Episode 192: PRP/Synthpop Symphony Crossover: Red Flag Part 2 (with DJ Matt Williams)

Brian and Sarah are once again joined by DJ Matt Williams, creator and host of the synth-tastic radio show Synthpop Symphony. Matt’s show is aired on dozens of terrestrial radio stations around the world and can also be found on podcast platforms.

In the previous episode, Brian, Sarah and Matt started a discussion about the San Diego-based duo Red Flag, whose well-crafted electronic tracks were heard in countless clubs at the end of the 1980s. Their debut album, Naïve Art, was released in 1989, and the three hosts shared both information on and memories of the album, touching on numerous other topics along the way.

This episode dives into four tracks from Naïve Art, three of which were singles, and one which Brian and Sarah learned from Matt was at least considered as a single.

The chart information Sarah has for the singles is primarily for the dance charts, although Brian does take great joy being able to use one of his 1980s pop chart books to confirm some information. Matt tells stories of receiving and playing the remixes in dance clubs. Sarah also has some single reviews, and in what may be a first for the show, a video review!

The three hosts discuss each song in depth, but the conversation encompasses many other topics as well. The PRP hosts chat with Matt about the time and effort involved in planning a radio show playlist.

Information Society member and famed producer Paul Robb is mentioned, along with the group T42. And once again, Depeche Mode makes the list of discussion topics; this time the focus is on Depeche Mode’s influence on music.

Songs discussed in this episode:
Russian Radio
If I Ever
Broken Heart
Pretty in Pity

Watch the video discussed:
Russian Radio

Catch up with DJ Matt Williams at
http://synthpopsymphony.com

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Episode 191: PRP/Synthpop Symphony Crossover: Red Flag Part 1 (with DJ Matt Williams)

Brian and Sarah are thrilled to present the first in what will hopefully become a series of crossover episodes with DJ Matt Williams. Matt is the brains and the voice behind the amazing radio show Synthpop Symphony, which airs on radio stations in 60 countries and is also available for download on virtually all podcast platforms.

As Matt states, “Synthpop Symphony is where the past, present, and future of synth-driven music collide.” And as PRP and Synthpop Symphony collide, the hosts shine a spotlight on a past synthpop group that often goes overlooked: Red Flag.

In this first of two parts, Matt, Brian, and Sarah discuss Red Flag’s history, the recording of their debut album, Naïve Art, and each person’s history with the album. However, that’s only the tip of the iceberg. The three also talk about cool radio stations, the demise of synthpop in the 90s, Depeche Mode’s US Top 40 history, the history Razormaid, the comparison of bands like Red Flag, Cause & Effect, and Anything Box to Depeche Mode, the return of Tom Bailey, and the Red Flag Fan Club.

It’s a fun discussion that sets the stage for Part Two, where they’ll dive deep into four selections from Naïve Art.

And be sure to visit http://synthpopsymphony.com to learn more about DJ Matt Williams and his Synthpop Symphony radio show!

Read more at http://www.permanentrecordpodcast.com/
Visit us at https://www.facebook.com/permrecordpodcast
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Episode 190: End of Summer Special 2025 (Part 2) – The Alarm & Duran Duran

Brian and Sarah are back and ready to continue their discussion of a couple of ‘summery’ songs, as the summer draws closer to an end in the Northern Hemisphere. (For those in the Southern Hemisphere, maybe think of this as a summer preview!)

As in the previous episode, the first song selection comes from Sarah. She chose the 1987 single “Rain in the Summertime” by The Alarm.

This song was released in advance of The Alarm’s third studio album “Eye of the Hurricane,” which Sarah explains was a tumultuous period in the band’s history. She recounts stories of the song’s creation and recording which expose some of the difficulties with and among bandmates. However, the anecdotes also reveal some surprising uses of computer technology for the time.

Both hosts mention comparisons and similarities between The Alarm and U2, even down to the desert setting of this song’s video. In discussing the video, Sarah can’t help but bring up a pet peeve of hers when watching movies—a phenomenon Brian says is often identified with the classic film “Casablanca.”

After wrapping up the discussion on Sarah’s song, it’s time for Brian to reveal his second selection. He chose the 1990 single from Duran Duran, “Violence of Summer (Love’s Taking Over).”

With his selection, Brian shares a “hot take”-- his great love of the 1990 album Liberty. He confesses this love caused his research for the song to stray into research for the entire album, which he then had to reign in. However, since he did take the time and effort to do the work, he decides to share a few tidbits regarding Liberty as well.

1990 was an interesting time for Duran Duran—the band’s lineup had changed yet again, and they were in kind of a limbo period compared to the widespread popularity and exposure they experienced in the first half of the 1980s. Brian reveals some thoughts Simon LeBon shared about Liberty and its place in the Duran Duran catalog, and both hosts talk about highlights on the album.

The discussion of the video for “Violence of Summer (Love’s Taking Over)” finds Sarah rather confused about what she’s seeing, at least some of the time. Brian brings up a funny story about the frequently-shirtless Warren Cuccurullo and how that affected the rest of the band. And Brian is thrilled when Sarah references Dead or Alive!

Watch the videos here:
"Rain in the Summertime" - The Alarm
"Violence of Summer (Love's Taking Over)" - Duran Duran

Read more at http://www.permanentrecordpodcast.com/
Visit us at https://www.facebook.com/permrecordpodcast
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