James Acaster's Perfect Sounds

Fatiha El-Ghorri is in Heavn May 27, 2022

Heavn by Jamila Woods fuses R&B, Jazz and various other genres including classic indie.

Surely it must appeal to Cure-loving Fatiha!

Aparna Nancherla & Freetown Sound May 20, 2022

Freetown Sound by Blood Orange is such an "immaculate" album that James worries he might burst into tears just talking about it.

Here's hoping Aparna feels the same, otherwise trouble could be afoot.

Jen Ives & An Escape Into Space May 13, 2022

Splendor & Misery is a sci-fi concept album by experimental rap trio Clipping.

Lyrics and soundscapes combine to tell an Afrofuturist story of an escape from oppression into the void of space. Jen Ives prepares to be transported.

Stuart Laws & ScHoolboy Q May 06, 2022

James confesses to being in love with ScHoolboy Q's Blank Face LP.

With a Gangsta rap core but with psychedelic overtones and great production, is there enough to seduce Stuart Laws too?

Toussaint Douglass & The Life Of Pablo Apr 29, 2022

The ever-polarising Kanye West can be controversial at times but James can't help but like the music. After all, his 2016 album The Life of Pablo has a vein of weirdness running through it that is right up James' street. However, is it a path Toussaint Douglass is willing to tread?

Fern Brady & The Punk Beyoncé Apr 22, 2022

Black Terry Cat by Xenia Rubinos is a magical album drawing on many influences and described by the artist herself as "a punk Beyoncé".

However, is it enough to impress one of Scotland's finest, Fern Brady?

Sadia Azmat & Black Girl Blues Apr 15, 2022

Fetish Bones by Moor Mother delivers a powerful message via a sonically abrasive backdrop.

Labelled by the artist herself as Black Girl Blues, Project Housing Bop or Slaveship Punk, it's an album that demands the listener's full attention.

However, was it enough to hold Sadia Asmat's attention?

Sara Barron & Emily's D+Evolution Apr 08, 2022

Emily's D+Evolution, a brilliant Jazz-Rock-Funk fusion album by Grammy Award winning Esperanza Spalding, is usually the last thing Sara Barron would listen to.

However, some finely crafted lyrics start to reel her in.

Nathan Caton & an OST to Nothing Apr 01, 2022

Wes Borland you may remember as the guitarist in '90s rock/rap outfit Limp Bizkit. In 2016 he released Crystal Machete, a soundtrack to an imagined film.

James and Nathan try to imagine what that film would look like.

Thanyia Moore, Illusion & Destruction Mar 25, 2022

Mahoroboshiya by Japanese folk singer Ichiko Aoba is an album with such a delicate and intimate feel that James can't help but relax to it.

However, is it enough to chill '90s R'n'B-loving Thanyia Moore?

Jayde Adams & Hard Pop Opera Mar 18, 2022

Rien by Perrine en Morceaux has a sound so big, it envelopes James and (in his words) makes him feel like a little boy. But is it too big for Jayde Adams to handle?

Rhys Nicholson & That '70s Funk Thang Mar 11, 2022

Awaken My Love was a massive left turn for Childish Gambino and produced one of the best songs of 2016 in the form of Redbone.

Influenced by George Clinton's '70s band Funkadelic but with modern techniques, it made Rhys Nicholson "Horny... but not for sex".

Charlie George, Vampires and Periods Mar 04, 2022

Jenny Hval’s 2016 concept album, on the theme of blood, is a collection of light and beautiful melodies interspersed with dark and haunting soundscapes.

James tasks Charlie George to have a listen and report back.

Fatiha El-Ghorri & Cohen's Final Bow Feb 25, 2022

Fatihah El Ghorri, by her own admission, loves Cliff Richard and Shrek. So will the mournful, gravelly tones of Leonard Cohen appeal to her?

Sikisa Bostwick-Barnes & Bollywave Feb 18, 2022

Ami Dang, a classically trained sitar player, fuses ancient Sikh hymns and poems of Gurus with a modern dance feel and calls it "Bollywave".

Will it be enough to sweep Sikisa Bostwick-Barnes off her feet?

