On this episode we don our anoraks and journey through the looking glass of independent music and race politics! During the production of this episode, our producer Ali Rahman lost his apartment in an explosion, which lit a fire under our asses to finish the damn thing.

Founding member of The Dears Murray Lightburn, who’s been navigating the orchestral pop minefield for the past 13 years, stops by the studio to talk about the Dears‘ latest album Missiles, and how it was recorded by him and Nathalia Yanchak, the only members remaining from the original lineup.

We dig into the archives for a long-lost interview with Edmund Lam of Hexes & Ohs. Slated for the first episode (now lovingly referred to as the Lost Episode) when all we knew were racquet sports and field trips to Montreal’s West Island, we talk with, and give a walloping to, one half of Montreal’s cutest bedroom pop couple.

Producer Ali Rahman drunkenly assaults the Silver Jews‘ very gracious mastermind David Berman at his recent Montreal show. They spoke of cultural identity, Lyndon Johnson, and the intertwining of Talmudic thought and country music.

We play songs on this episode too, including a Murray Lightburn exclusive called Money Babies, an untitled Hexes & Ohs exclusive, How Can I Love You If You Won’t Lie Down by the Silver Jews, Freddie Scott’s (You) Got What I Need, The Merseys‘ Sorrow” and a little treat from Brazillian sensation Jorge Ben.

For more information on the Dears, we encourage you to check out Natalia Yanchak’s informative blog, titled (strangely enough) Natalia Yanchak’s Blog.

 

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