Snowglobe give us cause to question whether you need to be writing and performing garage rock to make it in Memphis. And the answer would appear to be "no". We spin five tracks in all in today's show from their 2 albums. Our Land Brains was Snowglobe's debut LP released on Nine Mile Records and is beautifully produced and features a completely blank side D. Followed up by the brilliant Doing The Distance which was never pressed to vinyl. Until now that is. Black and Wyatt Records of Memphis, Tennessee have now released this excellent LP on wax. Both Snowglobe albums are interspersed with dainty little musical diversions that far from being filler, are sweet moments in themselves. Horns, glockenspiels, keys and the usual guitar suspects weave a tender web of uplifting music. There is certainly a little of the Elephant 6 Collective to be heard on both recordings. However, we find Snowglobe's music to be less avant grade than their stablemates. Notable tracks include Adrenalin Mother, Baby and Medium. It is a refreshing sound that comes from these releases and a welcome change to most of the mass produced and manufactured sound that gets fed to the masses. We only hope that Snowglobe attract the interest and recognition they richly deserve, and of course we want another LP!

From the Bottom of the Record Box

Snowglobe bring thoughtful, inspirational music to the finale of Season III

Los Psychosis manage to cut their debut LP to wax amid a system that is groaning under the strain of unprecedented global demand. And we've managed to grab a test pressing! Wow, what a record this is. Authentic, dripping with fiery Latin fusion and more than a nod to music from a bygone era. Gone are the overtly familiar tones of a sloppy double bass and a welcome heralding of accordion and lap steel. Certainly very different from the psychobilly movement in the UK back in the 1980s this is, however, certainly a noticeable stable mate. There is certainly an imminent line up change in the band looming, but this debut LP from this bunch of Memphis rockers will long remain a favourite here at Record Box HQ. Secondly, Tobin scoops a chat with friend of the show Abril Gabriele. Since we last featured her on the show much has changed for Abril. Her angelic voice though remains just as mesmerising as ever, and we find out just what she's been up too. Jamie brings the excellent IKOQWE along with a cover shot of a much revered Bowie classic. Furthermore we have Test Card Girl's new release, a poignant and tender serenade to her father. It's a glimpse of what is to come on her much anticipated EP. And to top off an already excellent playlist this week, the mighty W.H. Lung return with a new album. We spin the pre-release single on the show and it's a banger.

Los Psychosis' storming debut LP fires into the cosmos

Birthday Ass were formed as an improvisational outfit with no clear idea about the sound of the band. It's freeform we guess. Richard loves Birthday Ass. Jamie is confused by Birthday Ass, he thinks he loves it but it makes his brain hurt and makes it difficult for him to speak properly. Tobin definitely does not like Birthday Ass, he tried it, he was at first open to the idea but eventually he decided he didn't want anymore Birthday Ass. It's a shame really because it's a great thing. And we recommend Birthday Ass to everyone. Secondly, there is more this week. First up is Jamie's excellent glam rock bookend from Art d'Ecco and the "all so shouldn't work" mixed bag of instruments that is Indialucia. Stop Light Observations prompt some intense studio discussion and later Richard butts in with an impromptu spin of theirs. We also trade off Manchester against Liverpool with some class music from each of these great cities. Plus, there's news of Kelsey Bulkin and Made in Heights. Oh yeah, and there's Cassandra Jenkins.

It's all about Birthday Ass this week. Who wouldn't want that?

Merry Christmas, fuzzy avant-garde folk infused strangeness from Japan are this week's focus and bring us delight in bucket loads. Merry Christmas bring a much needed antidote to the norm with their fun and enthusiastic songbook. Eschewing the music industry norms, their innocent but ultimately thought provoking music is a welcome break from tradition. Their debut LP The Night The Night Fell opens with glockenspiel and signature ballistic rhythm bursts before opening up to wonderfully simple melody. It's a sound both bold and gently simple and gives way to arresting synth bursts that will wake up the most disinterested of ears. The loose concept album follows a journey quite like no other. Despite the at times gawkish tunes Merry Christmas are not without music sentimentality. The tender First Lull offers a glimpse into the more introspective side of the band. With its vocal harmonies mirroring each other perfectly and playing out of the acoustic guitar and ever present glockenspiel, this track feels like a bridge in the album. It gives way to the more upbeat Magnets before the madness of Meredith Bites The Earth unfolds and arrests listeners. Merry Christmas offer a rare look at what is possible with a little vision and a desire to escape the all too constrictive bonds of chasing popularity and the comfort of conformity. This confident album is a treat despite its lo-fi credentials and should be in every audiophile's collection. Here at Record Box HQ we will certainly be watching the band's evolution with much interest.

