Murmur Digital Radio

Subject : The Record. What do we leave behind? Everything. All those things we said and did and touched and felt. Our wake in our wake. Our record. Ian MacKaye (Fugazi, Minor Threat) has been recording for decades; authoring, observing and riding the record as it ever spins. We want that name back! Records. Why waste an idea that covers it all? Ian sets his straight, or not.

A look back — a peek, not a stare — is the rudiment of progress. If we acknowledge humanity, art, culture, history, sex, athletics, politics et al are all in motion, so it stands that we develop as we develop; a greatest (and less-so) hits of the times we contain. Angie Dickinson - iconic actress, and purveyor of all the great film “feels”- befriends time in pairs; in clarity and in ignorance. Her past teaches her present — a present that capitulates seamlessly to Now, knowing the best stories and legends go unprinted. She also still loves it when people call her “Pepper”. Oh, Angie, indeed

Crying-wolf is all the rage. Danger being, lightening bugs have nothing in common with lightening, so people are typically too late to crisis. Thus, when strum and drang is our ring-tone, we need to revisit what deserves action and what deserves a cable cut. Strategist/Consultant/Teacher James Carville’s historic pole position has enabled a career of avoiding cracks and deflecting crisis both for-and-of all five estates. He’s also student and author of an inside vernacular that’s served both colleagues and causes well. There’s more to crisis than meets the ear, though; but, don’t panic, James will break it all down only to re-construct it by hour’s end.

Subject : Curiosity. You'll like this, it's pass/fail; or, rather, fail/pass. You either have this or you don't. You either are this or y'aren't. Yes, it can be transferred; but, it's best when encouraged or environments allow for it. You can't fake it, and it's far different than either intellect (though they couple well) or boredom (though this is easily mistaken.) You'll feel a certain "itch" at first then you'll need to set forth. Age is often both its confederate and its proof it's never to late. What is it? It's it. But do you have it? We think you already know. Singer/Writer/Painter Brandon Boyd of Incubus has it, ad absurdum et ad infinitum. ...Curious?

Subject : How Content Reflects Culture. There are limitless roads one many follow to pre-divine a culture - political, educational, infrastructural, even culinary. Amongst paths we've employed, one standard, hypnotic, vexing version is to simply open our eyes; particularly when we travel, specifically as lingual outsiders. Mercifully actor/creator Stephen Mangan tour-guides us through the triumphs and trapdoors of UK artistic content and what it's smallest forms - at the very least - intone about his nation and content gifts both given and received. Stephen's work, as his insight, crosses ponds effortlessly, including our favorite UK content confection "panel shows". Some artistic diplomacy has it's limits, however. Such are the benefits of home.

SUBJECT : RISK Our boldest actions lie in the eye of the beholder. Seldom do the doers of deeds self identify - such is the case with risk and its takers. Let's prove our case to Serj Tankian (System of a Down) defier of stop signs he's blind to. Be it personal, political, cultural, artistic, vocational or the myriad forms of vocal, Serj moves forward; success or loss notwithstanding. His measure is always on his terms, and we're thankful he knows no better. Perhaps ignorance is risk.

SUBJECT : COMMUNITY Arguably no word or concept sounds more above inspection than Community. So, of course, let's go. Jonathan Coulton has sought out, been part of, builds, and guides his very "own" Community. Sounds great. It is. But there are privileges that can to advantages and onward towards exclusions, as every donut has a hole. Groups and groupings are under siege and their diverse whereabouts scream out for dialogue. Jonathan helps fill in this space, by land and by sea.

SUBJECT : COLLABORATION Our most-requested subject/topic/tool/albatross, present in everything we do, do all the time. Some humans readily concede this premise, others are sluggish studies. One artist who might prefer to be remembered as a collaborator-above-all is legendary band leader and member Johnny Marr. Professor Marr embodies as pure a study - and as reliable an authority - on working with others, as the history of art can conjure. His story IS history, and it's found him in groups, continually; working in service to a greater goal, remarkably. Architect of legendary, resonant chords - not the least of which have very little to do with sound itself - Johnny understands that transcendent ideas are found in groups; both in spite of, and often due to, their imperfections.

