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.
Tracklist:
Unsmart lady, Dry Cleaning
Re: your brains, Jonathan Coulton
Macho, Jaako Eino Kalevi
Seen and not seen, Talking Heads
England made me, Black Box Recorder
The fear, Lily Allen
Suspended from class, Camera Obscura
Dress sexy at my funeral, Smog
Diet, The Au Pairs
Life in a Scotch sitting room 2, Episode 11, Ivor Cutler
Your back again, Linoleum
Shadow bloom, Florist
Beauty lies in the eye, Sonic Youth
Knobheads on quiz shows, Half Man Half Biscuit