MUSIC list.co.uk/music
THE RADIOPHONIC WORKSHOP A live outing for the electronic music pioneers and TV soundtrack legends
T he BBC Radiophonic Workshop was an early pioneer of electronic music. Set up in 1958 to produce sound effects for radio, it soon became a hub for musical experimentation, producing hundreds of theme tunes and soundtracks for television.
‘The BBC didn’t mind putting out weird and wonderful programmes,’ explains Roger Limb, who joined the Workshop in 1972. ‘We were certainly at the vanguard, pushing at the frontiers.’ Their most iconic composition is Delia Derbyshire and Ron Grainer’s pulsing Doctor Who theme, but they also wrote for The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Timewatch, Newsround, Quatermass and many more. ‘I stopped counting after 150 TV themes,’ admits Limb.
Unfortunately,
the high costs of the Workshop led to its demise. ‘Although we had a high profile, we were costing the BBC too much, so it gradually closed down,’ explains Limb. Sadly, the Workshop officially shut its doors in 1998.
However, a generation of fans had grown
up with the Workshop, and 2009 saw key members reunite for a show at London’s Roundhouse. ‘There was such a big, residual interest in our music,’ says Limb, ‘our first reaction was “let’s get a band and tour together.” It’s taken us four years, but we’ve got some great people on board. We’ve managed to recruit Kieron Pepper,’ adds Limb, ‘a wonderful percussionist who played with The Prodigy for 10 years.’ The live show consists of classic theme tunes and new compositions. ‘An album is planned and there will be collaborations. . .’ Unfortunately Limb can’t name names yet, but everyone from Orbital to Prince has sampled the Workshop’s output over the years. ‘With new equipment that’s available, there’s a lot of stuff we can do now which we couldn’t do 20 years ago.’ (Henry Northmore)
The Art School, Glasgow, Fri 21 Mar; The Pleasance, Edinburgh, Thu 27 Mar. See list.co.uk for a longer version of this interview.
HITLIST THE BEST ROCK, POP, JAZZ & FOLK
H S L E W M O T
✽ The Radiophonic Workshop See left. The Art School, Glasgow, Fri 21 Mar; The
Pleasance, Edinburgh, Thu 27 Mar.
✽ Hidden Door Festival With Auntie Flo (above), Tuff Love, The Birthday Suit,
Conquering Animal Sound, Law and many more. See feature, page 18. East Market Street Vaults, Edinburgh, Fri 28 Mar–Sat 5 Apr.
✽ Machines in Heaven Album showcase for bordersbreakdown. Plus James from Errors’ solo project, Infant Telethon. Electric Circus, Edinburgh, Sat 29 Mar.
✽ Dam Mantle Evening Sessions Free DJ set from local bedroom producer. Saramago Bar, CCA, Glasgow, Thu 3 Apr.
✽ Holy Mountain The Chemikal-signed rock
trio launch new album Ancient Astronauts. ‘Ear plugs – mandatory, acid – optional’ apparently. The Art School, Glasgow, Sat 5 Apr.
✽ Counterflows festival See interview
with The Space Lady, page 72, and a chat with Heatsick (right) on list.co.uk. Various venues, Glasgow, Fri 4–Sun 6 Apr.
✽ The Flower Corsano Duo Chris Corsano on drums and Mick Flower on
shahi baaja (that’s a Japanese banjo) perform virtuoso, experimental rock. Wee Red Bar, Edinburgh, Sun 13 Apr.
✽ Richard Youngs The multi- instrumentalist plays a secret residency.
See Five Reasons, page 79, and Open House feature, page 16. Secret venue, Glasgow, Tue 15–Thu 17 Apr.
20 Mar–17 Apr 2014 THE LIST 71