My love of music began in 1981 with my first single: The Human League’s ‘Don’t You Want Me’. Since then, I’ve been a club DJ, music writer, bass player, remixer and blogger, alongside a lifelong commitment to collecting records and digging through crates.
That curiosity drives Panic Radio, my weekly show on Warminster Community Radio, broadcast every Wednesday from 9pm to 11pm. It’s two hours of music from left of centre, bringing together new discoveries, old favourites and records that deserve another listen.
Expect indie, punk and folk alongside synth-pop, electronica, trip-hop, dub, reggae, ambient and the occasional classical detour. The pleasure is in finding connections between seemingly unrelated records — and never being quite sure where the next track will take us.
For a flavour of the show, my end-of-2024 selection included PJ Harvey’s version of ‘Love Will Tear Us Apart’, SPRINTS’ ‘Adore Adore Adore’ and The Unthanks’ ‘Carol of the Beasts’. My December 2024 electronica mix explored a different corner of the collection, featuring Burial’s ‘Phoneglow’, Vegyn’s ‘Halo Flip’, Jlin’s ‘Speed of Darkness’ and Kreggo’s ‘Bass Finger Villain’ in its Hodge remix.
Regular features include a charity shop find, a long track with room to unfold, ‘Guess the A-side’ and ‘Location, Location, Location’, connecting music through place.
Whether you’re an obsessive record collector or simply after something different on a Wednesday evening, join me for a couple of hours of musical discovery.
The forthcoming Joy Division Eternal (Live) box set isn’t just a substantial archive of live audio. Alongside its 14 CDs, the collection includes two DVDs containing more than two and a half hours of live footage, bringing together some of the most important surviving film of Joy Division on stage.
DVD 1: Early Joy Division and Plan K
The first DVD opens with a new 2026 edit of Joy Division – A Malcolm Whitehead Film, incorporating rehearsal material from 1979 and footage from the band’s performance at Bowdon Vale Youth Club in Altrincham on 14 March 1979. The featured songs include She’s Lost Control, Shadowplay and Leaders of Men. (New Order)
I have seen various bits and pieces of this on YouTube over the years and on bootleg VHS videos that you could get at record fairs back in the day. I picked New Order one that had some Joy Division bits and pieces on it - terrible quality - third hand copies. Will be interested to see it in a restored format.
Also included are Joy Division’s celebrated appearances on the BBC television programme Something Else from 15 September 1979, featuring performances of Transmission and She’s Lost Control.
The centrepiece, however, is the band’s Plan K concert in Brussels from 16 October 1979. Described as previously unseen in the announcement for the box set, the performance includes Love Will Tear Us Apart, Disorder, Colony, New Dawn Fades, Transmission, Shadowplay, Atrocity Exhibition and more.
This sounds really interesting and but not sure its worth buying the whole boxset for.
Intriguingly, the Plan K footage is presented with two audio options: the original 1979 audio and a newly reconstructed 2026 version. The latter largely uses live recordings from Les Bains Douches in Paris and the Paradiso in Amsterdam to provide an alternative soundtrack to the surviving film.
DVD 2: Two Nights at Manchester Apollo
The second DVD turns its attention to Manchester’s Apollo Theatre, with footage from Joy Division’s concerts on 27 and 28 October 1979.
The first night features Dead Souls, Wilderness, Colony, Autosuggestion, Love Will Tear Us Apart, Shadowplay, She’s Lost Control and Transmission. The following evening includes The Sound of Music, Day of the Lords, Twenty Four Hours, Disorder, Walked in Line, I Remember Nothing and another performance of Transmission.
A soundcheck from the Apollo Theatre is also included. While portions of the Apollo material appeared on VHS back in 1982, the new box brings together substantially more of the surviving footage. For many collectors, these DVDs could prove every bit as significant as the 14 audio discs.
I had copy of this that I picked up in the early 1990s in 10:15 records in Walcot Street Bath and then sold on Ebay as I could watch it - it wouldn't stop rolling.
Joy Division’s recorded live history is relatively limited, making the opportunity to see extended performances from 1979 particularly valuable. With the unseen Plan K material, expanded Apollo footage and the new Malcolm Whitehead edit, Eternal (Live) offers one of the most extensive collections of Joy Division performance footage assembled for an official release.
I do love the fact that YouTube can allow you to time travel through portals to old TV shows and uncover footage that I would have had to search out at record fairs.
