Low-Noise

A (relatively) in-depth analysis of British rock band The Railway Children in (just under) twenty minutes. Formed in Wigan in 1984, the group comprised Gary Newby (vocals/guitar/keyboards), Brian Bateman (rhythm/guitar), Guy Keegan (drums), and Stephen Hull (bass).

Their debut single A Gentle Sound was released on Factory Records in 1986. This was followed by their debut album, Reunion Wilderness in 1987. They were then signed by Virgin Records and their second album, Recurrence was released in 1988. They supported R.E.M. on tour in Europe and The Sugarcubes in the US. and in 1990, they released the album Native Place, which took a more pop oriented direction. The band parted ways with Virgin Records in 1992, and broke up soon after. Keegan later had a spell in the Wigan-based folk rock band The Tansads, while Hull and Bateman left music for good.

In 2016, the original line up of Newby, Keegan, Hull and Bateman reunited for a series of live dates. They went on to play several times over the following two years, including the NYC Popfest, the Shiiine On Weekender and concerts in Manchester, Berlin and London as well as a hometown gig at the Wigan Diggers Festival. Their final concert was at the Borderline, London in December 2018, after which Hull and Bateman decided to bow out of performing for good.

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

Mathew Woodall

https://www.railwaychildren.co.uk/

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A (relatively) in-depth analysis of pop band The Big Dish in (just under) twenty minutes. Named after Steven Lindsay's father's soup, the group formed in Airdrie, Scotland in 1983 and initially comprised Steven Lindsay (vocals/guitar), David Brownlie (drums), Stuart Hall (saxophone), Mark Ryce (guitar), and John Harper (keyboards). The band was subsequently augmented on stage by Paul Albertis (bass) and John Hendry (drums). As well as releasing three albums, the band supported Lloyd Cole, Big Country and Del Amitri. The group disbanded in 1991, after the release of the single Miss America. 

In 2012 they reunited to play a sold-out show at Glasgow ABC as part of the Celtic Connections festival and the Darvel Music Festival.

Steven Lindsay, Brian McFie, Dave Cantwell and Craig Armstrong continue to be active in the music industry.

https://stevenlindsayisbraw.com/

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

Mathew Woodall

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https://buymeacoffee.com/lownoise

Why buy me a coffee?

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 English band The Beat (known in the United States and Canada as the English Beat and in Australia as the British Beat) in (just over) twenty minutes. The band formed in Birmingham in 1978. Their music fuses Latin, ska, pop, soul, reggae and punk rock.

After the break-up of the Beat in 1983, Dave Wakeling and Ranking Roger went on to form General Public and had some success in the US and Canada, while Andy Cox and David Steele formed Fine Young Cannibals. Drummer Everett Morton and Saxa formed the International Beat and toured the UK and United States until 1992.

March of the Swivelheads (an instrumental version of the Beat's song Rotating Head from the album Special Beat Service) was used in the 1986 film Ferris Bueller's Day Off. Save It for Later (from the same album) was featured on the soundtrack album to 1996 film Kingpin, the 2010 film Hot Tub Time Machine and the 2017 film Spider-Man: Homecoming. Save It for Later has been covered by PeteTownshend, The Who, The Wonder Stuff, Eddie Vedder and Pearl Jam.

http://englishbeat.net/

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

Mathew Woodall

https://www.facebook.com/share/1F15mx4ea3/

https://buymeacoffee.com/lownoise

Why buy me a coffee?

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 electronic band Kraftwerk and in particular, their performance at the Forever Now festival in (just over) twenty minutes

Kraftwerk were formed in Düsseldorf in 1970 by Ralf Hütter and Florian Schneider. They are widely considered innovators and pioneers of electronic music. The band's work has influenced a diverse range of artists and many genres of modern music, including synth-pop, hip hop, post-punk, techno, house and ambient music.

On 22 June 2025, Kraftwerk headlined at Forever Now, a new, one-day festival at The National Bowl, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire (all other acts ran late, but Kraftwerk appeared behind their four onstage control centres at the exact time they were due).

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

Mathew Woodall

https://www.facebook.com/share/1F15mx4ea3/

https://buymeacoffee.com/lownoise

Why buy me a coffee?

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 American singer, songwriter, composer, and actor Isaac Hayes Jr. in (just over) forty five minutes - this is the longest Low-Noise episode to date, which seems rather fitting as Hayes is known for his lengthy musical compositions.

As a successful in-house songwriter, session musician and producer, Hayes was one of the creative forces behind Stax Records in the 1960s. With his working partner David Porter he wrote the Sam & Dave hit Soul Man, widely considered to be one of the most influential songs of all time. Hayes also had a successful solo career - he released several successful albums such as Hot Buttered Soul (1969) and Black Moses (1971). Hayes also worked as a film composer.

