Playlist 16.08.10

Stranglers fans are a peculiar lot. Their band was neither punk nor pub rock, with a few goth accoutrements and wibbling keyboards that recalled The Doors. Few bands would claim to be influenced by the band, although Elastica may have accidentally borrowed a riff or two in the Nineties.

So their fans are essentially pariahs, lost in their mildly defiant world. Like the followers of, say, Marillion. Some of the band's original members have long gone, but again, that's apparently not a problem. So they mutter amongst themselves, blethering about their collectible 'Choosey Susie' pressings and their Jean-Jacques Burnel solo releases. I recently met one of these individuals at a party and he informed me that the band were currently at their best and that things had improved considerably since Hugh Cornwell left as frontman. He was gearing up for a 30 minute conversation, but I didn't have the heart for it.

Still, 'Go Buddy Go' was a wheeze. Right?

BBC Radio Ulster, 92-95 FM

Online: www.bbc.co.uk/radioulster

Mondays, ten - midnight

Playlist 16.08.10

The Love Affair - Bringing On Back The Good Times (Columbia)

Superchunk - Digging For Something (Mesh)

Felice Brothers - Frankie's Gun (Loose)

Modest Mouse - Float On (Epic)

Dave Rawlings Machine - Bells Of Harlem (Acony)

Nick Drake - Northern Sky (Island)

Wheat - Changes Is (No Dancing)

Cathy Davey - Army Of Tears (Hammer Toe)

Mavis Staples - In Christ There Is No East Or West (Anti)

LCD Soundsystem - I Can Change (DFA)

The Stranglers -Go Buddy Go (A&M)

Yeasayer - Madder Red (Mute)

Ronnie Lane - Give Me A Penny (Island)

Josh Ritter - Change Of Time (Independent)

Slim Harpo - Strange Love (Righteous)

Caitlin Rose - Shanghai Cigarettes (Names)

Gavin Glass - Bleed (Orphan)

Solomon Burke - Dreams (One World)

Leela James - Miss You (Sanachie)

Isobel Anderson - Ten Of Swords (white)

MIA - It Takes A Muscle (XL)

Noonday Underground - Rock Steady (Setanta)

Soweto Kinch - Escape (Soweto Kinch)

Client - Night And Day (Domino)