00:00 - Shadowplay, Granada Reports, 20th September 1978
Only broadcast in the Northwest, and my personal favourite. Peter Hook was peeved here as he also came from Salford, not just Bernard. Credits to FageOner for remastering the footage to such a beautiful quality. Original video can be found here: • Joy Division - Shadowplay (40th Anniv... 4:41 - She's Lost Control, What's On (Granada TV), 20th of July 1979
Only broadcast in the Northwest, this episode was lost from its original broadcast to around October 2020, 41 years. The full footage is still lost, with only around half of it recovered. Notably, the Granada archives show a different broadcast date for this episode, showing the 19th of July rather than the 20th. Once again, credits to FageOner for remastering the footage, even if their remaster's quality is completely ruined by my reupload. Original video: • Joy Division - She's Lost Control, li... 7:18 - Transmission, Something Else (BBC2), 15th September 1979
Broadcast nationwide. This is by far the most well-preserved and well-known of all of JD's live performances. Recorded on the 1st of September along with She's Lost Control. Original video on the Joy Division channel: • Joy Division - Transmission [OFFICIAL... 10:30 - She's Lost Control, Something Else (BBC2), 15th September 1979
Broadcast nationwide. She's Lost Control was recorded before Transmission and shown before it on the original broadcast, I just have it last on this video because I don't like the song as much as Transmission. This video is one of the best showcases of Ian Curtis' unique flailing dancing style. Original video: • Joy Division - She's Lost Control (Li...
Panic Radio is pre recorded this evening. An hour of charity shop finds. 9pm to 10pm.
Them - Gloria Pernice Brothers - Weakest Shade of Blue Grant Lee Buffalo - Mocking Birds R.E.M. - World Leader Pretend The Sundays - Can't Be Sure Francoise Hardy - Voila Nina Simone - Mode Indigo Ancient Beatbox (featuring Shelia Chandra) - Raining (my eyes are filled with clouds) Toumani Diabate - Mani Mani Kuru Peter Tosh - The Day The Dollar Die Bob Marley - Small Axe Peter Gabriel - Red Rain
Unknown Pleasures is one of the touchstones of the alternative music scene. It is the Rosetta Stone of new wave, from its deep vinyl grooves you can decode the influence in bands as diverse as Interpol and The Cure, Editors and Mogwi. Without the sonic template of Unknown Pleasures U2 would have never found a voice and a direction. Those early U2 records sound like smudged facsimiles of Joy Divisions latent power.
Unknown Pleasures was san genesis, an individual and eviscerating blend of punk fury, existentialist dread and post war industrial decay. An audio document that could have only been produced at a certain junction, immediately post the Sex Pistols and from a specific location, the UK . Despite its historical position it still sounds as vital and eerie as it did in 1979.
Inspired by a combination of the first wave of UK punk rock, and the American racket of The Stooges and The Velvet Underground Joy Divisions sound was a happy accident. Peter Hook’s high trebly bass playing a result of the cheap equipment the band initially used. Hook was forced to play higher than normal in order to be heard. His bass carried the melody of the songs, Barney Sumner’s guitar spiking the sound with caustic riffs and metallic textures. The whole sound was anchored by the breath taking human drum machine rhythms of Steven Morris.
The unusual combination of sounds marked the band out from the standard three chord thrash of the second generation of punk. Its not that the band could play any better than their peers, the reality is the opposite of that. They simply played to their strengths and in the process created a unique and potent sound. The majestic noise the band created was heightened by the poetic lyrics and sorrowful croon of Ian Curtis.
Curtis’ death hangs over the music of Joy Division draping it in a solemnity, carving it into memorial stone, yet on Unknown Pleasures, Curtis lyrics are troubled and questioning but not the extended cry for help of Closer. They have a depth that was out of time with the plastic nihilism of the moment more John Paul Sartre than Johnny Rotten.
Amazingly Sumner and Hook where disappointed with the production of Unknown Pleasures. They believed that producer Martin Hannett had emasculated their sound. Stripped away the fierce loud clanning punk rock and hollowed them out. Listening to the live tracks on the bonus disc you can see that he did prune away the volume but the harsh reality is that the songs are better for it.
Hannet’s use of found sound, breaking glass and empty lift shafts, coupled with a pioneering use of delay resulted in sound that owed as much to dub as it did to punk. The music is bathed in shimmering ether, the taut rhythms seem to ripple, the minimal bass lines stretching time. Sumner’s guitar adds textures, obtuse broken riffs, corrosive discordant tints over the restless clatter and hum.
