlume bookending today's show. Unique is probably the best word to describe this music. Firstly, Alabaster himself forms a new band every month. Secondly, he writes fresh compositions for said band and performs live. After that, the process repeats itself. Such a visionary way to approach music making. Alabaster dePlume is also an artist with a wide range of theatrical talents. Check out his "I was gonna fight racism

Vic Mars takes us on a journey of his Inner Roads and Outer Paths this week. It's all very nostalgic and wistful. It's life viewed from a rail carriage. Think of endless summers, grass stains on your knees and collecting bugs in a jar. Now try to imagine how that might sound and you've pretty much landed in the world of Vic Mars. Tobin remarked that it was a very subtle way to open the show, and he'd be right. However, therein lies the beauty of Vic Mars' music; subtlety. Initially then, the show's bookend is all about the English countryside, however, we've much more than this. Firstly, Tobin has brought us another cracking Cover Shot that gives us the dilemma of which is better, the cover or the original. It's an epic jam that takes in more than one track and is an ambitious recording to say the least. It even sparked interest in Richard's youngest son, who went on to demonstrate his alarming dance skills. Secondly, Tobin also has a Record Box Classic with a melody line par excellence. And, tha

Hackney Colliery Band kick off our show this week with a double cover shot bookend. Both songs were massive hits during the 90s, and they are performed beautifully. Hackney Colliery Band do intimate justice to a couple of 90s bangers this week - it's a mammoth task. What impresses us here at Record Box HQ about these tracks is the work that has gone into them. Yeah, get 4 guys or gals with guitars and drums and you can cover songs. It's easy enough. But for a brass band it's so much more difficult. You're all of a sudden no longer covering the song. Firstly, you're arranging the song for a brass band. Secondly, you have to think about the dynamics of the sound. It's mega really, and that's why Hackney Colliery Band are bookending today. Throat singing makes a welcome return to the show as the modern day Robert Johnson performs Cape Cod Girls. Now, that is a bold statement but just stick around and listen to Baby Gramps and you'll get it. Bashing away at his trusty National steel guitar and killing

This week we plumb the depths of the family playlist and unearth two blinders. The eponymous Pool Hall Richard and Tobin respectively. Richard has been spoilt somewhat in the family playlist as there are some excellent tracks out there with Richard in the title. And Pool Hall Richard is no exception. However, Tobin finds the similarity in characters astonishing, and obnoxious. To be honest, it's an unlikely enough event to even have found a track entitled Tobin. Moreover, he actually stars twice in the family playlist, but that's for another episode of the show. It's a bit of a bloodbath this week on the show as the ever combative Richard doesn't mince his words at some of Tobin's tracks. Both Cigarettes After Sex and Party Pupils and MAX come into Richard's firing line. But that's in stark contrast to the universal appeal of Pueblo Café; dirty and often comical street music with mariachi and New Orleans jazz flavours, it's an excellent listen. Pueblo Café means that we haven't quite lost To

Lee Michaels is very much our concentration point this week. However, with the seasons changing its now a fitting time to play Twain. Very much autumnal in feel, the indie folk outfit are our bookending buccaneers this week. Tobin has expert pedigree in delivering New Music nuggets, so we very much look forward to Twain. Plus we'll learn more about Lee Michaels and his plagiarism battle later on. Tobin once again plays his guessing game music shenanigans with The Marcus King Band. Such a full and mature sounding frontman it's hard to imagine. Quite obviously steeped in blues heritage Marcus King delivers by the bucket load and foxes Richard. New Music this week is curated by Richard as Tobin once again jets around Europe without such a thought for souvenirs or cheap, awful booze reminders. And as such, Richard brings us Chromatics' cover of one of Simon and Garfunkel's most well loved songs. It's eerie, it's cold, haunting and steeped in retrospective vibes. Record Box Classic As Long As I Can See T

