Take 5

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Rise Against's America Jul 02, 2021

Show notes

Rise Against have been at the forefront of socially conscious punk for the last 20 years. On the release of their 9th album, I thought it was a perfect time to get lead singer Tim McIlrath back on the radio, to Take 5. He’s one of the most articulate musicians I know, and our conversations in the past have always been rich ones.

Rise Against’s new album is about the failure of the American dream, the notion that every generation will be better than the last, is a thing of the past. Across punk, protest, and anthem, hear Tim McIlrath’s “America”, and the artists who have been singing this song for decades.

Black Flag - “American Waste”

Operation Ivy - “Freeze Up”

John Lennon - “Working Class Hero

Descendents - “Suburban Home”

Bruce Springsteen - “Born In The USA”

Sleater-Kinney's off-kilter songs Jun 25, 2021

Show notes

Sleater-Kinney have always been shapeshifters. Within that guitar forward, angular, and soaring indie rock sound they have always experimented and tried something new. When I listen to Sleater-Kinney’s songs, I feel on edge, and I like that feeling.

As with their other nine records, their newest album shifts again, and so does the band. SK have returned to their foundations of Corin Tucker and Carrie Brownstein, and it’s the two of them who joined me to Take 5. I gave them the theme off kilter songs; music that was out of step, in the best of ways, with the culture it came into.

I’ll be honest, I wasn’t expecting these song choices. But hearing Carrie and Corin detail why they chose them, speaks to their passions as fans, and their own choices as musicians. From Talk Talk to Frank Ocean to Chrome, this is a mind expanding conversation about the ever revealing qualities of great music.

Talk Talk – 'Eden' (Carrie)

Frank Ocean – 'Ivy' (Corin)

Joan Armatrading – 'Drop the Pilot' (Carrie)

Chrome – 'Static Gravity' (Carrie)

Prince – 'How Come You Don’t Call Me Anymore' (Corin)

Danny Elfman's epiphanies Jun 18, 2021

Show notes

What do Tim Burton’s films, the Men in Black franchise, and The Simpsons theme all have in common? They’ve all been scored by Danny Elfman.

Danny is a Hollywood legend, and his compositions have likely soundtracked your life. That score for Good Will Hunting? That was him too, not to mention the Fifty Shades films, and Sam Raimi’s Spiderman. For me, Danny Elfman is the sound of my formative years. I swooned to the beautiful Ice Dance from Edward Scissorhands and his incredible work on Tim Burton’s Nightmare Before Christmas remains an all time fave. So having the chance to speak with Danny, is a dream come true.

The story of Danny’s life is pretty remarkable, and I was curious to get inside his history and find out the epiphanies he’d experienced in song. The music and the makers that had created this compositional genius. From the Beatles to Bowie to Kurt Weill, this conversation traces a lineage of music and creativity that has helped craft some of cinema’s most magical moments.

The Beatles - “I am the Walrus”

Duke Ellington - “Black and Tan Fantasy”

Kurt Weill - “Pirate Jenny”

Madness - “One Step Beyond”

David Bowie - “It’s No Game (Part 1)"

Shirley Manson's songs of purpose Jun 11, 2021

Show notes

Do you remember the first time you heard Garbage? I do. It was 1995. Their debut single Vow. That opening guitar line, the stereo panning, and then Shirley Manson’s voice coming in. They exploded, in full flight, onto the scene. Grunge was well on the way out, and in it’s wake Garbage offered a high res view of the future, sounding like nothing we’d heard before.

This combination of three producers contributed to the mess of sounds, but they would be nothing without their frontwoman. For 26 years, Shirley Manson has been an icon. Releasing 7 albums with Garbage, touring non stop, and along the way stepping into Hollywood as well.

Her outspokenness has made her a feminist icon, and when she’s not fighting the equality fight, she’s giving her time to other issues of social justice, her voice to those who need it most.

