Line Noise Podcast

Johann Wald takes a turn hosting Line Noise this week, as regular host Ben Cardew comes on the show to promote his new book, Space Age Batchelor Pad Music: The Story Of Stereolab In 20 Songs.

Ben explains the how, whys and wherefores of the new book, including why he decided to write it in the first place, the choice of the 20-song structure and trawling the Stereolab back catalogue for themes and oddness. They also talk about why Stereolab are one of the most unique bands of the last few decades, explore the idea of inefficiency in music and wonder at the sheer size and improbability of the Stereolab back catalogue. As a bonus: their favourite Stereolab songs.

Ben Cardew spoke to Maya Shenfeld and Pedro Maia at the Mira festival in Barcelona about Under The Sun, their special - and genuinely stunning - audiovisual live show; climate change, deep marble quarries, being friends and what they love about each other’s work. Line Noise comes to you with the support of Cupa. Photo by Leafhopper.

This week we welcome elsas, a young producer from Cardedeu onto Line Noise to speak about her new EP APORIAMOR, love’s contradiction, well-kneaded dough, Medieval music and touring with Sampha. elsas is playing Barcelona’s Caixaforum on March 27. Line Noise comes to you with the support of Cupra.

At the Mira festival in Barcelona, Marie Davison returned to Line Noise for the third time, proving once again that she is one of the sharpest, funniest people in dance music today.

In the interview, we talked about Clown bangers, Surveillance Capitalism, squaring dystopia with humour and so much more. Line Noise comes to you with the support of Cupra.

Danny L Harle returns to Line Noise for a record-breaking fourth time as we celebrate the release of his "debut" (ish) album Cerulean. Mar Vallverdú and Ben Cardew grill him on his greatest melody, working with his daughters, Dua Lipa's tea, Elizabethan composers, Ibiza and much more. Line Noise comes with the support of Cupra.

This week on Line Noise a legend returns: Karl Bartos was first on Line Noise in 2022 around the release of his autobiography; The Sound of the Machine, My Life in Kraftwerk and Beyond. In 2026 he returns and the emphasis is on his solo career and especially, his debut solo album Communication, which was re-released by Bureau B last year and which initially came out in 2003.

We talk about leaving Kraftwerk, liberation, the power of a group and his love of The Beatles, getting away from computers, guitars, Johnny Marr, remixing Planet Rock, the Telephone Call - he even plays us a few bars, Esperanto and so much more, in a wide-ranging and very warm interview. I hope you enjoy listening half as much as I enjoyed doing it. Line Noise comes with the support of Cupra. Photo by Marion von der Mehden.

Our guest on Line Noise this week is Maara-Louisa Dunbar aka Maara, a Montreal producer and DJ whose brilliant new album Ultra Villain was released by NAFF on February 5. We talked about being a villain, narrative albums, misunderstanding, what the hell “home” means, Madonna, trip hop and more, in a very open-hearted interview. Line Noise comes to you with the support of Cupra.

Ben Cardew spoke to the very charming Flying Lotus at the Mira festival in Barcelona about the links between music and film, his body horror Ash, the scariest music in the world and the possibility of new records. Photo by Alba Rupérez. Line Noise comes to you with the support of Cupra.

This week Line Noise gives you two French house legends for the price of one: Busy P and DJ Falcon. Busy P is Pedro Winter, producer, DJ, founder of Ed Banger records and - yes - once manager of Daft Punk, the lynchpin of Parisian dance. Stéphane Quême is DJ Falcon, whose very first productions became the brilliant Hello My Name Is DJ Falcon EP back in 1999; he later formed half of Together with Daft Punk’s Thomas Bangalter and is currently working with Alan Braxe.

Ben Cardew spoke to them at the Nitsa club in Barcelona ahead of their DJ gig about their relationship, DJing back to back, Falcon’s first productions, the birth of Ed Banger and so much more, including Pedro Winter giving the full background story to that night on October 25 at the Centre Pompidou when Thomas Bangalter returned to DJing alongside Fred Again and Busy P. Line Noise comes to you with the support of Cupra. Picture by @redporteros

Today on Line Noise we welcome one of the most brilliant minds in modern music, Matthew Herbert, a man who has sampled a pig from birth to plate; formed a Brexit Big Band; and headed up the BBC’s legendary Radiophonic Workshop. He still found time to create one of the most dazzlingy beautiful records in house music with Bodily Functions; and, only last year, released the brilliant Clay long player with Momoko Gill. This Saturday (January 17, 2026) he is playing Poly-Rythmo Club at La Paloma. In the interview, we talked about everything from making a record from the sun to the state of dance music, plus Matthew gives a surprisingly in-depth answer to which of his songs he would play to my mum and reveals what he considers to be the most beautiful piece of music he has ever made. Enjoy. Line Noise comes with the support of Cupra.