Author Archives: Phil

When Big Joan Sets Up 20th June – Venetian Blinder

What do you get when you mix Franz Liszt, Bille Holiday, and the sound of a cornered drum machine fighting it’s way out of a blind alley. You get the new LP from Venetian Snares “My Love is A Bulldozer”. Three tracks on this week’s programme alongside a host of new tunes from such as Martin Carthy, Trans AM and The Pheremoans and the band with possibly the greatest name in the history of recorded time Disintrested Handjob who are unlikely to be appearing on Jools Holland anytime soon.There is no greater recommendation than that.

When Big Joan Sets Up 20th June – Venetian Snares by Phil Cope on Mixcloud

Dabs featuring MC Kwality – “Stentah” (Download) (Horizons Music)
Martin and Eliza Carthy – “Queen Caraboo” (LP – “The Moral of the Elephant”) (Topic)
Mary Monday and Her Bitches – “Popgun” (7″) (Hozac)
Venetian Snares – “10th Circle of Winnipeg” (LP – “My Love Is A Bulldozer”) (Planet Mu)
Trans Am – “Backlash” (LP – “Volume X”) (Thrill Jockey)
Earl Sixteen – “Everybody Bawling” (LP – “Natty Farming”) (A-Lone)
U-Roy – “Everybody Bawling” (7″) (Treasure Isle)
M. Geddas Gengras – “Ishi” (LP – “Ishi”) (Leaving)
Venetian Snares – “1000 Years” (LP – “My Love Is A Bulldozer”) (Planet Mu)
Disinterested Handjob – “Blind Determinism Takes A Piss Through Your Window Of Opportunity” (LP – “Friday Night Is Porno Night”) (Bandcamp)
The Meridian Brothers – “De Mi Caballo Como Su Carne” (LP -“Salvadore Robot”) (Soundway)
Urbano – “Rexodus” (EP – “Rexodus”) (Nasty Temper)
The Pheromoans – “Duxford Air Show” (LP – “Hearts Of Gold”) (Upset The Rhythm)
Venetian Snares – “Shaky Sometimes” (LP – “My Love Is A Bulldozer”) (Planet Mu)
Lutan Fyah – “Get Rid A Di Wicked” (LP – “Get Rid A Di Wicked”) (Bread Back Productions)

When Big Joan Sets Up 13th June – The Golden Hour Part 2 1959

More archive When Big Joan Sets Up.This week, the earliest surviving recording from 1959 presented by my great-uncle “Rockin'” Ted Troughton-Cope. A man whose DA haircut was so perfect that he was forced to retire from broadcasting just after this programme was broadcast due to the back of his head being sexually assaulted by a gang of amorous mallards thus leaving him with a morbid fear of ponds and thoughts of homicidal revenge which manifested themselves in his infamous attack on Keith Harris in the early 1980’s for which he got 30 years hard labour. Listen to him in happier times.

When Big Joan Sets Up – The Golden Hour Part 2 1959 by Phil Cope on Mixcloud

Duane Eddy – “Peter Gunn” (7″) (Jamie)
Ray Charles – “(Night Time is) The Right Time” (LP – “The Genius Sings The Blues”) (Atlantic)
The Dave Brubeck Quartet – “Blue Rondo A La Turk” (LP – “Time Out”) (Colombia)
Laurel Aitken and The Boogie Cats – “Boogie Rock” (LP “Boogie In My Bones”) (Pressure Drop)
Johnny Cash – “Five Feet High and Rising” (LP – “Songs of Our Soil”) (Columbia)
Jimmy Reed – “Take Out Some Insurance” (LP – “Rockin’ With Reed”) (Vee Jay)
Jack Kerouac with Steve Allen – “The Wheel of The Quivering Meat Conception” (LP – “Poetry For The Beat Generation”) (Hanover)
Lonnie Donegan – “House of The Rising Sun” (LP – “Lonnie Rides Again”) (Pye)
The Louvin Brothers – “Satan’s Jeweled Crown” (LP – “Satan Is Real”) (Capitol)
Barrett Strong – “Money (That’s What I Want)” (LP – The Complete Motown Collection) (Spectrum Audio)
Ornette Coleman – “Eventually” (LP – “The Shape of Jazz To Come”) (Atlantic)
Howlin’ Wolf – “Somebody In My Home” (LP – “Moanin’ In The Moonlight”) (Chess)
Lord Kitchener – “My Wife’s Nightie” (LP – “Some Spicy Delights”) (Radiophone Archives)
The Rock-A-Teens – “Woo Hoo” (V/A LP – “Teen Beat 3”) (Ace)
Conway Twitty – “Lonely Blue Boy” (LP – “Lonely Blue Boy”) (MGM)
Cliff Richard and The Drifters – “My Babe” (LP – “Cliff”) (Columbia)
The Flamingos – “I Only Have Eyes For You” (LP – “Dream of A Lifetime 1953-1959”) (Jasmine)
Spike Jones – “I Only Have Eyes For You” (LP – “A Spooktacular In Screaming Sound”) (Master Classics)
Charles Mingus – “Better Git It In Your Soul” (LP – “Mingus Ah Um”) (Columbia)

