Explore every episode of the podcast Songs in the Key of...

It's been a while - again - but here's a new podcast episode filled to the brim with music that's been keeping me occupied of late. From The Divine Comedy through to A. A. Williams and Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, there's plenty to get your teeth into.

A week after "Songs in the Key of...Live" went...live, a return to business as usual with a selection of ten songs that have been keeping me occupied of late.

There's a tune from a Canterbury scene band that sounds nothing like the Canterbury scene, there's a song in English from someone who normally sings in Cornish and there's a song called 'Emily' which isn't really about Emily at all.

Confused? You soon won't be.

Welcome to a very special edition of 'Songs in the Key of...'

It's the first ever like recording of the show.

Recorded on 26 July 2025 at the Medway Little Theatre, I was joined by Glenn Prangnell, Rachel Lowrie and Lupen Crook to talk about their lives in music. On top of this, we heard music from Rachel's band South Shore and Lupen Crook.

It was a fantastic night. If you weren't able to attend, this is for you.

The evening was brought together by Medwayish to celebrate ten years since the publication of my book, Do It Yourself: a History of Music in Medway by Cultured Llama. I'm currently working on a second edition of the book - to be published by Medwayish - which will fill in details of what's been happening over the last decade.

Keep your eyes open for more book related news by following @songsinthekeyof on Instagram. In the meantime enjoy this first ever live recording of the show.

You thought I'd forgotten about you, didn't you!

Here, after far too long an absence, is a new episode of Songs in the Key of... featuring another selection of ten songs to keep you entertained.

Happy (belated) new year!

Don't forget to head over to Spotify (if you're not already there) to hear all the songs in full.

For the eighth installment of Songs in the Key of...Christmas we have indie songs about awkward family Christmases, folk songs about the harshness of winter and singer-songwriter songs about meeting an international treasure.

Don't forget to head over to Spotify to hear the songs in full on the playlist accompanying the episode.

Welcome to another episode of Songs in the Key of...

Here, in no particular order, are ten songs that have been keeping my ears busy of late.

If you like what you hear, head over to Spotify to hear the songs in full on this specially created playlist.

Welcome to Songs in the Key Of… - a podcast about songs. 

For this episode, I set up the microphone in our living room to have a chat with Rachel about the music she's been listening to and loving lately. It's a busy time for Rachel as The Ashen Keys, the band she's in, are days away from releasing their debut - and rather beautiful - album, The Name on Your Compass.

Obviously we talk about that - and feature a play of the single 'Capricious' which is taken from the album.

If you like what you hear, head over to Spotify where you can hear the songs Rachel has chosen in full on a special playlist created to accompany this episode.

You can find out more about The Ashen Keys on their Facebook page.

Welcome to a rather quiet episode of Songs in the Key of...

To hear the featured songs in full, head over to this Spotify playlist.

Back in September 2021 singer-songwriter Jo Hook appeared as a guest on Songs in the Key of... with a list of ten songs that had taken her fancy of late.

Three years later I've caught up with her again to discuss songs from her forthcoming - and rather beautiful - album Shiny Disposable Things.

If you like what you hear on this podcast - and you surely will - make sure you go to Bandcamp to get your mits on the album when it comes out on 29 June 2024.

Welcome to Songs in the Key of 2023 - Part 2 during which I chat with Lucy Forder, Vicky Price, Kate Arnold, Marc Symonds and Roy Smith. Expect a wide range of musical highlights from indie folk through to the most ethereal of electronica.

Don't forget: once you've listened to both these episodes, you can head over to Spotify to hear all the songs in full.

Welcome to Part One of the Songs in the Key of... review of the year.

This episode features chats with Jeremy Simon, Stuart Turner, Moira Mehaffey, Darren Lovell and Nick Rice.

Don't forget to stick around for Part Two...

Welcome to a special edition of Songs in the Key of... featuring a chat with my daughter.

Don't forget: once you've finished listening to this, head over to Spotify to ear all the songs in full.

The seventh installment of Songs in the Key of...Christmas is here. Just in time for the big day.

Listen up for chat about Phoebe Bridgers, Momus, Tim Minchin, The Futureheads and, of course The Fall.

Don't forget. Once you've listened to the podcast, head over to Spotify to hear all the songs in full.

Brought to you by the Spirit of Christmas past, this installment of the seasonal "Songs in the Key of...Christmas" series was recorded last year - but too late for Christmas.

