Best Ian Forth Podcasts (2025)

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SF0196 The Twilight Turntable Co-Hosting Episode 1:17:41

Play Pause

9h ago1:17:41

1:17:41

Co-hosting with Paul Howarth and Tony Harris, my friends over at the Twilight Turntable podcast: they choose some tracks to reflect the story of their musical lives.By Ian Deeker Forth

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SF0195 Merge Record Label 1:14:11

14d ago1:14:11

1:14:11

Tracks from bands signed to the doyen of US indie labels, MergeBy Ian Deeker Forth

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SF0194 Beauty lies in the eye 1:05:58

29d ago1:05:58

1:05:58

All eyes on this collection of tracks about watching, looking and seeingBy Ian Deeker Forth

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SF0193 The Cure- The First Ten Years 1:07:02

1M ago1:07:02

1:07:02

Olivia Rodrigo inviting Robert Smith on stage at Glastonbury seems the perfect excuse to revisit the first 10 golden years of The Cure.By Ian Deeker Forth

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SF0192 The Mythology of England 1:04:46

2M ago1:04:46

1:04:46

England, more than any other country arguably, has attracted a boatload of myths about its history and how it affects the country and its people today. Here are some songs on that theme.By Ian Deeker Forth

1
SF0191 Non Human Narrators 1:12:37

2M ago1:12:37

1:12:37

An episode in which the tracks are sung by non-humans. Animals, insects, computers, guitars, aeroplanes, zombies, lasagne and lightning rods.By Ian Deeker Forth

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SF0190 Promises, Pacts and Pledges 1:03:48

3M ago1:03:48

1:03:48

Songs of promises, songs of pacts and songs of pledges. Pretty well as described.By Ian Deeker Forth

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SF0189 Horses 1:06:19

3M ago1:06:19

1:06:19

Tracks by horse-related bands (of whom there have been a recent flurry) and tracks about horses. A surprisingly productive paddock.By Ian Deeker Forth

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SF0188 Pre Brexit, Pre Trump, Pre Covid, Pre Podcast - It's 2015 1:06:22

4M ago1:06:22

1:06:22

A world before all the weird things happened. Top tracks from 2015.By Ian Deeker Forth

1
SF0187 He's on the phone 1:07:16

4M ago1:07:16

1:07:16

From dial tones to iPhones via payphones, a short history of great phone-related tracks.By Ian Deeker Forth

1
SF0186 In the city 1:06:01

5M ago1:06:01

1:06:01

City life can be thrilling or alienating. Here are some tracks about city life to suit every mood.By Ian Deeker Forth

1
SF0185 Guided by Guided By Voices 1:09:10

5M ago1:09:10

1:09:10

30 years after the release of Guided By Voices' classic twin album assault of Bee Thousand and Alien Lanes, here's a tribute. Also features some bands they've influenced.By Ian Deeker Forth

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SF0184 RIP Clem Burke, Dave Allen, David Thomas, Rick Buckler 1:09:13

6M ago1:09:13

1:09:13

A tribute to Clem Burke of Blondie; Dave Allen of The Gang of Four; David Thomas of Pere Ubu; and Rick Buckler of The JamBy Ian Deeker Forth

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SF0183 Your full name please 1:06:56

6M ago1:06:56

1:06:56

Not just your name, but tracks with your full name.By Ian Deeker Forth

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SF0182 The Carolinas, North and South 1:07:42

7M ago1:07:42

1:07:42

Take a trip to the Appalachians for a selection of tracks from North and South Carolina.By Ian Deeker Forth

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SF0181 Hey! 1:05:54

7M ago1:05:54

1:05:54

Tracks with "Hey!" in their title. A plentiful supply: it's tough to leave so many good ones out.By Ian Deeker Forth

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SF0180 Bonus Ep: Steve Pringle hosts Ian for Mix Tapes podcast 1:06:01

7M ago1:06:01

1:06:01

A bonus episode, essentially the first episode in the podcast Steve's Mix Tapes; Ian is interviewed by Steve Pringle.By Ian Deeker Forth

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SF0179 The Transgender Episode 1:08:32

7M ago1:08:32

1:08:32

In a darkening world, aiming to throw light on transgender musical artists with this episode featuring their work.By Ian Deeker Forth

1
Understanding the K Pop Phenomenon 20:36

8M ago20:36

20:36

It would have taken a particularly gifted Nostradamus in the 1990s to predict both the demise of the traditional western rock band and the rise and rise of their South Korean replacements. yet that's what happened? But how did it happen? Join me as we take a medium-sized dive into what K Pop is all about and how come it's been such a runaway succes…

