Whatever Comes Next with Tom Osman

Episode 138: Ivan Pavlov (Soisong, CoH)

The electronic/industrial underground is one of the most intriguing, magickal and mysterious realms in modern music. The mythologies surrounding groups like Throbbing Gristle, Psychic TV and Coil are rabbit holes easy to go tumbling down. The late Peter “Sleazy” Christopherson was (more or less) a founding member of all three bands mentioned above. He was also one half of experimental electronic group Soisong. Ivan Pavlov (best known for his enduring CoH project) was the other half of this musical union and on this day of 22.05.26 is releasing a book documenting the project’s history. The book is a fascinating dive into the world of Soisong, including email correspondences between Sleazy and Ivan, interviews, marketing strategies, press releases, photos and other artefacts that chart the life of this project. Complemented by two CDs, the book is being released as a one-time-only edition. Ivan Pavlov joins me to discuss the book and the story of Soisong, as well as sharing tales from his friendship and collaborations with Sleazy and John Balance (Geoff Rushton) from their Coil days. The world of Coil (and its neighbouring constellations) has been a huge source of fascination and inspiration for me since I first discovered the Musick to Play in the Dark albums over 25 years ago. A little while back I had to stop buying every fresh Coil reissue that comes out before it became necessary for me to start selling organs. It was a huge treat and honour to talk with Ivan and I will be poised to buy a copy of the book when it becomes available today. Soisong will be available in a hardcover edition of 222 numbered copies. If you are also keen to get yourself a copy get your trigger finger ready. The book release is scheduled for 22:05 CET tonight (that’s five past nine this evening for people in the UK) when the link to buy will go live. At that time (probably for about 3 minutes before they sell out) you’ll be able to buy a copy from the link here [https://soisong.greedbag.com/]. You can also visit Soisong on bandcamp here [https://soisong.bandcamp.com/] and listen to Soisong Broadcast #13 (released on Wednesday to coincide with the release). Huge thanks to Ivan for his time and to Dan at Discipline PR for making this conversation possible. More links to Ivan Pavlov’s work: CoH website [http://www.post-pop.org/] CoH on facebook [https://www.facebook.com/post.pop.org/#] CoH on bandcamp [https://coh-official.bandcamp.com/] Soisong on facebook [https://www.facebook.com/SOI2ONG/] For more stories from the musical underground you can read my new column at New Noise Magazine: https://newnoisemagazine.com/column/mapping-the-underground-1-conan-neutron-on-tour-drama/Mapping The Underground [https://newnoisemagazine.com/column/mapping-the-underground-1-conan-neutron-on-tour-drama/] Check out my latest album ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Real Silence on Drama Recorder⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://dramarecorder.bandcamp.com/album/real-silence] My music on https://ampwall.com/a/tomosmanAmpwall [https://ampwall.com/a/tomosman] Podcast artwork and logo: https://www.garjk.com/Get A Real Job Kid [https://www.garjk.com/] Intro music: “Detachment” by Tom Osman This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tomosman.substack.com [https://tomosman.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Episode 137: Ataraxia

Italians Ataraxia are a band (or ensemble of artists, as they sometimes refer to themselves) with a long history. Core members Francesca Nicoli, Vittorio Vandelli and Giovanni Pagliari have been making music together for more than three decades and Sylfaera the Fair (released this Thursday on The Circle Music) is the band’s thirtieth album. The latest record is also the final part of a trilogy that began with 2022’s Pomegranate (The Chant of the Elementals). Drawing from a variety of musical traditions, Ataraxia’s neoclassical dimension can be seen both in their musical style as well as their thematic interests in mythology, literature and ritual. The group can do a better job than I in describing how these different elements come together in the identity of Ataraxia and the lore of the latest record. Just as well then that they’re here to do exactly that as we discuss their history, music, influences and Sylfaera the Fair. Sylfaera the Fair on The Circle Music [https://thecirclemusic.gr/?s=Sylfaera+the+Fair&post_type=product&dgwt_wcas=1] Ataraxia website [http://www.ataraxia.net/] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/music_from_ataraxia/] facebook [https://www.facebook.com/AtaraxiaFB] Thanks to Dom at 3-Nation For more stories from the musical underground you can read my new column at New Noise Magazine: Mapping The Underground [https://newnoisemagazine.com/column/mapping-the-underground-1-conan-neutron-on-tour-drama/] Check out my latest album ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Real Silence on Drama Recorder⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://dramarecorder.bandcamp.com/album/real-silence] My music on https://ampwall.com/a/tomosmanAmpwall [https://ampwall.com/a/tomosman] Podcast artwork and logo: https://www.garjk.com/Get A Real Job Kid [https://www.garjk.com/] Intro music: “Detachment” by Tom Osman This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tomosman.substack.com [https://tomosman.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Episode 136: Requiem In White

