Nautical Show

Ahoy there! Jarvis has been resident in A Room for London, a boat perched atop the Queen Elizabeth Hall on London's Southbank. Michael Morris of Artangel explains the concept and aims of this unique space. Cellist Philip Sheppard uses his eerie electro-cello to accompany Jarvis reading from Conrad's Heart of Darkness. Intertidal archaeologist Fiona Haughey discusses Thames beachcombing and brings some historical artefacts found on the foreshore. The Southbank is hosting Parisian nude cabaret Crazy Horse, so Jarvis and Philip improvise sexy music for two of the dancers. Jim Trimmer of the Port of London Authority chats about moons, tides and how the river can help London to flourish. There's archive of Elizabeth Taylor reading Wordsworth. Historian Dan Cruickshank reveals which bridge has a sinister suicide-strewn past. Busker Don Crown remembers performing as 'Budgieman'. Soumik Datta talks about introducing Indian ragas to QEH audiences. And we hear David Byrne's musical collage of sounds from the Southbank. The Peel E is for East of Eden, and there's a reading by John Peel for T-Rex. As the moon is reflected on the water, Antony Hegarty muses on lunacy and spirituality. Birthdays: T-Pain, Marc Bolan and Truman Capote. Valete: Andy Williams.

Newspaper Article

GUARDIAN: Jarvis Cocker on radio: this isn't hardcore

A lovely article about the show.

Sunday afternoon brings a particularly intimate and informal audience. Many listeners text or tweet to say they are busy making their Sunday dinner, and on a rainy day like today, they email in droves. "That's another part of the concept, I suppose, that it's pretty laid-back," says Cocker. "When I was more of a drinker, I always found that hangovers got to their worst around 4pm. You're over the physical thing, and it goes into a psychological thing by then. So I thought it would be good to do a show that helps you through that difficult time — without being bland, but being quite soothing." He smiles, a slight pursing of the lips. "To me, it's what Sundays used to be like. At one time we used to say we were bringing the boredom back to Sunday, and that might be overstating it, but it's that kind of thing. That the week's kind of finished, but the new week hasn't begun, so you've got this weird kind of floaty time where you can be a bit more reflective. It's not a massive concept," he adds, with typical self-effacement.

Wedding Songs

Baudelaire's poem The Albatross opens the show on this dreary storm-lashed Sunday. Jarvis attended a wedding last night, so listeners are asked to suggest the best and worst songs to play at a wedding disco. He also saw Terry Riley performing in New York alongside the psychedelic Joshua Light Show liquid loops: click here to recreate that experience. Today is Celebrate Bisexuality Day. Jarvis aims to familiarise himself with some of the Mercury Prize nominees. On This Day in 1846, the planet Neptune was discovered. The Peel D is for Dick Dale, who says John Peel was a true gentleman. We hear what CBGB OMFUG stood for; and Jarvis reads John Hegley's meditation on 'in it' vs 'innit'. Birthdays: Euripides, Kublai Khan, Floella Benjamin (on the joy of singing), Karl Pilkington (glum about his birthday), Cherie Blair, Tim Rose, Hilly Kristal, Bruce Springsteen, Ray Charles and Wally Whyton.

Religious Sound Tapestry

America beckons Jarvis, for a project about Stephen Sondheim.  Today in 1620, the Mayflower set out: we hear about the grim voyage and wonder how the world would be if the ship hadn't made it.  To cultivate a Sunday frame of mind, Jarvis presents a sound tapestry with a religious theme; including audio of children talking about God and whether stuffed cats go to heaven*; Philip Larkin's poem Churchgoing; and some outlandish organ music.  There's an extract from The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra.  The Peel C is for Cabaret Voltaire.  Jarvis solves a brief mystery and ponders TV detectives The Sweeney and Columbo.  Birthdays: George Chakiris, Bilinda Butcher, Korla Pandit (godfather of exotica), Loyd Grossman (on his punk band), Justine Frischmann, Colin Newman, Mickey Rourke and Peter Falk (on Columbo's famous raincoat).

*click here to hear more from Harold Williamson and Children Talking

Africa Express II

Tolstoy's thoughts on permanent moral revolution begin the show. Last night, Jarvis introduced a concert by Richard Hawley and the BBC Philharmonic. Listeners suggest tracks to accompany a DIY session. On This Day, an unfortunate moth became the first computer bug; and Elvis made his debut on The Ed Sullivan Show. More news from the Africa Express: The Temper Trap have made a brief audio diary about their experiences. Jarvis mulls over moving house, procrastination, and a sci-fi film about a Nazi space programme. The Peel B is Babes in Toyland. And as Jarvis said before in Wireless Nights, he finds Hugh Grant a reassuring presence on a night flight. Birthdays: Leo Tolstoy, Pamela Des Barres (on Elvis the bad kisser and Captain Beefheart), Sylvia Miles, Otis Redding (described by Jerry Butler), Colonel Sanders, Michael Butler, Adam Sandler and Hugh Grant (recalling his start in showbiz).

Africa Express Special

 

...And we're back!  Hooray hooray!  O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay! 
Jarvis returns to the airwaves after his hiatus.

Jarvis reproaches us for dallying with other DJs, but he soon forgives us and reminisces about his summer. On This Day in 1752, Britain adopted the Gregorian calendar; and a 1970 news report explains why NASA cancelled the last Apollo missions. This morning, the Africa Express train set off from London Euston. It's taking African and western musicians across the UK — this vibrant cross-cultural project aims to bring African music to a wider audience. Jarvis interviews organizer Stephen Budd and musicians Martina Topley-Bird, Baaba Maal and Damon Albarn. New feature The A-Z of Peel is inspired by the John Peel archive at The Space. Today in 1960 was the first Tibetan Democracy Day. Jarvis reads a racy short story by Joyce Carol Oates, 'August Evening'. Historians describe the Great Fire of London. Birthdays: Bill Shankly (chuckling about retirement), Michael Rother, Hal Ashby. Valete: Neil Armstrong, Hal David.