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On this episode, Irish singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer Joel Johnston (Far Caspian) introduces Al to The Radio Dept.’s 2010 album Clinging to a Scheme. Joel talks about how he unexpectedly first encountered Clinging to a Scheme, several years after its release, and why it made such an overwhelmingly positive impression on him. He highlights the tracks from the album that he has enjoyed the most and a couple that have taken him longer to appreciate. Joel also talks about his new Far Caspian album, Autofiction, specifically delving into the new approach he took to writing and recording the songs.

You can find Far Caspian's music and information on tour dates on Joel's website, fascaspian.org.

Also be sure to follow Joel on the following platforms!

@farcaspian on Instagram and YouTube

@far.caspian on TikTok

The first episode of Bonus Tracks—YMAAA’s subscriber-only podcast series—is now available at patreon.com/youmealbum. More monthly episodes, posts and other good stuff are soon to come. Please consider subscribing! Your support will make it possible for Al to keep this podcast going.

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1:27 Joel joins the show

2:21 For Joel, learning about Clinging to a Scheme was a happy accident

5:47 Joel thinks “Domestic Scene” is representative of what The Radio Dept. does well on the entire album

6:56 Joel discusses the art of making a minimal song that is effective

10:18 Through his research, Joel learned about how The Radio Dept. picked the songs for this album

16:31 Joel hadn’t heard a lot of artists that sounded like The Radio Dept. when he first listened to Clinging to a Scheme

19:46 Joel and Al note the hip-hop influence on “David”

21:52 Joel and Al were on opposite ends when revealing their most and least favorite tracks

27:43 Joel explains why “You Stopped Making Sense” and “Four Months in the Shade” are also among his favorites

35:35 Al and Joel discuss what they find appealing about “David” and “Never Follow Suit”

38:09 Al and Joel talk about the political content of “Heaven’s on Fire” and “Never Follow Suit”

44:59 Joel hears the influence of chillwave on The Radio Dept.’s use of synths

48:58 Joel imagines he would have liked Clinging to a Scheme if he had heard it when it came out

50:21 Joel still enjoys the music he grew up with, even though not much of it has influenced his own music

53:24 Joel talks about how he approached writing the songs for Autofiction differently than on his previous albums

58:12 Joel explains his choice of the title “Autofiction”

1:01:37 Joel talks about Far Caspian’s upcoming in-the-round performance

Outro music is from “End” by Far Caspian.

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