Artists featured for this episode of festive music include Simon and Garfunkel, Saint Etienne, Hannah Peel and, of course - and at last - the mighty Half Man Half Biscuit.

Don't forget, once you've listened to the podcast, head over to Spotify to hear the songs in full.

Steven Keevil is one half of the dynamic duo behind Local Authority, a news website for residents of Medway, and Medway-ish – which sells Medway related gift, designs and – among other things – my book, Do It Yourself: a History of Music in Medway. There’ll be more on that during the interview.

This episode would have been called “Songs in the Key of Steven Keevil, were it not for the fact that it quickly emerged that all of his song choices were taken from soundtracks to films. And so, having already done two episodes of this podcast based on tunes from the movies, it seemed only sensible to name this episode Songs in the Key of Cinema – Part III.

Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss any new episodes. And once you've heard this episode, head over to Spotify to hear the songs featured in full.

Welcome to Songs in the Key of... - a podcast about songs.

On this episode I have another guest in the form of the splendidly affable Ian Petrie who will be familiar to anyone who’s wandered into a folk club in the South East of England – or a folk festival further afield. He’s one of those people with whom it’s an absolute pleasure to spend time as he has a story for every occasion. He’s a gentle soul with a wonderful wry sense of humour and an excellent way with words.

Don't forget. Once you've listened to this episode, you can head over to Spotify to hear all of Ian's song choices in full on the playlist that accompanies this episode. Just look for "Songs in the Key of...Ian Petrie".

And if you liked this episode, be sure to join the new "Songs in the Key of..." Facebook group.

Welcome to another episode of Songs in the Key of...

This episode features another wander around the songs that have been keeping Stephen Morris entertained over the last few days and weeks. No great theme, just great tunes.

Don't forget to head over to Spotify to hear most of the songs from this show in full on the specially made playlist.

Welcome to the latest Songs in the Key of... episode in which you are invited to trawl through a selection of songs that have been keeping presenter Stephen Morris occupied of late.

Don't forget. Once you've listened to this episode, head on over to Spotify to find the playlist for all but one of the songs in full.

And don't forget to subscribe! It's practically the law.

Albarn

Coxon

James

Rowntree

This episode gives a glimpse of one fan's relationship with the band who sparked his absolute addiction to music.

Once you have listened to the podcast, hear the songs in full on this Spotify playlist.

This is a big one.

Back in 2015, my book, Do It Yourself: a History of Music in Medway was published.

It covered the story of bands and artists who emerged in the area from 1976 through to what was then the present day.

This episode of "Songs in the Key of..." features extensive readings from the book with tales from Billy Childish (with reference to The Pop Rivets, The Milkshakes, Thee Headcoats), Graham Day (The Prisoners), Lupen Crook, Bob Collins (The Dentists), David Read (The Claim) and many others.

Time is running out if you want to buy your own copy of the book. You have until 30 June 2023 when the presses will stop running on it!

Buy your copy here: Do It Yourself: A History of Music in Medway - Cultured Llama Cultured Llama

Once you've listened to the podcast, don't forget to head over to Spotify to listen to the songs featured on the playlist that accompanies this episode.

WARNING: This episode features references to sexual abuse and suicide.

For this episode we're taking a world tour through the British Isles, Romania, Sweden and Brazil. Our guide for this hour's worth of globe trotting is Vicky Price.

So please fasten your seatbelts, secure all baggage underneath your seat or in the overhead compartments ad make sure the table trays are in the upright position for take-off...

Now is the month of maying,

When merry lads are playing..

So let's celebrate with a podcast themed around folk music. This podcast has it all: 70s rock bands performing ancient songs about the murder of one Mr Barleycorn, angry singing and songwriting about commercialisation of modern Britain and fast and furious tunes to accompany gothically tinged Morris dancing.

Things have been a bit slow on the podcast front of late, but here, at last, is another episode to get your lugholes round.

This episode features another ten songs themed around things I've been listening to of late. Be warned...it does get a bit gloomy!

Another podcast...another guest.

This time, the rather marvellous Roy Smith joins Stephen Morris to talk about some of the songs that have been buzzing around his brain of late.

Expect weird and wonderful electrickery, 60s pop perfection and THE BEST COVER OF A NIRVANA SONG YOU WILL EVER HEAR!

On 2 January 2022, Chris Broderick, who had entertained, amused and provoked with his writing of all disciplines, passed away. Over the course of his life he’d amassed a large collection of songs, stories and plays, all filled with his on unique linguistic flair and his sheer love of humanity in al its warts and all glory.

