Use BBC.com or the new BBC App to listen to BBC podcasts, Radio 4 and the World Service outside the UK.

Find out how to listen to other BBC stations

James Acaster's Perfect Sounds

James Acaster tries to convince comedians that 2016 is the greatest year for music, ever.

Sounds,117 episodes

Episodes

ListGrid

Series 2
Fatiha El-Ghorri is in Heavn
Heavn by Jamila Woods fuses R&B, Jazz and various other genres including classic indie.
27 May 2022,26 mins
Series 2
Aparna Nancherla & Freetown Sound
Blood Orange's 2016 album means so much to James, he worries he might burst into tears.
20 May 2022,28 mins
Series 2
Jen Ives & An Escape Into Space
James and Jen discuss Splendor & Misery. A sci-fi, concept album by Clipping.
13 May 2022,26 mins
Series 2
Stuart Laws & ScHoolboy Q
James confesses to being in love with ScHoolboy Q's Blank Face LP.
06 May 2022,29 mins,
Series 2
Toussaint Douglass & The Life Of Pablo
James, Toussaint, Kanye West, 2016...where do we begin?
29 Apr 2022,28 mins,
Series 2
Fern Brady & The Punk Beyoncé
Black Terry Cat by Xenia Rubinos is a magical album drawing on many influences.
22 Apr 2022,25 mins
Series 2
Sadia Azmat & Black Girl Blues
James and Sadia discuss Fetish Bones by Moor Mother.
15 Apr 2022,23 mins,
Series 2
Sara Barron & Emily's D+Evolution
James presents Sara Barron with Esperanza Spalding's Jazz-Rock-Funk fusion album.
08 Apr 2022,29 mins,
Series 2
Nathan Caton & an OST to Nothing
James and Nathan try to visualise Wes Borland's imaginary film, Crystal Machete.
01 Apr 2022,28 mins
Series 2
Thanyia Moore, Illusion & Destruction
James and Thanyia discuss Mahoroboshiya by Japanese folk singer Ichiko Aoba.
25 Mar 2022,28 mins
Series 2
Jayde Adams & Hard Pop Opera
Rien by Perrine en Morceaux has a big sound. But is it too big for Jayde Adams to handle?
18 Mar 2022,29 mins
Series 2
Rhys Nicholson & That '70s Funk Thang
Awaken My Love by Childish Gambino gets Rhys Nicholson "Horny... but not for sex".
11 Mar 2022,26 mins,
Series 2
Charlie George, Vampires and Periods
Will Jenny Hval’s 2016 album, on the theme of blood, be to Charlie George’s taste?
04 Mar 2022,27 mins,
Series 2
Fatiha El-Ghorri & Cohen's Final Bow
Fatiha and James discuss Leonard Cohen's last album You Want It Darker.
25 Feb 2022,27 mins,
Series 2
Sikisa Bostwick-Barnes & Bollywave
Ami Dang's Uni Sun is an album inspired by ancient scriptures and modern dance.
18 Feb 2022,28 mins
Series 2
Aaron Chen & ОЭЩ МАГЗИУ
An album inspired by the Russian avant-garde is forwarded to Aaron Chen.
11 Feb 2022,27 mins
Series 2
Jen Ives & A Journey Into Darkness
Jen embarks on an emotional journey with The Caretaker's Everywhere At The End of Time.
04 Feb 2022,29 mins
Series 2
Kiri Pritchard-McLean & Portuguese Fusion Pop Jazz
Bruno Pernadas's 2016 album brings some summer warmth to Kiri Pritchard-McLean.
28 Jan 2022,27 mins
Series 2
Dai Henwood & Pop Royalty
Carly Rae Jepsen's Emotion: Side B is 110% pure pop. Too sweet for Dai Henwood maybe?
21 Jan 2022,27 mins,
Series 2
Isy Suttie & International Prog Folk
Will Isy Suttie be won over by Léonore Boulanger's atmospheric album Feigen Feigen?
14 Jan 2022,29 mins
Series 2
Chloe Petts On The Quest...
Acaster, Petts, A Tribe Called Quest, 2016.....Nuff said!
07 Jan 2022,27 mins,
Series 2
Ahir Shah & Baroque Classic Pop
James and Ahir discuss an album inspired by classic art, sculpture and a year in Rome.
17 Dec 2021,28 mins
Series 2
Rosie Jones and Isolation Indie Rap
Will Rosie be charmed by The Impossible Kid by Aesop Rock? James has his fingers crossed.
10 Dec 2021,29 mins,
Series 2
Sikisa Takes A Seat At The Table
Sikisa thought R'n'B was dead... Then came Solange's 2016 album, A Seat At The Table.
03 Dec 2021,26 mins
Series 2
Aparna Nancherla & A Rich, Heavy Ethereal Blanket
James introduces Aparna to the cinematic sound of Mirror Breathing by Shield Patterns.
26 Nov 2021,29 mins
Series 2
Bonus Sounds: Zach Phillips of OSR Tapes
James chats to OSR Tapes label owner Zach Phillips.
19 Nov 2021,34 mins,
Series 2
Harriet Kemsley and 'Absolute Chaos!'
Will Harriet warm to experimental album Hello New York by Maher Shalal Hash Baz?
19 Nov 2021,28 mins
Series 2
Stuart Laws & Angela Sawyer
Stuart Laws thinks he’s being pranked whilst listening to Angela Sawyer.
12 Nov 2021,27 mins,
Series 2
Maisie Adam & Who-Pa-Zoo-Tic Sounds
James and Maisie discuss Hartley C White's album Something Better.
05 Nov 2021,29 mins,
Series 2
Fern Brady & Emo R&B
Fern states from the outset that Half of My Love by Fauxe is not for her… oops.
29 Oct 2021,27 mins,