When Big Joan Sets Up 6th June – The Golden Hour Part 1 1992

When Big Joan Sets Up has been on BCB for sixty years this year. Starting in 1954 broadcasting to Bradford her Empires and Territories and presented by my great-grandad Aubrey D’Ascogyne Cope the early episodes have been lost to the nation and in fact only two survive prior to 2006.

One of these is from 1992 presented by my maternal uncle “Ravin'” Dave Bonkers-Cope and was broadcast this week to mark his untimely death of a severely unblocked nose due to years of Vicks abuse.

Or I’m on holiday so I pre-recorded a programme full of old records.You choose.

“Top one, nice one, get sorted” as Ravin’ Dave used to say.

When Big Joan Sets Up 6th June – The Golden Hour Part 1 1992 by Phil Cope on Mixcloud

The Ragga Twins – “Shine Eye (12”) (Shut Up And Dance)
The Fall – “The Birmingham School of Business School (LP – “Code Selfish”) (Fontana)
Anthony Red Rose – “Tempo” (7″) (Firehouse)
Sonic Youth – “Drunken Butterfly” (LP – “Dirty”) (DSG)
Gas Huffer – “Beer Drinking Cavemen From Mars” (7″) (Sub Pop)
The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy – “Hypocrisy Is The Greatest Luxury” (LP -“Hypocrisy Is The Greatest Luxury”) (4th and Broadway)
Denim – “Middle Of The Road” (LP – “Back In Denim”) (Boy’s Own Recordings)
Urban Hype – “A Trip To Trumpton” (7″) (Faze 2)
The Wedding Present – “Cumberland Gap” (V/A LP – “Ruby Trax”) (NME)
Chaka Demus and Pliers – “Murder She Wrote” (12″) (5th Avenue South)
Pete Rock and CL Smooth – “Anger In The Nation” (LP – “Mecca and The Soul Brother”) (Elektra)
The Pharcyde – “Return Of The B-Boy” (LP – “Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde”) (Delicious Vinyl)
Huggy Bear – “Single Bullets” (EP – “Rubbing The Impossible To Burst”) (Wiiija)
S1000 – “Flatliners” (12″) (Guerilla)
The Boo Radleys – “Lazarus” (12″) (Creation)

When Big Joan Sets Up 30th May – Punks. Not dead.

Is it “Buzzcocks” or “The Buzzcocks?”. This week’s programme split (splitted?,splat?) the difference by using it’s soothing northern tones to refer to the aforementioned pop punk progenitors as “T’Buzzcocks” and played three tracks from their excellent new LP “The Way”

