Dead Air Records – Details, episodes & analysis

In this bonus episode, we’re joined by Andy McCluskey — co-founder, songwriter and creative force behind Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark — for a deep, chronological conversation spanning more than four decades of music, technology and ideas.

Andy takes us back to his earliest relationship with sound, growing up on the Wirral in 1970s Britain, discovering Kraftwerk, and becoming fascinated not just with songs, but with texture, machinery and the possibilities of noise itself. From The Id to that first OMD gig at Eric’s in 1978 — complete with a tape recorder as a band member — we explore the Liverpool and Manchester scenes that shaped the group, including those formative early shows alongside Joy Division.

We dive into Andy’s long-standing creative partnership with Paul Humphreys, the DIY ethos that defined OMD’s early experiments, and how home-built synths, tape machines and limitations helped forge a totally new musical language. Andy reflects on the evolution from analogue to digital, the emotional pull of certain machines, and why OMD have always been more interested in pushing technology forward than chasing nostalgia.

Across the episode, we take deep dives into key albums — from the self-titled debut and Architecture & Morality, through the misunderstood brilliance of Dazzle Ships, the commercial shifts of the late ’80s, the Sugar Tax era, and the band’s eventual disbandment in the mid-'90s. Andy talks about what led to the band’s reformation in 2005, and the creative renaissance that followed with albums like English Electric, The Punishment of Luxury, and 2023’s Bauhaus Staircase.

We also explore OMD’s strong visual identity and its deep ties to Liverpool and the Wirral, Andy’s relationship with designers and artists, and the importance of place in shaping both sound and imagery. Beyond OMD, Andy reflects on The Motor Museum studio, his work writing for other artists during the late ’90s and 2000s, and what he learned from stepping into the world of pop songwriting.

We finish by talking about touring then and now, playing to multi-generational audiences, what still excites Andy creatively, and the advice he’d give to young artists starting out today — plus who he’s listening to right now.

A huge thank you to Andy McCluskey for his generosity, insight and time.

The Dead Air Records podcast is hosted by Marc and Jess. Filmed and edited by Second Best Studios. New episodes every Thursday at 5pm.

Watch on YouTube or listen on Spotify and Apple.

Check out our Season 1 and Season 2 playlists on Spotify to listen to any of the music mentioned in the podcast.

Contact: info@deadairvinyl.co.uk

Website | Instagram | Facebook | TikTok

For our first Christmas bonus episode, we’re joined by guitarist, songwriter and Liverpool icon Nasher — a key member of Frankie Goes to Hollywood.

Nasher takes us back to his early musical roots and the energy of Liverpool in the late 70s and early 80s, before guiding us through the formation of FGTH and the club scene that shaped the band’s sound and style. We dive into the breakthrough of Relax and Two Tribes, the cultural shockwaves of 1984, and the stories behind the bold visuals, the BBC ban, and the unapologetic identity the band projected at a pivotal moment in UK history.

We explore the making of Welcome to the Pleasuredome, working with Trevor Horn, and the new deluxe reissues bringing the album to a new generation. Nasher also reflects on the heavier direction of Liverpool, the pressures of global success, and the tensions that eventually pulled the band apart.

We round things off with his solo work, songwriting, the artists inspiring him today, and his advice for new bands finding their voice.

A huge thank you to Nasher for sharing his time, honesty and stories with us.

The Dead Air Records podcast is hosted by Marc and Jess. Filmed and edited by Second Best Studios. New episodes every Thursday at 5pm.

Watch on YouTube or listen on Spotify and Apple.

Check out our Season 1 and Season 2 playlists on Spotify to listen to any of the music mentioned in the podcast.

Contact: info@deadairvinyl.co.uk

Website | Instagram | Facebook | TikTok

We can’t quite believe this one ourselves… For Episode 2 of Season 2 of the Dead Air Records podcast, we sat down with Alan McGee – the legendary founder of Creation Records, the man who discovered Oasis, Primal Scream, My Bloody Valentine and so many more.

McGee doesn’t do interviews these days, which makes this conversation even more special. We cover the wild early days of Creation, the 90s explosion, how the music industry has changed, and what he’s up to now, managing bands like Public Image Ltd, Cast and Ocean Colour Scene. He also shares his thoughts on the Oasis reunion.

