Best Scottish Opera Podcasts (2026)

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Turntable Diaries: Festive Favorites, the 2025 Debrief, and New Sounds from Dove Ellis, Dry Cleaning, Kai Reesu, Dominie Hooper & Helicon 1:30:03

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5d ago1:30:03

1:30:03

Send us a text New @weheardwonders pod for the New Year, anyone? Andrew provides a debrief following the completion of his epic 2025 end-of-year album countdown, before Iain shares the band that occupied most time on his turntable over the festive period. Then it’s on to listening and reviewing some tunes courtesy of the socially introverted, emoti…

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Series 2. Episode 1. Emerging Artist Edward Jowle reflects on a year with Scottish Opera. 24:41

1M ago24:41

24:41

Presenter Jamie MacDougall catches up backstage at Edinburgh’s Festival Theatre with Emerging Artist Edward Jowle. This episode was recorded just as Scottish Opera’s November run of Puccini’s La bohème was about to begin, with Edward preparing to sing the role Schaunard and Jamie himself performing Alcindoro and Benoît. Edward shares how he first d…

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Pop Soap Opera & Global Grooves: Lily Allen, pôt-pot, Sudan Archives, Madison Cunningham, and Daniel Caesar 1:44:31

2M ago1:44:31

1:44:31

Send us a text No, but who is Madeline, actually? Iain and Andrew have their say on the big pop story of the moment, Lily Allen’s audio soap-opera West End Girl. Also on the slate are the menacingly shady psych of pôt-pot, Sudan Archives’ Afro-dance hybrids, the Californian baroque-folk of Madison Cunningham, and Daniel Caesar’s fluid, multi-phase …

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Dead-Cert or Dud-Beat?: Tame Impala, Maruja, Titanic, anaiis & Drink The Sea 1:32:51

3M ago1:32:51

1:32:51

Send us a text Dead-cert or dud-beat? Tune into the latest @weheardwonders pod to find out where Andrew and Iain land on the big new release from Aussie psych hermit Tame Impala. We also play and review new music from Mancunian post-rock emoters Maruja, avant-rock Mexico City duo Titanic, French-Senegalese progressive-soul singer anaiis and ninetie…

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Frills, Feathers & Feelings: Geese, CMAT, The New Eves, Blood Orange & Ami Taf Ra (plus a wee bit of QOTSA, Taylor Swift and Ricky Ross!) 1:47:50

3M ago1:47:50

1:47:50

Send us a text Five recent music releases are road-tested and reviewed on the latest @weheardwonders pod. What makes Geese stand out from the alt-rock flock? Does CMAT’s “Irish country rock’n’roll” raise a smile? Are The New Eves novel or more novelty? Is Ami Taf Ra’s maximalist jazz awe-inspiring or yawn-inducing? And what emotions does Blood Oran…

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Carnal and Catchy: Wolf Alice, Dijon, Water From Your Eyes, Tyler Ballgame & Nourished By Time 1:25:13

5M ago1:25:13

1:25:13

Send us a text It’s a bumper week for new releases on @weheardwonders with four Album Of The Year contenders (Wolf Alice, Dijon, Water From Your Eyes, Nourished By Time) and a much-touted newcomer (Tyler Ballgame) lined up on the starting grid. But what did Iain and Andrew make of the runners ‘n’ riders? Which ones elicit excitable swearing and dec…

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Scotland in Stereo: Barry Can’t Swim, Lavinia Blackwall, The Cords, Ian Humberstone & Colin Steele Quartet 1:19:27

5M ago1:19:27

1:19:27

Send us a text Even more so than usual, this week’s episode of the @weheardwonders podcast is one made in Scotland, with all five acts up for review hailing from north of the border. It’s an eclectic bunch too, taking in Barry Can’t Swim’s bangin’ and increasingly ubiquitous dance-pop, Lavinia Blackwall’s out-of-time folk-rock, the youthful exubera…

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We’re Back! Life Updates, NEW Music News & Reviews – caroline, Ryan Davis, Annahstasia, Clipse & Poor Creature 1:38:33

