Music Review
The Sampler 6 June 2017
In The Sampler this week Nick Bollinger talks to Benjamin Booker about Mexico, Mavis and his sophomore album, and reviews a set of country songs about passsion's pitfalls from John Moreland, while… Audio
Big Bad Luv by John Moreland
Nick Bollinger reviews a set of country songs about passion's pitfalls from John Moreland. Audio
Witness by Benjamin Booker
Nick Bollinger talks to Benjamin Booker about Mexico, Mavis and his sophomore album. Audio
This Old Dog by Mac DeMarco
Elliott Childs assesses the latest from Canadian D.I.Y. exponent Mac Demarco. Audio
The Sampler: Ako by Blick Bassy
Nick Bollinger reviews a familiar yet strange sound which combines blues and Cameroonian folk song, and just about everything else. Video, Audio
Goths by The Mountain Goats
With the Nashville Symphony Chorus sounding like they are in Westminster Abbey, and John Darnielle singing about castles and batcaves, the opening track on Goths is gothic by definition, but... Video, Audio
Album Review: Party by Aldous Harding
There's a sense of theatre about Party, which subverts the typical notion of the singer-songwriter as confessor and beacon of authenticity. Aldous Harding seems to be giving herself permission to… Video, Audio
The Sampler 23 May 2017
In The Sampler this week Nick Bollinger sets out to identify the various voices of Aldous Harding; a goth-themed album from long-running indie band The Mountain Goats; and the Cameroonian blues of… Audio
The Sampler for Tuesday, 16 May 2017
Nick Bollinger explores the nouveau-psychedelia of The Nudge; the percussive peregrinations of Riki Gooch, who records as Cave Circles; a solitary set from Dunedin singer-songwriter Matt Langley; and… Audio
Kindly Leave The Stage by The Distractions
Nick Bollinger focuses on the final part of a trilogy from Manchester's The Distractions. Audio
Winterdust by Matt Langley
Nick Bollinger digests a solitary set from Dunedin singer-songwriter Matt Langley. Audio
My Heart Is A Beating Drum by Cave Circles
Nick Bollinger explores the percussive peregrinations of Riki Gooch, who records as Cave Circles. Audio
Dark Arts by The Nudge
Nick Bollinger tastes the nouveau-psychedelia of The Nudge. Audio
The Ecstatic Music of Alice Coltrane/Turiyasangitananda
Nick Bollinger discusses a retrospective set of devotional music from Alice Coltrane. Audio
Robyn Hitchcock by Robyn Hitchcock
Nick Bollinger reviews a new album of surrealistic pop from Robyn Hitchcock. Audio
Whiteout Conditions by The New Pornographers
Elliott Childs samples new music from Canadian collective The New Pornographers. Audio
The Sampler 9 May 2017
In The Sampler this week Nick Bollinger discusses the surrealist pop of Robyn Hitchcock and the ecstatic music of Alice Coltrane, while Elliott Childs samples new music from Canadian collective The… Audio
The Sampler 2 May 2017
Is Kendrick Lamar the greatest rapper alive? In The Sampler this week Nick Bollinger considers the claim. And he discusses a new Nick Cave retrospective and a 150-song set of Australasian fuzz-toned… Audio
The Sampler: Lovely Creatures by Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds
Nick Bollinger discusses a 30-year retrospective of Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds. Audio
Damn by Kendrick Lamar
Is Kendrick Lamar the greatest living rapper? Nick Bollinger weighs up the evidence. Audio