Episode 134: Leila Abdul-Rauf

Episode 141: Caterwaul 2026

Minneapolis, Minnesota’s Caterwaul celebrates its fifth year this coming weekend (the event being held from Friday 5th - Sunday 7th of June) and co-founder Conan Neutron is here to tell us all about it. What’s more, he’s brought a friend—Rye Coalition vocalist Ralph Cuseglio (whose band headline the Saturday. The event features no shortage of fan favourites from the alternative rock (aaaaagh I hate that term, but I’m using it again!) underground—like Dazzling Killmen, Stress Positions, Didjits and Season to Risk. Too many bands to mention in one intro, so why not just go to the event website HERE [https://ticketstripe.com/caterwaul2026] for the full lineup? And while you’re at it, you could pre-purchase a ticket. For sure, no one’s throwing about large sums of cash in the DIY underground and events like Caterwaul are a great opportunity to be among likeminded music nerds, watching great bands perform. But don’t just take my word for it. Get the lowdown from Conan and Ralph. There’s even time to talk with Ralph about their major-label trauma that derailed the release of their Curses album (which eventually saw the light of day in 2006). Finally, let’s all send positive energy to Caterwaul co-founder Rainer Fronz who just yesterday underwent a heart transplant. Wishing him a speedy and full recovery. All things Caterwaul. [https://www.caterwaul.org/] Conan Neutron’s Protonic Reversal interview show. [https://www.protonicreversal.com/podcast/] Conan Neutron & The Secret Friends on bandcamp. [https://neutronfriends.bandcamp.com/album/the-way-of-the-neutron] Rye Coalition on bandcamp. [https://ryecoalition.bandcamp.com/album/paid-in-full] 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 140: Nathan Carson (Point Line Plane)

Twenty-plus years is a long break to have in almost any relationship. But while Nathan Carson and Joshua Blanchard (together known as Point Line Plane) originally called time on the musical project they formed together at the turn of the century back in 2005, the end of Point Line Plane did not mean the end of the friendship. Just as well, because when the stars aligned and SKiN GRAFT Records proposed a remastered reissue of the duo’s eponymous debut, Carson and Blanchard had already been discussing playing shows together again. Fast forward to now and Point Line Plane have played a number of shows in May (several with an also-reformed Dazzling Killmen), with three more dates to come in June (culminating with a performance at the final date of this year’s Caterwaul Fest in Minneapolis). Add to that, the remastered debut is out tomorrow (digitally and on vinyl for the first time). While Point Line Plane received no small amount of attention during their first run, this was at a time before the ubiquity of online representation. Put another way, the impact the band made isn’t reflected online. So let’s do our small bit to right that wrong as Nathan Carson joins me to discuss all things Point Line Plane past, present and future, other musical projects and his agency Nanotear Booking [http://www.nanotear.com/]. Buy [https://pointlineplane.bandcamp.com/album/point-line-plane]Point Line Plane [https://pointlineplane.bandcamp.com/album/point-line-plane]from bancamp. [https://pointlineplane.bandcamp.com/album/point-line-plane] Point Line Plane on Instagram. [https://www.instagram.com/pointlineplaneband/] Thanks to Mark at SKiN GRAFT Records Photo by Lucy Fur 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 139: Marian Sarine (DEAFKIDS)

Born of D-beat roots and punk spirit, Brazilian duo DEAFKIDS have been fusing noise, percussive rhythms and electronics for over 15 years. This Friday sees the release of the duo’s latest record CICATRIZES DO FUTURO on the great Neurot Recordings (the band’s first non-collaborative full-length release since 2019’s Metaprogramação) Percussionist and bassist Marian Sarine joins me to discuss the duo’s latest album in depth, recordings, instrumentation, live shows, playing abroad and how the worlds of DEAFKIDS and Neurosis first entered each other’s orbits. Photos by Leticia Soto and Maiga Bugrimenko DEAFKIDS and music via Neurot Recordings [https://www.neurotrecordings.com/full-roster/deafkids]. CICATRIZES DO FUTURO on bandcamp [https://deafkidspunx.bandcamp.com/album/cicatrizes-do-futuro]. Thanks to Dave at Earsplit PR. 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 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]