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Surprise! When you get an icon like Brian Eno on the podcast, it cannot wait until our usual Monday night drop. So we come to you early. 

Welcome to this special, bonus "Earth Day" (22 April) edition of the podcast. Brian Eno is a trailblazing musician, producer and activist. Working with everyone from U2 to Talking Heads, Coldplay to Grace Jones, he's also deeply passionate about climate action, and is the co-founder of Earth/Percent.

Today they launch Sounds Right where a group of huge artists are releasing new music where "NATURE" is the featured artist, and receives credit and royalty. A radically simple initiative. No biggy, but Brian's song is one he originally co-wrote with David Bowie. 'Get Real' features hyenas and some wild pigs. 

Greg Cochrane went to his legendary studio in London in March 2024 to record this conversation. 

You can watch clips of the podcast online now, just give us a follow on Instagram @midnightchatspod.

He also talks about the release of the "definitive Brian Eno documentary" – a new movie premiering in London on about the story of his life. This is Eno, though, there is a twist. It's a generative film powered by AI so will be different everytime it's screened. Plus, he demos Greg some previously unheard music and talks about the geopolitical state of the world in 2024. 

Enjoy. We'll be back in your feeds as usual this coming Monday night at midnight (BST). 

Links to stuff mentioned in the episode: 

Listen to the reimagined 'Get Real' by Brian Eno and David Bowie

Read more about Earth/Percent

Check out the Sounds Right initiative and listen to the songs 

More about 'Eno' the "definitive" documentary about Brian's life

Stream the accompanying soundtrack to the 'Eno' movie 

Brian's musical contributions to Sounds Right used The Listening Planet – a non-profit acoustic ecology sound library

Jarvis Cocker discussing his 'Biophobia' music and climate project 

Hard Art – a think tank for creative resistance 

Listen to Brian Eno speaking to Greg on the Sounds Like A Plan podcast 

Credits:

Interview by Greg Cochrane 

Editing by Stuart Stubbs 

Mixing and mastering by Flo Lines

Artwork by Kate Prior

Video by Robbie Hamilton 
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Maybe you were reminded of the genius songwriting of US duo MGMT when their song ‘Time To Pretend’ recently popped up on the Saltburn film soundtrack?

Ever since their breakthrough in 2007, with songs like ‘Kids’ and ‘Electric Feel’, the duo of Andrew VanWyngarden and Ben Goldwasser have continued to release a stream of compelling new music. 

Greg Cochrane spoke to them from their homes in America on opposite coasts to wind back the clock on meeting them for the first time in 2007, and hear early stories of their surreal meetings with Sir Paul McCartney, Arctic Monkeys and Adele. 

Plus, MGMT discuss performing their debut album Oracular Spectacular live (hello Broadway?), the period during COVID-19 where their song ‘Little Dark Age’ seemed to soundtrack every video on the internet and their future plans as a band. 

You can watch clips of the podcast online, now just give us a follow on Instagram @midnightchatspod.

This episode was recored in December 2023.

Links to stuff mentioned in the episode: 

Listen to MGMT’s new album ‘Loss Of Life’ album - out now - my favourite tracks are ‘People in the Streets’ and ‘Nothing Changes’ 

Watch MGMT’s video for ‘Bubblegum Dog’ on YouTube

Kid Cudi joins MGMT on stage at Coachella 2014

Credits:

Interview by Greg Cochrane 

Editing by Stuart Stubbs 

Mixing and mastering by Flo Lines

Artwork by Kate Prior

Video by Robbie Hamilton 
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Melbourne band King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard don't just make a LOT of records (they've released 25 since they started 11 years ago); each one comes with a different experiment at the heart of it. There's the thrash metal record; the collaborative jazz record; the microtonal record; one made exclusively on acoustic instruments; one that plays on an infinity loop. And on and on. 

