Playlist, 25/05/08

The Show May 2008 marks the 30th anniversary of the release of that Krautrock classic The Man Machine by Kraftwerk which featured two of their most iconic compositions: The Robots and The Model. On today's show we re-constructed the whole album by playing cover versions of every track. The Music 1. Piero Umiliani - Centrali Termishe (Musicaelettronica Volume Uno, 1969) A track from a brand new reissue of some fabulous work by Brian Bennett: 2. Brian Bennett - Air (The Illustrated London Noise, 1967/2008) Two tracks by pioneering French film and TV soundtrack composer François De Roubaix, the first an original track followed by a remix: 3. François De Roubaix - L'envol (Le Monde Électronique De François De Roubaix vol. II, 1975/2006) 4. Wide Open Spaces - Rencontre avec le skua, par Wide Open Spaces (Le Monde Électronique De François De Roubaix vol. II, 2006) The Herbaliser have a new album coming out and rather splendid it is too: 5. The Herbaliser - The Next Spot (Same As It Never Was, 2008) And then it was time for the first part of our feature this evening, the "A Side" of the Man Machine album, as performed by: 6. Señor Coconut Y Su Conjunto - The Robots (El Baile Alemán, 2000) 7. 8 Bit Weapon - Spacelab (8-bit Operators: A Tribute to the Music of Kraftwerk, 2007) 8. Reverse Pulse Envelope - Metropolis (Kraft Trance Express - a Tribute to Kraftwerk, 2008) This next track was my favourite of the entries in the Eurovision final (but certainly not MC Zirconium's): 9. Rodolfo Chikilicuatre - Baila El Chiki Chiki (Eurovision Song Contest Belgrade 2008) And then it was back to the main feature with the "B Side" of the Man Machine album, as performed by: 10. Hikashu - The Model (Musique Non Stop - A Tribute To Kraftwerk, 1998) 11. New David - Neon Lights (New David Sings Kraftwerk - EP - 2005) 12. Yat Kha - Man Machine (Re-Covers: Albert Kuvezin & Yat Kha - 2005) Keeping it electronic, we next had a track by a former member of Kraftwerk followed by a track from the new Matmos album: 13. Karl Bartos - The Camera (Communication, 2003) 14. Matmos - Mister Mouth (Supreme Balloon, 2008) The Matmos track features 84-year old Marshall Allen (of the Sun Ra Arkestra) on the EVI. Two Indian-tinged tracks next, the first one being another track from the Brian Bennett reissue we played earlier: 15. Brian Bennett - Tricycle (The Illustrated London Noise - 2008) 16. Okko - East Indian Traffic (Sitar & Electronics, 1971) And how could we feature Kraftwerk on the show by not playing a track by this great band: 17. Kraftwerk - Computer Love (Computer World, 1981) The News

• Steve Ballmer getting egged
• Which brings me to "Monkey Boy and the egg"
• Lost parrot recites his name and address
• Six Maasai warriors ran the London Marathon and here.
• Rolly Boom
• New Terminator Movie - Arnie Won’t Be Back
• Sick leave Lie detector
• Belgians "Wacky" Toilets
• Dead Pets Get Digital Photo Urn
• Skeptics express doubt about those crystal skulls we remember from Arthur C Clarke's Mysterious World
• Mr Sulu no longer Mr Solo and here. And here's the video where George Takei responds to Tim Hardaway's homophobic comments.
• Phoenix Mars Lander Arrives at the Red Planet and here.
• r2d2 translator (via GeekBrief).
• Premier Inns buys plot on the Moon
• Space-sickness breakthrough
• Dustin the Turkey is stuffed
• FakeTV

Playlist, 18/05/08

The Show With the Eurovision Song Contest around the corner, we decked the studio with flags from around the world, slipped into our sequined ball-gowns and raised a glass to this ultimate celebration of Euro cheese. The Music 1. The Bird And The Bee - La La La (2007) 2. Senor Coconut - Da Da Da (Around the World, 2008) 3. Jack Pearson - Velcro (Tooth Fairy and Other Kidbits, 2006) 4. Bob Crewe Generation - Pygar's Persecution (Barbarella OST, 1968) 5. Bob Crewe Generation - The Black Queen's Beads (Barbarella OST, 1968) 6. Matmos - Exciter Lamp and the Variable Band (Supreme Balloon, 2008) 7. The Advisory Circle - Civil Defence Is Common Sense (Other Channels, 2008) 8. Sébastien Tellier - Divine (Sexuality, 2008) 9. Salma & Sabina Agha - Mitha Maze Dar (Dancing Queen) (Sing the Hits of ABBA in Hindi, 1981) 10. Sandie Shaw - Reviewing the Situation (Reviewing the Situation, 1969) 11. France Gall - Cet Air-Là (Baby Pop, 1966) 12. Geoff Love - Jason King Theme (Your Top TV Themes, 1972) 13. Peter Wyngarde - You Wonder How These Things Began (When Sex Leers Its Inquisitive Head, 1970/1998) 14. Moe Koffman - Summer (The Calm, The Storm) (The Four Seasons in Rock, 1974) 15. Quiet Village - Victoria's Secret (Silent Movie, 2008) 16. Peter Reno - Silver Thrust (Bite Harder - The Music De Wolfe Studio Sampler Vol. 2, 2007) 17. Franco Godi - Bim Bum Bam Papabum (Signor Rossi sucht das Glück, 1999) 18. Schleusolz - Narcorhithmico (Running out of time, 2008) 19. Matthew Herbert - Caravan (Herbert's All Piano Motorhome Mix) (Blue Note Remixed - 50 of the Best, 2007) 20. John Shuttleworth - Pigeons in Flight (The Yamaha Years, 2005) The News

