Troika

I couldn’t let episode #59 be anything else but a celebration of over thirty years of cult California band, Starflyer 59. 1. Tracks played are A Housewife Love song, Harmony, Do You Ever Feel That Way, Fell in Love at 22, Shedding the Mortal Coil, Your Company, Loved Ones, Good Sons, Like a Baby, 2nd Space Song, This Recliner and finally, Everyone but Me. A quadruple Troika for your earholes!

An extra slice of ho, ho, ho to you all! I've chosen three alternative festive tunes, all from bands on the Sonic Cathedral label. Featuring Deary, Pye Corner Audio and Dawn Chorus & the Infallible Sea.

So to celebrate the launch of the Stars of the Lid Forever project, to archive all their live recordings, I've chosen my three favourite performances from the eighteen shows featured on the site. These are: Requiem for Dying Mothers from St Agnes Church NYC in 2015, Even if You're Never Awake from the Los Angeles Echoplex in 2008 and December Hunting for Vegetarian Fuckface from The Barbican, London in 2016.

A second instalment of Ambient Country tunes, featuring Ry Cooder, Yo La Tengo, William Tyler, Jim Wallis, Hayden Pedigo and Yasmin Williams.

Ten songs about 'ten' for the Troika tenth anniversary. Featuring; Explosions in the Sky, Curve, Sleigh Bells, Beach House, Dusty Springfield, Big Audio Dynamite, Spielmann, Interpol, Phantogram and Nala Sinephro.

This episode is a Triple Troika of my favourite tracks from 2024. I was hoping to get this out in December, but better late than never! Features Nilüfer Yanya, Brimheim, Starflyer 59, Grandaddy, Bill Ryder Jones, Foxing, The Amazing, Natalie Holt, Cowboy Sadness

In part 4 of the shoegaze series, we look at very recent bands who have appeared since 2020. With music from Wisp, Deary, Glare and Holy Fawn.

In part 3, we look at the bands that grew up influenced by Shoegaze, and kept it alive. Music from Ringo Deathstarr, Nothing and Deafheaven.

In the last episode of Troika, we heard from the early influences, hearing where Shoegaze originated. I was too young to appreciate Cocteau Twins or The Jesus and Mary Chain at the time, but by the time Shoegaze came along, I was primed and ready. Music from Slovdive, RIDE and My Bloody Valentine

Part one of a series of five, looking at the history of Shoegaze music. This part looks at the origins of the genre, with music from The Beach Boys, Cocteau Twins and The Jesus and Mary Chain.

Music evoking big sunset skies, diners and deserts and featuring Raymond Richards, Chuck Johnson and Cowboy Sadness.

This episode is all about Tim Smith, formerly of Midlake, and his other projects. The Pills won't help you now with The Chemical Brothers, Grey Tower with Lost Horizons and Herstmonceux in his new band, Harp.

My favourite songs from 2023, featuring Lanterns on the Lake, Harp, boygenius, Molly, M83, The Clientele and more. With twenty-one tracks it will keep you busy for almost two hours!

This episode of Troika is in tribute to Brian McBride, one-half of ambient duo Stars of the Lid, who sadly died last month. His music is so important to me, that I couldn't let the opportunity pass to honour his work and memory. I didn't want to spoil this episode with my narration, so just sit back with headphones and enjoy a double-troika selection of his musical legacy. The Tracks are: Overture (for Other Halfs) - Brian McBride Dopamine Clouds Over Craven Cottage - Stars of the Lid Girl Nap - Brian McBride Darker Side of Sunshine - Bell Gardens Far From Home - Kenneth James Gibson (Brian McBride’s Diminished Stories Remix) Untitled - Brian McBride

Songs featuring, or inspired by, BBC Radio 4's Shipping Forecast. Featuring music by Ronald Binge, Tears for Fears, Solomon Grey and The Longest Johns.

To mark two years after my dad passed away, I'm dedicating a double Troika episode all to him. Featuring classical music by Elgar, Mahler, Vaughn Williams and William Walton, but also The Dave Clark Five and Sun Kil Moon. There's also a surprise pop connection with Pete Waterman. The atmosphere is a little melancholy, but not an all out tearjerker.

Episode #42 is all about The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, with music spanning the Radio and TV series and the movie from 2005. It features music from The Eagles, Paddy Kingsland, Joby Talbot, Marvin the Paranoid Android and Louis Armstrong.

In order to break the seal of the two year Troika hiatus, I've put together a quick episode, simply featuring some new music I'm listening to. Featured in this episode are Site Nonsite (a new music project from Simon Collison), Hamish Hawk and Gareth Quinn Redmond.

We had to say goodbye to our beautiful golden retriever Olive a few weeks ago. She really was the goodest of girls and the fluffiest of floofs, and as part of the Hicks family she deserves her very own episode of Troika. The tracks are: 'Olive, the other Reindeer' by Johnny Hart, 'Golden Retriever' by Super Furry Animals and 'We Watched you Disappear' by Hammock.