Filmed and recorded inside our independent record store in Liverpool, this is an episode not to be missed.

The Dead Air Records podcast is hosted by Marc and Jess. Filmed and edited by Second Best Studios. New episodes every Thursday at 5pm.

Watch on YouTube or listen on Spotify and Apple.

Check out our Season 1 and Season 2 playlists on Spotify to listen to any of the music mentioned in the podcast.

Contact: info@deadairvinyl.co.uk

Website | Instagram | Facebook | TikTok

We’re back for Season 2 of the Dead Air Records podcast — recorded right here inside our independent record store in Liverpool.

In this opening episode, we catch up on everything that’s been happening in and around the shop over the summer, share our picks for the best albums of 2025 so far, and dig into the latest Liverpool music news. We’ll also shine a spotlight on bands that have caught our attention recently, and bring back Across the Counter with special releases from Taylor Swift, De La Soul, and Metallica.

The Dead Air Records podcast is hosted by Marc and Jess. Filmed and edited by Second Best Studios. New episodes every Thursday at 5pm.

Watch on YouTube or listen on Spotify and Apple.

Check out our Season 1 and Season 2 playlists on Spotify to listen to any of the music mentioned in the podcast.

Contact: info@deadairvinyl.co.uk

Website | Instagram | Facebook | TikTok

We’ve made it to the final episode of Season One - and we’re going out with a bang. To wrap up the season, we’re joined by the incredible Liverpool-rooted electronic duo Those Holy for an intimate in-store performance that blends industrial textures with synth-wave energy. Massive thanks to Chrissy and Lucy for bringing their unique sound to the shop.

Listen to the full set in this episode or head to YouTube to watch the performance, and stick around afterwards for a chat with the band.

We’re taking a short break and will be back later this summer with more bands, deep-dive conversations, hot takes, and crate-digging debates. Thanks so much to everyone who’s watched, listened, shared, and supported the show – it means the world.

Big love to all our guests this season, and a huge shoutout to the people who’ve made it happen behind the scenes:

🎥 Maddie and Laurie at Second Best Studios.
🙌 Millie and Owen for their additional help on the performance episodes.

See you soon for Season Two.

The Dead Air Records podcast is hosted by Marc and Jess. Filmed and edited by Second Best Studios. New episodes every Thursday at 5pm.

Watch on YouTube or listen on Spotify and Apple.

Check out our Season 1 and Season 2 playlists on Spotify to listen to any of the music mentioned in the podcast.

Contact: info@deadairvinyl.co.uk

Website | Instagram | Facebook | TikTok

In this week’s episode - the penultimate of season one - we’re getting personal. We’re taking it back to where it all began: a job Marc hated, a tough mental health journey, selling records from the back of our car, and the leap of faith that led to opening our shop. Fast forward to today, and we’re just a few weeks away from celebrating two years of Dead Air Records on Suffolk Street. 

We talk about the challenges of running an independent record shop - from launching in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis to surviving a 10-month road closure, the arrival of Rough Trade, and navigating a male-dominated industry. We also reflect on the risks we took along the way - and why they were 100% worth it.

Most importantly, this episode is a thank you. To everyone who has supported us, believed in us, and been part of this journey - we wouldn’t be here without you.

Plus:
🔹 Across the Counter – this week’s grails are a first-press of Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of the Moon and Aphex Twin’s Drukqs.
🔹 Record Store Day 2025 – what’s on our wishlist and where you should be buying your records.
🔹 Liverpool’s Record Store Map – a brand-new project we’ve been quietly building with Dig Vinyl and 81 Renshaw, now ready to launch!

The Dead Air Records podcast is hosted by Marc and Jess. Filmed and edited by Second Best Studios. New episodes every Thursday at 5pm.

Watch on YouTube or listen on Spotify and Apple.

Check out our Season 1 and Season 2 playlists on Spotify to listen to any of the music mentioned in the podcast.

Contact: info@deadairvinyl.co.uk

Website | Instagram | Facebook | TikTok

In this episode of the Dead Air Records Podcast, we're back with a friendly crash course on jazz - specifically, the 'Golden Age of Jazz' in the 1950s and 60s. Jazz can sometimes feel hard to approach, so we’re breaking it down by looking at five essential record labels that shaped the sound: Blue Note, Impulse!, Prestige, Verve, and Riverside. 

