Super Sonic Chat

Some of the greatest bands never actually existed.

Sometimes bands exist to service something fictional, be it in a film, book or tv show.

This episode features what we think are the greatest fictitious bands to ever exist. Four from Adrian, four from Leon with a special bonus....

... As a special treat, the final two bands come from the following challenge:

**Invent a fictitious band each and present them for your listening pleasure**

Can you think of any bands we missed that should have been on the list? Crucial Taunt or The Jolly Green Giants? Maybe the Be Sharps?

Let us know on the socials:

Adrian and Leon share an album with each other. Adrian loves the album he shared with Leon and the same goes for the album Leon shared with Adrian.

However, the person sharing the album has carefully chosen an album that the other will hate. The exercise is to choose an album that will cause extreme irritation and displeasure by listening to it.

The joy of this chat is hearing the different ways that each person hears the same album.

Adrian has recommended Aja by Steely Dan and Leon recommended Chance Meeting on a Dissecting Table of a Sewing Machine and an Umbrella by Nurse with Wound.

What do you think of these albums? Engage with the socials:

In 1977 NASA launched two Voyager spacecraft.

There is a great joy in sharing a band or artist with a good friend. Particularly when that friend is new to the sounds on offer.

Adrian shares Parliament's funkadelic masterpiece, Mothership Connection and Leon shares the dirty, experimental Independent Worm Saloon by Butthole Surfers.

The chat combines years of listening with fresh ears and the results are excellent.

Engage on all the socials:

Welcome to Season 5 of Super Sonic Chat!

We're back for more musings and meanderings across music fandom.

We kick off with an episode about the art of the parody song.

As kids we loved parody songs.

As teenagers we loved parody songs.

As middle aged men we still love parody songs!

I think we all know who the King of parody songs is right? So let's chat about him! The one and only Weird Al Yankovic.

What makes a great parody song?

Who are the contenders for Weird Al's title?

Leon shares the genesis of his, and probably many peoples, first love for the parody song.

Ade thinks he's found the next wave of parody artists and the challenge is to work out if they themselves know?!

Hit us up:

One of the things that started this whole podcast is the sheer joy of sharing musical discoveries.

Adrian and Leon share 10 songs each that they have discovered over the last 6 months.

That's 20 songs (and some cheeky honourable mentions) that have brought joy to the ears and may bring you joy too.

Tell us what music you have discovered this year on our socials:

Leon and Adrian love Australian music.

However, Australian Music has a big problem.

You may not be aware of it but it will shock you!

The boys call out the issue and set about identifying the root causes and offering up some solutions.

Of course November is AusMusic Month. At th heart of this episode is a love for Australian Music and the desire to see the next wave of great Australian bands rise up and dominate the globe.

Leon and Adrian love Australian music.

Australia loves Australian music. So much so that November is AusMusic Month. This is not something made up for Super Sonic Chat, it's an actual thing.

This episode celebrates all things Australian Music.

Today Adrian and Leon pay penance.

They admit that they have never listened to the albums, Last Splash by The Breeders and Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen in their entirety. Have they listened to songs from those albums? Of course, but to know an artist, you have to hear an album from start to finish.

What did they think? What was the verdict of these universally acclaimed albums? Listen to find out.

Do you agree with their opinions? Share on social media:

Do you ever look at someone and just know they are a fan of a certain band?

Have you ever met someone and just know they'd be into a certain artist?

This chat is about the weight of expectation.

Adrian kept having a certain band recommended to him by many people, including Leon.

'Oh you'd love them!' many people would say. 'I can't believe you've never listened to them before!'

Is Adrian the kind of person that looks like he'd love The National?

Is Leon the kind of person that looks like he'd love Yeah Yeah Yeahs?

The weight of expectation can change the way we experience music and this episode is a perfect example.

Listen to their experiences with this music and have your say on the socials:

One of life's greatest pleasures is discussing music with a mate and that is what we do here on this show.

And whether we are recording or not, we ask each other, "What have you been listening to lately?"