Toy Trucks kick of the show this week for a Wax Time Special where Richard plays 3 tracks from direct off the vinyl. Further to this, Richard has the pleasure of being in conversation with Jeremy Scott, lead singer and guitarist with The Toy Trucks. Jeremy is a likeable and laid back gent who effortlessly lets the conversation roll about the band. Richard is also curating New Music this week, bringing back Sports Team to the show. The Jaggeresque Alex Rice reminds us why guitar bands work. Excellent music and lyrical jokers Sports Team make a welcome return to form and impress the hell out of Tobin. Speaking of whom, he brings us Meg Myers with her high-school indie rocker Lemon Eyes. It's easy to get lost in its crashing guitar sounds. And Tobin is indeed master of sounds this week. He brings us some Cool Sounds straight out of Australia. Cool Sounds' latest LP is a massive hit with us here at Record Box HQ. Richard has been intermittently spinning this with Rockets, Bells and Poetry all week. All

It's all about Zooluxx this week. Psychedelic gunslingers straight from the Los Angeles Music scene and recording on the Blind Owl Records label. Zooluxx really do take us to Different Planets. This week Richard is In Conversation with founder of the label and frontman of Mrs Henry, Dan Cervantes. We discuss the label in general and some of its roster, including Zooluxx and Mike Pope among others. Dan Cervantes is down to earth and enthusiastic. Richard and Dan also touch on Mrs Henry's rendition of The Last Waltz and the documentary it spawned. Tobin is bookending the show this week with oddly named The Japanese House. Rarely to be outwitted, Richard delves into the research books and unearths the story behind the name. But what does Richard really think about The Japanese House? Listen on to find out more. Also in Tobin's sights this week is another of his favourite "guess where this band is from" spins. Nérija do sound cool and very sexy indeed, can Richard rise to the challenge? Tobin tops it all

Slaves are our New Music shot this week whilst Tobin has been out of the UK. Be prepared for some outlandish British punk at full volume. We'll find out more about Slaves and their take on modern day punk later in the show. Of course, you could have heard this New Music weeks ago when it was released. Just become a patron of the show. Find out more here about how just $1 a month could secure you New Music every week. Plus, you get a warm feeling inside knowing that you are helping to support the show. Along with Slaves, we've got a spectacular Beatles cover, which Richard argues is actually better than the original. Drown in Daisy DeBolt's lusciously imploring vocal lines as she weaves her way around Allan Fraser's linchpin melody. Arguably Canada's greatest band never to have made it, this track is an essential listen. Coming hot on its heels is the cracker from Dialgo. We discuss Stranger Things, coke bottle green vinyl and Richard's continued avoidance of modern TV culture. It's Jazzamatazz, it's sli

Sofi Tukker forms the back half of Tobin's excellent New Music Double Header this week. This American musical duo follows hard-to-beat tune Dennis from Liverpool's very own Pizzagirl. However, Sofi Tukker manage to pull a blinder and get straight to the back of the net with Purple Hat. Listen on for a truly epic listen. It's an official From the Bottom of The Record Box (Music Discovery Podcast) Recommendation. Tobin also brings us a Listener Recommendation from "that" Jamie as once again Jamie unleashes his vast musical knowledge on us. In much the same vein that Spike from the Bearded Pig Forge brought us Batzorig Vaanchig, Jamie also brings us Mongolian throat singing. It's the belligerent war-like swagger of Altan Urag. A future gaming top ten hit in the making we predict. Secondly, Richard is on all pre-release mission this week. He's got three tracks off of The Claim's new LP - The New Industrial Ballads. Two up at the top of the show, and the retro narrative classic 30 Years at the bottom of th

Welcome to the show this week where we introduce you to Tina-Marie. Her music is low-key, it's funky, smooth, sexy and very cool. We're lucky enough to be able to share this with our listenership around the globe and we hope you enjoy her slick and enticing groove. But it's not all about Tina-Marie in the show, Tobin has a choral delight that is sure to blow off your socks. OK, we get it, you're turned off by the word choral right? Well don't be - this is modern, engaging vocal work by Shards. It's a world away from the dusty halls of any long since forgotten congregation and eschews children with bowl cuts in matching cassocks. It's eerily cold, spacious and at the same time joyous to listen to. From the cool grooves of Tina-Marie we move seamlessly to the dark, Americana, alt country sounds of Brown Bird. Sadly Brown Bird are no more as founder David Lamb passed away in 2014 from leukaemia. However, his wife Morgan Eve Swain carried on the legacy and formed her new band, The Huntress and Holder o