Aaron Chen & ОЭЩ МАГЗИУ Feb 11, 2022

ОЭЩ МАГЗИУ (or Oesch Magziu to you and me) by ГШ (or Glintshake to you and me) is an album inspired by the Russian avant-garde, a creative movement popular in Russia in the early 20th Century and worked into a more modern sound. However, will it translate across the globe? Australia's finest, Aaron Chen, is here to tell us.

Jen Ives & A Journey Into Darkness Feb 04, 2022

The Caretaker's Everywhere At The End of Time is a 6-hour project exploring the descent into dementia. It had a profound effect on James, but what effect will it have on Jen Ives?

Kiri Pritchard-McLean & Portuguese Fusion Pop Jazz Jan 28, 2022

James and Kiri discuss Portuguese maestro Bruno Pernadas's 2016 album, Those Who Throw Objects at the Crocodiles Will Be Asked to Retrieve Them.

Dai Henwood & Pop Royalty Jan 21, 2022

Carly Rae Jepsen's 2016 album Emotion: Side B is 110% pure pop, with enough sweetness to thaw James' cold heart towards the genre. However, is there too much sugar for Dai Henwood to digest?

Isy Suttie & International Prog Folk Jan 14, 2022

With music inspired by improvisational Jazz, Persian and African folk and vocals in myriad languages, it's hard to tie Léonore Boulanger to a specific genre. Will Isy Suttie, with her background in jazz and prog rock bands, be won over?

Chloe Petts On The Quest... Jan 07, 2022

We Got It From Here... Thank You 4 Your Service. Hip hop legends A Tribe Called Quest released their final album in 2016 and surely reinforces James' claim that this was indeed, the greatest year in music - of all time! But will Chloe Petts agree?

Ahir Shah & Baroque Classic Pop Dec 17, 2021

Inspired by classic art, sculpture and a year in Rome, Meilyr Jones' album 2013 is quite simply beautiful. James is hoping that Ahir will agree.

Rosie Jones and Isolation Indie Rap Dec 10, 2021

The Impossible Kid is a charming and personal album written by Aesop Rock whilst isolating in a cabin in the woods.

Full of fables and colourful characters, surely Rosie Jones will be charmed..?

James has his fingers crossed.

Sikisa Takes A Seat At The Table Dec 03, 2021

Sikisa thought R'n'B was dead... Then came Solange's 2016 album, A Seat At The Table. A masterpiece that brought Solange out of the shadow of sister, Beyoncé.

Aparna Nancherla & A Rich, Heavy Ethereal Blanket Nov 26, 2021

Mirror Breathing by Shield Patterns is an electronic album of inventive melodies, set in atmospheric and sometimes haunting soundscapes.

But will Aparna Nancherla be scared or (like James) seduced?

Bonus Sounds: Zach Phillips of OSR Tapes Nov 19, 2021

Whilst trawling for music from 2016, James noticed a common thread through some of his favourite records - OSR Tapes. A label founded by Zach Phillips. James gets to speak to Zach about what inspired him to start a label, why he closed it and everything in between.

Harriet Kemsley and 'Absolute Chaos!' Nov 19, 2021

Hello New York by Maher Shalal Hash Baz is an album described by founder Tori Kudo as "a revolving cast of players from varying backgrounds and varying experience".

Described by Harriet Kemsley as "chaos". However, the more she listens...

Stuart Laws & Angela Sawyer Nov 12, 2021

Ukulele strumming, high-pitched yodelling and dissonant keyboards - Angela Sawyer’s On The Pedestrian Side is an album “not designed to make you feel comfortable”.

No wonder Stuart Laws feels he is being pranked!

Maisie Adam & Who-Pa-Zoo-Tic Sounds Nov 05, 2021

James and Maisie discuss Hartley C White's album Something Better and his attempt at creating a whole new genre. Maisie loved the last album James sent her, so James is hoping she'll be equally impressed with this one.

Fern Brady & Emo R&B Oct 29, 2021

James Acaster talks about one of the many albums he collected from the year 2016 with one of his comedy friends. This week Fern Brady states from the outset that Half of My Love by Fauxe is not for her… oops. Even though the title comes from one of her favourite albums. Can James change her mind?

Bonus Sounds: Anthony Fantano Explains Himself Oct 22, 2021

James delves deeper into the online music community with founder of The Needle Drop and gets him to explain why his WORST album of the decade came from 2016.

