The Loud And Quiet Podcast

When WU LYF were the band that every label wanted to sign in 2010 they rejected all offers, recorded their debut in a church with the help of their fans, and split up.
15 years later they’ve unexpectedly returned with a second album. Less surprising is how they’ve released A Wave That Will Never Break, sticking to their original ethos of building a community of their own. This time around, what they’re rejecting most of all is streaming platforms, instead building their own via their website WORLDUNITE.ORG, which is the only way to hear the new record, other than buying a copy in a store. The site also features an Instagram-like journal, tickets, a fan chat and merch, all for fans who become members.
Ellery and Tom from the band joined me to discuss why they felt they had no option but to do things this way, and what it was like to be the hottest band in the UK in 2010.
Listen above or wherever you get your podcasts.
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Further reading/viewing
WU LYF on the Culture Show
Is WU LYF’s return the most perfectly timed in indie history?
WORLDUNITE.ORG



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Once a month 3 members of the Loud And Quiet team (Sam Walton, Gemma Samways and Stuart Stubbs) meet up to review 3 albums released over the last 30 days – usually records that had everyone talking. This month, it’s the turn of Harry Styles’ pivot to electro pop, James Blake’s first independent release, and the debut from NYC duo Fcukers.
Revisited is the debut phenomenon from Arctic Monkeys, with the help of a quiz that is FUN. Remember that! It’s a fun thing to listen to and play along with.
This episode is not sponsored by Gary Barlow’s wine company. Sadly.
Further reading/viewing
The New Yorker article on album launches not hanging around
James Blake’s plate-spinning album cover
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Before Canadian Inuk throat singer Tanya Tagaq starts any show she announces where the exits are in case anyone isn’t into her often aggressive and improvised performance. She’s completely fine with the walkouts, and we’ve perhaps not had anyone on the show before who’s as comfortable within themself as Tanya is.
Also an author, visual artist, activist for the protection of indigenous rights in Northern Territory Canada and around the world, theatre maker, teacher and, recently, an actor in True Detective and North of North, Tagaq has just released her 7th album, Saputjiji. It’s a record that features her also singing conventionally for the first time.
This episode of the podcast turns into something of a therapy session as Tanya talks of her life spent not caring what strangers think of her. We also get into how Björk ended up featuring on her 2005 debut album, if more acting is in the works, and how all of her life experiences have simply come to her, almost by accident.
Listen above or wherever you get your podcasts.
Further reading/viewing
Tanya’s performance at the 2014 Polaris Prize
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One member of the Loud And Quiet team may have let slip during this episode of the Roundtable that they get their new music recommendations from The Graham Norton Show. Join Gemma Samways, Sam Walton and Stuart Stubbs for our monthly album reviews, taking on the 9th record by Gorillaz, Danny L Harle’s Euro trance debut/not debut Cerulean, and the heavy, heavy sound of Manchester industrial electro noise band Mandy, Indiana.
We also put Radiohead’s King of Limbs back under the microscope 15 years on from its release – an album recorded at Drew Barrymore’s house.
Listen above or on whichever podcast app you prefer.
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Gemma Samways, Sam Walton and Stuart Stubbs put 3 new albums under the microscope for the year’s first Roundtable episode of the podcast. Those albums are the third from south London post-punk band Dry Cleaning, and a couple of debuts, from LA big voice Tyler Ballgame and Phoenix underground rap duo By Storm.
The anniversary record we take a second look at is of course Bowie’s parting gift, Blackstar, released 10 years ago, just 2 days before his death. Did we all get so caught up in grief that we loved that album without really listening to it, or does it stand up better than ever?
Listen above or wherever you get your podcasts. Just search The Loud And Quiet Podcast.
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Further reading/viewing
Sam’s Dry Cleaning cover feature from 2022


This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit loudandquiet.substack.com/subscribe