The Co-operative // news

crackle crackle

The Co-operative // 06.02.11 // Electricity

The dead cold grips the town in utter silence...the cluster of expensive hotels, bars, cinemas, shops round the Memorial Church, a sparkling nucleus of light, like a sham diamond, in the shabby twilight of the town...But the city, which glowed so brightly and invitingly in the night sky above the plains, is cold and cruel and dead.
Christopher Isherwood

This week, music and words about Electricity.

Posted at 01:26, 14th February 2011

journey to the centre of the forest

The Co-operative // 23.01.11 // Wilderness

Most glorious night!
Thou wert not sent for slumber! let me be
A sharer in thy fierce and far delight.
George Gordon, Lord Byron

For our first show of the new year, we have as our theme Wilderness. We went for a walk in the woods and visited Keith Muir in the Forest of Galloway. He told us about the Dark Sky Park, light pollution and what it's like to be alone in the woods at night. Slip through a mysterious door and into Tropic of Clyde. This episode, our heroes begin to be hunted.

Theme for next time is Electricity. Get in touch on our blog where you'll also find pictures, videos and thoughts.

Posted at 02:00, 2nd February 2011

snug as a bug

The Co-operative // 12.12.10 // Sleep

'Look.' He pulled back the curtains from the window so that Peter could see the bright moon shining on a world of deep snow. 'You see, it's stopped snowing; it's a lovely night now.'
'I know your lovely nights,' Peter said; 'freezing like billy-o, and about a foot of snow to slodge through.'
'It's jolly fine being out in the snow at night,' Kay said. 'You see foxes, white owls and tawny owls.'
'I never heard such rot,' Peter said. 'Do blow the light out and let a chap get to sleep.'
John Masefield

Rosie fends for herself once again in our show on the theme of Sleep. There's a soothing lullaby, a horror-film soundtrack and a spoken word night-time tale set to a jazz score. This week, Tropic Of Clyde sees our heroes lulled further into a strange and snowy world in which they can't quite trust their senses.

For pictures, videos and other soporific curiosities, do look at our blog. You can also join us on Facebook. Send us your ideas for our next show, which is on the theme of Wilderness.

More to follow...zzz...

Posted at 14:53, 2nd January 2011

an immoveable feast

The Co-operative // 21.11.10 // Food And Drink: Part 2

"Alice began to get rather sleepy, and went on saying to herself, in a dreamy sort of way, 'Do cats eat bats? Do cats eat bats?' and sometimes, 'Do bats eat cats?' for, you see, as she couldn't answer either question, it didn't much matter which way she put it."
Lewis Carroll

Lo! Sean's back in the studio with Rosie this week, having been away conducting some very important radio-related research. He brings excerpts from the diaries of Brian Eno and Lord Byron as well as a miserable little poem by Philip Larkin, all beautifuly tessellating around our theme - Food and Drink. Yes, the more attentive listeners will notice that this is similar to last week. We can assure you that this is not some monumental cock-up (!), but rather a meticulously planned and flawlessy exectuted banquet of two halves. (We couldn't afford pudding.) Musical highlight - Sister Carol's dietary advice in the form of Veggie, Veggie - "No MSG, no eggy, eggy, eggy, eggy."

David has bewilderingly transformed into a woman called Simone, but we were too polite to ask what happened.

As ever, do get in touch, and send us your ideas for next time, which is... Sleep. Bon appetit!

Posted at 14:39, 25th November 2010

tasteful titbits

The Co-operative // 14.11.10 // Food and Drink: Part 1

"There was early coffee to be got about Covent-garden Market, and that was more company - warm company, too, which was better. Toast of a very substantial quality, was likewise procurable: though the towzled-headed man who made it, in an inner chamber within the coffee-room, hadn't got his coat on yet, and was so heavy with sleep that in every interval of toast and coffee he went off anew behind the partition into complicated cross-roads of choke and snore, and lost his way directly."
Charles Dickens

Rosie goes solo this week, having fed Sean and David like French geese until their livers burst. Full-up and content, she plays a Food and Drink mix including show-favourite Ivor Cutler describing a bizarre man-sandwich hybrid, culinary rap from Edan and a splendid ode to chicken by Charles Mingus. The Flaming Lips also render a horror story into song form about a woman who, instead of jam on her toast, uses... Tune in to find out. Tropic Of Clyde begins a tale of several courses for you to sink your teeth into. This week, the aperitif - after an evening spent in a cocktail bar, our heroes have a late-night encounter with some foxes. Here's an aid to digestion whilst you're listening.