Sadia Azmat & Cheltenham Trip Hop Oct 22, 2021

James Acaster talks about one of the many albums he collected from the year 2016 with one of his comedy friends.

This week, Sadia Azmat discusses the album One Tusk by Moth Equals.

But will Sadia be impressed by the plethora of different influences and Bollywood samples?

Nathan Caton & old-school hip hop Oct 15, 2021

James breaks his own rules by picking a 2016 album which sounds "old-school", rapper Westside Gunn's debut Flygod. He discusses it with guest Nathan Caton, plus they delve into Nathan's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles obsession.

Sara Barron & retro indie-pop Oct 08, 2021

Sara Barron confesses to James that she has very questionable music taste but is left feeling very Parisian listening to Cate Le Bon’s Crab Day, an album about a fictional day.

Thanyia Moore & Rihanna's ANTI Oct 01, 2021

Thanyia Moore goes on a rollercoaster journey with Rihanna's most personal album yet, ANTI.

Bonus Sounds: James' dad - Johnnie Frierson - Have You Been Good To Yourself Sep 24, 2021

James sits down with his dad David Acaster to talk about the Johnnie Frierson album Have You Been Good To Yourself. They chat about the records played in the house growing up, the musical game they played when James was young and the 2016 mixtape he made for his dad.

Jayde Adams & self-penned gospel Sep 24, 2021

Jayde reminisces life through 'lost album' Johnnie Frierson's Have You Been Good To Yourself which was found by a crate digger in a thrift store.

Harriet Kemsley & Krip Hop Sep 17, 2021

Harriet Kemsley warms to Wheelchair Sports Camp's avant-garde rap album No Big Deal. The record features humorous and political lyrics from disabled rapper Kalyn Heffernan, who is part of the Krip-Hop movement which uses hip-hop as a means of expression for disabled artists.

Rhys Nicholson & gothic Americana Sep 10, 2021

Despite not expecting to like someone called Marissa, Rhys Nicholson enjoys a negroni while enjoying Marissa Nadler's dreamy gothic American folk album Strangers.

Charlie George & Kendrick Lamar's untitled unmastered. Sep 03, 2021

Charlie George is pushed out of her dad rock listening habits, and finds much to love in the lyrical imagery created by Kendrick Lamar, in his sort-of B-side album untitled unmastered.

Toussaint Douglass & eccentric indie Aug 27, 2021

Toussaint thinks James hates him after listening to Four Thing, the eccentric indie project based around the number 4, created by Zach Phillips. Four vocalists, singing alternate lines written by four lyricists, to create 16 songs. But does Toussiant’s nan like it?

Bonus Sounds: Andrew Falkous - Christian Fitness Aug 20, 2021

James and friend David Trent chat to the man behind Christian Fitness, Andrew Falkous. James delves deep into the album's meaning and David asks if his son can have one of his guitars, (among other very awkward and unsavoury questions).

Maisie Adam & comedic post-punk Aug 20, 2021

Maisie Adam feels grabbed and shoved against a wall by the one-man-band Christian Fitness and their post-punk album This Taco Is Not Correct that features darkly funny commentary on Britain.

Aaron Chen & dark reggae Aug 13, 2021

Aaron Chen gets into a plunge pool to rid himself of the dark and sad vibes of Mournful Skank's Ghost Hunter.

Kiri Pritchard-Mclean & experiemental sampling hip hop Aug 06, 2021

Kiri Pritchard-Mclean feels shoved around by Coin Locker Kid's 90's influenced experimental hip hop album The Salmon of Doubt, featuring a dense sound collage of samples.

Dai Henwood & the house party concept album Jul 30, 2021

James introduces Dai Henwood to an indie concept album that he regularly gets recommended. Singer-songwriter Andy Shauf's The Party features a series of closely observed and intersecting characters at a house party, and Dai enjoys doing his taxes to it.

BONUS SOUNDS: Radiohead's Colin Greenwood Jul 23, 2021

James visits Colin Greenwood at home to discuss making 2016's A Moon Shaped Pool, plus Colin suggests what Radiohead tracks James should get into, whether music scenes are cool, and Colin's impending Radiohead tribute act!

Isy Suttie & a drum duo Jul 23, 2021

Multi-instrumentalist and comedian Isy Suttie is engulfed by the purely percussive self-titled album Rattle, featuring two drummers and their vocals.