When Big Joan Sets Up 30th May – Buzzcocks by Phil Cope on Mixcloud

Captain Beefheart and The Magic Band – “Mirror Man” (LP – “Full Moon In Cowtown – Live 1974 Radio Broadcast”) (Iconography)
Quirke – “Break A Mirrored Leg” (12″) (Young Turks)
Buzzcocks – “Virtually Real” (LP – “The Way”) (Pledge Music)
Boyoyo Boys – “Daveyton Special” (LP – “Back In Town”) (Greensleeves)
Secret Motorbikes – “Top Five” (LP – “Rum Punch”) (Bandcamp)
Chronixx – “Rastaman Wheel Out” (LP – “Dread and Terrible”) (Chronixx Music)
Visionist – “The Way” (EP – “I’m Fine Volume II”) (Lit City Trax)
Buzzcocks – “In The Back” (LP – “The Way”) (Pledge Music)
Malevolence – “Legalize” (LP – “Relentless Entropy”) (Kaiwhakamate)
Lee Scratch Perry – “Pow Satan” (LP – “Back On The Controls”) (Rolling Lion/Upsetter)
Antagone feat. Proteus 4000 – “The Truth About Timmins Version 3” (EP – “Square 01”) (AMAdea)
Traxman – “Bubbles” (LP – “Da Mind of Traxman Volume 2”) (Planet Mu)
Hank Williams – “I Don’t Care If Tomorrow Never Comes” (LP – “The Garden Spot Programs 1950”) (Omnivore)
Buzzcocks – “It’s Not You” (LP – “The Way”) (Pledge Music)
Sluggers – “Courtesy” (12″) (Fool’s Gold)

When Big Joan Sets Up 23rd May – Keep Music Evel

After the excitement of the council elections this week’s programme mops it’s fevered brow with three tracks from Kid Kanevil‘s new LP plus new Mozzer rozzer knocker shocker.

When Big Joan Sets Up 23rd May – Kid Kanevil by Phil Cope on Mixcloud

Morrissey – “World Peace is None of Your Business” (download) (Harvest)
Ghost Gum – “Never” (Demo) (Bandcamp)
Four Brothers – “Uchandifunga” (LP – “Makorokoto”) (Cooking Vinyl)
Kid Kanevil – “Escape Pod” (LP – “My Little Ghost”) (Project Mooncircle)
Echo and The Bunnymen – “Constantinople” (LP – “Meteorites”) (Caroline International S & D)
Lee Scratch Perry – “Repent” (LP – “Back On The Controls”) (Rolling Lion/Upsetter)
Xtrah – “No Good” (12″) (Metalheadz)
Kid Kanevil – “Earth To G San” (LP – “My Little Ghost”) (Project Mooncircle)
Bus Stop Madonnas – “Liam Loves The Ramones” (7″) (Self Released)
The Ramones – “Pinhead” (LP – “Leave Home”) (Sire)
Maynor – “Dixie” (EP – “Trippin’ on Frenchcore”) (GGM)
The Dixieaires – “Joe Louis Was A Fighting Man” (LP – “My Trouble Is Hard”) (Heritage)
Splattered – “Glistening Septic Discharge” (LP – “Guttural Species”) (Inherited Suffering)
Monolith – “Crashed” (LP – “Crashed”) (Hands Productions)
Kid Kanevil – “Butterfly/Satellite” (LP – “My Little Ghost”) (Project Mooncircle)
Luciano – “Show Some Dub” (LP – “Deliverance – Mad Professor Dub Showcase”) (Ariwa)

When Big Joan Sets Up 16th May – Palpitation for the Nation

One for the Daily Mail readers this week, as we unleashed three tracks from “Fuck Off” the debut LP from Good Throb whose alternately hilarious and terrifying single “Bag” brightened our 2013 and whose LP looks set to do the same for 2014.