We sum up the last 6 month's new discoveries; whether they are new to the world, or just new to us, we offer each other a 5 course meal on what we have been digesting, musically so far this year.

Dear listener, tell us what you have discovered lately here:

Socials

Where do you start with that classic or cult band that you seem to have avoided over the years?

It's a big ask to dive in to a full album or a lengthy playlist.

It's dangerous to ask a superfan to give you a simple overview.

In this episode we do the heavy lifting for you on an introduction to perhaps the most influential alternative rock band of the 90s: Faith No More.

Listen in real time as we curate the perfect 5 song set to whet your Faith No More whistle.

These are not our favourite Faith No More songs.  

These are not be the best Faith No More songs.

These are the five songs that best represent all that Faith No More encompass to a new listener.

If we've done our job correctly, you'll have a Faith No More experience and be left with a curiosity to hear more. 

How does a musician take unrestrained, red hot rage and contain it within a carefully composed set of sounds?

Adrian and Leon explore a range of musical styles and approaches that capture this feeling through a range of lyrical and sonic tactics.

Language warning: Lyrics of rage often contain expletives of a very colourful nature.

Socials:

There’s a story about Ernsest Hemmingway, famous author, taking a bet that he couldnt write a story in 6 words.

Needless to say, when he read out six simple words, everyone paid up.

It got us thinking about the simple songs.

Not the songs loaded with lyrics.

Not those dense and lengthy songs.

But those songs that manage to say so much with so little.

If you will, what are some great ‘6 word’ type songs?

Social Links:

When two good mates see different bands in different cities on the same night, then a sharing of experiences becomes inevitable.

This is a simultaneous event, but which is separated by 900 kilometres. The bands are different, but within a congruous genre. This is the concert experience of Leon watching Black Midi in Brisbane while at the same time, Adrian watches King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard in Sydney.

*Please note some sound samples were taken from the actual concerts discussed, whereas some sound samples were taken from recordings of similar live shows to get a truer representation of the experience.

Social Links:

Sometimes you need to talk about the things you can't see or touch.

For millenia the role of the artist has been, in part, to touch the sublime, to transcend the every day, to access something bigger than themselves and invite us to be a part of that.

In this chat we tackle this uplifting role that music plays in our lives whilst visiting the cathedrals of the everyman: the pub and the sporting arena.

We hear about the Romanticists and sci-fi author and philosopher Aldous Huxley.

We chat about Pub Choir, singing when your team is winning, the magic of anthemic choruses as well as music for psychedelic therapy and much more.

Socials

Here's the challenge:  how do you distill an artist down to 5 songs for a first time listener?

When introducing someone to an artist or band they've never heard, it can be tricky to pick a playlist.

Too many songs can overwhelm the listener - so Adrian and Leon have developed the technique of choosing five for the unfamiliar. Five songs that impart a sense of what the artist is about. Not your five favourite songs. Not the five best songs. Five songs that hint at the flavour of the artist without delivering the full course. If done correctly it should be enough to leave them wanting more if they like what they're presented with.

This is the experiment: to pick only five songs of an artist you love that are tailored to hook the uninitiated.

In this episode, your hosts put this into practice for each other.

Adrian recommends the cool, catchy compositions of Bahamas.

Leon recommends the esoteric, sonorous sounds of Beirut.

Both artists filed under the letter 'B'.

Both artists with monikers you'll find on the world map.

Featured Songs:

Bahamas

No Expectations from Earthtones, 2018

Caught Me Thinking from Barchords, 2012

Lost in the Light from Barchords, 2012

Never Again from Barchords, 2012

All the Time from Bahamas is Afie, 2014

Beirut

Nantes from The Flying Club Cup, 2007

Postcards From Italy from Gulag Orkestar, 2006

Scenic World from Lon Gisland, 2006

Gibraltar from No No No, 2015

Two Blue Eyes from Berlin- Albuquerque Sessions, 2022

Socials

Artificial Intelligence has arrived en force.

'Chat GPT' has set the world abuzz with the potential of Artificial Intelligence in our lives.
What does this mean for the music industry?  What about for consumers and producers?