1
SF0178 The Third Man (and The Third Woman) 1:08:46

8M ago1:08:46

1:08:46

Three-piece bands, sometimes called power trios, in the third part of our Graham Greene inspired trilogy of episodes.By Ian Deeker Forth

1
What is this obsession with ranking records? 19:20

8M ago19:20

19:20

The best and worst double albums ever. The 50 greatest cover versions of all time. The 100 greatest British albums of all time. The greatest indie anthems ever. The 100 greatest albums you've never heard. The 50 darkest albums of all time. The 101 albums to hear before you die. Why must we always rank rank rank these records? Let's have a medium-si…

1
SF0177 The End of the Affair 1:06:47

8M ago1:06:47

1:06:47

Valentine's Day is upon us once more. But the flowers of romance can fade and die - as these tracks tell us, all too sadly.By Ian Deeker Forth

1
Why did everyone watch Top of the Pops? 20:11

9M ago20:11

20:11

The terminally uncool "pop" programme from the terminally uncool state TV station, BBC1. A recipe for failure, surely. And yet, everyone watched Top of the Pops. Why was that? Take a trip back in time to the culturally hegemonic imperial phase of the programme; to a time when it was great act of subversion to play air guitar as you mimed to your hi…

1
SF0176 Brighton Rock 1:05:51

9M ago1:05:51

1:05:51

Brighton Rock was a novel by Graham Greene. But there's also plenty of great (alternative) Brighton rock music (and post-punk and other genres) - as this episode demonstrates.By Ian Deeker Forth

1
"Disco Sucks!" Could a "Disco Demolition Night" now happen again? 18:55

9M ago18:55

18:55

In July 1979 Steve Dahl organised a Disco Demolition Night at a baseball game in Comiskey Park, Chicago. Infuriated by disco music and its chart dominance it was the latest in a growing nationwide "Disco Sucks!" campaign. That night ended in a riot. But some have argued it also ended disco as a genre. But now, is the distrust between a liberal elit…

1
SF0175 Monosyllabic Songs 1:06:55

9M ago1:06:55

1:06:55

An episode with track titles of just one syllable. A monosyllabic masterpiece, you might say.By Ian Deeker Forth

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Do Lyrics Matter? 21:41

9M ago21:41

21:41

Sure, we've all got a favourite carol or maybe anthem and words matter with them. Hard to imagine a hymn with la-la-las instead of lyrics halfway through. But you know how people say "I never forget a face, but I'm no good with names." It seems to be a badge of honour for some people to say they can't be bothered with lyrics, almost as if it shows …

1
SF0174 Break's over, get back to work 1:08:27

10M ago1:08:27

1:08:27

Getting 2025 off to a depressing start with a selection of alternative songs about workBy Ian Deeker Forth

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SF0173 Festive Forthy Pt 3 2024, #14-1 1:13:33

10M ago1:13:33

1:13:33

The third - and Top 14 - in our trilogy of the best alternative tracks from 2024.By Ian Deeker Forth

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SF0172 Festive Forthy Pt 2 2024, #27-15 1:01:04

10M ago1:01:04

1:01:04

Episode 2 of a trilogy looking back on some of the best alternative music tracks from 2024.By Ian Deeker Forth

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SF0171 Festive Forthy Pt 1 2024, #40 - 28 1:10:26

11M ago1:10:26

1:10:26

The first of 3 episodes rounding up the best alternative tracks of 2024. Starting with #40-28.By Ian Deeker Forth

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SF0170 The Days of our Lives 1:05:21

11M ago1:05:21

1:05:21

A selection of day tracks with yesterdays, todays, tomorrows, weekdays - and starting with "This Perfect Day".By Ian Deeker Forth

1
Nigel Marsh with Musical Highlights from the 5 Of My Life podcast 35:13

11M ago35:13

35:13

Nigel Marsh has been hosting the 5 Of My Life podcast for many years now and in that time has interviewed all the great and the good, from prime ministers to rock stars, comedians to novelists, community workers to poets. https://open.spotify.com/show/0SwVzJ5JWezUpuJoKUA1OU?si=af32aa090fd64575 One element of his show is guests picking out a track o…

1
SF0169 Broadcast And Their Influence 1:06:30

12M ago1:06:30

1:06:30

A celebration of the music of experimental pop artists Broadcast and some of the band they influenced.By Ian Deeker Forth

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Does music work in political campaigns? 20:29

12M ago20:29

20:29

La jour de gloire est arrivée. Things can only get better. It's time. Born in the USA. Keep on rockin' in the free world. Can music change anything when it is used in political campaigns? Come with us now as we travel through various countries and multiple songs and anthems which have been devised to sway the voter. Some have been written especiall…