When Big Joan Sets Up 16th May – Good Throb by Phil Cope on Mixcloud

Honeyblood – “Killer Bangs” (Download single) (Fatcat)
Kyoka – “Moonboots” (LP – “Is (Is Superpowered)”) (Raster-Noton)
Black Prarie – “If I Knew You Then” (LP – “Fortune”) (Sugarhill)
Ward 21 – “Get and Nuh Chat” (Download single) (Wiletunes)
Good Throb – “Acid House” (LP – “Fuck Off”) (Super-Fi)
808 State – “Headhunters” (LP – “Newbuild”) (Creed)
Neil Young – “Intro/Changes” (LP – “A Letter Home”) (Third Man)
Beat Detectives – “Summer In The City” (LP -“ASSCOP”) (108p)
Sly and Robbie – “Forward March” (LP – “Underwater Dub”) (Groove Attack)
Good Throb – “Crab Walk” (LP – “Fuck Off”) (Super-Fi)
Wander – “Oblivion” (LP – “Mourning”) (Self Released)
Wanda Jackson – “I Gotta Know” (LP – “Queen Of Rockabilly”) (Ace)
Riko – “Roll The Drumz” (Download) (Contagious)
Aborted – “Excremental Veracity” (LP – “The Necrotic Manifesto”) (Century Media)
The Delines – “Witchita Ain’t So Far Away” (LP – “Colfax”) (Decor)
Good Throb – “Double White Denim” (LP – “Fuck Off”) (Super-Fi)
The Upbeats – “Def Crescent” (EP – “Rituals”) (Blackout)

When Big Joan Sets Up 9th May – Copeland in Cope Land

Hmmm – it’s not brilliant that title,is it? However copeland‘s new LP “Because You’re Worth It” is a brilliant,innovative mildly unsettling work of art that – in stark contrast to the majority of music made (and played) in 2014 – sounds like it was made in 2014.

When Big Joan Sets Up 9th May – Copeland by Phil Cope on Mixcloud

The Lord – “The Night Is But A Tender Courgette” (LP – “Getting’ Off The Meths”) (Exotic Pylon)
Shonen Knife – “Shopping” (LP – “Overdrive”) (Tomato Head)
Matrixxman – “Simulation” (V/A EP – “Metaphysix: II Rhythm”) (Ultramajic)
Muyei Power – “Yamba Sowe” (LP – “Sierra Leone in 1970’s USA”) (Soundway)
Sleaford Mods – “Tiswas” (LP – Divide And Exit”) (Harbinger Sound)
Hobocop – “Stench Of Death” (LP – “Half Man,Half Cop”) (Slovenly)
Half Man Half Biscuit – “Bad Losers on Yahoo Chess” (LP – “C.S.I. Ambleside”) (Probe Plus)
DJ Taye – “Cherokee” (EP – “Radikal”) (Bandcamp)
copeland – “Advice To Young Girls” (LP – “Because You’re Worth It”) (Self Released)
copeland – “Inga” (LP – “Because You’re Worth It”) (Self Released)
copeland – “l’oreal” (LP – “Because You’re Worth It”) (Self Released)
Nitty Kutchie – “Dem Flipping” (V/A LP – “Ba Ba Bum Riddim”) (Mr.G)
Autopsy – “Savagery” (LP – “Tourniquets,Hacksaws and Graves”) (Peaceville)
Savages – “Fuckers” (Download Single) (Matador)

When Big Joan Sets Up 2nd May – Let There Be Light

Three from the long awaited new LP from the magnificent Horrors “Luminous” this week plus a tune from the late DJ Rashad who in a musical climate welded ever more desperately to the forms of the last century made records that brought us things that we’d never heard before and therefore belongs in the same company as the Beefhearts,Mark E Smiths and King Tubbys of the world. He’ll be missed. RIP.

When Big Joan Sets Up 2nd May – The Horrors by Phil Cope on Mixcloud

Broncho – “It’s On” (7″) (CQ)
Canadian Winter – “Get The Show On The Road” (LP – “The Snowball Effect”) (Urbnet)
Don Fe – “Jericho” (12″) (Steppas)
The Horrors – “In and Out Of Sight” (LP – “Luminous”) (XL)
DJ Rashad – “Rollin’ (EP – “Rollin’) (Hyperdub)
Limewax – “Various Castrations” (12″) (Yellow Stripe)
Phil Cockerham – “I’m So Happy I’m A Banker” (LP – “Waiting For The Age Of Reason”) (Self Released)
Chain and The Gang – “Devitalize” (LP – “Minimum Rock’N’Roll”) (Fortuna Pop)
Santo and Johnny – “Sleepwalk” (LP – “Santo and Johnny”) (Canadian-American)
The Horrors – “Sleepwalk” (LP – “Luminous”) (XL)
Sleaford Mods – “A Little Ditty” (LP – “Divide And Exit”) (Harbinger Sound)
IZC – “Zig Zag” (12″) (disko404)
Girl One and The Greaseguns – “Veronica” (EP – “No Longer Spellbound”) (Squirrel)
Soul Syndicate – “Prepare Jah Man Version” (7″) (Wackies)
The Horrors – “Falling Star” (LP – “Luminous”) (XL)
Defrag – “Stilt Walkers” (LP – “Drown”) (Hymen)