The record has stuck with me since I first heard it as a callow fourteen year old. Other records that I loved at the time have fallen by the wayside, their adolescent angst unable to translate themselves into my adult life. There is something honest, harrowing and timeless at the heart of Unknown Pleasures that has kept me hooked. In my opinion it is the greatest debut LP of all time. If you don’t own a copy your music collection is missing a major cog, go and buy this record today.
• Marisa Anderson – Cloud Corner • Finley Quaye – Butterfly Lovers • Pixies – Bone Machine • Guess the a-side - The Wedding Present – All Above Eve • Sandy Shaw – Hand in Glove • Robert Foster – I am So Happy For You • Slonk – We’re Going to Be Fine • Shopping – The Hype • Junk Shop – Noel Coward – Nina • X Ray Spex – I am Cliché • Idlewild – The Wooden Ideals • Long Track – Rising the Titanic (Big Drum Mix) • Diana Ross & The Supremes – Love Child
• Mismatched socks – Circumstance • John Tejada – Heal • Location Kent – Kate Bush – Sunset • Location Kent – Siouxsie and The Banchees – Cities in Dust • Location Kent – Sawhney – Beyond Skin • Why?- One Mississippi • Cover Version of The Week – Meshell Ndegeocello – Waterfalls • August Greene – Optimistic • Portishead – Roads • DJ Taye – Pop Drop (Featuring DJ Pay Pal) • One Dove – Why Don’t You Take Me (rank outsiders mix)
Playlist July 13th Second Hand Special Panic Radio
1. Blondie – Rapture 2. The Killers – Jenny Was A Friend of Mine 3. Buzzcocks – Everbodys Happy Nowdays 4. Guess the a-side – Disapointed – Everyday is Like Sunday B-side 5. The Cocteau Twins – How to Bring A Blush To Snow 6. Johnny Cash – Goodnight Irene 7. Nick Drake – Northern Sky 8. Lemonheads – Into My Arms 9. Rockingbirds – We Had It All 10. Jack Johnson - Banana Pancakes 11. Monaco – Sweetlips 12. Moloko – The Time Is Now (Francios K Main Vocal Mix) 13. Aretha Franklin – (You Make Me Feel) Like A Natural Women 14. Money Mark – Information Contraband
Location London 15. Soul II Soul – Joy 16. Leftfield – Open Up 17. The XX – Shelter
18. Bille Ray Martin – Loving Arms
19. KLF – 3 am Eternal
20. Neneh Cherry – Buffalo Stance
21. Grace Jones – Pull Up To The Bumper
22. Smith and Mighty – Higher Dub
My playlist from the radio show on WCR FM. A second hand music special playing tracks from CDs and LPs I have picked up second hand from car boot sales, charity shops, jumble sales, second hand record shops, market stalls and school fetes.
I have launched a new site that is focused on the radio show that I do weekly on WCR FM in Warminster Wiltshire on a Wednesday evening. The show is called Panic radio and below is a link to the site and also a link to the Mixcloud account that carries some of the shows. The one below is the third anniversary cover version special.
My Radio show tribute to Prince. Two hours of Prince originals, b-sides, remixes and cover versions. I hope you enjoy it.
Track listing for the show
Lets Go Crazy
Anotherloverholenyohead
Guitar
She's Always In My Hair
Mavis Staples - Time Waits For No One
Purple Dub - Take Me With You
Chaka Kahn - I Feel For You
Star Fish and Coffee
Sign O The Times
Colonized Mind
Balltimore
Raspberry Beret
Kiss 12" Mix
You Got The Look
The Time - Jerk It Out
Gett Off (club mix)
Controversy
Musicology
The Family - High Fashion
Seven (acoustic version)
Supercute
When Doves Cry
The Cross
A Case of You (Joni Mitchell cover)
Sometimes in Snows In April
Panic Radio is live on Warminster Community Radio on Wednesday evening 9pm to 11pm. If you have music you would like me to consider then please email (tony.h at wcrfm.org.uk).
1. Ed Scissor and Lamplighter – Tell Them It’s Winter
2. Kate Tempest – Let Them Eat Chaos
3. Towel – Wipe Me Dry
4. Serpentwithfeet – Blisters
5. Giaka – Security
6. Daughter – Not Too Disappear
7. Yussef Kamaal - Black Focus
8. Moor Mother – Fetish Bones
9. Ash Koosha – I AKA I
10. Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds – Skeleton Tree
11. Lucy Dacus – No Burden
12. Higher Authorities - Neptune
13. Karl Blau – Introducing Karl Blau
14. Beans on Toast – A Spanner in The Works
15. Richmond Fontaine – You Can’t Go Back If There’s Nothing To Go Back To
16. Jah9 – 9
17. Olga Bell – Tempo
18. Car Seat Headrest – Teens of Denial
19. David Bowie- Black Star
20. Cavern of Anti-Matter - Void Beats / Invocation Trex
The new king of alt.country? Former Drive By Trucker releases a LP that is full of great songs that much like the Courtney Barnett record spins the mundane into pure song writing gold. An emotional record that wears its hard won smarts front and centre. A joy to listen to.