Leon and Adrian ask the tough questions about the current impact and future potential of AI in music and art. 

The discerning listener will pick out key clues throughout the episode for a big reveal towards the end.  

It's fair to say this episode is unlike any previous from Super Sonic Chat.

AI Song Samples Included:

Daddy's Car: Sony CSL Research Lab - Flow Machines, 2016

Sunspring Soundtrack, 2016

Z Machines Performance, 2013

Experience a radical paradigm shift that changes the way you think and feel about art and music.

We chat about context and use a little experiential storytelling to make a point about how context creates a paradigm shift that can unlock art and music in new ways.

Have you looked at modern art and thought 'a six year old could've done that!'?

We chat about that scenario, about artists intent and about context that changes everything.

Have you ever heard a story about an album or received new information about a record that changed the way you thought and felt about that piece of music?

We also chat about that scenario.

Context is king in unlocking art and music.  It's endlessly fascinating! 

Nostalgia.  The sentimental longing or the wistful affection for a period in the past. 

When everything old is new again.

Have you noticed cassette tapes are back?

Have you noticed bands are touring album anniversaries?

Have you watched any of the myriad documentaries spruiking the glory days of yore?

Nostalgia is powerful and wonderful and alluring, something marketers are fully aware of.

In this chat we debate the pros and cons of the recent wave of nostalgia, we cover off a recent jaunt to an incredible anniversary album show and we dive into what makes us nostalgic.

In this, our final episode of 2022, we ask each other 'What have you been listening to this year?''

Trusted friends are the greatest source of new music.  

So in this episode we dive right in:

11 albums new to Adrian in 2022.

11 albums new to Leon in 2022.

Some honourable mentions too.  

We'd love to hear from you:

• what were your favourite albums from the year?
• what was your favourite episodes of the podcast?

Hit us up!

And as always, we are super grateful for everyone that tuned in this year, or left us a message, a voicemail, an email or a review.

We'll be back for more chat, debate and thought experiments about all things music and art in 2022.

Have you noticed there's a terrifying abundance of music out there?

A. Terrifying. Abundance.

How do you find new music? 

How does new music find you?

The choice can be both overwhelming and paralysing.

Join in on this week's challenge.  It's a simple one: go out and find new music that you love.

We gave ourselves a week to do this.  The only rule was we could not ask each other!  We dived in and fully experienced the process of searching for something new and interesting to listen to. 

Our chat revolves around the obstacles and observations involved in navigating this challenge.  

We definitely discuss curation in both art and music and how critical curation is now more than ever.

Where do you find new music?  Who or what are the trusted sources?  Can Artificial Intelligence play a role? Is the algorithm a trusted source?

How do you find new music? Tell us on all the socials:

In the life of a music obsessive there are unwritten responsibilities.

There are albums that at some point in your life you must listen to.

In particular, when you are faced with a wrong, you must take all necessary steps to right it.

In this semi-regular series we call Confession Booth, we publicly confess our wrongs and take corrective action.  We present this subsequent recorded chat as our penance.

Let it be known that Adrian, and his comrade Leon, had previously never listened to either:

the 1985 album by Kate Bush called ‘Hounds of Love’

OR

the 1960 album by Miles Davis called ‘Sketches of Spain’.

In this chat we record our initial reactions and discuss our thoughts and feelings on these two universally acclaimed albums.

This is part two of Adrian's therapy program where we go from saxophone aversion to saxophone acceptance to possibly saxophone love. 

We've called in a bona fide sax expert Kirk Hamilton for a second opinion.  Kirk is an expert on not only the sax but contemporary music as a whole, and is the host of the great music podcast Strong Songs. 

We were extremely excited to be chatting with the host of Strong Songs, a podcast that is not only incredibly and impeccably made, but also has the capacity to not only introduce the listener to previously overlooked music, but also to open up facets of music that you have listened to for an incredibly long time. 

Dive deep into the wonderful world of the saxophone as Kirk breaks it wide open for us, playing live examples of incredible sax as well as beautiful, wonderful tangents that will hold you captivated. 

Have you ever invented a game? 

