Low Culture Podcast: Sprigs Of Time (78s From The EMI Archive)

Spring-like weather has finally arrived… and so has the new Quietus! Even as launch day was fast approaching last week, John and Luke still found a quiet hour to record the site’s regular podcast – this time very happy to be saying hello to all of this month’s new subscribers (in an even more gravelly and sleep-deprived manner than usual). After some words on the untimely death of Steve Albini contrasted with the sense of sheer relief the pair feel at finally ending up with a website that works after a wait of nearly 17 years, they hymn a glorious compilation album which was released at pretty much exactly the same time as the Quietus launched: Sprigs Of Time (78s From The EMI Archive). (You can listen to and buy the compilation here (S'ouvre dans une nouvelle fenêtre))

In a wide-ranging chat, the pair recount the incredible sales pitch hypnotism the good folk at Rough Trade East cast over John to make him buy this lovely double LP on Honest Jon’s, the portal-opening potential of a “mad man’s breakfast” compilation that essentially charts the global birth of the music industry, the postmodernism of owning a record about the birth of records, the “modernity” of the sounds contained within from century-old gamelan to a man impersonating motor cards. They discuss how the curiosity and breadth of the record became an inspiration to the site in our early years, and remains treasured today. Then things widen out, as they try to figure the essence of what makes a great compilation, whether that’s Now 21, 300% Dynamite or Run The Road.

Thanks to Alannah Chance for producing the podcast and to you all for subscribing and keeping tQ on the road.