Chloe Petts & bedroom indie pop Jul 16, 2021

Chloe Petts discovers that Frankie Cosmos - the stage name of Greta Kline - and her 2016 album Next Thing is exactly her kind of cap-wearing DIY bedroom indie pop.

Ahir Shah & a blissful sound collage Jul 09, 2021

Ahir Shah discovers 'Good Will Come to You' from artist Jean-Sebastian Audet's project Un Blonde. A blissfully mellow sound collage that incorporates field recordings, vocal harmonies and acoustic guitars, it was released on tape cassette in 2016. And for Ahir it's the perfect music to chop vegetables to.

Rosie Jones & Radiohead's A Moon Shaped Pool Jul 02, 2021

Both James and Rosie have always felt intimidated about getting into Radiohead's back catalogue because of their hard-core fans. Can this album, from one of the biggest bands in the world, win them over? And more importantly convince Rosie that 2016 is the greatest year for music of all time?

2016 is back and more perfect than before! Jun 24, 2021

For James Acaster 2016 is the greatest year for music, ever. Since launching the podcast his record collection has grown to over 700 albums from that year and he wants to share his obsession with even more comedian friends... but will they admit that 2016 is the great year for music of all time?

Eleanor Tiernan & Run The Jewels 3 Apr 30, 2021

Eleanor Tiernan is drawn in by hip-hop duo Run The Jewel's critically acclaimed epic third album.

This is the final episode of series 1 but we'll be back this summer so subscribe to the podcast to be the first to hear new episodes!

John Kearns & celebratory North African sampled vinyl Apr 16, 2021

John Kearns wants to dance to Tunisian producer and DJ Ghoula's celebratory album Hlib El Ghoula, which features rare North African vinyl that the artist sourced from Tunisian markets then sampled and scratched with live instrumentals.

Rachel Parris & an orchestral art-rock collaboration Apr 09, 2021

Classically trained Rachel Parris dissects the one-off album Balter/Saunier, a collaboration between the Chicago orchestra Ensemble Dal Niente, influential art-rock band Deerhoof, and Brazilian composer Marcos Balter.

Jen Brister & experimental Majorcan folk Apr 02, 2021

Jen Brister has a strong reaction to 'Folk Souvenir', an album by Joana Gomila that uses field recordings and improvisation to bring a new approach to traditional Majorcan folk.

BONUS SOUNDS: Joana Gomila & Dr Judith R Cohen Apr 01, 2021

James talks to Joana Gomila and Dr Judith R Cohen about the Spanish folk recordings of ethnomusicologist Alan Lomax and the making of Joana's album 'Folk Souvenir'.

Jack Rooke & thoughtful inventive indie Mar 26, 2021

Jack is over the moon to be introduced to all 24 tracks of Thoughts Lined Up by award-winning artist Martin Creed.

Alison Spittle & extreme industrial metal Mar 19, 2021

Alison is willing to persevere with the album End Position by experimental Texan duo Street Sects.

Dane Baptiste & infinite looping psych rock Mar 12, 2021

Dane enjoys the frantic Nonagen Infinity by King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, the eighth album from the prolific Australian psych rock band.

BONUS SOUNDS: The Tuts Mar 05, 2021

Hayes-based three-piece The Tuts take James on a tour of their hometown including their rehearsal room, a local radio station and the venue for one of their early gigs.

Suzi Ruffell & The Tut's Update Your Brain Mar 05, 2021

Suzi adores the melodic feminist anthems on this debut punk album from Hayes-based three-piece The Tuts.

Guz Khan & generational jazz rap Feb 26, 2021

Guz is up for giving the self-titled project by Sélébéyone another chance. The album features two saxophonists and two rappers, Senegal's Gaston Bandimic and HPrizm from the US.

Athena Kugblenu & Frank Ocean’s Blonde Feb 19, 2021

As a huge fan of his debut mixtape nostalgia, Ultra, Athena is underwhelmed by Frank Ocean’s 2016 album Blonde.

Gabriel Ebulue & personal beat-fired balladry Feb 12, 2021

Gabriel is excited to be introduced to For Good by Fog, a crowd-funded comeback from Minneapolis musician Andrew Broder.