Towards the end of his life, he entered a flurry of creative activity, not realising he would not be able to see the completion of these final projects. This interview with his collaborator, Stuart Turner, explores the final musical adventures of Chris Broderick.

This podcast is also available as a video on the Reviewage Youtube channel.

If you need a little diversion from (a) The Winter of Discontent Mk. II and (b) the onslaught of yuletide merriment, behold, I bring glad tidings of Songs in the Key of...Nothing in Particular.

Here, you will find not a single reference to Christmas. But you will find a list of ten songs that have been keeping me occupied of late. And perhaps they'll keep you occupied too.

Once you've finished listening to this, make sure you head over to Spotify to hear all the songs in their glorious and most complete fullness.

Welcome to episode 60 of Songs in the Key of...

To celebrate this diamond jubilee of an episode join Stephen Morris as he chats with guest Jeremy Simon about his adventures in the band Dylan Trees and the music that is getting him going at the moment.

Once you're done, don't forget to head over to Spotify to hear all his song choices in glorious, magnificent fullness.

Forgive me. It's been far too long since my last podcast.

But here, just for you, is a brand spanking new instalment with an admittedly chilled and introspective vibe to it.

So sit back and enjoy. But before you do that - maybe you should pop the kettle on...

Don't forget. Once you've listened to the podcast, head over to Spotify to hear the songs in full on the playlist created especially for this very episode.

September is the month of returning to school.

In honour of the occasion, here's a "Songs in the Key of..." episode devoted to school subjects.

Well, kind of.

Each song on this episode features the name of a school subject in its title. Yup. Search far enough through the history of pop music and you will find songs mentioning the words "Chemistry", "Geography" and "Mathematics".

Just don't forget to show your working.

What links a Roma jazz guitarist, an electro-duo, a 12-piece indie pop act and a bunch of Irish doom and gloom merchants?

Very little. Probably. Apart from the fact that they all appear - alongside six other bands and artists - on this edition of Songs in the Key of.

Enjoy.

Iceland is home to around 366,000 and - it would seem - just as many bands and artists. There's a thriving music community at the top of the world and this podcast celebrates just ten of them. There's a wide range of styles, as ever, from gloomy indie to trance via Kate Bush inspired songwriting and gentle sounding acoustic-ery with devestating lyrics.

Welcome, then, to Songs in the Key of...the Top of the World.

Once you're done, head over to Spotify to hear the songs in full on the playlist to accompany this episode. Find out more at reviewage.net.

It's been a fair old while since we had a Songs in the Key of... without any particular theme - just a bunch of songs. So it's about time we did one.

Only, somehow, a theme has kind of emerged - with references to peace, love and understanding coming in at all angles.

There's plenty to get your teeth into with ten tunes picked covering genres from folk rock to trance via indie-psyche and jazz infused minimalism.

So, you know...the usual.

Don't forget to head over to Spotify to hear the playlist for this episode, featuring all the songs in full.

If you're a singer/songwriter, are in a band or promote music, let me know if there's anything you think might sound good on the show. You can chat to me on Twitter using @reviewage.

It occasionally crosses my mind that some of the music I feature on this "Songs in the Key of" podcast can't be described as songs at all. I do like me a good instrumental. And as you are a decent, well-rounded, rational human being, so, no doubt, do you.

And so, to celebrate the existence of the instrumental track in our collective lives, let me bring you ten songs in the key of...not songs.

Despite the generally held view that sequels are never as good as the original movie (with the possible exception of Paddington 2), this new episode of Songs in the Key of... forms a second instalment of cinematically themed musings.

This time round, there's music from cult documentaries with minimalist soundtracks, British gangster flicks and American Rom-Coms.

I recently got my hands on the album

La Planète Sauvage by Stealing Sheep and the Radiophonic Workshop. After I'd finished marvelling at the electronic delights, it got me thinking that it's probably about time I did a podcast about songs from bands and artists from Liverpool.

There's a rich selection to choose from: 60s Merseybeat, 80s indie, synthetic sounds of all hues. And so here, for your listening enjoyment are ten songs in the key of Liverpool.

It's about time for another podcast, isn't it?

No theme in particular this time round - just a bunch of rather wonderful tunes that have been buzzing round my brain of late.

There's English punk, Scottish psychedelia and Welsh guitar noodling.

It's all good wholesome fun.

Hello! Welcome to another episode of "Songs in the Key of...".