It’s interesting that Garbage have never been an overtly political band, but that’s changed on their newest album. The gloves are off, there’s no hiding of their intentions on Gods and Masters, and out front is Shirley, roaring about it all. They say that this is the album they had to make, and on the day they unleashed, Shirley Manson joined me to Take 5. Across genres and time, hear about the songs of purpose for this living legend.

'At Seventeen' - Janis Ian

'Strange Fruit' - Billie Holiday

'I Don't Wanna Be a Soldier, Mama' - John Lennon

'Black Boys on Mopeds' - Sinéad O'Connor

'Who we Be' - DMX

Lindy Morrison's life Jun 04, 2021

Show notes

This is a story that’s not often been told. Lindy Morrison is well known as the drummer for The Go-Betweens. Over a decade, her drumming shaped the sound of one of most acclaimed acts, and her unconventional style made beautifully written poems into earworms. But before she was in a rock band, Lindy was an activist, she performed theatre, and she travelled the world. After her time with The Go-Betweens, she went on to become an advocate for Australian musicians, and every time I’ve come across Lindy she’s been the firecracker in the centre of the room. Fiercely passionate, incredibly fun, and a woman who speaks her mind.

Lindy’s story has recently been told by her lifelong friend Tracey Thorn. The British singer met Lindy backstage back in 1983, and a bond formed. Her memoir is not only a beautiful story of friendship but of the erasure of women in rock n’ roll folklore. It’s time to fill in the gaps of our musical history. Just wait till you hear the life of Lindy.

Plastic Ono Band - 'Give Peace a Chance'

Lou Reed - 'Walk on the Wild Side'

X-Ray Spex - 'Oh Bondage Up Yours!'

The Go-Betweens - 'Your Turn my Turn'

Alex The Astronaut - 'I Think You’re Great'

Gruff Rhys' bedrock songs May 21, 2021

Show notes

Gruff Rhys is a legend of the Welsh music scene. As frontman for the Super Furry Animals, he took his band to global success. Gruff was at the centre of the Cool Cymru scene at the dawn of the new millennium, and he’s collaborated widely with everyone from Gorillaz to Boom Bip to Sparklehorse. He’s also had a prolific solo career, and on the day he released his 7th album, Gruff joined me from Wales to Take 5.

I’m not gonna lie, I love Welsh accents. And Gruff has such a beautiful spirit, this is one of those conversations you can just sit and let flow over you.

Gruff Rhys is no stranger to biographical albums, but Seeking New Gods could be the first one he’s made about a mountain. Or at least, set out to. This is a conversation as much about the wild making of his latest work, as it is the foundations of Gruff; from a bright eyed Velvet Underground fan to someone who work collaborate with John Cale, and find his own unique place in the world.

Y Nhw - 'Siwsi'

Kelly Lee Owens / John Cale - 'Corner Of My Sky'

A Tribe Called Quest - 'The Luck of Lucien'

The Beach Boys - 'Til I Die'

Yoko Ono - 'What a Bastard The World Is'

St. Vincent's classics May 14, 2021

Show notes

Annie Clark is one of the most exciting musicians working today. As a songwriter she’s jumped from indie balladry, to layered, ambitious sounds, and into spiky, angular territory. She shreds as a guitarist, and when Annie is not working on her own St Vincent songs, she’s producing for others.

It’s been about four years since her last record, and in that time Annie has been through some personal stuff as well. Her father, who was incarcerated a decade ago just as her star was rising, got out of prison. And that release fed into the album she would make. Annie gravitated towards the records she had grown up listening to – her dad’s collection – and what emerged was a far looser, more slinky, more sleazy album.

It’s called Daddy’s Home. It sounds like the records that came out of early '70s New York City, and on the day it was released, St Vincent joined me to Take 5. From Steely Dan to Erykah Badu, this is an insight not just into Annie’s latest incarnation, but her incredible creative mind.