We’ll also point to a few modern artists still keeping jazz fresh and exciting today. This isn’t a deep dive or a music theory lecture - just a starting point for anyone curious about jazz but unsure where to begin. We’re not experts, just big fans who want to help you connect with a genre full of feeling, creativity, and history.

GIVEAWAY!

We’re also giving away some incredible jazz records and a beautiful jazz screen print from Liverpool’s own Dorothy Studio! The prize includes:

• Charles Mingus – Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus 
• Miles Davis – Volume 1 
• Horace Silver – Song For My Father 
• A stunning metallic gold screen print mapping the history of jazz on a 1950s phonograph circuit from Dorothy featuring over 1000 artists, legendary clubs, and iconic record labels.

To enter, just comment on the YouTube video for this episode. That’s it. We’ll pick a winner at random.

Big thanks to Dorothy for supporting this episode - and good luck!

The Dead Air Records podcast is hosted by Marc and Jess. Filmed and edited by Second Best Studios. New episodes every Thursday at 5pm.

Watch on YouTube or listen on Spotify and Apple.

Check out our Season 1 and Season 2 playlists on Spotify to listen to any of the music mentioned in the podcast.

Contact: info@deadairvinyl.co.uk

Website | Instagram | Facebook | TikTok

This week, we are over the moon to share an in-store performance and interview with Liverpool band Shefu. Fresh from their sold out headline show at The Windmill in Brixton and the release of their self-titled EP, we had the pleasure of welcoming Rose, Alice, Tom and Freddie down to the shop to perform four tracks and chat about how the band started, where they draw inspiration from, and what Liverpool means to them. 

Follow Shefu → https://www.instagram.com/shefuband/

Special thanks to our team behind the camera and audio: Maddie and Laurie (Second Best Studios), Millie and Owen.

The Dead Air Records podcast is hosted by Marc and Jess. Filmed and edited by Second Best Studios. New episodes every Thursday at 5pm.

Watch on YouTube or listen on Spotify and Apple.

Check out our Season 1 and Season 2 playlists on Spotify to listen to any of the music mentioned in the podcast.

Contact: info@deadairvinyl.co.uk

Website | Instagram | Facebook | TikTok

Maybe it was the fact that we were both under the weather, or maybe it was our wildly different takes on the best and worst Radiohead album… or perhaps Jess still hasn’t recovered from losing the 1997 vs 2007 battle. Either way, Episode 8 is our sassiest (and most controversial) yet.

We’re ranking Radiohead’s albums from best to worst - do we get it right, or are we completely off the mark? Plus, don’t miss the return of Across the Counter (especially if you're a Massive Attack, Kate Bush, or Joe Strummer fan) and local shoutouts to Toy Car, Tender Claws, and Blue Dolphin Wranglers.

The Dead Air Records podcast is hosted by Marc and Jess. Filmed and edited by Second Best Studios. New episodes every Thursday at 5pm.

Watch on YouTube or listen on Spotify and Apple.

Check out our Season 1 and Season 2 playlists on Spotify to listen to any of the music mentioned in the podcast.

Contact: info@deadairvinyl.co.uk

Website | Instagram | Facebook | TikTok

Welcome back to the Dead Air Records podcast! This week, we are really excited to share an in-store performance and interview with Liverpool-born and based band, The Stamp. Sit back, watch, listen and enjoy three feel-good tracks (Cornerstone, Memory Lane, Remember The Day) that combine elements of reggae, soul and blues, followed by an interview with the band. 

Follow The Stamp →  https://www.instagram.com/the_stamp_uk/

Big thanks to Connah, Tom, Ben and Olly for coming down to the shop and spending the day with us. Special thanks to our team behind the camera and audio: Maddie and Laurie (Second Best Studios), Millie and Owen. 

The Dead Air Records podcast is hosted by Marc and Jess. Filmed and edited by Second Best Studios. New episodes every Thursday at 5pm.

Watch on YouTube or listen on Spotify and Apple.

Check out our Season 1 and Season 2 playlists on Spotify to listen to any of the music mentioned in the podcast.

Contact: info@deadairvinyl.co.uk

Website | Instagram | Facebook | TikTok