Tuesday 27 December 2011

2011 Most Played

Server problems continue to plague Optical, but fear not. There is still the podcast to be enjoyed.

Here are the Odd Girl Out top five most played artists of 2011:

1. AGF
Incredibly prolific, with numerous solo and collaborative releases, expat German wordsmith/musician Antye Greie had another sparkling year. I particularly recommend her poetry-inspired Gedichterbe.

2. Jude Cowan
A London-based multi-threat, Jude came into the studio to play live and we hit it off immediately, going on to collaborate on a short film cycle. In addition to the remix version of her William Blake project, she produced a stream of improvs based on news stories.

3. Planningtorock
W was my favourite album of the year and numerous remixes also did the rounds, courtesy of Janine Rostron's Berlin-based alter ego.

4. The Dark Shadows
The Sydney trio released some limited edition vinyl and finished up the year with an EP, 11:11, in two different versions.

5. Rebecca Clamp
The Helsinki-based British folk artist also visited the studios for a chat to discuss her latest album, The Keys to the City.

Here is a video from one of AGF's projects, Beatnadel.

AGF: Beatnadel 2011, Introduction from agf Pro on Vimeo.

Thursday 22 December 2011

Technical difficulties...

Looks like the server problems are persisting, so no show today and perhaps not on Sunday, either. Curses!

Monday 19 December 2011

This week's repeat: show five

After server problems disrupted last week's show, I am hoping show five will go out as planned this week. This show from November 2009 features an interview with Bettina Köster and a feature on The Slits.

Here is Bettina performing her cover of "Femme Fatale".

Tuesday 13 December 2011

This week's repeat: show four

Show four features interviews with artist Verena Kyselka and Cocteau Twin Elizabeth Fraser.

Here is a video for "Half Gifts", one of Liz's most revealing lyrics.

Friday 9 December 2011

Odd Girl Out podcast 1

Here is a sampling of recent interviews and encounters with arty folk in highly condensed form. This may be a regular or occasional feature. Guests are Jude Cowan, Jasmina Maschina, Carol Morley, Susie MacMurray and The Dark Shadows.

Odd Girl Out podcast 1 by Val Phoenix

Sunday 4 December 2011

This week's repeat: show three

Still in autumn, 2009, show three featured hot-off-the-press-interviews from the London Film Festival with directors Shirin Neshat and Jane Campion, as well as a little Berlin set, featuring a chat with Gudrun Gut.

This is actually a reconstructed version of this show, as the original was destroyed after it was recorded.

Here is the trailer for Shirin Neshat's film, Women Without Men.

Women Without Men Trailer from Transmission Films on Vimeo.

Sunday 27 November 2011

This week's repeat: show two

This week's repeat is show two, from October 2009, featuring interviews with Gossip singer Beth Ditto and Mad Chicks.

Here is some live old-school Gossip.

Monday 21 November 2011

This week's repeat: show one

This week begins the re-run of Odd Girl Out from the beginning. And, so, to show one, which featured an archive chat with Ari Up and her mum, Nora.

Here's a gem I found online.

Friday 18 November 2011

Odd Girl Out: show 85

Susie MacMurray; photo by Val PhoenixMy final show on Optical featured a selection of old faves. So, that's all, folks. 
Avengers—I Believe in Me 
PJ Harvey—Yuri-G 
Peaches—I U She 
Julie Ruin—Aerobicide 
Sinead O'Connor—Just Like U Said It Would B 
Foehn—Isolate 
Susie MacMurray—interview 
Scrawl—Your Mother Wants to Know 
Vanessa Paradis—Joe le Taxi 
Gossip—Heartbeats 
X-ray Spex—The Day the World Turned Day-Glo 
Pixies—Ana (BBC session) 
The Long Blondes—Giddy Stratospheres 
The Go-Gos—(Remember) Walkin' in the Sand 
The Au Pairs—Come Again 
Mekons and Michelle Shocked—Prince of Darkness 
k.d. lang—Pine and Stew 
Belly—Dream on Me 
Malaria!—Einsam 
Dee Rees—interview 
Eurythmics—Jennifer 
Pat Benatar—Fire and Ice 
Altered Images—See You Later 
Blonde Redhead—Hated Because of Great Qualities 
Kristin Hersh—A Cleaner Light 
Heavenly—She and Me 
Cyndi Lauper—Girls Just Wanna Have Fun (Hydrogen Bootleg mix) 
Ladytron—He Took Her to a Movie 
Phranc—Surfer Girl 
Cocteau Twins—Wax and Wane (Peel session) 
Lauryn Hill—Ex-Factor 
Marianne Faithfull—Broken English 
Lucinda Williams—Passionate Kisses 
Bjork—Play Dead 
Blondie—Underground Girl

Monday 14 November 2011

Coming up on show 85

This week's show features two sparkling new interviews, the first with artist Susie MacMurray, and the second with director Dee Rees, discussing her new film, Pariah.