We chat with the very creative, super innovative and absolutely fascinating Eran Thomson, creator of Song Saga: the #1 music and memory game that rocks! In a moment of inspiration, Eran created the game, developed it and took it to market. He walks us through the process from idea to product and fronting up to game fairs to pitch Song Saga to distributors. He chats about early market tests on unsuspecting friends and beautiful ‘aha’ moments when the game takes off. 

And then the best bit..... we play the game! Play is simple: Pull cards. Choose songs. Share memories. Best song + story wins. No singing required, just a music app. Get ready to break into the memory bank, learn new things about your friends, and reconnect with the music you love. 

Find out more at www.song-saga.com 

Let us know what you thought about the episode: 

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Why is Adrian so averted to the sound of the saxophone? Not the sound of sax in jazz or an orchestra, but when he hears sax as part of a rock band, Adrian cringes.

As a former saxophonist, Leon takes on the role of sax therapist and attempts to help Adrian overcome these feelings of disgust.

Will they make a breakthrough?  Will they be able to reclaim the saxophone's place in modern music?

What do you think about the sounds of sax? Tell us on any of the socials:

In another of our semi-regular Confession Booth series, Adrian and Leon have something to get off their chests: never in their lives have they ever heard the following albums in their entirety - The Clash by The Clash and Dusty In Memphis by Dusty Springfield. 

It is a blight on their listening record which has thankfully now been rectified with repeated, deep listening.
Hear what they have to say on two very different records from two very different, but equally important, artists.

What can taint a true fans love for a band?

Is there anything?

Can an experience ruin a record forever? Or does true fandom triumph?

Adrian and Leon chat about how a band's music can be stained, bent, wrecked or ruined by a range of factors. 

Some are hilarious. Some are shocking. 

What has ruined a band, album or song for you? 

Let us know on all the socials:

There is no other stimulus on earth that simultaneously engages all areas of our brains as widely as music does.

We chat with Steven Hunt, Chief Operating Officer and co-founder of Music Health, a fast-growing Australian tech start up.

Music Health builds the tools to empower anyone to manage their mental wellbeing through personalised music intervention.

Their first product, Vera, is an easy to use app that uses AI technology to play personally significant music for a person living with dementia.

Studies have shown that the right music at the right time can modify our mood and behaviour in a positive way and increase brain stimulation.

In our wide ranging chat Steve outlines the science behind the significant role music can play in improving the quality of life for those living with dementia and their carers.  He also touches on the process taking an idea from inception and creating a business around it.

It's compelling stuff!

You can find out more at:

www.musichealth.ai

www.veramusic.com

We would love to hear more from you!

Hit us up at:

This episode is a celebration of the EP. The 'Extended Play'.  

That concise collection of songs that often arrives early in an aritst's career, that delivers more than a single but never overstays its welcome.  The best EP leaves you wanting more, a tasting plate that mostly sits outside the cannon of a band's work.

This week’s episode explores what makes a great EP, why a band might choose to record one and of course we chat about our favourite and most loved examples.   

In a time when the album's relevance is being questioned, we think the EP is still worth celebrating.

What EPs are close to your heart?  Let us know!:

Picture this:  you meet someone for the first time.  Naturally, you ask "What kind of music do you like?"

In this situation what do you think would be the most common answer?

Is it something like "Oh, I like all kinds of music".

Personally, that answer doesn't cut it.  I need specifics.

So I always follow up by asking "What have you been listening to lately?".

Then we get down to the nitty gritty!

In this episode we chat about what we've been listening to lately.  There's some surprising, and very interesting inclusions.

Plus, we get a bonus quiz and the inaugural edition of Podcast Bingo.

Of course, we'd also love to hear about what you've been listening to lately.  Let us know!

Nickelback has developed meme status as being one of the worst bands of all time.

We dared ourselves to ask the question: is the hatred justified? Could it be just a feedback loop where the rhetoric of hating Nickelback leads to actual hatred leading to more hate-talk? Having never listened to Nickelback, Adrian and Leon put their ears, brains and their precious music streaming algorithm on the line and dive into the most successful Nickelback album, All the Right Reasons. 