5M ago1:38:33

1:38:33

Send us a text Yes folks, @weheardwonders is back, back, back, as Iain and Andrew dust off their microphones after an extended summer break. We chat about Iain's recent Significant Life Event, as well as discuss some of the bigger music news stories that have occurred in the time that we've been away. Then it's down to the main business at hand: re…

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Episode eight - Writing a new operetta with Emma Jenkins and Toby Hession 32:05

7M ago32:05

32:05

Presenter Jamie MacDougall is joined by Emma Jenkins (librettist) and Toby Hession (composer) to discuss their brand new operetta, A Matter of Misconduct! As well as discussing the exciting challenges of producing a new operetta, Emma and Toby explore the first experiences of operetta and opera, and their working partnership so far. A Matter of Mis…

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Episode seven - Introducing Scottish Opera's 2025/26 Season 32:23

8M ago32:23

32:23

This podcast features audio from an exclusive live broadcast originally shared with our patrons and donors and produced by Broadcast students at City of Glasgow College. Join acclaimed broadcaster Nicola Meighan (BBC Radio Scotland's Friday Afternoons and podcast, A Kick Up The Arts) in conversation with General Director Alexander Reedijk OBE FRC a…

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Yorke, Knives & Other Wonders: Mark Pritchard & Thom Yorke, Mess Esque, Infinity Knives & Brian Ennals, Barker, Little Barrie & Malcolm Catto 1:28:09

8M ago1:28:09

1:28:09

Send us a text You are all invited to @weheardwonders' infinite garden of musical delights! Tune in for Iain and Andrew's takes on the new collaborative album by electronic musician/producer Mark Pritchard and a certain Thomas Edward Yorke, the Aussie alt-rock experimentation of Mess Esque, Infinity Knives & Brian Ennals' confounding and confrontat…

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Bold Voices: Matt Carmichael Interview + Sault & Backxwash Fresh Cuts 1:42:35

8M ago1:42:35

1:42:35

Send us a text Joining the @weheardwonders boys for this week's pod is Scottish saxophonist and composer Matt Carmichael. Matt discusses his wonderful new LP Dancing With Embers, the art of improvising and taking inspiration from folk singer-songwriters, as well as selecting some fantastic music to play. Elsewhere, with Iain talking Animals and And…

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Newish Music - Bon Iver! Japanese Breakfast! The Horrors! Daniel Paul O'Sullivan! Annie and the Caldwells! 1:27:50

9M ago1:27:50

1:27:50

By Iain McKinstry and Andrew Hall

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Episode six- Josefine with director Antonia Bain and composer Samuel Bordoli 29:00

10M ago29:00

29:00

Filmmaker Antonia Bain and composer Samuel Bordoli discuss the creative partnership behind "Josefine," Scottish Opera's groundbreaking animated opera short. Drawing inspiration from Kafka's final story 'Josefine The Singer', the pair reveal how they developed their 14-minute award-winning film exploring the performer-audience relationship. They sha…

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New Music - Lady Gaga! Fust! Melin Melyn! Candi Staton! Maud the Moth! 1:39:26

10M ago1:39:26

1:39:26

Send us a text Don’t let it ever be said that @weheardwonders don’t have range! On the latest pod, Iain and Andrew discuss the potential reemergence of Radiohead, before playing and reviewing new records by returning pop royalty Lady Gaga, none-more-American alternative country band Fust, mellifluous Welsh millers Melin Melyn, sensational soul surv…

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New Music - The Limiñanas! DARKSIDE! Everything is Recorded! Marshall Allen! Ichiko Aoba! 1:30:41

10M ago1:30:41

1:30:41

Send us a text Fascinating, sometimes unexpected pairings and groupings are the name of the game on this week’s @weheardwonders podcast. Iain and Andrew share their favourite musical mash-ups, before moving on to review five collaboration-heavy new projects. Bobby Gillespie lives out his noirish, faded glamour fantasies alongside Mr & Mrs of French…

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New Music - HONESTY! John Glacier! Oklou! Richard Dawson! Confucius MC & Bastien Keb! 1:27:35

