Dead Air Records

In this episode, we’re joined by Ian McNabb, songwriter, solo artist, and frontman of Liverpool legends The Icicle Works, for a wide-ranging conversation covering his life in music, from growing up in Liverpool to decades of songwriting, touring and recording.Ian takes us back to his earliest memories of music and discovering records through Liverpool’s shops and venues, reflecting on the city that shaped him creatively and personally. We talk about the early days of The Icicle Works, the Liverpool scene in the 1980s, rehearsing, local venues, and the feeling that something genuinely exciting was happening around them.We dive into the making of the first Icicle Works album, the evolution across the follow-up records, and the pressures and freedoms that came with success. Beyond The Icicle Works, we explore Ian’s prolific solo career, including his Mercury Prize-nominated album Head Like a Rock, working with members of Crazy Horse, and the creative differences between making records alone and being part of a band. We also talk about The Wild Swans, Fairfield Records, the Merseybeast project, and how his recording process has changed over the years.Elsewhere in the episode, Ian discusses Fleetwood McNabb, revisiting classic songs in new ways, the discipline of songwriting, and what continues to drive him creatively after releasing more than two dozen solo albums. We also touch on new audiences discovering his music through TV shows like Stranger Things and what it’s like to see younger listeners connect with songs decades later.A huge thank you to Ian McNabb for his warmth, humour and generosity with his stories and time.The Dead Air Records podcast is hosted by Marc and Jess. Filmed and edited by Second Best Studios. New episodes every Thursday at 5pm. Watch on YouTube or listen on Spotify and Apple. Check out our Season 1 and Season 2 playlists on Spotify to listen to any of the music mentioned in the podcast. Contact: [email protected]   |   Instagram   |   Facebook   |   TikTok 

This week on the Dead Air Records podcast, we’re joined by Liverpool band A Lesser Version for a live session and conversation in the shop, following the release of their third album, 0.2 Flesh Etc.The band perform a stripped-back set featuring songs from the new record, bringing their atmospheric, emotionally heavy sound into an intimate in-store setting at Dead Air Records.After the performance, we sit down to talk about the making of 0.2 Flesh Etc., how the band’s sound has evolved across three albums, songwriting, recording and the Liverpool music scene. We also discuss influences, playing live, and what’s next for the band following the release.A Lesser Version continue to carve out their own space within Liverpool’s underground music scene, blending elements of post-punk, slowcore, shoegaze and experimental guitar music into something deeply personal and distinctive.If you’re into discovering new independent music and hearing artists in a more personal setting, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.Follow A Lesser Version:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alesserversion/The Dead Air Records podcast is hosted by Marc and Jess. Filmed and edited by Second Best Studios. New episodes every Thursday at 5pm. Watch on YouTube or listen on Spotify and Apple. Check out our Season 1 and Season 2 playlists on Spotify to listen to any of the music mentioned in the podcast. Contact: [email protected]   |   Instagram   |   Facebook   |   TikTok 

Season 3 starts with chaos.Room 101 is back, and somehow the picks are even more controversial this time around. We’re once again banishing albums from our collections forever: records everyone else seems to love, records we’ve tried (and failed) to connect with, and records that we have simply ruined for each other.This episode features brutal takes on albums including Stereolab’s Dots and Loops and Third Eye Blind’s self-titled debut, alongside a fresh batch of musical grievances, petty arguments, and deeply personal vendettas.What record would YOU send to Room 101? Let us know in the comments.Every week in the shop, something comes across the counter that reminds us why we love records in the first place. This week, we’re also talking about the latest arrivals and new reissues.The Dead Air Records podcast is hosted by Marc and Jess. Filmed and edited by Second Best Studios. New episodes every Thursday at 5pm. Watch on YouTube or listen on Spotify and Apple. Check out our Season 1 and Season 2 playlists on Spotify to listen to any of the music mentioned in the podcast. Contact: [email protected]   |   Instagram   |   Facebook   |   TikTok 