2.King Midas Sound/Fennesz – Edition 1
Dread and Jah, bass heavy KMS working with Austrian electronic artist Fennesz is a musical marriage made in some sort of smoke filled heaven. Like Massive Attack drowning in claustrophobic reverb and dub. Eerie, grainy, creeping and infectious.
3.Courtney Barnett – Sometimes I Sit and Think Sometimes I Just Sit
Debut LP proper from Courtney Barnett after a series of great EPs. The ability to turn snapshots of the mundane (buying a house, the daily commute, driving) into a series of little musical epiphanies is amazing.
4.Roots Manuva – Bleeds
The return of Roots Manuva. UK hip-hip/grime with the advantage of hard won experience, doubt, fear, religious rebirth not the usual subjects for grime. Dark, bruised and wonderful.
5.Jam City –Dream A Garden
A cross pollination of club music signifiers and mid 80s dream pop indie. Like a dubbed out Cocteau Twins. A rain streaked faded Polaroid of effected guitars, beats, floating vocals and a deep rooted sense of ennui.
6.Darkstar – Foam Island
A huge shift for Darkstar from retro synth pop of their early releases to austerity electronica. The sound of social contract collapsing via interviews and electronic soundscapes. Calypso beats, dub, soft focus electronica. Protest music of a different hue.
7.Torres –Sprinter
New York born living in Nashville her second LP with shades of early PJ Harvey (it’s produced by Rob Ellis). Despair, rage, loss. Brutally honest and hook heavy. From a whisper to a scream.
8.Holly Herndon – Platform
Dense modern laptop electronica. The sound of modern technology, dance floor moves, digital sludge, post modernism and a haunting vocals. The sound of the Future?
9.JLin – Black Ballet
A do love a bit of Footwork but most of that comes in single sized chunks. Jlin takes those frantic machine rhythms of footwork and she bends them into new shapes. Dam funky.
10.Jenny Hval - Apocalypse Girl
Feminism, melody, electronics, noise, American cultural imperialism, gender politics. That makes it sound really dry but its rude, explicit, funny, quite “pop” and very catchy.
11.Sherwood and Pinch – Late Night Endless
Old School dub master meets new school electronica. A beast of a record full of BASS, reverb and big dry echoes. Much more than the sum of its talented parts.
12.Grasscut – Everyone Was A Bird
More organic less electronic than the first two LPs but still a delight. Fan submitted spoken word piece, nature based lyrical themes and soaring strings.
13.Public Service Broadcasting – The Race for Space
Working with the British Film Institute PSB splice film and news clips with post rock and electronic backing. Funkier than it sounds on paper.
14.Lonelady – Hinterland
This is like a lost factory record release. Shades of ACR, Section 25, and early New Order. Fragile guitar melodies, industrial murk, Brit funk but a modern twist in the production.
15.Sleater-Kinney – No Cities to Love
Fantastic return after 10 years away. Snaps, snarls, the guitars bite yet it is joyful at the same time. Knocks the New Order and Prodigy come backs out of ring with a series of beautiful jabs.
16.The Unthanks – Mount The Air
Folk detour that was started when I picked up a copy of the first Unthanks LP second hand. A lovely mixture of dark folk themes and solid gold harmonies and melodies.
17.The Band of Holy Joy – The Land of Holy Joy
One of my favourite bands of the late 1980s this is their 19th LP! Johnny Brown is a lyricist with a sharp eye for detail. Bittersweet stories of those living on the fringes of society set to a romantic spring laden ramshackle indie racket.
18.Floating Points – Elaenia
Late period Talk Talk refracted through an electronic and post rock prism without the god fearing lyrics. Might be higher up the list if I had longer to listen to it.
19.Romare – Projections
Smoky vocal samples, African drums, garage, house, jump cuts. A lovely collage of various dance forms into a fun, funky and clever record.
20.Bill Ryder Jones – West Kirby County Primary
Former member of the Coral and Artic Monkeys tour guitarist BRJ’s solo LP is a bleak and beauty collection mainly recorded at home. Strong songs with clever little lyric touches, a fragile voice and a sense of loss. One to get lost in.