11M ago1:27:35

1:27:35

Send us a text Mystery hangs in the air and cloaks many of the artists played and discussed on this week's @weheardwonders pod: whether it be shadowy, alt-electro collective HONESTY; the endlessly intriguing, expectation-defying John Glacier; Oklou's introspective approach to futurist-medieval-Y2K dance-pop; progressive folk musician Richard Dawson…

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Episode five - The Makropulos Affair with director Olivia Fuchs 24:40

11M ago24:40

24:40

Director Olivia Fuchs joins Jamie MacDougall in the studio to discuss her production of Leoš Janáček's opera, The Makropulos Affair. This co-production with Welsh National Opera is Scottish Opera's first full staging of the opera since 1993. Hailed as ‘unmissable triumph’ (The Telegraph), this production focuses on the immortal Emilia Marty, or Eli…

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New Music - FKA Twigs! Benjamin Booker! Anna B Savage! Sam Amidon! Thandii! 1:31:05

11M ago1:31:05

1:31:05

Send us a text Podcasting late at night in their pants surrounded by a week’s worth of washing is when Iain and Andrew are at their most Eusexua. Tune into @weheardwonders to hear their opinions on some intriguing new music: FKA twigs discovers the best version of herself on the dance-floor; Benjamin Booker takes a dramatic left-turn and asks “what…

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Episode four - Opera Highlights with Rebecca Meltzer and Ross Cumming 26:27

11M ago26:27

26:27

Produced by Kayleigh and Grace from the City of Glasgow College. Presenter Jamie MacDougall chats to director Rebecca Meltzer and Baritone Emerging Artist, Ross Cumming, and about the Opera Highlights tour. This season’s snappy, playful show by director Rebecca Meltzer and designer Kenneth MacLeod explores and celebrates Scotland’s rich landscape. …

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New Music - Ale Hop & Titi Bakorta! Ex-Vöid! Sophie Jamieson! Moonchild Sanelly! Brown Spirits! 1:16:29

12M ago1:16:29

1:16:29

Send us a text Looking for some intriguing artists and box-fresh tunes to kick-start your year? @weheardwonders have you covered! Yes, indeed, Iain and Andrew are back with their first new music show of 2025: played and discussed are a novel merging of old and new, Congolese and Peruvian; scuzzy, fuzzy indie-rock featuring a Joanna Gruesome twosome…

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Episode 100 - Best of 2024 1:27:48

1y ago1:27:48

1:27:48

By Iain McKinstry and Andrew Hall

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Episode three- Special Delivery with Karen MacIver 23:26

1y ago23:26

23:26

This episode was produced in partnership with City of Glasgow College, and supported by broadcast students, Kayleigh, Grace, and Ophelia. Join our presenter Jamie MacDougall as he chats to Karen MacIver, composer for Special Delivery. Entirely led by music, Special Delivery is a new children’s production for ages 3-7 produced in-house at Lanternhou…

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New Music - Sam Fender! MEMORIALS! Denzel Curry! Emma-Jean Thackray! Jill Lorean! Plus Kendrick Lamar! 1:21:18

1y ago1:21:18

1:21:18

Send us a text MUSTAAAARD! The latest @weheardwonders is burnin' HOT, with Andrew and Iain discussing GNX, the surprise new album from Kendrick Lamar, before playing and sharing their thoughts on new tracks from Top 5 single hit-maker and man-of-the-people Sam Fender, exploratory art-rock duo MEMORIALS, mischievous Southern hip-hop king Denzel Curr…

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Episode two - The Small Magician with Lea Shaw 31:30

1y ago31:30

31:30

Our presenter Jamie MacDougall sat down to discuss The Small Magician with Lea Shaw, Scottish Opera's Education Artist in Residence. Supported by Scottish Opera, The Small Magician is a new, trauma-aware, inclusive, accessible series of vocal education resources in the form of workbooks, and audio and video guides. Designed to be a safe way for you…

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New Music - Doves! Fievel is Glauque! Kim Deal! Mk.gee! Olive Jones! 1:35:28

