Troika

This episode is all about the phenomenon of DJ Derek, and the fact that I don't really like reggae. Featuring 'Police and Thieves' by Junior Murvin, 'I Chase the Devil' by Max Romeo and the Upsetters and 'One love' by Bob Marley and the Wailers

Here are three songs all about tea! 'Cup of Brown Joy' by Professor Elemental, 'Drink tea (For the love of God)' by Kula Shaker and 'Tea in the Sahara' by The Police. Pop the kettle on!

Three songs that remind me of my time in the Lake District. 'The New Physics' by The Lost Dogs, 'Virgin and Child' by Iona, and 'Animal Nitrate' by Suede.

This Valentine's edition is either really early, or a bit late, depending on how you look at it! Love songs in general are either insincere, mawkish rubbish, cheesy, or all three. There so much chaff, but (for me at least) here's the wheat! My three favourite love songs in ascending order: 'Sick of Myself' by Matthew Sweet, 'Unravel' by Björk and 'First Time Ever I Saw Your Face' by Roberta Flack.

A bit of a delay in getting to this episode. I've hesitated over whether to do a full-on Bowie tribute as there are so many brilliant tributes already. It almost felt like jumping on the bandwagon. Instead I've bided my time, and its now evolved into a tribute to three people who've died too early in 2016: Lemmy Kilmister, David Bowie and Terry Wogan. 'Shake Your Blood' by Probot (Dave Grohl and Lemmy Kilmister), 'Sue (Or in a Season of Crime)' by David Bowie and finally 'T-WOG$ Pirate Radio' - Peter Serafinowicz.

Its an end of year list! Only shorter! This three-piece won't take long to read or listen to, but it took me a very long time to choose just three from so much wonderful music in 2015. To make it easier, I excluded any music that has already featured in Troika. So without further ado, my three most-played are: 'Satellites' by Mew, 'Repetition' by Purity Ring and 'Winter Dress' by The Amazing

Here we have another episode of Chrimbo tunes, this time with traditional songs covered by modern bands. These sound a bit more atmospheric compared last weeks more jaunty tunes! Once in Royal David's City' - Sufjan Stevens, 'Little Drummer Boy' - Low and 'The First Noel' - Over the Rhine

There's so many decent Christmas songs, that one Troika isn't going to be enough! So I've split them over two episodes - maybe more if I pull my finger out! While the first track isn't strictly 'explicit' (there's no swearing), it is a rather rum tale that minors may find disturbing. So we have: 'Oh Santa!' by Mr B The Gentleman Rhymer, 'Get behind me Santa!' by Sufjan Stevens* and 'A Snowflake Fell (and it felt like a kiss)' by Glasvegas

This time its all about taking it _slow_. Songs or pieces of music that either sound better, or take on a new form, when slowed down. 'Feel it all Around' by Washed Out Ernest Greenes' project 'Washed Out' take the backing from Gary Low's 1983 single 'I Want You' and slows it to nice laid back pace, creating this lovely slurry sound. I'm told this is also the theme to the TV Series Portlandia, but I haven't seen that yet. 'How do I make you' by The Chipmunks To record Chipmunks versions of songs, they have to be sung at a slower pace, so that when sped up, both the pitch and length is correct. So what happens when you slow the whole back down to the pace of the original vocal? Sludgepop! There's loads more on Soundcloud (https://soundcloud.com/alvin-thechipmunkson16sp). Check out 'My Sharona in particular - I just felt it was a bit long for this episode,especially when you see how long the last track is… The Jurassic Park Theme - 1000% slower Drawn out to almost an hour, John Williams' theme to Jurassic P

In the early eighties I was really into artists like Jean Michel Jarre, Depeche Mode and Howard Jones. I loved synths! After about '86 I moved away to more guitar-based music, Metal and then a wee folky phase in the early nineties. During my last year at college in 94 I started rediscovering electronic music. As well as purveyors of ambience like Aphex Twin and The Orb, I also got into the 'dancey' end of the spectrum, even though I wasn't a fan of dancing or nightclubs. I kind of just nodded my head along, So, without interruption, here's the three tracks I've chosen from : Leftfield, Future Sound of London and The Chemical Brothers. Enjoy!

Troika number 18 is a straightforward simpler episode! The only thematic link this time is tracks that I've discovered either by shuffle or playback glitches. Random songs! (Maybe a little bit of swearing too) 'Cissy Strut' - Butch Cassidy Sound System 'Auditorium' - Mos Def feat. Slick Rick 'Babe you turn me on' - Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds

This Troika is a musical representation of one of my favourite foods - the mighty Scotch Egg! 'Breadcrumbs' by Deca, 'Valley of the Sausages' by Mr Scruff and 'Egg' by The Garden.

With the new series of Dr Who starting this weekend, I decided it was time for a Troika on the iconic TV theme! There's been a lot of 'official' versions over and many more covers (including a terrible disco-ified one by Mankind in 1979), but here is: the Original Theme by Ron Grainer and Delia Derbyshire, a Belgian Jazz version- 'Dr Qui' - from Bill Bailey and a lively EDM cover from Orbital.

Troika number fifteen is all about twins from Manchester called Andy and Jez Williams. From 90s dance act Sub Sub to Indie Rock giants Doves, and their new band, Black Rivers. We start with 'Ain't no love (ain't no use)' by Sub Sub feat. Melanie Williams, move onto 'Pounding' by Doves, and finish 'Voyager 1' by Black Rivers.

Welcome back to Troika after a lovely summer break! This Troika is about the three 'discoveries' I made at the Reading Festival last weekend - bands that I liked after seeing them live. 'Happy Song’ by Bring me the Horizon* (contains sweary swears!), ‘All the Sad Young Men’ by Spector and ‘Tryer, you’ by And So I Watch You From Afar.

Episode 13 of Troika is all about the versatile singer-songwriter and Yahama maestro John Shuttleworth! Songs featured are: 'Mutiny over the Bounty', 'Two Margarines' and 'I can’t go back to savoury now'.

I had planned a different Troika for #12, but I was so late getting it ready, I was going to miss the fact that the Tour de France starts this weekend! So that will become #13, and here is my rather hurried tribute to the annual cycling pantomime that is the Tour! First up is 'Tour de France' by Alexis Roche (apparently a bit rude, but it's in French), then 'Tour de France' by Benôit Charest (from the fantastic Belleville Rendezvous soundtrack), finishing with 'Tour de France' by Señor Coconut. As I've mentioned before, I can't abide Kraftwerks' 'Tour de France', but this is a cover version I can really get behind!

Hello peoples! This Troika is all about the bassists! We start with 'Hello Meow' by Squarepusher, 'Jerry was a race car driver' by Primus, and finish with 'By the Way' by the Red Hot Chilli Peppers.

Eighteen years ago, I sold my car, and met my wife! These are songs that remind of that wonderful time - Step into my World' by Hurricane #1, 'Don't Whiz on the Electric Fence' by Ren and Stimpy, and finishing up with 'No Surprises' by Radiohead

This coming Sunday is three years since my mum died, so I wanted to dedicate this ninth episode of Troika to her memory! There are four pieces of music this time: 'Strawberry Fields Forever' - The Beatles', Ukelele Lady' - Peter Sellers and The Temperance Seven, 'The Lark Ascending' - Ralph Vaughan Williams and finally 'Dear Friends' - Elbow.