The challenge is to then deliver an objective, in-depth review, to reflect on what this band is creating and in doing so determine whether Nickelback deserve the harsh criticism flung their way.  

Share your Nickelback opinions on the Super Sonic Chat social links: 

Adrian and Leon have something to get off their chests, never in their lives have they ever heard the following albums in their entirety - Kraftwerk's Trans-Europe Express and PJ Harvey's Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea. It is a blight on their listening record which has thankfully now been rectified with repeated, deep listening.
Hear what they have to say on two very different records from two very different time periods. 

Just what is it that makes some songs sound timeless half a century later, and some songs sound dated less than a decade after recording?

What is it that makes Chuck Berry, Louis Armstrong, Adele, (certain) Nirvana songs and Marvin Gaye timeless?

Huey Lewis and the News, Depeche mode, Linkin Park and Atlantis by Donovan (just wait for that treat) all date so badly. Why is that? 

Leon kicks it off by taking the conceptual standpoint.

Adrian balances the ideas by talking about the sound. 

Between them, can they consolidate the elements that make a sound timeless? 

Reach out on the socials and let Super Sonic Chat know what you think makes a song timeless.

“Any band that is still together after ten years—Please. Break up. Do your solo albums. Move on”, so said Sufjan Stevens, the acclaimed indie artist.

Is he right?  Does he have a point?

Does every band have a golden period that is over after ten years?

Which bands have gone on too long?

Which bands did it well and went out on top?

Leon cracks the case with a salient point about why bands end up stuck in a rut, making different versions of the same album after many years.

Adrian poses a thought experiment that would keep bands relevant, interesting and interested in making great, risky, creative music.

And what on Earth could the Indian Premier League Cricket have to do with it?

The boys also chat about an era in musical history where bands did not stay together long but broke up and reformed new ensembles over and over again, cross pollinating and creating a vibrant, rich vein of output.

As usual, you can reach us on the socials and email:

Did you know Jim Morrison of The Doors predicted the future of electronic music back in 1969?  We listen in to his prediction and chat about it's accuracy.  

We discuss a franchise plan to fund Daft Punk's retirement and debate whether it really is the dynamic pair of Frenchmen on stage when you see Daft Punk live.  We chat about The Chemical Brothers Live at the Big Day Out, warehouse parties, club culture, synthesizers and how innovation offers new pallets for musicians to paint with.  

The devil's advocate might say electronic music live is just a person on a stage pressing play on a laptop. Pointless.

We say otherwise.  Aphex Twin helps us make a point.  As does Frank Zappa, Nine Inch Nails, the Bloody Fist label from Newcastle in the 90s and more.

A new stereo leads to a chat about the joys of deep listening.

But first, there's some things you can't unhear!  See if you can pick the mistakes in the three famous song snippets Ade plays for Leon.

Then the question is asked: When listening to music are you a researcher?  Or do you refuse to read a single thing and let the music move you? 

If you just listen, will you miss something crucial? If you research and read, are you allowing the influence of others to sway you too much? 

Ade and Leon do a deep dive into the pros and cons of both sides. Hear examples of how each method directly impacts on albums or songs. 

And most importantly, the episode centres on the absolute wonder of deep listening.

Tell us on the socials your experiences of deep listening. 

In this, our 30th and final episode of 2021, we ask each other 'What have you been listening to this year?'

When I ask people 'What've you been listening to?', I love it when they reply with specifics.  So in this episode we dive right in with 5 albums each that we've been listening to in 2021.

We chat about new albums from new artists, old albums from old artists and other great discoveries, all of which were new to us and stuck with us across the year.

To close out the episode we ask each other 'what was your favourite Super Sonic Chat episode from the year'?

We'd love to hear from you: 

• what were your favourite albums from the year?
• what was your favourite episodes of the podcast?

Hit us up!

And as always, we are super grateful for everyone that tuned in this year, or left us a message, a voicemail, an email or a review.

We'll be back for more thought experiments, debate and sonic chat about all things music and art in 2022.