1y ago1:35:28

1:35:28

Send us a text Three is the magic number this week on @weheardwonders as Iain and Andrew are joined by The Talent from Glasgow band The Deadline Shakes, Greg Dingwall. Greg shares his love of Field Music and joins us to listen to and review new music from the broodingly majestic Doves, progressive jazz-pop jesters Fievel Is Glauque, alt-rock legend…

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Episode one - Don Pasquale 17:37

1y ago17:37

17:37

Presenter Jamie MacDougall welcomes our listeners into the whimsical world of Donizetti's Don Pasquale, as he hosts internationally acclaimed director-designer duo Barbe & Doucet, alongside star baritone David Stout to discuss Scottish Opera's production. This beloved production has charmed audiences from Miami to Toronto since its 2014 debut with …

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New Music - Yasmin Williams! Blood Incantation! Field Music! Tyler, The Creator! One True Pairing! 1:51:39

1y ago1:51:39

1:51:39

Send us a text Iain and Andrew return for a @weheardwonders round-up, featuring some of the most interesting new music releases from the past month or so. Finger-picking virtuoso Yasmin Williams, sci-fi-death-metal-progsters Blood Incantation, art-rock cottage-industry Field Music, hip-hop polymath Tyler, The Creator and former-Wild Beast One True …

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New Music - Kosmischer Läufer! Alan Sparhawk! Ezra Collective! Upupayãma! Nubya Garcia! 1:40:55

1+ y ago1:40:55

1:40:55

Send us a text Yippie-yi-o! Yippie-yi-yay! Pod-casters in the sky! Yer loyal @weheardwonders cowboys Iain and Andrew round up and review the latest musical offerings from cosmic runner and hoaxer(?) Kosmischer Läufer, quiet titan of alternative music Alan Sparhawk, London jazz party-starters Ezra Collective, acid-folk-psych-rock mountain-dweller Up…

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New Music - Bon Iver! Etran de L'Aïr! Lady Blackbird! Beautify Junkyards w/Paul Weller! Chrysanths! 1:37:29

1+ y ago1:37:29

1:37:29

Send us a text Iain and Andrew deliver their opinions on the freshest new music with scalpel-sharp incisiveness on the latest @weheardwonders pod. Indie-folk phenomenon Bon Iver go back to basics, 100% Saharan guitar-band Etran de L’Aïr step into a proper studio for the first time, “the Grace Jones of jazz” Lady Blackbird expands her horizons, Lisb…

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New Music - MJ Lenderman! Mercury Rev! Nala Sinephro! Brooke Combe! Christopher Haddow! 1:43:45

1+ y ago1:43:45

1:43:45

Send us a text The Spice Girls above Beck?!?! Nineties bangers are ranked on this week’s @weheardwonders, before Iain and Andrew get on to the main business at hand: casting their critical ear over new releases from alt-rock man-of-the-moment MJ Lenderman, neo-psych legends/pod-heroes Mercury Rev, spiralling synth-jazz spellcaster Nala Sinephro, Sc…

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New Music - Yannis & The Yaw! Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds! Bananagun! The Soundcarriers! Ezra Feinberg! 1:45:54

1+ y ago1:45:54

1:45:54

Send us a text At the top of this week’s @weheardwonders, Andrew has a surprise quiz sprung on him - will he be triumphant or left in a sulk with Iain for the remainder of the recording? New music from Yannis & The Yaw, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Bananagun, The Soundcarriers and Ezra Feinberg is played and reviewed for your consideration. Something…

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New Music - Fontaines D.C.! Geordie Greep! Gillian Welch & David Rawlings! Thee Heart Tones! Magdalena Bay! Plus Oasis reunion chat! 1:43:05

1+ y ago1:43:05

1:43:05

Send us a text Be here now! Iain and Andrew share their thoughts on the announcement of Oasis’ feverishly-anticipated reunion tour - are they intending to get mad wit’ it next summer or does the public’s appetite for reliving past glories have them looking back in anger and wondering “where did it all go wrong”? Then it’s time to play and review ne…

