A (relatively) in-depth analysis of the song Sail On by The Commodores in (just under) fifteen minutes.

Sail On was the first of three singles from the Commodores' 1979 album Midnight Magic. Written by Lionel Ritchie, the song reached the top ten on both the US and UK charts.

In this episode I am in discussion with Bhoke.

I hope you enjoy the podcast and please do leave feedback if you like what you you have heard.

Mathew Woodall

A (relatively) in-depth analysis of British Rock band 10cc in just under fifteen minutes.

From 1972 to 1978, 10cc had five consecutive UK top-ten albums: Sheet Music (1974), The Original Soundtrack (1975), How Dare You! (1976), Deceptive Bends (1977) and Bloody Tourists (1978). 10cc also had twelve singles reach the UK Top 40, "Rubber Bullets" (1973), "I'm Not in Love" (1975) and "Dreadlock Holiday" (1978). "I'm Not in Love" was their breakthrough worldwide hit, and is known for its innovative backing track.In 1976, due to artistic disagreements, Godley and Creme left the band and became a duo act. Stewart left the band in 1995. Since 1999, Gouldman has led a touring version of 10cc.

In this episode I am in conversation with Dr. Andrew Webber.

I hope you enjoy the podcast and do leave feedback if you like what you have heard.

Mathew Woodall

A (relatively) in-depth analysis of Welsh musician, songwriter and record producer Karl Edmond De Vere Wallinger who was best known for leading the band World Party and for his work with The Waterboys. 'She's the One', written by Wallinger and which featured on World Party's Egyptology album was covered by Robbie Williams and became a hit single. Wallinger also collaborated with Bob Geldof, Peter Gabriel and Sinead O'Connor.

Wallinger died from a stroke at his home in Hastings on 10 March 2024, at the age of 66. This episode is dedicated to his creativity and contribution to the arts.

In this episode I am in conversation with Dr. Andrew Webber.

I hope you enjoy this podcast.

Mathew Woodall

Podcast intro features an excerpt from 'Ma' from the album 'Asimov' by Inafer Era.

A (relatively) in-depth analysis of Scottish chamber-pop project The Bathers in just under twenty minutes.

Referred to as 'the best-kept secret in Scottish music' The Bathers is the creative vehicle for singer-songwriter Chris Thomson. Initially active between 1985 and 2001 and reformed in 2016. In 2020, Lagoon Blues, Sunpowder and Kelvingrove Baby were reissued by Marina Records on limited edition vinyl.

Chamber-pop or Baroque-pop is the fusion of pop music with elements of classical music exemplified in the mid 1960s by songs such as In My Life by The Beatles. The term originated in publicity for the Left Banke, whose music also embodied the style.

In this episode I am in conversation with Dr. Andrew Webber.

I hope you enjoy the podcast and do leave feedback if you like what you have heard.

Mathew Woodall

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Low Noise is proudly ad-free. If you would like to to say thank you for any of the content you have enjoyed (and help support the continuation of creating more), the above link provides a way to make a small donation of your choice (I also function on coffee!).

Feel free to leave a note with your donation to let me know what you enjoy about the podcast or any topics you would like me to discuss in the future.

A (relatively) in-depth analysis of German synth-pop band Propaganda in just under twenty-five minutes.

Formed in Düsseldorf in 1982, the group signed by Paul Morley to ZTT Records in 1983. They released their first single Dr Mabuse in 1984 and their debut album A Secret Wish in 1985. By 1986 Claudia Brücken had left the group amidst some complicated legal wranglings with ZTT.

A second album, 1234 was released in 1990 on Virgin Records with Michael Mertens being the only remaining member.

In 2018, Brücken and Susanne Freytag began performing together as xPropaganda and in 2022, released an album The Heart Is Strange with engineer Stephen Lipson.

In this episode I am in conversation with Dr. Andrew Webber.

I hope you enjoy the podcast and do leave feedback if you like what you have heard. If you have enjoyed this episode, you may also enjoy earlier episodes: The Dollar Album, Synth-Pop Duos and Art of Noise.

Mathew Woodall

A (relatively) in-depth analysis of Be My Somebody by Norah Jones in (just under) fifteen minutes.

Norah Jones (born Geethali Norah Jones Shankar) is an American singer-songwriter and pianist. 
She has won many awards for her music and has sold over 50 million records worldwide.

