Max Syedtollan and Mermaid Chunky in session

An unexpected, hastily-wrapped and oddly-shaped festive gift lands in your lap: what could it be? Inspired by the traditional generosity of festive times, we deliver a sonic present of a festive party session, to you, dear Late Junction listener! So put that party hat on, pop some tinsel around your shoulders, cosy up to the radio and join Verity Sharp for a special improvised Late Junction collaboration session, recorded at the BBC, with visual artists and musical duo Mermaid Chunky meeting the merrie-making composer and performer, Max Syedtollan.

Mermaid Chunky are an audio-visual duo of artists Freya Tate and Moina Moin, who describe themselves as 'two maidens harvesting in the mud club enclosures'. They make feverish, wonky, surreal and playful medieval lore meets post-punk electronic sounds. Whilst they forewarn any attendees to their lives shows that the show may 'cause havoc on your retinas' due to the 'euphoric sculptural visuals', we expect some truly ear bending sounds from their Late Junction session.

Max Syedtollan is a Glasgow-based composer, researcher and performer. His recent release for bison records is Prynhawn Da!, a 34-minute piece written with the intention of being 'blasted off the back of a lorry' whilst a troupe of larger-than-life-sized wicker figures parade down the streets. It's a doff of the hat to Mummers plays, those traditional secular folk performances that are often staged for fun in streets, homes or pubs, around Christmas and New Year. He has also released works on Glasgow’s GLARC label, and makes radio pieces for BBC Radio 3 and London’s Resonance FM.

Elsewhere on the show, Verity Sharp shares her favourite new releases from the worlds of left-field and adventurous music making.

Produced by Cat Gough
A Reduced Listening production for BBC Radio 3