In 1997 Hayes was introduced to a new generation of fans when he provided the voice for the character of 'Chef' in the animated TV series South Park. The show ran until 2006.

In this episode I am in discussion with Bhoke.

Mathew Woodall

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https://buymeacoffee.com/lownoise

Why buy me a coffee?

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 the song 'Why' by Carly Simon (as well as some other general stuff) in just under twenty minutes.

The song was recorded for the 1982 film Soup for One. The film was a flop, but the soundtrack, including Simon's song, was a success, particularly in Europe. The song Why, produced by Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards of Chic, also became a top 10 hit in the UK.

In 2021 it was reissued in a 12" format on the Unidisc label. Pressed on olive green vinyl with a white swirl, the reissue includes the 12" version, an instrumental version, and a radio edit. The pressing was also praised for the quality of its sound.

I do hope you enjoy this episode.

Mathew Woodall

https://www.facebook.com/share/1F15mx4ea3/

https://buymeacoffee.com/lownoise

Why buy me a coffee?

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 the album Mamouna by Bryan Ferry (as well as some other general stuff) in just under thirty minutes.

Released on Virgin Records in 1994, Mamouna was Ferry's first album of original material in seven years. Ferry spent six years writing and recording it under the working title Horoscope. The album peaked at number 11 on the UK Albums Chart.

Mamouna was reissued in 2023 and previously unreleased alternative recordings were assembled for the first time as the ‘Horoscope’ album. A 3CD version also included an additional disc of previously unreleased demos or 'sketches' from both the Mamouna and Horoscope albums. The artwork direction for the updated reissue was of coures overseen by Ferry himself.
In this episode I am in discussion with Dr. Andrew Webber.

I do hope you enjoy this episode.

Mathew Woodall

https://www.facebook.com/share/1F15mx4ea3/

https://buymeacoffee.com/lownoise

Why buy me a coffee?

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 the album Kiss Me Kiss Me, Kiss Me by The Cure (as well as some other general stuff) in just over thirty minutes.

The Cure enjoyed an increased international popularity after the release of The Head on the Door in 1985. Capitalising on this success, the band released a singles compilation 'Standing on a Beach'. They toured to support the compilation and also released a live concert, filmed in the south of France and called The Cure in Orange. In the meantime each band member had already begun to explore their own musical ideas resulting in six or seven songs from each member which were shortlisted for demos. This process not only marked a departure from Robert Smith being The Cure's chief songwriter, it also resulted in the band producing enough strong material to justify the release of a double LP.

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

I do hope you enjoy this episode.

Mathew Woodall

https://www.facebook.com/share/1F15mx4ea3/

https://buymeacoffee.com/lownoise

Why buy me a coffee?

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 Exit North, the musical collaboration between Steve Jansen, Thomas Feiner, Ulf Jansson and Charlie Storm in under thirty minutes.

Former Japan-drummer Jansen established a co-writing connection with singer Thomas Feiner in 2007 for his first solo album 'Slope'. Feiner co-wrote the track 'Sow The Salt.'

For Jansen's second album 'Tender Extinction', Feiner co-wrote the track 'Captured.' They felt they had similar musical incentives and in 2014, Jansen proposed a more permanent partnership. Feiner had been co-composing some sketches and ideas with pianist Ulf Jansson, so this was the starting point for new material and they became a three-piece. Feiner had earlier forged a friendship with multi-instrumentalist/engineer/producer Charlie Storm, who also knew Ulf Jansson, who had worked as a session pianist on some acts Storm had produced.

From start to completion, the album was a four-year journey, recorded in Storm's studio in Gothenburg.

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

Mathew Woodall

https://www.exitnorthmusic.com

https://buymeacoffee.com/lownoise

Why buy me a coffee?

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.

Exit North is a musical collaboration between former Japan-drummer Steve Jansen, singer Thomas Feiner, piano player Ulf Jansson and multi-instrumentalist/engineer/producer Charlie Storm.

A (relatively) in-depth analysis of English progressive folk band Gryphon in under twenty minutes.

Formed in London in 1972, Gryphon are known for their medieval and Renaissance style of music.After gaining notability during the progressive rock heyday of the early 1970s, they retired to pursue other musical activities. The group reformed for a one-off reunion in 2009, retired once more before playing some gigs in 2015. They performed at the Cropredy Festival in 2016, and in 2017, performed at the ProgRock festival in Portugal and the NewDay Festival in the UK. The first new Gryphon record for 41 years was released in 2018. This was followed in 2020 by a seventh studio album, Get Out Of My Father's Car!

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

Mathew Woodall

https://www.facebook.com/share/1F15mx4ea3/

https://buymeacoffee.com/lownoise

Why buy me a coffee?

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.