For this episode I've picked another ten songs that have been keeping my ears busy of late. And, as usual, it's a pretty diverse mix from folk to indie via a classic musical and French Electro Swing.

Well, obviously.

Enjoy.

On 2 January 2022 Chris Broderick – singer, writer, playwright – and all round self-confessed complicated human passed away. Chris was a big souled human being – always seeking to make sense of the big old messy world in which we live. Almost everything he created conveyed – in some way - a deep yearning – through stories either tragic and comic – and sometime both – to understand and celebrate the perfect imperfections of lives lived. His own and others.

This episode is focused entirely on Chris Broderick and the music he created with The Singing Loins: Chris – Arfur – Allen, Rob Shepherd and, towards the end of it, John Forrester.

But it wasn't all that bad, was it. I mean, there was some pretty fantastic music to emerge over the course of the year - as this podcast will show.

Joining me for the episode are some previous guests armed with a song from the year that's been a particular favourite for them.

So sit back and enjoy. Happy New Year!

Don't forget to head over to the Spotify playlist after listening to this to hear all the songs in full.

As a fine man from Walsall once said, "It's Christmas!!!"

So about time we had a Christmassy episode to tuck into. In this one, I chat with Rachel Lowrie, my wife, about five of her favourite Christmas songs. And I share five of mine with her.

As the title suggests, there are four other Christmas episodes in the archive. So if you like what you hear on this episode have a scroll through the episode lists back to this time last year.

And then, of course, there's that all important Spotify playlist to accompany this episode.

Enjoy. And have a very Merry Christmas.

Television may, according to The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy, be the drug of the nation, but its also the source a some fantastic theme tunes - as this episode of Songs in the Key of... is about to demonstrate.

All genres are covered, both in types of TV show (comedy, drama, factual) and styles of music (jangly indie pop, gospel-blues-hiphop, prog-rock). So why don't you switch off your television set and...listen to this instead...

Joe Maddox is the frontman of Continental Lovers - a band steeped in a huge, huge love of all things glam, punk and good old fashioned rock and roll.

Listen to this podcast to find out more about his life in music and some of the songs that have been rattling round his brain of late.

Once you're done, don't forget to head over to Spotify to hear his song choices in glorious fullness.

Here's a little parlour game for you. Count up to whatever number you like using song titles.

This episode of "Songs in the Key of..." takes on that challenge, counting from one to ten.

On the way, we encounter the usual wide array of genres and themes: 70s pub rock, experimental electronica, streambait pop and 90s indie. Hey, I've even thrown in a bit of ska for good measure.

Because I like you.

A few episodes back we had an episode about albums released in the year David Hepworth considers to be the annus mirabilis of music: 1971.

That, coincidentally, was the year in which the music journalist turned 21. So it got me thinking: might the music released in the year I turned 21 be significant enough to put together an argument that actually 2001 was the best year for music ever?

Listen to the podcast and you can judge for yourself.

Once you're done listening to this, head over to Spotify to hear the songs in full.

Welcome to another "Songs in the Key of..." - this time with guest Singer-Songwriter MG Boulter.

Over the course of just over an hour we chat about his latest, Southend themed album, Clifftown along with ten songs that have been rattling around his head of late.

All of them, perfectly splendid.

You're going to enjoy this one.

It's been a jolly long while since I put together a list of songs that have been simply buzzing around my head of late - what with all the guests that have been rocking up at Reviewage Towers to share their own ear worms.

So, for old time's sake, here are ten songs that have been coursing around my cerebral cortex of late.

Don't forget to head over to Spotify to hear a playlist of the featured songs in full.

In this episode, Stephen talks with singer/songwriter Kelly Stanley about ten songs that are floating her boat at the moment.

Be sure to head over to Spotify to hear her song choices in full.

In this second part of a chat with Moira Mehaffey and Stuart Turner, the focus turns towards Stuart's choice of ten songs that have been troubling his ears of late.

Don't forget to head over to Spotify to check out the playlist to accompany this episode so you can hear the songs in full.

When it comes to music, Moira Mehaffey definitely knows her stuff. A keen collector of vinyl since childhood,

Moira has an extensive undertstanding of everything that's good about music - from Dolly Parton through to The Bug Club.

Join Moira and me as we rifle through some of the songs that have been on her mind of late.

Find out more about these podcasts at reviewage.net.

It's fifty years since some truly remarkable albums came out. All in the same year.

In honour of the 365 day long occasion, here's a podcast to celebrate ten songs in the key of...1971.