Posted at 14:11, 25th November 2010

goodbye october

The Co-operative // 31.10.10 // Cold

"Went for eggs into the Coombe, and to the bakers; a hail shower; brought home large burthens of sticks, a starlight evening, the sky closed in, and the ground white with snow before we went to bed."
Dorothy Wordsworth

Ah! October is gone, a sad occasion. At what other time of year does one have the opportunity to write a capital O so frequently?

It's autumn proper now. Are you all wrapped up? If not, come in, come in, there's space by the fire for everyone. As you rest your feet on the hearth, we'll regale you with a fascinating story - Thomas Joshua Cooper, a photographer who's made trips to both the North and South Poles, tells us about his work. Feel the sea mist roll in as you listen.Tropic Of Clyde this week is set in the foyer of a gentlemen's club on a bitter winter afternoon. But don't worry, it's warm inside. And if by then your toes haven't thawed, curl up and listen to our wonderful playlist - the ice queen Nico and a song about a lost jumper amongst the highlights. David and Rosie's tender voices will give you a good rub down, and the doubly-disembodied Sean will lull you to sleep.

And remember, before you nod off, get in touch on our blog or our Facebook page. Theme for next time: Food and Drink.

Posted at 20:32, 1st November 2010

pay no more than nothing

The Co-operative // 17.10.10 // Money

"Tom has eaten kidney and pigeon-pie, and imbibed coffee, till his little skin is as tight as a drum; and then has the further pleasure of paying head waiter out of his own purse in a dignified manner, and walks out before the inn-door to see the horses put to."
Thomas Hughes

Are you under the illusion that one penny is worth 1p? If so, our show on the theme of Money this week will put you to rights. We've an interview with Hiram, an Edinburgh-based coin collector, a picture of whom you can see on our blog after you've listened to the show. We've got a track from the BBC Radiophonic Workshop that's played on tills, a song about a Securicor guard and a bloody great cover of Goldfinger. Sean finds out he payed more than he should have done for a Billy Bragg album and reveals the financial benefits of smoking, and Rosie is officially the richest person in the studio, home address supplied on request. Tropic Of Clyde this week is set in a creepy ossuary, where our hero Anselm makes a bad decision. Our theme-bola has decreed Cold to be the theme for next week, so send us your ideas on the blog or our Facebook page. Anyone know any polar explorers?

Posted at 19:14, 17th October 2010

socks, shirts and hats

The Co-operative // 03.10.10 // Clothes

"Ah! but there may come a death in the family, as there did soon after I had my green satin bonnet."
George Eliot

For our episode on the theme of Clothes this week, we've got an interview with the illustrious Ms Ruzzak, costume designer and fastidious knitter, and she tells us how much fabric goes into one costume (it's a lot). Tropic Of Clyde is set in a plush haberdashery, and we find out a bit more about the mysterious league of foxes that comes to prominence in the Scottish future. Any ideas for songs other than the beauties we've got for you this week, please post on our blog. Next week is MONEY! We'll make you feel wealthy and corrupt.

Posted at 21:40, 12th October 2010

what do you want? information!

The Co-operative // 19.09.10 // Information

"The times have changed in nothing more...than in the rapid conveyance of intelligence and communication betwixt one part of Scotland and another."
Walter Scott

Courteous listeners, we present you with The Co-operative as it has never been heard before. Our music this week explores different facets of Information - Jill Scott is paranoid, Doctor Rockit sings a hymn and Kraftwerk beep. We speak to the archivist and librarian from Glasgow Women's Library, who tell us all sorts of fascinating things about their collection and the hot topics in archival theory. We also have Information Flow, the first instalment of our sci-fi serial Tropic Of Clyde, in which a mysterious package makes a convoluted journey from London to Glasgow. Set in an indeterminate future, it involves trains, forests and spies, and the internet has become a dangerous weapon to which few have access.

Check our blog-in-progress. We'll be posting information and contact details about out interviews and scripts of Tropic Of Clyde, as well as pictures and our map of themes. Let us know your thoughts - you can talk to us on or blog, or email us at glasgow.cooperative@gmail.com. Keep your ears peeled for our next show on the theme of Clothes.