Nina Simone – 'Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood'

Steely Dan – 'Any Major Dude Will Tell You'

Kate NV – 'Plans'

PJ Harvey – 'A Perfect Day Elise'

Erykah Badu – 'On & On'

Julia Stone's songs of freedom May 07, 2021

Show notes

Julia Stone is one of Australia’s most successful musicians. With her brother Angus, they gigged hard for years before cracking it internationally. The songs she’s written have topped Hottest 100’s, and packed out massive shows across the world.

Alongside her sibling outfit, she’s also released two solo albums. But it’s been about nine years since her last, so a new Julia Stone solo record? Everyone was keen.

When I heard the first single “Break”, it was immediately clear she was on a new path. Gone were the folky, wispy styling of her past. This was spiky music, it made you move, and I was curious to hear more. When Julia released Sixty Summers, it was clear she’d turned a new corner. The album is a pop triumph, it’s full of brilliant new sounds and also a new sense of self belief, and conviction in her stories. For all of these reasons, I asked her to Take 5 with her songs of freedom. I wanted to get inside her musical brain, and hear about some of the artists who had lit a fire, and lit the path, for her.

From Bjork to Bowie to Robyn, this is an exploration not just of Julia the fan, but an artist turning a corner in her own creative life.

Bjork – 'Hyperballad'

James Blake – 'Barefoot in the Park' (ft Rosalia)

Fiona Apple – 'Fetch the Bolt Cutters'

David Bowie – 'Let’s Dance'

Robyn – 'Honey'

Ed Kuepper's decades Apr 30, 2021

Show notes

When I say the name Ed Kuepper, what comes to mind? The Saints? Laughing Clowns? The Aints? Maybe his prolific solo career, or his work crafting beautiful soundtracks for the big and small screen.

Born in Germany, and raised in Brissie, Ed Kuepper is a living legend of the Australian underground, and his impact on the artists that have followed stretches decades. In 2021 he marks 45 years as a recording artist, so I thought it was high time he joined me to Take 5. While his work has travelled from punk to avant garde jazz and beautifully languid guitar, I was curious about the songs that fuelled him, over five decades of making music.

Some of these songs make total sense, others are total brilliant curveballs. Grounding it all is the rumbling voice of one of our greatest guitarists, songwriters, and storytellers.

John Kongos - 'He's Gonna Step On You Again'

Andy Scott – ‘Kruggerands’

Notorious B.I.G – ‘Hypnotize’

Smoke Fairies – ‘Hotel Room’

PJ Harvey – ‘The Ministry of Defence’

Kate Crawford's atlas of sound Apr 23, 2021

Show notes

I first heard Kate Crawford’s work in the late 90’s; she and Nicole Skelty’s made music as B(if)tek, and it was playful electro that was always future focused. So it’s not that wild to know that Kate went on to explore this world of machine learning and artificial intelligence. What’s remarkable, is that today she’s one of the world’s leading voices on the subject. When you read Kate’s work, or see her art pieces at the Museum of Modern Art in New York or the V&A in London, you’re less likely to learn what is AI, and more what is AI doing to us.

Kate is interested in the supply chain that gets us there, the dirt, the minerals, the people, and the very human data that builds that illusive cloud, and how a few companies are controlling the power and politics of billions. Sound interesting? That’s why I asked her to Take 5.

Kate Crawford recently published an Atlas of AI, tracing back where it comes from and what it’s doing. So riffing off that, I asked her to share her Atlas of Sound, and walk us through the sonic cartographers that had shaped her life. From Kraftwerk to Laurie Anderson, to sounds I’ve never heard before, this is a fascinating conversation about creativity, curiosity, and power.

Kraftwerk - 'Computer Love'

Laurie Anderson - 'Language Is a Virus'

Alice Coltrane - 'Journey in Satchidananda'

The Caretaker - 'All You're Going to Want To Do Is Get Back There'

Serpent with Feet - 'Bless Your Heart'

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