Topic : HARMONY. When sounds come together and form sound, the ear is intrigued. On-alert for no good reason other than its encounter with sonic perfection. Harmony is that perfection. Harmony is hermetic - lacking either panic or uncertainty - as there is usually safety in number. Neko Case knows her (art) gangs and, as a practice, her harmonies. Not only a siren of modern myth and neo-story, Professor Case is proof of harmony's power to nourish and redeem; even if humans aren't always getting along. She authors her art en masse; and the environment remains (as do we), eternally grateful.

TOPIC: Learning to Teach – We've concluded that teaching is no more than exploring a series of opposites: Talking/Listening, Acting/Reacting, Translating/Declaring, Planning/Improvising, Progressing/Remaining, Macro/Micro, Global/Local, Inside/Outside, Human/Inhumane, Art/Science.  Have we covered it all?  Not a chance.  So, let's ask Alexis Krauss, whose groundbreaking work as a teacher not only draw-drops her legions of (Sleigh Bells) fans and mountainsides of students past and present; but, inspires more answers than questions.  As only great teacher can.  Class is truly in session.  Does everyone have a pencil?

The Invisible Composer.  As competition for our visual receptors is at an all-time-high, are we forgetting to hear the score?  Be it large or small screen.  Or are we simply unable to locate it?  In either case, forgive us as there is currently a run on cerebral noise in our moving imagery: oversized cinematic "heroes", stories where humanity (itself) hangs in the very balance, larger resumes in tighter spaces, and small-screen writing that is as hypnotic as ever.  Fear not, true believer!  As no modern composer cuts through the synaptic-thicket with quite the dexterity and audacity of Tyler Bates.  His tireless loyalty to story, character, collaborator, history, and galaxy place him firmly, yet miraculously on the barrier between music, sound, and noise.  Yet, it's Tyler's most unrequited love that consistently wins us over -- Silence. 

Anthems.  Sounds and songs that inspire us to be a part of something larger; to understand a larger context for our lives, our trials, our travails, our triumphs.  For over 30 years - as the "voice" of the seminal sonic duo, Erasure - Andy Bell has proved more advocate than icon; more a delivery system for change, than intentional anthemic engineer.  And millions of fans across the world continue to hear him loud and clear; showing-up en masse, as does Andy, with pride.  Yet, though true anthems last over time, hearing them remains in the ear of the beholder.  

When Conversation Is Art.  In an age where rhetoric is mistaken for communication, let's spare a thought for times we've spoken, been heard, then returned such favor with our own.  Now, take a moment and count how many of those moments you've had, recently.  Finished counting, already?  Us, too.  Iconic creator Tom Scharpling ("The Best Show") has made communication art & craft his life's work; an unending series of conversations both true and false; hilarious, yet deceptively insightful.  Sadly, in our experience, with the potential of real talk comes a real downside.  Particularly when one's "job" resembles what one was taught to do as a human being.  Who knew conversation could be so heartbreaking?  

Hometown Art & Artists.  Let's explore the fuel, fate, and fascination of the artist who lives and creates outside of "traditional" centers of art; such as New York, London, Los Angeles, Paris, Tokyo and elsewhere.  Do artists who defy these hubs of creative traffic do themselves a vocational disservice, or have they discovered the 21st Century's worst-kept-secret?  To wit, we've established that an artist needs an audience, but how large a one?  And are artists even entitled to that ever-elusive work/life/sanity balance?  The well-traveled, oft-acclaimed John Darnielle of The Mountain Goats (currently based in Durham, North Carolina, USA) could be onto something...and we don't mean merely a better price-per-square-foot.  

WORLD PREMIERE : Mike Patton.  We are honored to present both the World Premiere of a track from Mike's unforgettable score to the film "1922" -- a script adapted from the novella by Stephen King -- and to talk cinephilia with one of the great living polymathic plumbers.  To be able to visit Movie Dorkdom with Mike is as humbling as it is rare. Yet, though Dorkdum certainly has its privileges, can you love something too much be able to make it your vocation?  Mike is living and scoring proof to the contrary.  Perhaps you have to love it to do as well as he has for so long and in so many formats.  Even plumbers love their pipes.