Merry Christmas - fuzzy folk infused math rock from Japan

JIM - we play a wistful, soft track off his 4 track EP this week. And with only 18 months of guitar playing under his belt! The sublime and delicate sound of the EP made choosing a track to play rather difficult. The titular opening track gives way throughout to gentle strings, woven around JIM's warm vocal tone. Both bowed and pizzicato the strings add dimension and tonal space to this comforting track. JIM picks up the tempo slightly on Phoenix and introduces slightly monastic sounding backing vocals for rich reward. Moving on through the EP we drop Whisper In The Wind into the show. It's a melancholic throw back to the days of Simon & Garfunkel and CSNY. Sounds of yesteryear brought bang up to date by JIM. The final track, You Know What To Say is more gentle acoustic noodling with the simple, very honest and light introduction of synth and choral voices. It's all very stylistic and fresh sounding and indicative of the early promise from this multi-talented musician. One to watch in the future for sure.

JIM brings his warm, gentle and pastoral sounds to the Record Box this week

Surfer Gorilla, hailing from Colombia, are brought to the show this week by That Jamie leaning toward sounds from his ancestral home. The opening track by Surfer Gorilla features rap artiste Diggis, whom Richard likens to an accountant from North Yorkshire. Richard does apologise for this as it does sound rather disparaging. However, Surfer Gorilla are proving to be something of a hit with the FTBOTRB crew. Both tracks today come from the 2020 LP Dimos Vueltas en el Aire! (We Circled In The Air). The album is a fantastic mix of Latino sounding short tracks, the whole LP weighing in at only 21 minutes. That being said, it is a solid listen and will definitely transport you to distant shores. Surfer Gorilla really have created a fantastic body of work here. It's rapidly becoming our barbecue and garden party go to album. If only for the sun drenched vibes and foot tapping trappy drum beats. Stand out track for this Record Box Recommendation would have to be You Got That Bounce. All the tracks are short on this LP, but this one has such a '70s vibe and infectious groove, it really stands out. A track to start your party and get the cocktails flowing nicely. The whole record involves aspects of politics, life, the legalisation of drugs and nature, so a pretty eclectic mix. All the tracks on the album were written and recorded in Colombia's lockdown. Prepared for the worst, hoping for the best. If you want an honest proposal, made with the heart and a lot of love and the greatest vibes in the world, then give these two gorillas a listen.

Surfer Gorilla shred some summer Colombian vibes on today's show

Look Mum No Computer completely rewrites the analogue modular synth rulebook with homemade modules and music, so bloody British. Making a big noise on the show this week, Look Mum No Computer proves to be a massive hit with the FTBOTRB crew. We've got two songs from them and lots of discussion about our thoughts and feelings of this unique act. Look Mum No Computer has also opened a museum showcasing some of his many creations. It is without doubt on our list of must visits when post-pandemic UK reopens. Richard returns with songwriting phenomenon Nick Noone and his prophetic and reflective song Don't Let The Papers Get You Down. Nashville musician Nick Noone has a massive back catalogue of original songwriting to his credit and it is clearly just a matter of time until he starts making big waves. Jamie brings reggae to the show. Enough said. However, he also brings the fantastic Liverpool outfit The Marigolds and their genuine punk sound to our ears. However, the real gem in this show is brought to you by Tobin. It's a contemporary take on a classic, traditional Pakistani song. It's given a deft, artful and thoroughly beautiful reworking by Arooj Aftab. So settle down in your happy place, maybe grab a beer, and join the boys for an hour of music and conversation.

Look Mum No Computer and his bank of homemade analogue synths blow us away

Senyawa serve up a vision of hell today in a track so divisive Tobin actually leaves the studio, declaring "The End" of the show. The song is 9 minutes of utter brilliance but not appreciated by everyone it seems. In their rich 11 year history Senyawa have managed to blend traditional Indonesian sounds with punk and avant-garde. Senyawa have done this brilliantly despite Tobin's scathing attitude toward Alkisah - today's featured track. Earlier this year the band collaborated with 44 independent labels across the globe on the release of Alkisah. The labels were able to create their own artwork for the LP along with remix and master the tracks to appeal to local tastes. Quite a revolutionary thing in the music industry. Disco reappears on the menu too today. Tobin has resisted his primal urges for too long and has finally given way. Therefore, we bring in two disco classics from Rare Pleasure thirty years apart. Old favourites Sault provide a 90s themed club classic and Jamie mixes things up last minute with Declan O'Rourke. Join us for this week's Music Discovery, let's dive straight in.

Richard enters hell and the rest of the crew follow with him

Biosynth, self-described French synth geek, beings us closer to France with a poetic look at the city and people of Nantes. Originally scheduled to open the show, the track Nantes immediately came under fire. Tobin thought it too much for our listeners as an opener. Of course Richard disagrees and it leaves the team on the edge of war. What we do now know , however, is that this track is an official FTBOTRB banger. You can find out a little more about Biosynth later in the show notes. Secondly, Ben from Wolf City and friend of the show tries to unlock the secret of Nantes below. Tobin is far more dependable this week and choses to stay firmly on tried and tested ground. His love affair for Harmony Byrne continues as he spins her latest track. He drops in Yves Jarvis' new LP too and urges us to delve deeper. Oh, and Jamie brings us something awful from London. Alas, if you've ever visited London you'll easily understand why this song is so awful.