1
SF0168 Deep Waters 1:06:09

12M ago1:06:09

1:06:09

Songs about water - murky, deep, still, treading, tables, coolers, edges and living adjacent to.By Ian Deeker Forth

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Where have all the bands gone? 18:49

1y ago18:49

18:49

A few weeks ago Richard Osman on the Rest Is Entertainment podcast pointed out that only 3 bands had had #1s this decade. This was in contrast to the end of the previous century when bands dominated the charts. Why is this? Have all bands disappeared? (Spoiler alert: no.). Why have pop bands fallen off a cliff? On this episode we investigate this n…

1
SF0167 - Steve Pringle Unleashed 1:19:08

1y ago1:19:08

1:19:08

Steve Pringle, author of the definitive Fall chronicle "You Must Get Them All" takes us through his life in music.By Ian Deeker Forth

1
Michael Mulcahy unpacks Aussie Pub Rock 46:17

1y ago46:17

46:17

If you're not an Australian it can be hard to identify a distinctive Australian sound or movement. One candidate is the Aussie Pub Rock phenomenon which flourished in the 70s and 80s and out of which bands like AC/DC emerged. One of Australia's leading copywriters joins me in the studio to explain its origins, the secret to its success and its even…

1
SF0166 History and Some People Who Made It 1:07:10

1y ago1:07:10

1:07:10

Whether you believe individuals make a difference to history or not, here are some songs about history and the people in it.By Ian Deeker Forth

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Does "Guilty pleasure" music exist? 20:03

1y ago20:03

20:03

Some people say there's no such thing as guilty pleasures in music. You either like it or you don't. So, own it. Still, would it have a name if it didn't exist? (Well, yes, it might. There are no unicorns, after all.) This episode seeks to understand why some people do feel a sense of guilt when they listen to certain types of music and why that sh…

1
The Ten Rules Guaranteeing Musical Success 18:04

1y ago18:04

18:04

Some academic bod has analysed every US presidential election and worked out the Keys To Success. He claims to correctly predict every populist vote. Can we do the same for musical success? We can have a go. This is my equivalent - The Ten Keys To Music Success. It's obligatory to say "You won't believe Number 7!", but in reality it's entirely cred…

1
SF0165 Britpop: An Alternative History 1:04:59

1y ago1:04:59

1:04:59

The tentpole hits of Britpop are well established, but in this episode we take a trip down some of the B-roads and byways of the British music scene in the mid-90s.By Ian Deeker Forth

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Steve Pringle Pt 2: How To Get Into The Fall 35:42

1y ago35:42

35:42

This episode is the the second of a double header. Steve Pringle, author of the classic Fall analysis "You Must Get Them All", gave us his thoughts on why the group resonate so strongly for so many in Part One. Here, he suggests to a nominal newcomer to the group's work where to get started on The Fall's vast catalogue. A handful of representative …

1
The man who wrote the book on The Fall: Steve Pringle 38:50

1y ago38:50

38:50

If an author writes a book analysing every single, every album, every phase and every lineup change of a band, it might be a decent-sized tome. In the case of The Fall, there's over 50 members, over 30 albums, over 500 songs and over 40 years to process. That is exactly what Steve Pringle undertook to carry out and he achieved his aim magnificently…

1
Oasis and the 90s Nostalgia Delusion 20:51

1y ago20:51

20:51

Oasis are reforming for a reunion tour. Have you heard? What marks out Oasis as so different from their contemporaries? It's hard to believe it's their musical sophistication or their profound lyrics. But something makes them incredibly popular. We also take a look more broadly at why people get so misty-eyed about the 90s. Is it just harking back …

1
SF0164 Insecurity 1:04:58

1y ago1:04:58

1:04:58

A selection of tracks on the subject of feeling like an impostor, inadequate or out of our depth.By Ian Deeker Forth

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Why Punk Mattered 19:48

1y ago19:48

19:48

On our previous show, Paul Burke proposed that punk was unimportant at the time, left no lasting musical legacy and the reason people still bang on about it is because the middle classes act as its gatekeeper in the media that we all read and watch. In this riposte, while not dismissing all of Paul's points, I'll try to put punk in its cultural con…

1
Columnist Paul Burke - "Why punk was fake news" 31:09

1y ago31:09

31:09

Contrariness - we've got it. "If you were born after 1970 and don’t remember punk, you’ve almost certainly been misled by people who do. You’ve probably been told – through countless paean-to-punk retrospectives, documentaries and newspaper culture pages – that it was a glorious, anarchic revolution that swept all before it. I can tell you first-h…

1
SF0163 Angels and Ghosts 1:06:58

1y ago1:06:58

1:06:58

The subject is angels and ghosts but the mood ranges from visceral to joyous to reflective on these afterlife tracks.By Ian Deeker Forth