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New Music - This Is Lorelei! Ari Tsugi! Hamish Hawk! Club Kuru! Liana Flores! 1:26:13

1+ y ago1:26:13

1:26:13

Send us a text Following a summer break which heralded the arrival of the latest addition to the @weheardwonders dynasty, normal podcasting service is resumed! We preview the forthcoming album from Leith’s premier practitioner of bittersweet wonk-pop Gurry Wurry, and share our thoughts on new music from one-man indie-rock-jukebox This Is Lorelei, e…

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New Music - Billie Eilish! The Lovely Eggs! Villagers! Ugly (UK)! Myriam Gendron! 1:30:36

1+ y ago1:30:36

1:30:36

Send us a text We hit this pod runnin’ - like a nosebleed! Andrew provides a roundup of some of the recent big music releases - those to check out as well as those that are probably best avoided. Then it’s on to this episode’s playlist and the five fresh projects which made the cut: Iain and Andrew play tracks from and share their opinions on the n…

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New Music - Mdou Moctar! The Lemon Twigs! Ibibio Sound Machine! Jessica Pratt! Fergus McCreadie! 1:36:44

1+ y ago1:36:44

1:36:44

Send us a text Gigantic! A big, big love! Iain and Andrew salute the late great Steve Albini, the immeasurably-influential ‘recording engineer’ and sonic architect of alternative rock. We then play and review new music from pod heroes Mdou Moctar and Fergus McCreadie, as well as boys-of-melody/siblings-of-song The Lemon Twigs, UK Afro-funkers Ibibi…

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New Music - Corridor! St. Vincent! Iron & Wine with Fiona Apple! Ganavya! Amelia Coburn! 1:45:58

1+ y ago1:45:58

1:45:58

Send us a text A discursive quality and literary bent to this week’s @weheardwonders, with references to John Dunne, Dylan Thomas and, er, Eddie Van Halen. We play and review new music from transporting indie-rockers Corridor, art-rock auteur St. Vincent, Americana mainstay Iron & Wine, South Indian ambient-jazz scholar Ganavya and exciting, uke-wi…

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New Music - Taylor Swift! Friko! Ederlezi! Fabiana Palladino! Guests! 1:33:47

1+ y ago1:33:47

1:33:47

Send us a text We’re a music review podcast, so of course we have some thoughts on the biggest music release of the year (deepest sympathies, Cowboy Carter, it was fun while it lasted) from the biggest pop star of her era(s). Find out what Iain and Andrew (podcasters don’t come more tortured or poetic) make of Taylor Swift’s latest grand statement.…

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New Music - Hannah Frances! Cindy Lee! English Teacher! Shabaka! Magick Brother & Mystic Sister! 1:53:16

1+ y ago1:53:16

1:53:16

Send us a text Iain and Andrew are Taking Care Of Business on the latest @weheardwonders (don’t ask them why - it just felt right, alright?). Join them for juicy music-based discussion covering avant-folk artist Hannah Frances, word-of-mouth indie-sensation Cindy Lee, the accomplished, well-read English Teacher, reed-master Shabaka Hutchings, and B…

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New Music - Sahra Halgan! Gustaf! Jane Weaver! Khruangbin! Daisy Rickman! Diving Horse! 1:29:44

2y ago1:29:44

1:29:44

Send us a text Home-improvement hounds Iain and Andrew put down their paintbrushes and rollers long enough to play and pore over new musical offerings from Somali freedom fighter Sahra Halgan, Brooklyn no-wavers Gustaf, psychedelic national treasure Jane Weaver, sub-zero Texan synthesists Khruangbin and “Cornish high priestess” Daisy Rickman. Centr…

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New Music - Waxahatchee! LAIR! Adrianne Lenker! Julia Holter! Oisin Leech! 1:34:47

2y ago1:34:47

1:34:47

Send us a text After a few weeks away, Iain and Andrew reconvene to catch up and cast their critical eye over three of the year’s most hotly tipped and anticipated releases - Waxahatchee, Adrianne Lenker and Julia Holter - as well as something eyebrow-raising from Indonesian psych collective LAIR and something decidedly more low-key from Steve Gunn…

