This episode started off as simply humorous, which I will certainly explore at some point in the future.
Then it became “Dark, deadpan and detached”. At which point it still had a number of humour-first tracks on it.
Then for a couple of hours I was convinced that “Deadpan women” was the way to go. But then I worried that this seemed arbitrarily limiting. And maybe sexist in its own hamfistedly well-intentioned way. (Lord be, but that whole area’s a minefield in which I live in constant fear of treading on a landmine and exploding.)
Then Steve Amphlett suggested the theme of ‘Sprechgesang’. Which, once I’d looked it up, turned out to be remarkably similar – “Speak-singing”, for those at the back – to how this episode has turned out.
It’s hard to do humour well in music. It’s more often the case when I hear a tone of voice, a stray lyric, even an unexpected chord change, I smile in appreciation. Mind you, Johnnie Walker used to have a weekday slot on Radio One called “Fun At One”. Anyone remember that? Fond childhood memories. Peter Cook and Nervous Norvus.
I generally find the best type of humour in music is the understated, wry, disaffected style exemplified by the artists on this list. Which, by the way, starts with a track, by the quintessential deadpan band who’ve just released their debut album, “Deep Long Leg”. I would urge you to become acquainted. My word, it’s outstanding.