Posted at 21:52, 20th September 2010

back from the dead

The Co-operative // 01.11.09 // Al Souls Day

On the Seventh Day, the Co-operative was reborn...

Yes, we have relocated to Sunday mornings. This propitious day heralds the return of your favourite host Sean, stealing through a curtain of fog and questionable taste. Those who conjectured that his unexplained absence told of tragedy, languor or foul play can now be assured that, on this tranquil morning after Halloween, he is fully restored. Imogen, unfortunately, failed to reincarnate.

From now until Christmas we offer you a cornucopia of musical delights. Al ushers in November with a suspiciously French mix, and, oh! what joys will reward the loyal listener in the weeks to come. We hope finally to launch our numbers playlist and, for those who manage to cling on as we hurl headlong into winter, a Yuletide spectacular is being tailored, trimmed and fine-tuned...

Posted at 11:05, 1st November 2009

more atteeeen-shons!

Numbers numbers numbers! Lets begin at the beginning with the number One. There are probably tonnes and tonnes of songs featuring the number one, so we need to start narrowing them down! Let us know what your favourites are and we will eventually be able to choose the song which will start off our numbers playlist!

Suggestions so far: ** The Magnetic Fields - THE ONE YOU REALLY LOVE ** ** The Wedding Present - ONE DAY THIS WILL ALL BE YOURS ** ** Blondie - ONE WAY OR ANOTHER ** ** The Smiths - I WANT THE ONE I CAN'T HAVE ** ** New Kids On The Block NKOTB - THIS ONE'S FOR THE CHILDREN ** (Yeah, not for yer pockets..) ** Ella Fitzgerald - JUST ONE OF THOSE THINGS ** ** The Reginas - WHY MUST I LOVE THE ONE? ** ** Georgia Pine Boy - ONE MORE GREASING ** ** Victoria Spivey - ONE HOUR MAMA ** ** Charlie Feathers - ONE HAND LOOSE ** ** Caribou - SHE'S THE ONE ** ** Angelo Badalamenti - LES ENFENTS SAUVENT ONE ** ** The Notwist - ONE WITH THE FREAKS / ONE STEP INSIDE DOESN'T MEAN YOU UNDERSTAND ** ** Hot Chip - ONE ONE ONE ** ** Darren Hayman - TABLE FOR ONE ** ** The Caretaker - MEMORY ONE **

Posted at 15:02, 19th October 2009

numbers, sounds and novelties

Attention!

We are putting together a playlist of songs to do with numbers and we want your suggestions. Songs we have so far include Tea for Two by Doris Day, Three is the Magic Number by Bob Dorough, The Ten Commandments by Prince Buster and Twelve Tribes by 4Hero. We want to fill in the rest of the numbers between 1 and 12, but any songs involving other numbers are welcomed with open arms too. Can you think of any with halves or decimal points? I think Kate Bush did a song about Pi... Anyway, get your thinking caps on and hopefully you'll be hearing something numerically pleasing on the radio soon. You can post ideas on our Facebook group, or you can email us at glasgow.cooperative@gmail.com

This week for The Sound of Sound, Imogen ditched those final heartbreak songs and opted instead for a trio of female bands. David's playlist for this week began with tracks by Glasgow-oriented acts and ended with the wonderful Scott Walker cover of Jacques Brel's Mathilde, with electronic and 8-bit adventures in between. For the fourth instalment of the Co-operative expect some instrumentals and novelties put together by the talented goddess Rosie.

Posted at 14:15, 28th September 2009

power out!

The Co-operative // 21.09.09 // Plenty More Fuckups in the Sea...

Due to the intolerably high pitch of emotion charging through this week's heartbreak playlist, we managed to blow the power in the whole of the West End, and so the show was cut short. But fear ye not! Imogen will finish off her mix at the beginning of next week's show, and we'll follow it up with David's sterling compendium, The Sound of Sound.

Posted at 16:23, 21st September 2009

plenty more fuckups in the sea...

The Co-operative // 21.09.09 // Plenty More Fuckups in the Sea...

Handnails, Heartache, and Heroines! This week we will be starting with songs featuring lyrics about fingernails, and then moving onto a compilation by Imogen on the theme of frustrated desire.. Featuring a phalanx of female vocalists, a mixture of Rock 'n Roll, Shoegaze, Indie, Punk, Ambient, and 80s to soothe the most broken of hearts,

Posted at 22:53, 17th September 2009