In this bonus episode, we’re joined by Andy McCluskey — co-founder, songwriter and creative force behind Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark — for a deep, chronological conversation spanning more than four decades of music, technology and ideas.Andy takes us back to his earliest relationship with sound, growing up on the Wirral in 1970s Britain, discovering Kraftwerk, and becoming fascinated not just with songs, but with texture, machinery and the possibilities of noise itself. From The Id to that first OMD gig at Eric’s in 1978 — complete with a tape recorder as a band member — we explore the Liverpool and Manchester scenes that shaped the group, including those formative early shows alongside Joy Division.We dive into Andy’s long-standing creative partnership with Paul Humphreys, the DIY ethos that defined OMD’s early experiments, and how home-built synths, tape machines and limitations helped forge a totally new musical language. Andy reflects on the evolution from analogue to digital, the emotional pull of certain machines, and why OMD have always been more interested in pushing technology forward than chasing nostalgia.Across the episode, we take deep dives into key albums — from the self-titled debut and Architecture & Morality, through the misunderstood brilliance of Dazzle Ships, the commercial shifts of the late ’80s, the Sugar Tax era, and the band’s eventual disbandment in the mid-'90s. Andy talks about what led to the band’s reformation in 2005, and the creative renaissance that followed with albums like English Electric, The Punishment of Luxury, and 2023’s Bauhaus Staircase.We also explore OMD’s strong visual identity and its deep ties to Liverpool and the Wirral, Andy’s relationship with designers and artists, and the importance of place in shaping both sound and imagery. Beyond OMD, Andy reflects on The Motor Museum studio, his work writing for other artists during the late ’90s and 2000s, and what he learned from stepping into the world of pop songwriting.We finish by talking about touring then and now, playing to multi-generational audiences, what still excites Andy creatively, and the advice he’d give to young artists starting out today — plus who he’s listening to right now.A huge thank you to Andy McCluskey for his generosity, insight and time.The Dead Air Records podcast is hosted by Marc and Jess. Filmed and edited by Second Best Studios. New episodes every Thursday at 5pm. Watch on YouTube or listen on Spotify and Apple. Check out our Season 1 and Season 2 playlists on Spotify to listen to any of the music mentioned in the podcast. Contact: [email protected]   |   Instagram   |   Facebook   |   TikTok 

For our first Christmas bonus episode, we’re joined by guitarist, songwriter and Liverpool icon Nasher — a key member of Frankie Goes to Hollywood.Nasher takes us back to his early musical roots and the energy of Liverpool in the late 70s and early 80s, before guiding us through the formation of FGTH and the club scene that shaped the band’s sound and style. We dive into the breakthrough of Relax and Two Tribes, the cultural shockwaves of 1984, and the stories behind the bold visuals, the BBC ban, and the unapologetic identity the band projected at a pivotal moment in UK history.We explore the making of Welcome to the Pleasuredome, working with Trevor Horn, and the new deluxe reissues bringing the album to a new generation. Nasher also reflects on the heavier direction of Liverpool, the pressures of global success, and the tensions that eventually pulled the band apart.We round things off with his solo work, songwriting, the artists inspiring him today, and his advice for new bands finding their voice.A huge thank you to Nasher for sharing his time, honesty and stories with us.The Dead Air Records podcast is hosted by Marc and Jess. Filmed and edited by Second Best Studios. New episodes every Thursday at 5pm. Watch on YouTube or listen on Spotify and Apple. Check out our Season 1 and Season 2 playlists on Spotify to listen to any of the music mentioned in the podcast. Contact: [email protected]   |   Instagram   |   Facebook   |   TikTok 

This week, we’re joined by Yee Loi — a three-piece punk rock band from the Wirral whose sound blends sharp riffs, driving rhythm, and melodic bite. Sisters Rose (guitar, vocals) and Matilda (drums, vocals), alongside their brother Donnie on bass, bring the kind of energy that can (and did) shake a record shop to its core.They grew up cutting their teeth on classic punk, learning to play loud in a family barn before writing their own songs — full of attitude, hooks, and heart.🎶 Live in session, they perform:1️⃣ Ghost of Vegas2️⃣ Mystery Train3️⃣ Be Like Johnny4️⃣ Down in the Bunker — a brand new, unreleased track 👀After the set, we sit down to talk about their songwriting, growing up in a musical household, and what’s next for the band, including their upcoming tour with Adam Ant. 💿 Recorded live at Dead Air Records. Find out more about Yee Loi:https://yeeloi.comhttps://www.instagram.com/theyeeloihttps://www.tiktok.com/@yee.loihttps://www.facebook.com/yeeloipunkrockThe Dead Air Records podcast is hosted by Marc and Jess. Filmed and edited by Second Best Studios. New episodes every Thursday at 5pm. Watch on YouTube or listen on Spotify and Apple. Check out our Season 1 and Season 2 playlists on Spotify to listen to any of the music mentioned in the podcast. Contact: [email protected]   |   Instagram   |   Facebook   |   TikTok 

This week on the Dead Air Records Podcast, we sit down for an extended chat with Will Sergeant, guitarist and founding member of Echo & The Bunnymen.Will takes us through the early days of the band, the making of classic albums like Crocodiles, Heaven Up Here and Ocean Rain, and what it was like coming back with Evergreen in the middle of Britpop. We also dive into his solo and experimental projects, his memoir Bunnyman, and the long-overdue vinyl release of Weird As Fish.As a bonus, Will brought along a stack of 7” singles from his personal collection and gave us a glimpse into his home setup — including his own jukebox. We chat about the records he treasures, the joy of collecting, and the stories behind the vinyl that’s been with him through the years.A huge thank you to Will Sergeant for joining us and sharing his time, stories and records.The Dead Air Records podcast is hosted by Marc and Jess. Filmed and edited by Second Best Studios. New episodes every Thursday at 5pm. Watch on YouTube or listen on Spotify and Apple. Check out our Season 1 and Season 2 playlists on Spotify to listen to any of the music mentioned in the podcast. Contact: [email protected]   |   Instagram   |   Facebook   |   TikTok 

