A (relatively) in-depth analysis of English rock band Soft Machine in under thirty minutes.Soft Machine's music can be categorised into various genres and subgenres, including progressive rock, experimental rock, jazz rock, jazz, proto-prog, psychedelic rock and art rock. The band are part of the Canterbury scene of progressive rockAlthough they achieved little commercial success, critics consider Soft Machine to have been influential in rock music. The band's name originates from William S. Burroughs's novel The Soft Machine.As of 2025, the current lineup consists of John Etheridge, Theo Travis, Fred Thelonious Baker and Asaf Sirkis.Co-founding member Mike Ratledge died in February 2025. In March 2025 Soft Machine embarked on a 8-date UK tour which concluded at The Vortex Jazz Club, London. The current incarnation of the band also toured throughout Europe in May 2025.In this episode I am in discussion with Dr. Andrew Webber.Mathew Woodallhttps://buymeacoffee.com/lownoiseWhy 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.
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24:11
Rip It Up (Orange Juice)
A (relatively) in-depth analysis of the single Rip It Up by Orange Juice (as well as some other general stuff) in just under thirty minutes.After releasing a series of singles on the independent Postcard label, the debut album by Orange Juice 'You Can't Hide Your Love Forever', was realeased by Polydor in February 1982. The album received mixed reviews. Retrospectively, however, it is often regarded as a classic of the era and a key influence on the C86 generation. The group's second album 'Rip It Up', issued in November 1982 featured the single of the same name, which reached number 8 on the UK Singles Chart in February 1983. Referencing both Chic and the Buzzcocks, the record galvanised Orange Juice's reputation as one of the brightest bands in the 'new pop' scene. In this episode I am in discussion with Dr. Andrew Webber.I do hope you enjoy this episode.Mathew Woodallhttps://buymeacoffee.com/lownoiseWhy 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.
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26:22
(Don't Fear) The Reaper (Blue Öyster Cult)
A (relatively) in-depth analysis of the rock classic (Don't Fear) The Reaper by Blue Öyster Cult (as well as some other stuff) in just under thirty minutes. The song, written and sung by lead guitarist Donald 'Buck Dharma' Roeser is taken from the 1976 album Agents of Fortune and explores the theme of eternal love and the inevitability of death.The band name Blue Öyster Cult features an umlaut. The 'metal umlaut' (also known as röck döts) has also been used in the names of several rock or heavy metal bands such as Queensrÿche, Motörhead, the Accüsed, Mötley Crüe, Spın̈al Tap and Green Jellÿ.The song has been featured extensively in film, TV and media: Stephen King named the song as one of the inspirations for his novel The Stand (the lyrics are quoted at the beginning of the novel). The song also appears as the opening theme for the 1994 TV serial based on the novel. The song can be heard playing in a car in the 1978 film Halloween and was used again in the 2022 sequel Halloween Ends, during the ending credits. It can be heard playing on a van radio during the 2022 horror film X and is played during the end credits of The Simpsons episode 'The Parent Rap'. The song has been featured in two series on Netflix: '1899' and 'Orange Is the New Black' and was even the subject of a Saturday Night Live comedy sketch in 2000.In this episode I am in discussion with Dr. Andrew Webber.Mathew Woodallhttps://buymeacoffee.com/lownoiseWhy 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.
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21:08
Down in the Tube Station at Midnight (The Jam)
A (relatively) in-depth analysis of the single Down in the Tube Station at Midnight by the Jam (as well as some other stuff) in just under thirty minutes.Released in October 1978, Down in the Tube Station at Midnight was the second single from the Jam's third album, All Mod Cons. It reached No. 15 on the UK Singles Chart.This episode is dedicated to Paul Richard Buckler (1955 – 2025) and I am in discussion with Dr. Andrew Webber.Mathew Woodallhttps://buymeacoffee.com/lownoiseWhy 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.
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25:04
Led Zeppelin
A (relatively) in-depth analysis of English rock band Led Zeppelin in under thirty minutes.Led Zeppelin are one of the best-selling music artists of all time, with estimated record sales of between 200 and 300 million units worldwide. Their debut album, Led Zeppelin, was released in 1969.In 2025, Becoming Led Zeppelin, a documentary which charts the formation and early years of the band was released. Directed by Bernard MacMahon, the film was made with the full co-operation of the group. When a work-in-progress version was screened at the Venice Film Festival in 2021, it received a 10-minute standing ovation.In this episode I am in discussion with Dr. Andrew Webber.Mathew Woodallhttps://buymeacoffee.com/lownoiseWhy 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.
Low Noise is a weekly podcast, which provides a (fairly) in-depth analysis of popular music and culture in (approximately) fifteen minutes. These episodes have been recorded ‘on the spot’ using the Low Noise Mobile Recording Studio (my iPad) at various locations throughout the UK. All broadcasts are recorded with passion, enthusiasm and substance. Low noise - high output. Thank you for listening!
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