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New Music - Nadine Shah! Real Estate! Mohammad Syfkhan! MGMT! Ghost Funk Orchestra! 1:31:38

2y ago1:31:38

1:31:38

Send us a text On this week’s @weheardwonders, soaring singer-songwriter Nadine Shah sings her life, MGMT add slacker alt-rock shagginess to their usual neo-psych, and Real Estate return. We also discuss the remarkable story of how Kurdish/Syrian singer & bouzouki player Mohammad Syfkhan found himself performing at the Cork Opera House, and spin a …

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New Music - Les Amazones d’Afrique! Brittany Howard! Dina Ögon! Grandaddy! Yirinda! 1:21:26

2y ago1:21:26

1:21:26

Send us a text There’s only one didgeridoo thing to do! It’s another globetrotting edition of @weheardwonders, with intrepid explorers Iain and Andrew delving into new music from all around the world. Up for discussion are five tracks by artists from four continents, including Sweden’s Dina Ögon, Brittany Howard and Grandaddy from North America, Au…

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New Music - David Nance! The Last Dinner Party! Bolts Of Melody! YG Marley! Beth Gibbons! 1:47:20

2y ago1:47:20

1:47:20

Send us a text On the latest @weheardwonders, one track inspired our Iain to reach for the “G” word, while another offended him so much that he had to reach for the “mute” button mid-recording. Can you guess which artists and tracks inspired such visceral and opposing reactions? Up for debate this week are rollicking barn-rockers David Nance & The …

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New Music - The Smile! Gruff Rhys! Ty Segall! They Hate Change! Daudi Matsiko! 1:39:25

2y ago1:39:25

1:39:25

By Iain McKinstry and Andrew Hall

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New Music - YĪN YĪN! Rosali! Omni! Kali Uchis! SLIFT! 1:30:57

2y ago1:30:57

1:30:57

Send us a text Yes indeedy, @weheardwonders are back to put some pep in the step of your blustery seemingly-never-ending January. Iain and Andrew play and review a veritable smorgasbord of new musical treats, including: YĪN YĪN’s Asian-inspired disco-funk; graceful Crazy Horse-play from Rosali; Omni’s arch art-punk; a diaphanous Spanish-language bo…

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New Music - Liam Gallagher & John Squire! Plantoid! Muireann Bradley! Bill Ryder-Jones! Nino Gvilia! 1:29:50

2y ago1:29:50

1:29:50

By Iain McKinstry and Andrew Hall

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New Music - Cory Hanson! Bob Dylan! Per Svensson! BCUC! Ivan Moult! 1:28:52

2+ y ago1:28:52

1:28:52

Send us a text Music by Masters Of Song of various stripe is up for discussion on the latest @weheardwonders pod: Cory Hanson’s country-rock guitar explorations inspire some uncharacteristically blue (Crazy) Horsin’ around from your cherubic hosts; Swedish psychedelicist Per Svensson aims to take the listener on a magic trip; Ivan Moult’s hushed th…

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New Music - Teenage Fanclub! The Lemon Twigs! Mong Tong! Kassa Overall! Emma Tricca! 1:44:38

2+ y ago1:44:38

1:44:38

Send us a text After a fine run of guest interviews, Iain and Andrew are back in “classic” pod mode this week, catching up on five recent tracks, played and contextualised for your listening pleasure. Thirty-plus years in, can Teenage Fanclub still deliver the melodic, bittersweet goods? Is ‘Everything Harmony’ a fitting album title for high-kickin…

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New Music - Blur! Alogte Oho & His Sounds Of Joy! The Ironsides! Plus our interview with EYES OF OTHERS! 2:10:48

2+ y ago2:10:48

2:10:48

Send us a text Practitioner of post-genre, post-pub-couldn’t-get-in-the-club music John Bryden aka Eyes Of Others is the latest guest in We Heard Wonders-land. John chats to us about ice-baths, sun-beds, and the wonderful and frightening world of Nico, as well as his ace debut LP, just-released on Heavenly Recordings. He also selects four cool tune…