Biosynth top and tail the show with a critical look at the city of Nantes with poet Gilles Durand

Bayboards are our focus this week and our Jamie gets to chat to the up and coming Manchester home grown talent on today's show. Firstly, Bayboards give us two excellent tracks and a chat. Secondly, Richard is off the foreign shores with his first track of the show from Dr Jazz Dixieland Band. You can find out more about this fully acoustic jazz set up on the show and in the accompanying show notes below. It is a fascinating story. Furthermore, Tobin is off to Somalia for an 80's dance floor shredder of epic proportions. Coming up later in the show we've also got Double Trouble with Romero followed by Jack Oblivian and The Sheiks. Richard is clearly indulging his love of the Memphis music scene again and he shows no signs of slowing down. We've heard rumour there is more from Memphis coming up in Season III. As a result of Richard's love of the avant grade he'll also be introducing us to Volleyball, a new psychedelic collective born out of Pandemic Britain.

Exclusive interview with Bayboards and a bookend from this excellent Manchester band

Noah C Lekas steamrolls the sky this week as we spin his latest vinyl release live in the studio. It's another cracker from Blind Owl Records. You can grab your copy right here. This fantastic new production draws on Noah C Lekas' book Saturday Night Sage. Noah reads excerpts from the book to some wicked music provided by other acts from the Blind Owl stable. On this record you'll get to hear music from Howlin' Rain and Mrs Henry amongst others. It's a brilliant collaboration and of course comes fully recommended from Record Box.

Vinyl play from Blind Owl Records live in the studio - Noah C Lekas with Saturday Night Sage

Savannah Pope's new single finally walks amongst us and becomes our focus on this week's show. It's Season III of the Music Discovery podcast. The record marks a change in the wind for Savannah, slightly spooky, gothic and subdued. However, you may be forgiven to think that the Savannah we know and love is gone forever. Spiralling out of control alone in the cosmos - much like her "Creature" video. You'd be wrong. Rock goddess and visually stunning Savannah once again finishes in a spine tingling climax. No secret then that we once again see her artistic skills with the now-to-be-expected mind blowing video. Although this season kicking off show looks at much more than Savannah Pope's new single. We have Wesley Bennett's latest release too. A tender collection of 5 introspective and intimate musings, it's what we've come to expect from him. Wesley is such an inspirational and exciting song writer who deserves a much wider audience. His first EP - Middle Man - was a fantastic listen.

Welcome to season III with new music from Savannah Pope and Wesley Bennett

Join us for our take on the best music we played during 2020.

Our now traditional end of year playlist

Christmas Music on the show can mean only one thing, it's the end of another season of music celebration and review. We serve up another festive smorgasbord of musical crackers with all the trimmings. Join Tobin, Jamie and Richard to celebrate "Good Riddance" to an Annus Horribilis. It's been a year of unprecedented changes not only in the world of music, but in the world as a whole. Christmas Music with a difference from the 3 boys this week. It also marks the end of Season II of the show so it is with a heavy heart that we bid you farewell as we head into our recess. Alas, the lads will be back, bigger, stronger, more opinionated and combative than ever for Season III on April 10th. So, get involved in the meantime by contacting us here. We'd love to hear from you whether you are a listener or a musician.

As Season II comes to a close, join us for a few festive musical nuggets

Ryo Kawasaki is a jazz fusion guitarist, composer and band leader from Tokyo, Japan. Kawasaki is best known as one of the first musicians to develop and popularise the fusion genre. Secondly he helped to develop the guitar synthesizer in collaboration with Roland Corporation and Korg. His album Ryo Kawasaki & the Golden Dragon Live was one of the first all digital recordings. An extremely warm reception greeted NuNorthern Soul's debut EP of Ryo Kawasaki music. The label's Phat Phil Cooper has decided upon a follow up. Ryo Kawasaki made over 25 albums in his almost five decade long career. There's plenty of Ryo Kawasaki's music to choose from. Once again, Phil Cooper has chosen to concentrate on Kawasaki's mid 1970s to early 1980s period. It is a time which saw the guitarist living in New York. Surrounded at the time by and often playing alongside some of the finest jazz players of the era. Therefore, it was a time of much experiment with jazz music and few things propel Ryo Kawasaki more than experimentation. His mid 1970s period saw him explore what was to become known as jazz fusion music. A sometimes heavy-sounding variation, wild with revolutionary, new electronic sounds and steeped in funk and rock influences. From that period Kawasaki lead several album projects and the band Golden Dragon. On these recordings Ryo Kawasaki's famous, personally modified guitar synthesizer really comes to the fore.

Tugboat Captain return to the show with their debut LP on wax

The ultimate weekly music podcast for serious music lovers. Join your hosts Richard and Tobin for a show bursting with the best of new music, rock, blues, indie, pop, alternative, classic rock and roll, cover songs, electronica, singer-songwriter, listener recommendations and much more. Give your ears a treat on your commute to and from work as we listen to and discuss songs from all genres of music, young and old, as we attempt to widen not only our own musical palate but also that of our listeners. Whether you're an occasional music listener or a seasoned music lover, we're sure you'll find a new musical discovery in our rich musical grab bag! New show broadcast every Saturday 23:00GMT.

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From the Bottom of the Record Box

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