BONUS SOUNDS: Drummers Adam Betts & Seb Rochford Feb 05, 2021

Adam and Seb bring their drum kits along to talk to James about the virtuosic drumming on Jon Bap's 'What Now?'. Recorded at BBC Maida Vale Studios in London.

Rob Deering & outsider soul music Feb 05, 2021

Rob Deering is up for the challenge of Jon Bap's 'What Now?', an album that James describes as one of the most life-changing from his whole 2016 project.

Nish Kumar & Kevin Abstract's American Boyfriend: A Suburban Love Story Jan 29, 2021

Nish is blown away by this concept album from Brockhampton's Kevin Abstract. The album tells the story of him growing up in Texas with homophobic parents and a racist boyfriend.

Sindhu Vee & conceptual club bangers Jan 22, 2021

Sindhu is not judging anyone who wants to listen to Popp by Oval, a 2016 solo project by glitch pioneer Markus Popp.

BONUS SOUNDS: Akenya, Cam O'Bi and Phoelix on Noname'sTelefone Jan 15, 2021

Three of Noname's key collaborators from the Chicago scene share their memories of helping to create her debut mixtape.

Kemah Bob & Noname's Telefone Jan 15, 2021

Kemah is a huge fan of this beautiful debut mixtape, written and recorded by rapper Noname and collaborators in LA and Chicago.

Felicity Ward & nostalgic American indie Jan 08, 2021

Felicity is super in to Not Good At Spending Time Alone A.K.A. Cleanliness by Market, a project written and recorded by New York based musician Nate Mendelsohn.

Nathaniel Metcalfe & live improvised blues Jan 01, 2021

Nathaniel would like to dig New Guitar Old Hat Knew Blues, an album recorded by Mike Cooper live in Geneva.

BONUS SOUNDS: Jeff Rosenstock, Matthew Crosby & Ed Gamble Dec 25, 2020

A Christmas treat for you featuring James, Matthew and Ed on seeing Jeff Rosenstock live and then an interview with the man himself about his album Worry.

Mae Martin & Jeff Rosenstock's Worry Dec 25, 2020

Mae Martin is thrilled by the album from which the podcast takes its name. The final track on the punk musician's second solo album is called Perfect Sound Whatever.

Jamali Maddix & screamcore rap Dec 18, 2020

James is attempting to win Jamali's support for 2016 with the album SUI // RAP by youngster jiji, the brainchild of Seattle rapper James Campbell.

BONUS SOUNDS: Foonyap Dec 11, 2020

Foonyap talks to James about the mental and emotional struggles that inspired her beautiful album Palimpsest.

Desiree Burch & intricate fragile folk Dec 11, 2020

Desiree is in two minds about Palimpsest by the classically trained Canadian musician Foonyap.

Phil Wang & electronic Mexican folk Dec 04, 2020

Phil absolutely loves Me Demandó DEMOS, recorded by San Cha on the farm where her mother grew up, without the opportunity to collaborate with a producer.

Evelyn Mok & a technophobic metal nightmare Nov 27, 2020

Evelyn is back and introduced to Boy Man Machine by Drose, an album that fuses experimental metal with sounds recorded in a factory.

Romesh Ranganathan & head-scrambling math rap Nov 20, 2020

Romesh is delighted to discover Badd Timing by The Sooper Swag Project, an album recorded with the intention of using as many different and difficult time signatures as possible.

BONUS SOUNDS: Cyril Yeterian from Bongo Joe Nov 13, 2020

James explores the mystery behind Song I-V by Rocks & Waves Song Circle, with the head honcho of one of the two record labels behind its release, Bongo Joe.

Sarah Keyworth & a mysterious choral album Nov 13, 2020

Sarah needs convincing about the story behind Songs I-V by Rocks & Waves Song Circle, supposedly recorded spontaneously by Swedish artist Isak Sundstrom at a Church in Mexico.

Joe Sutherland & Car Seat Headrest's Teens of Denial Nov 06, 2020

James has selected one of the biggest indie albums of the year for Joe's second appearance on the pod, Teens of Denial from songwriter Will Toledo's Car Seat Headrest.

Sophie Duker & a raw, genre-hopping record Oct 30, 2020

Sophie is back! Last time she wasn’t completely won round, so James goes all in with the crowd-funded debut album Kiid from Mal Devisa.