Their latest (if you're quick enough), doesn't feature guitars at all – The Silver Cord is the rock band's synth only album, which we discuss a little on episode 125 of MC, with band leader Stuart Mackenzie. Along with what he remembers from those previous 24 albums, the band's origins on the Melbourne scene, and how on earth King Gizzard will come to end. If it ever will. 

Give the show a follow on Instagram and TikTok at @midnightchatspod.

This episode was recored in October 2023.

Further links:

Our KGATLW cover feature from 2017

Listen to The Silver Cord

The Discogs listing for all the bootlegged versions of Polygondwanaland

Credits:

Interview and editing by Stuart Stubbs

Mixing and Mastering by Flo Lines

Artwork by Kate Prior

 
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Adele – "There's something about Brittany [Howard] that puts fire in my soul – she’s so fucking full of soul, overflowing, dripping, that I almost can’t handle it."

Tonight's guest has some major, major fans: Kendrick Lamar, Tyler, The Creator, Fred again..., Chris Martin. The list could go on. Yet, the former Alabama Shakes frontwomen - and x5 Grammy Award winner - is totally grounded. Not to mention a total blast to hang out with.

She spoke to Greg Cochrane from her home in Nashville, where they were joined by her two dogs Wanda and Willie. They spoke about Brittany's love of angling, meditation and ignoring her smartphone; how she's humbled by the admiration from her musician peers; Brittany's love of the her local LGBTQ+ community; whether Alabama Shakes could ever re-unite. 

Plus, she shares what must be one of THE great stories about playing a show at Prince's legendary home and studio, Paisley Park. 

Recorded in January 2024. Find video clips of the chat on Tiktok and Instagram, @Midnightchatspod.

And if you picked up Brittany in a convertible car late one night in Madrid - let us know!

Further links:

Kissydollsusadirect.com

Brittany's second solo album What Now, was released in February 2024. 

Watch the lyric video for 'Prove It To You' 

Episode shout outs: 

Interview by Greg Cochrane

Editing by Stuart Stubbs

Mix and mastered by Flo Lines

Artwork by Kate Prior

Videos by Robbie Hamilton
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Legendary Dutch music photographer and filmmaker Anton Corbijn is the man who's made black and white photography his own since 1979, while shooting everyone from Joy Division to Depeche Mode to Bowie to The Rolling Stones. He became the visual creative director of Depeche Mode and U2 around the time he started directing some of the most iconic music videos of our time, from 'Enjoy The Silence' to Nirvana's 'Heart Shaped Box'. 

In 2007, Anton directed the Ian Curtis biopic Control starring Sam Riley, followed by Hollywood studio picture The American, starring George Clooney, in 2010. 

We talk about all of this and Corbijn's latest documentary Squaring The Circle in this week's podcast. 

Give the show a follow on Instagram and TikTok at @midnightchatspod.

This episode was recored in July 2023.

Further links:

One of Anton's icon Joy Division tube station photos

Nirvana's 'Heart Shaped Box'

Depeche Mode's 'Enjoy The Silence'

Control trailer

The American trailer

Squaring The Triangle trailer

Credits:

Interview and editing by Stuart Stubbs

Mixing and Mastering by Flo Lines

Artwork by Kate Prior

 
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over black coffee and biscuits at his kitchen table at home in Bristol IDLES' vocalist Joe Talbot speaks to Greg Cochrane. 

In discussion: Joe's mental health, his band and the state of UK politics. Plus, talk of transformative parenthood, working with LCD Soundsystem and his new music plans with Jamie T and Willie J. Healey.  

Recorded in December 2023 - find video clips of the chat on our socials, we're @Midnightchatspod. 

Further links:

Joe Talbot on episode 94 of Midnight Chats. 

Read IDLES' cover feature interview with Loud And Quiet from 2018. 

Listen to IDLES recently released album 'Tangk'.

Episode shout outs: 

Interview by Greg Cochrane. 

Editing by Stuart Stubbs. 

Mix and master by Flo Lines. 

Artwork by Kate Prior.  
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.