It Is Rocket Science

If you were tuning in to Project Moonbase back in those heady days when we were using an FM transmitter for our broadcasts from the recent future, you may recall that we interviewed Helen Keen who was bringing her first solo show, It Is Rocket Science, to the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh. Well despite the fact that the first performance had just one lone audience member, the show went on to be a bit of a surprise hit at the Fringe. In fact the BBC quickly decided to turn it into a series for Radio 4, co-writen by Helen Keen and Miriam Underhill. The first (of four) episodes goes out this every evening at 11pm. As well as Helen Keen, it also stars Peter Serafinowicz and Susy Kane. Watch the skies! (Or at least listen to airwaves!)

PMB021 BOF! Francois Roubaix, Michel Magne, Ronnie Aldrich, James Last, Jon Brooks, Blossom Dearie

On the show this week we celebrate the world of French soundtrack music in the form of music by Francois de Roubaix and Michel Magne. We also have another hypnotic track from Jon Brooks' recent opus as well as music made by the hands of Jerry Allen, two kings of easy listening (Ronnie Aldrich and James "Hansi" Last) and a host of other wonders for your ears. This week MC Zirconium enquires why, oh why, oh why oh why did I ever leave Ohio?

Listen now:

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Or download the MP3 directly.

The Music

1.	Ronnie Aldrich: Popcorn from Soft & Wicked / Come To Where The Love Is
2.	Jerry Allen: Cinnamon and Clove from The Hands of Jerry Allen
3.	Michel Magne: OSS 117 hully-gully (BOF OSS 117 se déchaîne) from Série OSS 117 (bandes originales des films)
4.	Le Metropole Orkest: Le Caire nid d'espions from OSS 117 (bande originale du film)
5.	François de Roubaix: La recherche from Dernier domicile connu / La rapace (bandes originales des films)
6.	Lalo Schifrin: Caravan from Piano Español
7.	James Last: Master Blaster from Hansimania
8.	Jon Brooks: Hypnotic Light from Music For Thomas Carnacki
9.	Leo Diamond: Chinese Junk Boat from Hi-Fi Harmonica
10.	Blossom Dearie: Boum from My Gentleman Friend
11.	Michel Magne: OSS 2005 (bonus remix par Roudoudou) from Série OSS 117 (bandes originales des films)

The Unnecessary News

• Kepler discovers 54 planets in 'habitable zone'
• $4million spy hummingbird
• New photo of 'English Nessie' hailed as best yet
• IBM's Watson Dominates at quiz show
• Travel agent first in Scotland to offer space flight tickets
• World's hottest chilli grown in Grantham

Recognition in the "real" world

And by real world we mean show business. Legendary living legend Tom Robinson (aka @freshnet) mentions, nay endorses nay, recommends Project Moonbase in Episode 2 of pickofthepods. We encourage you to listen to this important podcast. Needless to say this is a stupendous honour for which we are both grateful and semi-indignant it's taken this long. Join with us and raise a glass to Tom Robinson and pickofthepods.

And a hearty thanks to @GarethDEdwards for throwing our tinfoil hat in the ring.

Chiptune emergency

We love the chiptunes. We big them up and are down with them. Frankly we enjoy listening to them with our ears. And where is our No 1 GOTO location for chiptuneage? It is 8bitcollective of course. So when we hear our chums were having a bit of bother, we must rattle the tin. Don't let the sun go down on this fine institution, head over to 8bc.org and donate. I thank you.

Hong Kong in the 60s: My Fantoms

We have been enjoying London-based trio Hong Kong in the 60s' dreamy use of rudimentary analogue technology up here at the Moonbase since the release of their debut EP Willow Pattern Songs in 2009. Since then there has been a freely-downloadable EP Places as well as a collaboration with The Advisory Circle for a slice of 7" vinyl on Ghost Box. However, delightful news recently reached us that the band's long-awaited debut album My Fantoms has finally been released. And a thing of wonder it is too. Warm woozy electronics playing beautifully naive melodies over primitive drum machine rhythms, with delicately delivered vocals from librarian Mei Yau Kan. Synaesthetes will find that listening to the album conjures up a sensation of playing with a large multi-coloured plastic abacus on a Summer's day. You can listen to all the tracks on the album and buy the download version right now for the very modest sum of £6. The CD edition will be coming out on 2 May. You can find more information about the album on the band's website. To mark the auspicious arrival of their debut album, Hong Kong in the 60s are playing a few dates over the next few months. The most exciting of which is in the form of a support slot for the High Llamas in London on 22 May 2011.