Rachel Parris & blissful ambient folk Oct 23, 2020

Rachel is drawn to the folk side of Hands In Our Names, an album recorded by Karima Walker in the desert of New Mexico.

Kwame Asante & noise rock Oct 16, 2020

Kwame puts in the work for A Self-Help Tragedy by noise rock supergroup Doomsday Student.

BONUS SOUNDS: Netty Rhodes & the SWeet Recorder Consort Oct 09, 2020

James attempts to learn Morning Thought by Surface To Air Missive from scratch with recorder teacher Netty Rhodes and the SWeet Recorder Consort.

Eleanor Tiernan & recorder prog folk rock Oct 09, 2020

Eleanor is challenged by the album A V by Surface To Air Missive, a solo project from the musician Taylor Ross.

John Kearns & teenage three piece rock Oct 02, 2020

John prefers the second half of Out of Sight by the former Minneapolis rock band Falling.

Alison Spittle & dark spoken word Sep 25, 2020

Alison has a strong reaction to Rook to TN34, a dark, experimental and comedic spoken word album by the duo eMMplekz.

BONUS SOUNDS: Damien Cluzel Sep 18, 2020

James chats to the guitarist at the heart of two of his favourite 2016 albums, Awo by uKanDanZ and the self-titled release by Pixvae.

Guz Khan & Ethiopian Crunch Sep 18, 2020

Guz is on board with this hybrid of hard rock and Ethiopian music that features on the album Awo by uKanDanZ.

Kemah Bob & Colombian Crunch Sep 11, 2020

Kemah Bob marvels at this self-titled album from the band Pixvae. The album combines traditional South Colombian music with Math Rock to create a brand new genre.

Jack Rooke & twisted-pop Sep 04, 2020

Jack Rooke meets NHS nurse Law Holt's diva alter ego, a persona who spits and cheats in her twisted pop album City.

Athena Kugblenu & Japanese folk-indie-jazz fusion Aug 28, 2020

Athena Kugblenu gets into Aragehonzi's one of kind album, Hanatsuoto, that fuses Japanese folk with neo-soul, funk, jazz, rock, indie, and everything in between.

Gabriel Ebulue & Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds' Skeleton Tree Aug 21, 2020

Gabriel Ebulue shares his love for Skeleton Tree, the ominous and emotional album steeped in Nick Cave's personal tragedy.

BONUS SOUNDS: Kojey Radical Aug 14, 2020

A bonus conversation with British rapper and spoken word artist Kojey Radical recorded live at the 6Music Festival, discussing themes of love, his connection to his Ghanaian heritage and his dad.

Dane Baptiste & Kojey Radical’s 23Winters Aug 14, 2020

Hip-hop fan Dane discovers Kojey Radical's masterful 23Winters for the first time. At 42 minutes the EP spans rap, spoken word, and a conversation with Kojey's dad that covers themes of love, life in London, and their Ghanaian heritage. Which makes James ask, is this really an EP?

Mae Martin and a drone folk crossover Aug 07, 2020

Mae Martin gets dark and moody to the drone folk crossover album Salt, by Irish singer-songwriter Katie Kim. Plus the track James will judge your music taste on.

Suzi Ruffell & the One Women Orchestra Jul 31, 2020

Suzi is dazzled and slightly confused by the album Conarium, based on the dreams of its creator, Latvian musician Elizabete Balčus

Nathaniel Metcalfe & David Bowie’s Blackstar Jul 24, 2020

Bowie fan Nathaniel revisits his brilliant final album released just two days before his death.

Sindhu Vee & Death Grip’s Bottomless Pit Jul 17, 2020

Sindhu Vee puts in the effort and learns to really like this album from experimental hip hop trio Death Grips.

Felicity Ward & Public Speaking Jul 10, 2020

Felicity Ward struggles with Caress, Redact, the stripped-back experimental electronic album by Public Speaking that's all about violence.

Nish Kumar & Bon Iver's 22, A Million Jul 03, 2020

Bon Iver and folk music fan Nish Kumar listens for the first time to the band's 2016 experimental electronic masterpiece 22, A Million.

Sarah Keyworth & bedroom indie-pop Jun 26, 2020

Sarah Keyworth learns about the hidden depths of Katie Dey's intriguing bedroom indie-pop album, Flood Network.