Be My Somebody is featured on her third album Not Too Late, released in 2007. Jones wrote most of the songs on the album on acoustic guitar when she was on tour throughout 2004 and 2005.
Jones has a podcast 'Norah Jones Playing Along'. Each episode features a different guest for impromptu musical collaborations and candid conversation.

In 2024 Jones released her ninth studio album, Visions. The album was described by The Irish Times as "from contentment to melancholy, but all in the same dreamy tone."

In this episode I am in discussion with Bhoke.

I hope you enjoy the podcast and please do leave feedback if you like what you you have heard.

Mathew Woodall

Podcast intro features an excerpt from 'Ma' from the album 'Asimov' by Inafer Era.

A (relatively) in-depth analysis of Me and Mrs. Jones by Billy Paul in (just under) fifteen minutes.

Paul Williams known professionally as Billy Paul, was an American soul singer, known primarily for the song which was written by Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff, and Cary Gilbert. It describes an extramarital affair between a man and his lover, Mrs. Jones. The two meet in secret "every day at the same cafe", at 6:30, where they hold hands and talk. Hmmm...

The single, released on the Philadelphia International label, was included on the album 360 Degrees of Billy Paul and was a number one hit for Paul in 1972.

Me and Mrs. Jones was also recorded in 2007 by Michael Bublé along with with Bublé's then-girlfriend, Emily Blunt, who appears at the end of the track to perform the final verse. Other artists who have recorded the song include Monk Montgomery (1974), The Dramatics (1974), Freddie Jackson (1992), Robson Green (2002), Darryl Hall & John Oates (2003) and Taufik Batisah (2004).

The song has been featured in several movies, most notably Bridget Jones's Diary, in the scene where Bridget's mother begins an extramarital affair (of course).

In this episode I am in discussion with Dr. Andrew Webber.

Podcast intro features an excerpt from 'Ma' from the album 'Asimov' by Inafer Era.


I hope you enjoy the podcast and do leave feedback if you like what you you have heard.

Mathew Woodall

A (relatively) in-depth analysis of 'Let Me Sign' by English actor Robert Pattinson in (just over) ten minutes.

In addition to landing the lead role of Edward Cullen in the 2008 American romantic vampire movie Twilight, Pattinson also performed two original songs 'Never Think' and 'Let Me Sign'. Director Catherine Hardwicke described both tracks as "haunting" and beautiful" during an interview with The Los Angeles Times,

In this episode I am in discussion with Meah and April.

I hope you enjoy the podcast and do leave feedback if you like what you have heard.

Mathew Woodall

Podcast intro features an excerpt from 'Ma' from the album 'Asimov' by Inafer Era.

Thank you to Auden and Meah.

A (relatively) in-depth analysis of the 1973 album 'Band on the Run' by Wings in (just under) fifteen minutes. In this episode I am in discussion with Dr. Andrew Webber.

A 50th anniversary expanded edition of the album was released in 2024. As the number of reissues over the past fifty years indicates (this is now the fourth), it is one of McCartney's most significant post-Beatles albums.

This is Episode 1 of Season 3 - a huge thank you to the overwhelming numbers of listeners over the past two years as the Low Noise podcast continues to evolve in its own inimitable way. I truly appreciate all your interest and support.

I hope you enjoy this episode.

Mathew Woodall

The new introduction features an excerpt from 'Ma' from the album 'Asimov' by Inafer Era. Thank you to Auden and Meah.

In their heyday, album covers were veritable canvases, pored over by music lovers across the globe as they devoured the music therein. In this bonus broadcast I pay hommage to the lost art of the album cover with fellow album aesthete Dr. Andrew Webber.

I hope you enjoy the podcast and do leave feedback if you like what you have heard.

I look forward to seeing you in Season Three...

Mathew Woodall

This episode is dedicated to Barney Bubbles, S. Neil Fujita, Reid Miles, Peter Blake, Stanley 'Mouse' Miller, Malcolm Garrett, John Berg, Norman Seeff, Robert Crumb, Neon Park, Mick Rock, Jim Flora, Peter Saville, Cal Schenkel, HR Giger, Andy Warhol, Jamie Reid, Trevor Key, Vaughan Oliver, Ian Wright and Hipgnosis, to name but a few.