95bFM: Travelling Tunes

Dr. Kirsten Zemke joins Mike and Tess in studio for one last Christmas cheer, talking laughter in songs. Creepy or uplifting? David Bowie's The Laughing Gnome, Paul Evan's Happy-Go-Lucky-Me and even Screamin' Jay Hawkins's I Put a Spell on You give us something to think about...

Dr. Kirsten Zemke talks sleigh bells, Dance, Dance, Dance by The Beach Boys, Welcome to the Good Times by The Black Crowes, and Come by Prince. See, the sleigh bell is a versatile instrument that features in many genres, not just Christmas classics! 

Dr. Kirsten Zemke is back, and yes you might think she has thought of aaaaall the instruments you can imagine, but no - there's more! Talking the Portuguese Guitar, with Victor Vicente, Kirsten's ethnomusicology friend. Tragic or heartwarming?

Dr. Kirsten Zemke has taken a listener request from last week, and turned it into a wonderful segment for you all this week. Talking the interesting world of ~feedback~ this week, with The Strokes New York City Cops, Sonic Youth's Silver Rocket and Jimi Hendrix's Machine Gun. As well as Mikey's personal favourite track featuring feedback, but what could that be?

The doctor is here to examine the Lute this morning. Dr. Kirsten Zemke's instruments are weird, wonderful, and always interesting and this one features on Sting's Can She Excuse My Wrongs?, Julian Bream's Greensleeves and Mignarda's Let All Mortal Flesh Eat Silence (which is actually a Christmas song, it's getting closer).

Not only are spoons a handy utensil for soups, ice cream, and sugar for your morning coffee, but they double as a smashing instrument. Featuring on Soundgarden's famous track Spoonman, Chris Rodrigues & the Spoon Lady's Angels in Heaven and Barde's Le violon accordé comme une viole. Oh, and Deb from Australia's cover of The Black Keys Lonely Boy. 

Dr. Kirsten Zemke is back from sunny Samoa, whistling her way into the studio with all sorts of different tunes this morning. Bernard Herrmann's Twisted Nerve, The Chemical Brothers The Devil is in The Details and The Black Keys's Tighten Up all feature various styles of whistling, as well as a special feature with Mike's friend who is good at whistling. Nice contributions, team.

How low can you go? Dr. Kirsten Zemke reckons all it takes is practice, in the shower, in the car, just wherever really. Overtone singing appears on Yat-Kha's, Karangailyg Kara Hovaa, A Tribe Called Red and Tanya Tagaq's Sila and Kiva Simova's The Opposite of Torture. Mike reckons he's got it down-pat too.

It's a rip-ROARING time on Travelling Tunes this morning, with Dr. Kirsten Zemke bringing in some jungle sounds. With Glass Animals Pools, Flying Lotus's Melt! and The Acid's Animal, it's a chirpy time with Mike and Kirsten. 

What is the doctor recommending today? That's right, the french horn, folks. Showcasing Bon Iver's Towers (...is it even in this one?), The Who's Overture and Kanye West's All Of The Lights. To be honest, Kirsten's just happy she got bFM to play Rihanna. Good work.