In this episode, Tim Russell talks to his fellow Coventrian Martin Bowes of darkwave pioneers Attrition, who have been making dark electronic/industrial music since the early 80s.

Martin talks about the band’s origins in Coventry’s late 70s punk and fanzine scene, and how they were inspired by the likes of Cabaret Voltaire and Throbbing Gristle and eventually carved out their own unique sound. He also discusses the band’s eclecticism and his refusal to make the same record twice, as well as their enthusiasm for playing gigs in unlikely destinations such as Delhi and Bangkok. Martin also talks about his other projects including new band Klandestine, and his day job remastering albums in his studio The Cage. He also explains why the 2020s are actually a pretty good time to be a musician, and denies being a goth despite once buying Victorian poison bottles on eBay.

Thanks so much Martin for taking part in IWTTAY, and if you’ve enjoyed the episode - or even if you haven’t - please like, share, subscribe and do anything else you can to spread the word about this relatively new podcast. And keep an eye out for episode 4 coming up on 26 February, when I’ll be talking to travel writer and rail enthusiast Matthew Woodward.

LINKS

Attrition on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/artist/5yAtVvdaWrTxW4GPC18643?si=LiA4VnQoR0-K_0bLHnoO-Q

Klaendestine’s We Shall Share EP - https://open.spotify.com/album/6xJA1IicsaJhhPw6k2xTpK

In this episode, Tim Russell chats to Paul Page, guitarist with 90s Irish indie legends Whipping Boy, whose 1995 Heartworm has become a cult classic and is regularly voted as one of the best albums ever to come out of Ireland.

Paul talks about the band's often chaotic early days, how they wrote and recorded their masterpiece, and how the album's lack of commercial success ultimately led to their downfall, despite having a very strong third album in the can. He also talks very honestly about his struggles following the band's breakup and how he didn't pick up a guitar for over 20 years after the split. There are also some great anecdotes about touring with Lou Reed, hanging out in Bono's bathroom, and upsetting Irish TV legend Gay Byrne.

Huge thanks to Paul for taking part in the podcast! Please make sure to like, share, rate, subscribe and do anything else you see fit to help IWTTAY get a bigger audience, and watch this space for Ep3 featuring Martin Bowes of UK darkwave pioneers Attrition. Thanks for listening, and check the links below to explore Paul's work.

LINKS

Whipping Boy on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/artist/3oadMDBL4Wv7F5lkVwRWy2

Whipping Boy on The Late Late Show - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpqN83jQ4dc

Polaroid Ghost - Belgica 1898 (Paul's new solo album) - https://open.spotify.com/album/1ZYorolG79RC5MSBtVQpPE

The Sentimental Tourists - https://thesentimentaltourists.bandcamp.com/

In the first episode of I Want To Talk About You, host Tim Russell chats with Asia-based photojournalist Chris Stowers. The discussion covers Chris's early experiences as a documentary photographer, his time in Asia, and his new book "Shoot, Ask...and Run".

The conversation also features Chris's experiences working in various countries, his transition into photography, and the ethical considerations of photojournalism. It also delves into his adventures during his journey home from Asia, including his experiences in Romania and the collapsing Soviet Union. They also discuss the challenges of documentary photography in the digital age, and the impact of AI on the industry. Chris shares insights and advice for aspiring photographers, emphasizing the importance of passion and perseverance in pursuing a career in photography.

Chris's website

Buy Chris's book on Amazon

Takeaways

• Documentary Photography
• Life in Asia
• Taiwan's Political Situation
• NFTs and Photography Transition from working in various jobs to becoming a photographer
• Ethical considerations in photojournalism
• Adventures during the journey home from Asia Passion and perseverance are essential for a successful career in photography.
• The impact of AI on photography and the challenges of documentary photography in the digital age.

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to Chris Stowers
• 10:23 NFTs and Photography
• 24:37 Transition to Photography
• 32:11 Early Years of Traveling and Photography
• 40:02 Challenges and Ethical Considerations in Photojournalism
• 48:08 Experiences During the Journey Home from Asia
• 58:07 The Journey Home and the Yugoslav Civil War