While my show has featured end-of-year shows and lists off and on throughout the 25+ years of What’s This Called?, it has not been an annual tradition. Some years the show focused more on experimental music rather than on the sounds of the current moment. Oftentimes that is because the given year didn’t feature enough new releases to fill a show, or the interest of your host.
This was NOT the case with 2019. Your host, Ricardo Wang set out to do a top ten for the year and found quickly that ten was not a reasonable number to list, even for the most played and enjoyed 2019 album releases from the show. Twenty quickly was not enough either, and when it became clear that a list of 100 albums was imminent, research ensued into as many records that had been missed as possible.
Here is an interview I conducted with Vic Godard, who has been referred to by BBC6 Deejay Marc Riley as “The Greatest Living Englishman.” Godard has been a near constant in British music since 1976, when he formed the band, Subway Sect. As a singer/songwriter, he has released solo work and has also collaborated with the likes of: Mark Perry, Irvine Welch, The Sexual Objects, & The Bitter Springs. Godard has his own record label, GNU Inc., and is a busy and creative artist.
Noah Fence: Mr. Godard, thanks for agreeing to this interview. In doing some research for this interview, I realized that I do not know much about your life prior to being in the band, Subway Sect. I would love to hear about your life growing up and your musical influences.
Vic Godard: I had a great time as a kid and was into Geography and Football. That was because of my uncle Don, who was a postman and a Chelsea fan. His delivery was in Bond Street and then he went on the TPO (Travelling Post Office) to Scotland, staying overnight in Glasgow before returning to King’s Cross the following day. He could easily have been on the train that was robbed by Biggs and co, but was lucky. He taught me all the counties of Scotland before I had a chance to go to school! My Grandad was a Bus driver on routes out of Mortlake Garage (9 and 73), starting in 1922 until 1966, two years before he died. He was also the Union Treasurer. He took me to White Hart Lane in Tottenham to watch my first football matches — where we stood alongside Peter Cook behind the goal at the Paxton End — but when my uncle took me to Chelsea, I felt that was my place. Compared to Spurs, Chelsea weren’t very glamorous in those days and Spurs had recently been the first team to ‘do the double,’ ie win the League and Cup the same season.
The Asian Lunar Year starts Jan. 25th 2020. The Year of the Metal Rat will be a test of resilience for all zodiac signs. The year of the Rat commemorates a year of excess because rats love to collect, hoard and eat food. The corresponding element is metal for 2020. Metal can signify extra coins or better finances for all zodiac signs, so take advantage of new employment prospects, investments or play the lottery. As an Chinese American family, we wish you a prosperous, safe and loving New Year. Gong Hay Fat Choy!
Mary Sia 説不出的苦痛 (Unspeakable Pain)
Mary Sia is a Chinese singer who sings in Mandarin and lives in Malaysia. She has had a passion for performing at charity shows since 2000. Sia’s family also share her principles and values of supporting our fellow persons who are less fortunate. She is an avid participant in charitable causes to support global hunger.
Have you heard of him? He’s a Belgian-Egyptian singer with a velvet voice and soulful lyrics. He’s 23. Fun fact: We have the same birthday!
He’s got this Ethan-Hawke-in-Reality-Bites vibe (possibly just because they have THE SAME EXACT HAIR), and a very kind smile, and big brown basset hound eyes, but behind those eyes lies a true depth, power, and understanding that not many 23-year-olds possess. I know because not only have I been 23, but my little brother-in-law is 23, and trust me, he’s no Tamino. 😝
Tom Verlaine, guitarist and leader of the band, Television, was born on December 13th, 1949, which means that today I am wishing him a happy 70th birthday.
With his band, Television, Verlaine helped to usher in the New York City punk & New Wave scene. Television began playing at the infamous club, CBGB’s, in 1974. Soon after, other bands followed in Television’s wake, debuting at the club, such as: The Ramones, Blondie, Talking Heads, and The Dead Boys. CBGB’s became the place to be among people in the know.
To reach our fundraiser goal, we need you. We’re in the midst of our fall fundraiser and we’re calling on you, our dedicated listeners and community members, to help us reach our goal. Every donation you make keeps us on the air: one-time donations, reoccurring donations (“Friend of Freeform”), purchasing a special gift…everything helps. As always, we appreciate your love and support. It’s what keeps us going!
Your donation during our fall fundraiser supports freeform music and arts programming, unique learning opportunities, and a growing community of passionate DJs in Portland, Oregon.
Here’s what our DJs are saying:
I love that Freeform lets people with no experience come in and learn more about radio. Everyone’s so willing to have you come by, attend a meeting, shadow them, and teach you more, which is pretty great.
DJ L0W T0NES Night on Earth Alternating Saturdays, 2-4am
DJ L0W T0NES, Freeform Portland
“Music has healed me so many times – I have to give back by searching and exploring all the depths of artists everywhere.”
DJ Slouch The Night Gallery Alternating Fridays, 6-8pm
Giallo and 60s-70s “artsy” horror movies prompted me to dig deeper into the work of Bruno Nicolai, Nora Orlandi, Stelvio Cipriani, and Peter Thomas Sound Orchestra (among others), and I encourage other folks to do this because every one of them is a delight.
In reverse, I don’t think I would’ve seen Invitation to a Suicide or The Golden Boat if not for John Zorn’s “Filmworks”.
We, as human beings, have access to almost every detail and soundbite known to man, all within only a few clicks of a few buttons on a touchscreen. To call upon beautifully crafted recordings of twenty-minute concertos done by century-old composers can be done in less time than it takes to say most of the composers’ names.
So why, with all of the sounds of human history in all their thoughtfully-crafted excellence just waiting to be devoured, does so much new music struggle to extend past the three minute mark?
Soundtrack and title song to the Indian Hindi horror movie Guest House (1980). The plot involves Christopher who is psychic, speaks to ghosts, and possesses a valuable ring. Christopher is invited to an isolated village to conduct a seance only to be murdered in the guest house of the invitee. The invitee cuts off Christopher’s hand for the ring but the hand revives to avenge his death.
