Arts: The London Ear
Hear Ariel Pink, Death and Vic Reeves wax lyrical on the Resonance show
Words Henry Farmery
The London Ear’s archive has recently opened its virtual doors to anyone with an internet connection and an ear so inclined. Ben Thompson comperes each hour-long episode and is joined by some noteworthy names, including Vic Reeves, Death (as in the seventies punk band) and sweetheart of the underground, Ariel Pink, to name but a few.
The London Ear started as a newspaper column in 2003 before making the jump to spoken word he following year. The program is now hosted weekly on non-profit radio station Resonance 104.4FM. A selection of 24 episodes is to be showcased in a day-long airing called ‘24 Hours of Ears’, but the instalments have also been made available online uninterrupted by adverts.
The quaint crackle of Gershwin’s ‘A Foggy Day’ begins each episode of the archive and what follows is an hour of intrigue and esotericism. Guests are either interviewed or co-present, with some even electing to provide live music in the studio. The tone is relaxed and carries the hushed nuance of a Radio 4 program but – by way of Thompson’s impeccable taste in guests and music – dodges any subdued stodginess.
Death’s episode is killer, providing lucid insight into Beatle-crazed America and their transition from R&B troupe Rock Fire Funk Express to punk pioneers. Vic Reeves explores his musical upbringing in typically jocular fashion, with notable appearances from Iron Butterfly’s ‘In A Gadda Da Vida’ and The Slits’ ‘Shoplifting’. Ariel Pink, meanwhile, holds forth on the perils of being a “misunderstood genius” whilst wearing capri pants, spray-on pink t-shirt and clogs.
You can hear all three episodes on the Soundcloud streams below. If you want to hear more (and if you have any sense, you will), check out the rest of the earchive at The London Ear’s website.
