03/10/2009

Synopsis

This week, Dermot has live sessions from Nerina Pallot and Cerys Matthews.

Nerina Pallot's new album, The Graduate, has a different sound from its predecessor, with a new-found feistiness to her vocals. It is self-produced, and was recorded in the North London studio she shares with her husband, but only after a sustained period of writer's block that saw her return to university to complete an English degree.

After trying to work with other song-writers, Nerina eventually decided that she preferred to work on her own material, where the routine of studying literature helped to clear her head and inspire new lyrics. A change in sound can also be attributed to the music she was listening to: "I've come to really love good pop music. Like everyone else, I was bored stiff of singer/songwriters and wanted to find something fresh. The band I became obsessed with was MGMT. I was inspired by their attitude to making music. It's so creative. They just throw out lots of ideas, try out lots of mad sounds and have a laugh, but with the basis of really strong songs."

The Welsh singer-songwriter, and jungle alumnus, Cerys Matthews releases her first album in two years this month. Entitled Don't Look Down, it will be released in two versions: one in English and the other in Welsh. It was recorded in Providence, Rhode Island, Nashville, Seattle and London, and coincides with a two week UK tour.

A busy lady, Cerys also hosts the daily lunchtime show on BBC 6 Music, which features live sessions and interviews with the likes of Johnny Marr, Beth Ditto, Robyn Hitchcock, Juliette Lewis, and Michael Winterbottom.

Tracklist

1. Arcade Fire — No Cars Go

2. Ella Chi — Gobstopper

3. Mick Jagger — Let's Work

   (Single)

4. Madness — Night Boat To Cairo

   Madness - Divine Madness

5. Camera Obscura — Tougher Than The Rest

6. Saturday Session

   1. Nerina Pallot — Real Late Starter

   2. Nerina Pallot — The Fear

7. ABBA — The Name Of The Game

   Abba - Love Stories

8. Port O'Brien — Leap Year

9. James — Laid

   (CD Single)

10. Dinosaur Jr. — Freak Scene

11. Pixies — Here Comes Your Man

12. Madonna — Borderline

    Madonna - The Immaculate Collection

13. Alex Cornish — Untied

    (CD Single)

14. Go Buy Monday

    1. Mando Diao — Mando Diao

    2. Mr Hudson — White Lies

    3. The Leisure Society — Save It For Someone Who Cares

    4. Massive Attack — Splitting the Atom

    5. Julian Plenti — Games For Days

15. Ben Folds — Landed

    (CD Single)

16. Pedro Suárez Vértiz — Amazonas

17. The Raconteurs — Steady As She Goes

    (CD Single)

18. Archive Track

    1. Bat for Lashes — Daniel

19. Foo Fighters — Wheels

    Greatest Hits

20. Olive — You're Not Alone

    Huge Hits 1997 (Various Artists)

21. Shirley Bassey — Kiss Me, Honey Honey, Kiss Me

    (Single)

22. Stereophonics — Innocent

    (CD Single)

23. Tom Jones — If I Only Knew

    Tom Jones - Greatest Hits

24. Saturday Session

    1. Cerys Matthews — Arlington Way

    2. Cerys Matthews — Love Me Tender

25. R.E.M. — Stand

    (CD Single)

26. Gene — Sleep Well Tonight

27. Frank Sinatra — For Once In My Life

28. Waylayers — Big Machines

29. Amy Winehouse — Back To Black

    Back To Black

30. The Leisure Society — Last of the Melting Snow

Broadcast

1. Sat 3 Oct 2009
   15:00
   BBC Radio 2