• Nanosoccer
• Newly released UFO files and here.
• Glove converts sign language into spoken words
• Volkswagen working on 200mpg car
• Velcro 50 years young and here.
• Vatican says aliens might exist, here and here.
• Dr Who says no to knitting and here.
• Star Wars fans have themed wedding
• Chemistry Party science video and here.
• Marinating your money
• NASA invites you to travel to the Moon. Add your name.
• Robot conductor
• Coming to DVD: Jason King
• Eurovision: Sebastien Tellier Frenchman sings in English!
• Mr Jones Decider Watch

Playlist, 11/05/08

FEATURED ARTIST: Burt Bacharach On Monday 12 May that god of all things lounge Mr Burt Bacharach turns 80. On the show today we crammed in as many versions of Bacharach tunes as we could muster to celebrate the work of this great man. The Music 1. Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass - Casino Royale (Sounds Like, 1967) 2. Pizzicato Five - A New Song (Playboy & Playgirl, 1998) 3. Woody Herman - I Say A Little Prayer (Light My Fire, 1968) 4. Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66 - The Look Of Love (Four Sider, 1968) 5. Dick Hyman - Wives and Lovers (Fabulous, 1963) 6. The Four King Cousins - Walk On By (Introducing..., 1969) 7. Shawn Lee's Ping Pong Orchestra - Italy 73 (Miles of Styles, 2008) 8. Cal Tjader - You'll Never Get To Heaven (Cal Tjader Sounds Out Burt Bacharach, 1969) 9. George Shearing - Do You Know The Way To San Jose? (The Way We Are, 1974) 10. Alan Moorhouse - Trains and Boats and Planes (Beatles Bach Bacharach Go Bossa, 1971) 11. Christopher Scott - Promises, Promises (More Switched-On Bacharach, 1970) 12. Enoch Light - Bond Street (Spaced Out, 1969) 13. Stereolab - Three Women - Three Women (2008) 14. ZX Spectrum Orchestra - X + X (Basic Programming, 2006) 15. Richard Hayman - The Look of Love (Genuine Electric Latin Love Machine, 1969) 16. Gordon Langford - Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head (The Amazing Music of the Electronic Arp Synthesizer, 1974) 17. 18th Century Corporation - Message To Michael (Bacharach Baroque, 1969 18. Quincy Jones - What the World Needs Now - Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice, 1969) 19. Robert Goulet - Do You Know The Way To San José? (Easy Listening Bacharach) 20. Marc Ribot - Don't Go Breaking My Heart (Great Jewish Music: Burt Bacharach, 1999) 21. Burt Bacharach - Something Big (Espresso Espresso, 1973) The News

• Tefal Toast 'n' Egg
• Nuclear threat sparked tea worry
• Log in with your Face.
• The glorious Predicta TV set
• World's tallest Lego tower.
• NASA offers $5000 a month for you to lie in bed.
• Lancaster University boffins creat universe in a test tube.
• Scientists develop the artificial mouth
• UPDATE: Spooky sounds of Saturn now in jazz form

Playlist, 04/05/08

The Show For this week's show, DJ Bongoboy was not in the building and "DJ" Zirconium took the helm, along with "The Woodsman" to bring you two hours of bachelor pad music from down the decades. Plus a jaw-dropping archive recording of Telly Savalas bigging up Brum. The Music 1. Perrey & Kingsley - Electronic Can-Can (The In Sound From Way Out) 2. Bovine Life - bovtay 3. Telly Savalas - Telly Savalas Looks At Birmingham 4. Go! Team - The Wrath of Marcie (Proof of Youth) 5. Liz Phair - Banana Splits (Saturday Morning Cartoons' Greatest Hits) 6. Brian Fahey - Main Theme From "the Saint" (Time For TV) 7. France Gall - Les rubans et la fleur (Poupée de Son) 8. Bat For Lashes - What's A Girl To Do (Fur and Gold) 9. Cal Tjader - Pantano (Ultimate) 10. Money Mark - Chocochip (Change Is Coming) 11. Warren Barker - The Moon Was Yellow (Music of Desire) 12. Deltron 3030 - The News (Deltron 3030) 13. Boom Bip - The Matter (Of Our Discussion) (feat. Nina Nastasia) (Blue Eyed In The Red Room) 14. Sporto Kantes - Mundo (Paris Lounge Vol.1) 15. Koop - Tonight (Waltz For Koop) 16. Sesame Street - Sesame Street (Theme Song) 17. Vince Guaraldi - It's Your Dog Charlie Brown (Oh) 18. R. D. Burman - Raaste Men Kal Ek Ladki Mili (Bond 303) 19. Balsara and His Singing Sitars - Tequila (Great International Hits) 20. Bullet - Smokey Joe The Dreamer (The Hanged Man: Music From The 1970's Television Series) 21. The Mark Duval Big Band - The Race Machine (Music For Dancefloors: The Cream of the Chappell Music Library) The News

• Telly Savalas looks at Birmingham and here.
• Boomerangs in space (video)
• Study shows some computer keyboards are far dirtier than a toilet seat.
• Droog's Do Hit Chair, comes with sledgehammer
• SMS - Smell Message Service - German company developing scented text messages?
• Royal Mail to introduce Carry On and Hammer Horror postage stamps and here.
• Spider sex
• Cuba lifts ban on home computers
• Interweb can give you STI (sexually transmitted infection)
• World's largest table football ... erm table.
• Lesbians on lesbians action
• Judge issues arrest warrant for Darth Vader