Tinariwen are today's Triple Bookend! Tuareg musicians par excellence - they take us on a transcendental trip deep into the Western Saharan desert night. And what a trip it is. With guesting musicians from the annals of rock history and traditional Mauritanian folk masters. This double LP release that is only a couple of weeks old is a must-have for any record collector. Richard presents 3 tracks of his choice from that release, Amadjar. Released on double 180g premium vinyl in a gatefold sleeve with additional 28pp road trip booklet AND digital download, order here. As if the sonic landscape created by Tinariwen was not enough Tobin brings us a 52 year old Record Box Classic. Despite the difficulties recording this in the studio it's a cracking listen. In fact, it acts beautifully as a Record Box Classic. In so much that you've not heard it for ages but it sounds brilliant. Go right on ahead and listen, you'll understand what we are saying. In addition to this, we have New Music from Ayelle where we al

Lake Street Dive bookend the show today and prove to be a big hit here at Record Box HQ. Tobin floated the band and their kick-off-the-show tune Good Kisser is a great introduction to the Boston five piece. More on Lake Street Dive later. Personal friend and country songstress Andrea Glass features at long last. Well overdue is a play from her. We have a track from her debut LP, North Wind. More used to being played alongside other Country/Americana greats on shows like the legendary Bob Harris' we hope she feels equally at home here. Bobby Womack ends his track so abruptly it causes some hilarity in the studio. However, we delve into his colourful private life and the legacy he, and his brother Cecil left. Cecil forming Womack and Womack with Sam Cooke's daughter, Bobby's step-daughter with whom he'd had an affair. All very risqué and exciting. We've also got New Music in the form of the decisive Husbands track Mexico. You can get early access to New Music from Record Box HQ here. Wax time and a pr

Batzorig Vaanchig throat sings his way into the show with Latvian bagpipers. Interested? We thought you would be! Spike from The Bearded Pig Forge recommended this one and what an excellent and rewarding listen it is. Mongolian throat singing with Latvian bagpipes. As Tobin says, please don't hit the off-switch, this is good. Real good. The Lovemongers give us an epic cover of a Led Zeppelin classic. In stark contrast to Batzorig Vaanchig, it is no less vocally splendid. Obviously it's completely different and more recognisable, but a fantastic vocal celebration nonetheless. As ever we've got New Music and much more besides. Secondly, Richard introduces us to his virtual friend and artist extraordinaire Carly Strauss. It's a full show so let's dive straight in. Where They Do Not Know My Name Bad Livers Swimming Pools Thao Nguyen & The Get Down Stay Down Hunnu Guren Batzorig Vaanchig & AULI You Decided Mia Berg Battle of Evermore The Lovemongers He Don't Love Me Winona Oak Shot at

Of course, following the sad news of David Berman's untimely demise recently we thought it fitting to play Silver Jews. David Berman was a wonderful man and his music reflects this. More on David Berman later on, because we have much more besides. SALES bookend the show with flavours of Joy Division and Suzanne Vega. There is some promise as we expect a Chinese takeaway delivery only to be reminded it's New Year and no such delicious meal is in sight. We discover that making music purely for your own enjoyment is a thing. Sir Woman was doing just this, much like Keaton Henson whom has graced the show previously. But Sir Woman isn't the only one and we have more secretive music makers being showcased on the show in coming weeks. Over nineties music making sensation Barbara Dane sings of the binds of conjugal felicity in her wonderful Single Girl. You think you know about protest singers? Woody, Bob and Pete? Be prepared to relearn what you think you know as Barbara Dane towers above them all.