When Big Joan Sets Up 25th April – The Hand of Alpha and Omega

Three tracks from “The Half That’s Never Been Told” a collection of never before released tracks from UK Dub royalty Alpha and Omega in tonight’s programme.

When Big Joan Sets Up 25th April – Alpha and Omega by Phil Cope on Mixcloud

Bass Clef – “Self-Perpetuating Fun Loop” (EP – “Raven Yr Own Worl”) (Pan)
The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart – “Until The Sun Explodes” (LP – “Days Of Abandon”) (Fierce Panda)
T.I.T.S. – “Coma Girl” (LP – “T.I.T.S.”) (Teenage Menopause)
Alpha and Omega – “Rhythm Of The Ancients” (LP – “The Half That’s Never Been Told”) (Steppas)
Satanicpornocultshop – “Hot Musique” (LP – “frEEwheelin”) (Neji)
Bob Dylan – “Don’t Think Twice It’s Alright” (LP – “The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan”) (Columbia)
Purna Das Baul & Bapi Das Baul – “Mr. Tambourine Man” (VA LP – “From Another World – A Tribute To Bob Dylan”) (Buda Musique)
Fennesz – “Static Kings” (LP – “Bécs”) (Editions Mego)
The Oh Sees – “Put Some Reverb On My Brother” (LP – “Drop”) (Castleface)
Alpha and Omega – “King Of The Jungle” (LP – “The Half That’s Never Been Told”) (Steppas)
The Empath – “Growing Unrest (Rage Union)” (Download) (Hymen)
Girl One and The Greaseguns – “No Longer Spellbound” (EP – “No Longer Spellbound”) (Squirrel)
Impaled Nazerene – “Apocalypse Principle” (LP – “Vigorous and Liberating Death”) (Osmose Productions)
Deekline and Ed Solo – “Hot This Year” (EP – “Jungle Cakes Vol.27”) (Jungle Cakes UK)
Alpha and Omega – “Things Getting Hotter” (LP – “The Half That’s Never Been Told”) (Steppas)
Wolf Alice – “Storms” (EP – “Creature Songs”) (Dirty Hit)

Record Store Day – The Death Of The Cool

I didn’t go to my local independent record shop today. I did go last week and the week before that. It was great – full of new releases on a variety of formats and friendly knowledgable staff who were happy to while away an hour chatting to a strange little man about dubstep,death metal,obscure rockabilly records and cover versions of Bob Dylan songs in Bengali.

I looked through the racks of CD’s and LP’s and 7″ singles, my eye occasionally falling across something with an odd looking sleeve or a name I vaguely remember seeing on a blogpost or in the NME. They’d even taken the time to put little handwritten messages on some of the records to help me choose:

“Moody and off-kilter electronics with a synth-pop pulse and bent-out-of-shape vocals.”
“Sweeping drone-ambient with sound sources drawn solely from a self-built analogue synthesizer….”
“rock-solid combination of garage / surf / rockabilly / blues /punk. Check this out if you’re into the Cramps or Tav Falco.”

I spent a leisurely couple of hours in the sparsely populated shop (it’s not a fucking STORE, it’s in fucking LEEDS) and having happily forked over 30 quid for a selection of things most of which I’d never heard off two hours earlier I left the shop replete with that slightly queasy combination of guilt at spending too much money and excitement at the prospect of new tunes that I always get when leaving a record shop and skipped home.

It never occurred to me what colour vinyl the three 7″ singles I’d bought might be or what quantity the CD’s I’d bought had been produced in.

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