The Visible Heaven (out May 21st on The Circle Music) marks the first new music from Boston-formed, post-punk/gothic-rock band Requiem In White in over 30 years. Following the band’s split in the 90s, singer Lisa Stockton-Wilson and multi-instrumentalist/producer Doc Hammer first continued making music together as Mors Syphilitica before going on to pursue their own separate projects. In 2024 the vinyl reissue of the band’s early material by The Circle Music planted a seed which led to Hammer and Stockton-Wilson working on new material again—the result being The Visible Heaven. Intended as a continuation of where the band left off (as well as being an opportunity to capture a sound the band felt had never been truly represented on record) the forthcoming album lacks nothing in dark, grand power. Hammer and Stockton-Wilson join me to discuss the record, the band’s early years and reminiscences of the late Type O Negative frontman Peter Steele. Lisa Stockton-Wilson photo by LiAnn Grahm The Visible Heaven via The Circle Music [https://thecirclemusic.gr/requiem-in-white-the-visible-heaven-new-album-after-32-years-cd-lp-digital-pre-order-starts-now/] Requiem In White on bandcamp [https://requieminwhitethecirclefamily.bandcamp.com/album/hymnal-of-remembrance] Thanks to Dom at 3-Nation Check out my latest album ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Real Silence on Drama Recorder⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://dramarecorder.bandcamp.com/album/real-silence] My music on https://ampwall.com/a/tomosmanAmpwall [https://ampwall.com/a/tomosman] Podcast artwork and logo: https://www.garjk.com/Get A Real Job Kid [https://www.garjk.com/] Intro music: “Detachment” by Tom Osman This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tomosman.substack.com [https://tomosman.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Episode 135: Steve Austin (Today Is The Day)

Marked Cards and Loaded Dice is the debut, solo country record of Today Is The Day frontman Steve Austin—which might be a strange sentence to read if you only know Austin through the extreme metal of the band he’s fronted since the early 90s. But the outlaw country and bluegrass influences run deep for Austin. This is the music he grew up with and so while this latest record is quite a departure from Today Is The Day, it represents a musical world close to the songwriter’s heart. With Marked Cards and Loaded Dice being released last Friday on Austin’s own SuperNova Records we discuss the record, the backing band Austin put together, some of his country music inspirations and life away from the big cities. Photos by Hannah Austin Marked Cards and Loaded Dice on bandcamp [https://steveaustincountry.bandcamp.com/album/marked-cards-and-loaded-dice] SuperNova Records [https://supernovarecordsusa.com/] Steve Austin on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/stevenaustincountry/] Thanks to Dave at Earsplit PR Check out my latest album ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Real Silence on Drama Recorder⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://dramarecorder.bandcamp.com/album/real-silence] My music on Ampwall [https://ampwall.com/a/tomosman] Podcast artwork and logo: Get A Real Job Kid [https://www.garjk.com/] Intro music: “Detachment” by Tom Osman This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tomosman.substack.com [https://tomosman.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Episode 134: Leila Abdul-Rauf

Earlier this month saw the release of Andros Insidium on 20 Buck Spin, the sixth album by Leila Abdul-Rauf under her own name. Metal fans may know Leila as the singer and guitarist for death-metal group Vastum (the band she has fronted since its formation in 2009), but she has been involved in a number of projects over the years, some very far from the realms of metal. According to Leila people often pigeon-hole her solo output as “ambient” music, but she considers “cinematic” to be a better descriptor. Listening to Andros Insidium this does feel like a more appropriate term—the album being rich in textures and instrumentation. Sometimes the music inhabits a sonic world reminiscent of the otherworldliness of Dead Can Dance, at other times (like on the album’s harrowing title track), the stark piano and vocal presence is more in the lineage of Diamanda Galás. It’s dark, intense and at times harrowing music. Leila joins me to discuss the album, collaborations, mythology, imagery and how creative freedom and financial insecurity go hand-in-hand for independent artists. Photo by Alex Parra Album art by Justyna Koziczak Andros Insidium on vinyl and CD from 20 Buck Spin [https://20buckspin.bandcamp.com/album/andros-insidium] Leila Abdul-Rauf on bandcamp [https://leilaabdulrauf.bandcamp.com/music] Catch Leila Abdul-Rauf live: May 28 Center for Computer Research in Music & Acoustics (CCRMA) Palo Alto, CA May 30 First Church of the Buzzard Oakland, CA Leila Abdul-Rauf on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/leilaabdulrauf/] Thanks to Dave at Earsplit PR Check out my latest album ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Real Silence on Drama Recorder⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://dramarecorder.bandcamp.com/album/real-silence] My music on Ampwall [https://ampwall.com/a/tomosman] Podcast artwork and logo: Get A Real Job Kid [https://www.garjk.com/] Intro music: “Detachment” by Tom Osman This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tomosman.substack.com [https://tomosman.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]