Troika #56: Ambient Country

Something a wee bit special for episode #60! This is the first one to feature *other* humans, because this is a crossover with two other podcasts: One Footer in the Grave (who I co-host with Marcus Lillington & Andy Clarke) and Unfinished Business (Andy Clarke & Richard Rutter). Each of us chose and introduced three 'desert island' songs, and had a lovely little chat about all our tracks. Features music by Steely Dan, Meat Loaf, The Beatles, RIDE, Fink, Electric Light Orchestra , The Besnard Lakes, Hot Chip, Genesis, Brad Paisley, Stars of the Lid and Snapped Ankles.

I couldn’t let episode #59 be anything else but a celebration of over thirty years of cult California band, Starflyer 59. 1. Tracks played are A Housewife Love song, Harmony, Do You Ever Feel That Way, Fell in Love at 22, Shedding the Mortal Coil, Your Company, Loved Ones, Good Sons, Like a Baby, 2nd Space Song, This Recliner and finally, Everyone but Me. A quadruple Troika for your earholes!

An extra slice of ho, ho, ho to you all! I've chosen three alternative festive tunes, all from bands on the Sonic Cathedral label. Featuring Deary, Pye Corner Audio and Dawn Chorus & the Infallible Sea.

So to celebrate the launch of the Stars of the Lid Forever project, to archive all their live recordings, I've chosen my three favourite performances from the eighteen shows featured on the site. These are: Requiem for Dying Mothers from St Agnes Church NYC in 2015, Even if You're Never Awake from the Los Angeles Echoplex in 2008 and December Hunting for Vegetarian Fuckface from The Barbican, London in 2016.

A second instalment of Ambient Country tunes, featuring Ry Cooder, Yo La Tengo, William Tyler, Jim Wallis, Hayden Pedigo and Yasmin Williams.

Ten songs about 'ten' for the Troika tenth anniversary. Featuring; Explosions in the Sky, Curve, Sleigh Bells, Beach House, Dusty Springfield, Big Audio Dynamite, Spielmann, Interpol, Phantogram and Nala Sinephro.

This episode is a Triple Troika of my favourite tracks from 2024. I was hoping to get this out in December, but better late than never! Features Nilüfer Yanya, Brimheim, Starflyer 59, Grandaddy, Bill Ryder Jones, Foxing, The Amazing, Natalie Holt, Cowboy Sadness

In part 4 of the shoegaze series, we look at very recent bands who have appeared since 2020. With music from Wisp, Deary, Glare and Holy Fawn.

In part 3, we look at the bands that grew up influenced by Shoegaze, and kept it alive. Music from Ringo Deathstarr, Nothing and Deafheaven.