Project Moonbase – The Historic Sound of the Future | Unusual music show | Podcast | Space cult | projectmoonbase.com

It's been a while since we took stock of some of the recent arrivals through the airlock up here at the Moonbase but they've been safely quarantined now so we are please to bring you delights such as: The latest release from Belgian exoticats The Left Arm of Buddha, two selections from a terrific new collection of library spy music from Soul Jazz records, a remix of a very famous tune by Raymond Scott, some Japanese steel guitar, a new piece of chip-dub from Jahtari and also a new track by friend of the show, the Monroeville Music Center. It seems we can't have Belgian exotica in a show without also hearing some Swedish exotica and so we're delighted to find a fabulous piece of retro-futurism on the latest Wire Tapper CD by a sextet from Stockholm.

A particularly confusing edition of the show this week dear listener, the result of a throwaway comment made in PMB167. Yes we've (just about) managed to pull together a whole show themed around herbs, those friends of the kitchen gardener. So nothing to do with Peter Herbolzheimer. Except that we do actually kick off the show with a track by The Herb. We therefore apologise for any discombobulation caused by our our idle toying with your mind this week.

This week's show has had probably the longest gestation of any show, having been in the works for several years. But we got there in the end and so present a selection of some of our favourite female duos from around the world. One country does tend to dominate, however, namely Spain as the female duo format seems to have been a bit of a thing over there. There is also a Godzilla sub-text running throughout the show which may be puzzling to some but we would like to think our more highly informed listeners will make the connection fairly quickly.

It occurred to us recently that new-comers to the show might not have encountered one of our musical heroes, namely Mr Peter Herbolzheimer, German trombonist, band-leader and cravat-wearer. Back in the days when we were on the radio airwaves, we were able to play a track from Herr Herbolzheimer pretty much every week so voluminous was the great man's musical output. However, we've barely mentioned The Herb on the podcast so we thought it was time to make him a featured artist. In addition to tracks by The Herb, we also have tracks from some of his luminous side-men and also tracks on which The Herb's trombone can be clearly felt.

It's all about the butterflies and the bees this week, dear listener, as we learn how to make babies. So every track is either by a baby, about a baby or for a baby, with selections including Mexican organ playing, a French brass band, some veena playing from Tamil Nadu and, for the first time on Project Moonbase, a record which from 100 years ago.

It's time to raise your trouser leg or ball-gown above the ankle for this week's show, dear listener, as we explore the multifarious world of the undergarment. We shall be examining knickers, bras, pants, stockings, thongs and bikinis. Sadly we were not able to include socks in this episode but perhaps we will put together a sock special in a future show.

This week dear listener we hurl ourselves onto the long departed bandwagon that is all things zombie with a show dedicated to the world of the living dead. The show is bookended by versions of the opening and closing music to George A. Romero and Dario Argento's Dawn of the Dead and in between those we have some twanging boss guitar, sultry organ-driven latin music and, rather confusingly, music from three contemporary electronic bands all of whom call themselves Zombi/Zomby/Zombie Zombie.

We missed an important anniversary last year as 2013 was the 50th anniversary of the release of the first album by that great vocalese group, The Swingle Singers, who we've played on the show many times over the years. So we thought it was high time to celebrate this marvellous musical milestone by having a show exploring not only the work of les Swingles but also some of our other favourite vocal groups. So in addition to several tracks by the Swingle Singers we also have tracks from Russ Garcia and the Walter Schumann Singers, The King's Singers, The Singers Unlimited, The Mike Sammes Singers, The Free Design and The Hi-Lo's.

Time to catch up with some recent discoveries and recent releases here at the Moonbase. We have some brand spanking new chiptune, some music specially composed for use in planetariiums, a double bill of enthusiastic Japanese musicians, the welcome return of show favourite Caravan and the show ends with some Bollywood disco.

It's time to take to the silver carpet, dear listener, as we present this year's Project Moonbase Super Excellent Awards. We've chosen some our favourite new releases, reissues and compilations from last year and on this week's show we'll be playing you a selection of tracks from some of these highly polished gems.

It's all about new beginnings on this week's show. So prepare to set yourself some ambitious targets for 2014 as we bring you a selection of highly motivational music.

We've had lots of tasty new arrivals at the Moonbase recently and this week's show has a track from a new album by retro-futuristic prankster Felix Kubin, more from Clemence Freschard, two lovely pieces of reissued exotica, some music made by our extremely talented listeners and a taster of a forthcoming show dedicated to the world of the industrial musical.

A very sweet edition of the show this week as we explore the world of all things sugary. We have a candied collection of tracks including some psychsploitation, French Moog, and German polka. There are two towering vocal performances from, on the one hand Leonard Nimoy and on the other a new discovery for us here at the Moonbase, Sônia Rocha. There's also an exclusive track created especially for this week's show and we leave you to drift off to sleep to the sound of a music box.

An exploration of the new and the newly reissued old on this week's show with tracks from new releases by Italian orchestral popsters Fitness Forever, humoristic electronics from Berlin-based Gelbart, some new exotica from Mr. Ho's Orchestrotica and some lethargic pop from French chanteuse Clemence Freschard, There are also some splendid reissues including Nigerian electro-funk from William Onyeabor, soundtrack music by the lounge lizard from Hell Palmer Rockey, a selection from a new three-fer by Roberto Delgado and one of many truly unique cover versions by The Space Lady.

Join us on a journey through the major neural pathways as we explore the crevices and crenellations of The Human Brain. To evoke this highly cerebral world, you will hear genuine Italian library music, fake French library music, retro-futuristic pop, brand new exotica from Barcelona, edutational rock and some mighty chip-prog from one of favourite bands in Dayton, Ohio.