We’re taking the bait this week with The Independent's controversial article: The 25 Most Overrated Albums. From The Beatles to Nirvana, Madonna to Radiohead, it’s a list guaranteed to get people talking. We go album by album to see what we agree with, what we absolutely don’t, and who has no business being on there. And because we couldn’t resist, we’ve added in some of our own picks for albums we think might just be a little overrated… 👀💿 Across The Counter Each week, we take you “across the counter” to share something weird, wonderful, or unexpected that’s landed in the shop. This time we’re staying Liverpool-themed:First up is Rutherford Chang’s We Buy White Albums – an art project that turns endless pressings of The Beatles’ White Album into something obsessive, playful, and a little haunting: Then we dust off a true curio: Twist & Samba, a 1986 compilation by the Sefton Area Musicians and Bands Association. Recorded at Benson St. Studios, it captures a group of young, mainly unemployed Liverpool musicians putting their own stamp on the city’s musical story.✨ Liverpool SpotlightIn our Liverpool Spotlight, we shine a light on the artists and scenes that make the city’s music culture so rich right now.This week we’re talking Blue Jean, an indie/alt artist weaving warm, fuzzy guitars, spooky organ tones, and a hazy 60s vibe that recalls Nancy Sinatra and The Doors. Her 2023 EP Little Intricacies is well worth a listen, and she’s live at Kazimier Stockroom on 8 October, supporting Cosmic Crooner.We’re also buzzing about Live Jazz in Liverpool, a brand-new Instagram page that pulls together daily jazz listings across the region. From Petit Café Du Coin to District, Fredericks, and even out-of-town spots like Prescot, it’s fast becoming the go-to for Liverpool jazz heads.Hot takes, local treasures, and the magic of music collecting — that’s what we’re here for.The Dead Air Records podcast is hosted by Marc and Jess. Filmed and edited by Second Best Studios. New episodes every Thursday at 5pm. Watch on YouTube or listen on Spotify and Apple. Check out our Season 1 and Season 2 playlists on Spotify to listen to any of the music mentioned in the podcast. Contact: [email protected]   |   Instagram   |   Facebook   |   TikTok 

This week on the Dead Air Records podcast, we’re joined by Shaun from TOY CAR, ahead of the release of their brand new album CREAM (out 7 November 2025).📀 Live in-store performance: Shaun treats us to a stripped-back set featuring four tracks from the album – Time Flies, Thylacine, Better Than Before, and April.🎶 Conversation: After the performance, we chat about the making of CREAM, the band’s upcoming headline album launch show at Rough Trade Liverpool, their influences, Liverpool's music scene, and what’s next on the gig calendar.If you’re into heartfelt songwriting, raw energy, and one of Liverpool’s most exciting new bands, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.👉 Subscribe to the channel for more live sessions, interviews, and conversations about music and vinyl culture.Follow TOY CAR:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/toycarmusicTickets & gigs: https://linktr.ee/TOYCARThe Dead Air Records podcast is hosted by Marc and Jess. Filmed and edited by Second Best Studios. New episodes every Thursday at 5pm. Watch on YouTube or listen on Spotify and Apple. Check out our Season 1 and Season 2 playlists on Spotify to listen to any of the music mentioned in the podcast. Contact: [email protected]   |   Instagram   |   Facebook   |   TikTok 

This week we sit down with Chrissy, Pauline and Jack from QUARRY, one of Liverpool’s most exciting independent and alternative music venues. After saying goodbye to their Love Lane home in May, the team are now preparing to reopen in a brand new location: the legendary former Magnet and Sink Club basement on Hardman Street.We talk about:→ The origins of QUARRY and their first ever show→ The Love Lane chapter and what led to its closure→ Building a grassroots music community in Liverpool→ The Hardman Street move, opening plans & first gigs→ The heritage of The Magnet and Sink Club — and what they’ve uncovered during the rebuild→ The wider challenges facing UK grassroots venues todayQUARRY reopens with their launch weekend 26–28 September 2025 and everyone is invited! Head to their website to book your tickets and whilst you’re there, sign up to become a member to get exclusive access, benefits, and the knowledge that you are helping support this venue for just £5 a month.https://www.quarrysound.co.uk/https://www.quarrysound.co.uk/membership/The Dead Air Records podcast is hosted by Marc and Jess. Filmed and edited by Second Best Studios. New episodes every Thursday at 5pm. Watch on YouTube or listen on Spotify and Apple. Check out our Season 1 and Season 2 playlists on Spotify to listen to any of the music mentioned in the podcast. Contact: [email protected]   |   Instagram   |   Facebook   |   TikTok