This week will be my last show on Optical Radio. Odd Girl Out will then go on hiatus and may return in some new form. Keep an eye out here for information. In the meantime, the show will be repeating in the usual slots on Optical, at least for awhile.

As this will be the last show, I thought I would make the music a selection of tunes that mean something to me, a musical My Life Story.

Here is the trailer for Pariah.

Friday 11 November 2011

Odd Girl Out: show 84

Dangerous Dinky; photo by Val Phoenix The New Special, featuring music from the last few months, was pre-recorded, in order for me to attend a gig and see what this crazy "live music" thing is all about. Kooky. 
Show 84; 10/11/11; repeat 13/11 
Feathers—Heartbreakers 
Laura Gibson—La Grande 
David Lynch ft. Karen O—Pinky's Dream 
Jasmina Maschina—Retrospective Hallucination 
Dangerous Dinky—interview 
Julia Holter—Goddess Eyes 
Chairlift—Sidewalk Safari 
A Sunny Day in Glasgow—Hybrid Moments 
Daughter—Love 
Sleeper Agent—Get Burned 
Cate Le Bon—Work 
Givers—Meantime (Bombay Bicycle Club mix) 
Kimya Dawson—Driving Driving Driving 
High Places—Year Off 
Roseanne Barrr—You Lie 
Sin Kitty—Skin Crash 
Suburban Mousewife—My Idol Is Me 
Gazelle Twin—Changelings 
New War—Ghostwalking (Wild Body live dub by HTRK) 
Lea De Laria—interview 
Meshell Ndegeocello—Dirty World 
Bleached—Searching Through the Past 
Asobi Seksu—Little House of Savages 
Princess Chelsea—Too Fast to Live 
Sahara Hotnights—Let You Down 
Anna-Anna—Cat-Eyes 
Fleetwood Mac—Rhiannon (Flying White Dots Diskomiks) 
Terrible Truths—Diamond 
Lianne La Havas—Don't Wake Me Up 
Carter Tanton ft. Marissa Nadler—Fake Pretend 
North Highlands—Steady Steady 
Chains of Love—Breaking My Heart 
Metronomy—Everything Goes My Way (CazeNove mix)


Tuesday 8 November 2011

Coming up on show 84

Otherwise known as the "New" special, show 84 has already been recorded and features music from the last three months, plus interviews with musician Dangerous Dinky and (in a vintage chat) comic Lea DeLaria.

Here's Lea in her other career as a jazz singer.

Friday 4 November 2011

Odd Girl Out: show 83

Miranda July at London Film Festival; photo by Val PhoenixAn unseasonably warm and definitely seasonably wet autumn day's show. Enjoy it while you can... 


Operator Please—Cringe 
Cocoon—Chupee 
Shunda K ft Snax—Time to Get Paid (Dickey Doo's Ol' Skool mix) 
LCMDF—Take Me to the Mountains (Derek Allen Mad Decent mix) 
Pat Laureate—interview 
Lung Leg—Whisky-a-Go-Go 
Gazelle Twin—Men Like Gods 
Solex—Solex Feels Lucky 
AGF—Rooster Beats 
Dubstar—St. Swithin's Day 
Korallreven—Sa Sa Samoa 
Exene Cervenka—Woman of the Year 
Camille—Ta Douleur 
Grimes—Oblivion 
Supersnazz—Middle of the Way 
Me&LP—Bonnie Says (No Shitty Ride) 
Rubeo—Movie Star 
Viv Albertine—Never Come 
Lucy Stoners—Mental Xtrakshun 
Miranda July—interview 
The CeBe Barnes Band—She's a Winner 
Edith Frost—Temporary Loan 
Tennis—Tell Her No 
Yael Naim—New Soul 
The Slingbacks—The Beach Song 
Katie Herzig—Free My Mind (RAC mix) 
Gash—The Future 
1000 Spoons—It's Not Totally Enormous But It's Okay 
Keren Ann—Ailleurs 
Zambri—Heather Heather 
Lana del Rey—Blue Jeans (Penguin Prison mix)

Monday 31 October 2011

Coming up on show 83

This week's interviews are a newbie with indie director Miranda July and a vintage chat with Vesuvius Records boss Pat Laureate.

