Free Association With Brian Carpenter

Thalia Zedek stops by Free Association with her new record Fighting Season and talks about her long-time friendship with J. Mascis, solo work, her upcoming tour with Chris Brokaw, and more. Original air date: September 7, 2018 Thalia Zedek Band“Bend Again”, Fighting Season Thrill Jockey Records 2018 Conversation Thalia Zedek Band “Fighting Season”, Fighting Season Thrill Jockey Records 2018 Thalia Zedek Band “Of The Unknown”, Fighting Season Thrill Jockey Records 2018 Conversation Thalia Zedek Band“You Will Wake”, EveThrill Jockey Records 2016 Come“Mercury Falls”Don’t Ask Don’t Tell Matador 1994 Come“Weak as the Moon”Near-Life Experience Matador 1996 Conversation Gold Dime“Easy”, Nerves Fire Talk 2017 Conversation Cassels “Coup”, Epithet Big Scary Monsters 2017

Thalia Zedek and Gavin McCarthy, two thirds of the band E with Jason Sanford, return to Free Association with a new record Negative Work. The lively conversation ranges from recording and mixing to rehearsing and touring. Original air date: May 18, 2018

Engineer, producer, and musician Martin Bisi has been recording bands for over 35 years at B.C. Studios in the Gowanus section of Brooklyn and has a new collaborative record out called BC 35: The 35 Year Anniversary of BC Studio with members of many of the bands he recorded in the 80s and 90s such as Swans, Cop Shoot Cop, Foetus, Alice Donut, and Live Skull. Martin called into Free Association to talk about the record and we played some tracks from his long history as an engineer and producer recording some of the landmark underground rock records. Original air date: May 10, 2018 BC35, JG Thirlwell, Dana Schechter, Laura Ortman & The BC Radiophonic Choir, “Downhill”The 35 Year Anniversary of BC Studio Bronson Recordings 2018   BC35, Dan Kaufman, Brian Viglione, Jason LaFarge, Paul Wallfisch, Martin Bisi & Neil Exall “The Animals Speak Truth”The 35 Year Anniversary of BC Studio Bronson Recordings 2018 BC35 & Ajda The Turkish Queen “Take This Ride”The 35 Year Anniversary of BC Studio Bronson Recordi

Damon Krukowski and Naomi Yang visit Free Association to talk about Damon’s new book The New Analog, a fascinating look at the shift from analog to digital in music and other mediums. The conversation ranges from “thick listening” to records versus digital media, what happens when we listen with headphones, background conversations on Pet Sounds, credits and production on the new Taylor Swift single, and a great anecdote behind the Galaxie 500 song “Oblivious”.

Music from and inspired by Twin Peaks in advance of Season Three. An interview with composer Angelo Badamalenti, plus music from David Lynch, Julee Cruise, Jimmy Scott, Johnny Jewel, Fantomas, and Xiu Xiu.

An essay on urban loneliness, with two tracks from the funny and poignant new album Room 29 by Chilly Gonzales and Jarvis Cocker, plus music from David Shire, Bill Conti, Nick Cave, Bill Callahan, and more. Original air date: March 24, 2017 Chilly Gonzales & Jarvis Cocker “Room 29 (reprise)” from Room 29 (Deutsche Grammophon 2017) Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds “Slowly Goes the Night” from Tender Prey (Mute 1988) Roy Orbison “Only The Lonely” from Only the Lonely - Single Talk Talk “Myrrhman” from Laughing Stock (Polydor 1991) Chilly Gonzales & Jarvis Cocker “Tearjerker” from Room 29 ALBUM (Deutsche Grammophon 2017) Bill Callahan “Invocation of Ratiocination” from Sometimes I Wish We Were an Eagle (Drag City Inc. 2009) Announcement break Chilly Gonzales & Jarvis Cocker “The Tearjerker Returns” from Room 29 ALBUM (Deutsche Grammophon 2017) David Shire “Theme from The Conversation” from The Conversation OMST (1974) Chilly Gonzales & Jarvis Cocker “Trick of the Light” from Room 29 ALBUM (Deutsche Grammopho

