My guest mixer this week is Vinny Peculiar

Vinny (aka Alan Wilkes) is a singer-songwriter who has put out fourteen albums of literate autobiographical pop music over a twenty-year career. Uncut described him as ‘an under sung national treasure’ and The Irish Times called him ‘the missing link between Jarvis Cocker and poet Roger McGough’. Tom Robinson of 6Music said that his ‘songs make you laugh and cry and think all at the same time.’

My guest mixer this week is Andy Gillespie

I have known Andy - a fellow Wedding Present fan - for the best part of 20 years, online. But this was the first time we'd ever met face to face (albeit via Zoom). 

Originally from Middleton, Manchester, Andy has for many years lived in Simi Valley, California. As well as being on good terms with previous guests David Gedge and Terry de Castro, we also get to hear about the time he played pool with Mark E Smith and Eleni...

My guest mixer this week is Terry de Castro

Terry is a bassist, vocalist and songwriter based in LA who has played in several bands (such as Goya Dress) as well releasing music under her own name. She is also, other than David Gedge,  the longest serving member of The Wedding Present, and was the bassist throughout the lifespan of Cinerama.

(Slightly dodgy internet connection in places, apologies!)

My guest mixer this week is Eleni Poulou

Eleni is a musician, composer, radio host and curator of musical events. She has released music as a solo artist and as part of a wide range of groups and collaborations. She is also the 7th ex-member of the Fall to appear on the show - her distinctive keyboard style and vocal sound having been an important feature of the last period of the group.

Eleni likes to do things her own way - an admirable quality - and so this show is different from the norm in several ways. She selected 14 tracks (and wanted add a 15th!), her mix was 2 ¾ hours long (!) and she only sent it to me the morning before our interview (she explains why in our discussion). 

My guest mixer this week is Ian McCulloch

No, not that one... Not yet anyway. This Ian (my third Ian in six weeks!) is another fellow Fall enthusiast. And he's been very patient, as we recorded this nearly three months ago - hence the rather dated reference to Donald Trump's golf skills!

My guest mixer this week is Alan Edwards

Alan is both a work colleague and a very good friend, who my wife describes as my 'work husband'. Initially, we talked about him coming on the podcast as a bit of a joke, as musically (and in many other ways) we inhabit very different universes. But when I mentioned  in episode #024 his offer to provide a playlist that would 'bring in the girls, gays and theys', the feedback was mostly on the lines of 'bring it on'.

So buckle up and be prepared for a rather different set of songs than you're used to...

Daryl is a music writer whose work has appeared in Mojo, Record Collector, Q, The Guardian and The Independent, and has published several books on subjects as diverse as Chic, Slade, Madonna, Peter Gabriel, Cher and Sparks.

In addition, if you have a few reissue or box set CDs in your collection, it’s fairly likely that at least one of them includes some sleeve notes written by him.

My guest mixer this week is Steve Shelley

Steve occupied the drum stool in Sonic Youth for 26 years and has played with musicians such as Michael Rother, Howe Gelb, Tom Verlaine, Ron Asheton and Mark Kozelek.

He also founded a label called Smells Like Records (now Vampire Blues), and has been instrumental in promoting the careers of artists such as Cat Power, Blonde Redhead and Lee Hazlewood.

Described on a Reddit thread as ‘the best drummer in rock history’, his most recent release is Orcutt Shelley Miller, with Bill Orcutt (Harry Pussy) and Ethan Miller (Comets on Fire/Howlin' Rain).

My guest mixer this week is Ian Clayton

Ian is an author who came up in conversation several times last week when I talked to Ian Daley, as he has had several books published by Route. They include Bringing It All Back Home (a book about searching for a soundtrack to your own life story), Song For My Father (a reflection on a lifelong search for a father figure), and It’s The Beer Talking (a book about a lifelong love affair with local pubs).

I can particularly recommend Bringing It All Back Home, a book that I found to be both funny and deeply moving.

My guest mixer this week is Ian Daley

Ian set up Route Publishing in 2000, and since 2005 has run the company from his home in Pontefract alongside his wife Isabel Galán. 

Route has published several books about The Fall (including those by Steve Hanley, Simon Wolstencroft, Paul Hanley and me!) They've also put out a range of titles about Bob Dylan, as well as books by Helen O'Hara (Dexys Midnight Runners), Tom Hingley (Inspiral Carpets), Mark Hoyle (Dub Sex) and Iain Matthews (Fairport Convention).