Here's the trailer for Miranda July's new film, The Future, which gets its UK release on 4 November.

Sunday 30 October 2011

Time change to GMT

This morning the clocks went back in the UK from BST to GMT. So, today's repeat of show 82 should follow suit.

Saturday 29 October 2011

Odd Girl Out: show 82

Brigitte Handley in Hackney; photo by Val PhoenixThe last show on BST, as the clocks go back this Sunday a.m.! 
Show 82; 27/10/11; 30/10 repeat
A.P.P.L.E.—If in Heaven 
Daughters of Eve—Don't Waste My Time 
Esben and the Witch—Hexagons II (The Flight) 
dodo—Cleopatra's Needle 
Bettina Knaup—interview 
Virginia Dare—Ships Go Down 
The Beets—Doing As I Do 
The Beatle-ettes—Only Seventeen 
Clara Luzia—Snow Woman 
Gaffa—Otovreno 
Friends—My Boo 
Jasmina Maschina—Forgotten Wood 
The Melons—See If I Don't 
Sue P. Fox—Dear Beauty Editor 
Roseanne Barrr—Thief's Journal 
Gas—World Peace 
Annie Crane—Ghost Body 
Sarah Peebles—Where All the Wild Things Went 
Brigitte Handley—interview 
The Dark Shadows—Eisbär 
She Makes War—Delete 
The Tourists—Summers Night 
Shit Robot—Answering Machine (Planningtorock mix) 
the sunshine club—When Love Comes Down 
Toxic Waste—Traditionally Yours 
Skinned Teen—Punk Rockest 
Princess Chelsea—Caution Repetitive 
Dolly Parton—Jolene (Sweetish mix) 
Miguel Migs ft. Meshell—Close Your Eyes 
Barbara Manning—Stain on the Sun 
Phantogram—Don't Move 
Falange—Falange Suburbana 
Yasmin—Tropics 
CSS—City Grrrl (Teeth mix)

Monday 24 October 2011

Coming up on show 82

Still on BST for this show, which will feature a 2009 interview with re.act.feminism curator Bettina Knaup, plus a walking-and-talking chat from last summer with singer/guitarist Brigitte Handley.

Here is a live clip of Brigitte's band, The Dark Shadows, which is touring Europe from this week.

Sunday 23 October 2011

Repeat today at 15:00

Following my confusion over time zones and problems with the player, today's repeat of show 81 will go out in 20 minutes, at 15:00 BST.

Saturday 22 October 2011

Odd Girl Out: show 81

The second anniversary show got off to a bit of a stumbling start, owing to some equipment changes, but then settled down to present some highlights of the last 12 months of the show. 

Show 81; 20/10/11; repeated 23/10
Jude Cowan; photo by Val Phoenix
The Duke Spirit—Everybody's Under Your Spell Johanna and the Dusty FloorWitch Shoes Metronomy—The Look (Ghostpoet mix) She Makes War—interview Carol Bui—'Geisha' Means 'Open-minded' Unthanks—Queen of Hearts Le Butcherettes—I'm Getting Sick of You Oh Really—interview Emmy the Great—Century of Sleep Asobi Seksu—Trails Raveonettes—I Wanna Be Adored Jude Cowan—Egypt Art Revolution (live) Architecture in Helsinki—Contact High (Clock Opera mix) Petra und der Wolf—Disco ilex—Hals Angry Lisa Gornick / Campbell—interview Angus and Julia Stone—Big Jet Plane (Michael Brun bootleg) Eleanor Friedberger—My Mistakes Jesse Ruins—Dream Analysis Rebecca Clamp—interview Yelle—Que Veux Tu Warpaint—Shadows Laurie AndersonDuets on Ice (live excerpt) Josefeen Foxter—reading Thao and Mirah—Love Is a Battlefield Jean Grae—Casebasket AGF / Craig Armstrong—Writing Pitch and Depth Gabriella Apicella—interview Marissa Nadler—Baby, I Will Leave You in the Morning Amanda Palmer—Map of Tasmania (ft. Young Punx) tUnE-YarDs—Bizness (Blackbird Blackbird mix) JD Samson—interview Christina Aguilera—Birds of Prey (Reuben Wu Ladytron mix) Girl in a Thunderbolt—Nitroglycerine Ringo Deathstarr—Imagine Hearts Cults—Abducted The Kills—DNA CALLmeKAT—My Sea Seapony—Dreaming