A tribute to Robert Fisher, the songwriter behind Willard Grant Conspiracy, who passed away last month. Long-time WGC member David Michael Curry visits WZBC to talk about the history and play some selected cuts of the discography, plus a premiere of the forthcoming record Untethered. Original air date: March 10, 2017

Guitarist Glenn Jones visits Free Association to talk about his new record Fleeting and premiere tracks from forthcoming releases Waterworks, a remarkable live recording with Matthew Azevedo, and An Idea In Everything, a collaboration with drummer Chris Corsano and visual and performing artist David Greenberger. Glenn also expounds on the American Primitive style and the influence of John Fahey and Jack Rose in his life. Original air date: February 24, 2017

Russ Gershon, leader of the Either/Orchestra, brings in his forthcoming record from the Ethiopiques series, plus some never-released Ethiopian radio recordings of the source material. The Either/Orchestra, founded over 30 years ago, has become one of the leading exponents of Ethiopian big band music, with several recordings, two trips to Ethiopia, plus concerts around the globe. In this episode, Russ gives an oral history of the Ethiopian Armenians and the composer Nerses Nalbandian, whose compositions set the stage for modern Ethiopian music. Original air date: February 10, 2017

Gavin McCarthy and Thalia Zedek of E stop by Free Association to talk about their new record released this month on Thrill Jockey, writing, touring, and making music in Boston. Plus two recommendations from Gavin. Original air date: November 18, 2016

Brian Carpenter joins Adam Glasseye (Gun Mother, Reverend Glasseye) to journey through the tower of song by Leonard Cohen, one of the greatest songwriters of all time, who passed away last week at the age of 82. Original air date: November 18, 2016

Marissa Nadler joins Brian Carpenter on Free Association to talk about the making of her new record Strangers, the voice, and her career in music and art. Plus Marissa brings in a few surprises, including her beautiful lo-fi companion record Bury Your Name and a few influences, including an incredible cover of Leonard Cohen’s “Suzanne” by the great Nina Simone. Air date: September 23, 2016

Andrew Stern, one of Boston’s most innovative and adventurous guitarists, visited Free Association to talk about his wide-ranging music and influences. Air date: May 12, 2016

Prince was a force of nature…an astounding multi-instrumentalist, singer, and composer. Here are a few deep cuts, B sides, remixes, and popular songs mixed in with a few inspirations and artists inspired by Prince.

Terry Donahue of Alloy Orchestra stops by Free Association to talk about making music for silent films. For 25 years, Alloy Orchestra has been one of the premier ensembles composing and performing live music for silent films, including the 1929 Soviet experimental art film Man with a Movie Camera and Buster Keaton’s The General.

Thalia Zedek (Thalia Zedek Band, E, Come) stops by Free Association to chat about her music and collaborations, plus some Boston music history.

Guests Carla Kihlstedt and Matthias Bossi of Rabbit Rabbit join the show with Viggo Nelson Bossi in tow to talk about their music and history, Sleepytime Gorilla Museum, and a story behind Bob Dylan’s Lay Lady Lay.

Father and son Brian and Alex team up to navigate through new and old duet collaborations from John Butcher/Fred Frith, Colin Stetson/Sarah Neufeld, David Bowie/Brian Eno, Robert Fripp/Brian Eno to Krzystof Penderecki/Jonny Greenwood. Plus music for choirs from Swingle Singers, Andrew Byrne, Caroline Shaw, Roomful of Teeth, 2001: A Space Odyssey (Gyorgy Ligeti). And the zombie apocalypse.

Imagination and Innovation: The World of Raymond Scott. Episode 6: Manhattan Research, Inc., featuring special guests Tom Rhea, Jeff Winner, and Brian Dewan

Imagination and Innovation: The World of Raymond Scott. Episode 5: Cartoons (1942-1955) with special guests J.G. Thirlwell, DJ Spooky, and Daniel Goldmark