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Join respected music commentator and critic William Dart for a half-hour of rock, pop, country, folk and beyond. From new releases to forgotten gems, he draws on an encyclopaedic knowledge and gargantuan record collection to offer fascinating insights and surprising links. William’s choices are sometimes classic, sometimes quirky, always engaging and entertaining.
This programme concluded in December 2024, but you can enjoy episodes below.
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Lera Lynn - Toughness in the sweetest of wrappings
22 Nov 2020American singer Lera Lynn has a special way with minor and major chords. William Dart looks at how she employs this talent to make her own powerful observations on life and its issues. Read more Audio
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The young brilliance of Jacob Collier
22 Nov 2020William Dart looks at the music of the phenomenally talented singer/songwriter/producer Jacob Collier, who's just released the third volume of his four-album project Djesse. Read more Video, Audio
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Sparks Old and New
8 Nov 2020Brothers Ron and Russell Mael of Sparks have just released their 25th studio album, A Steady Drip, Drip, Drip. William Dart checks it out along with a re-release of their 1994 album Gratuitous Sax and… Read more Audio
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Caitlin Smith's Footsteps
1 Nov 2020The sound of Auckland songwriter Caitlin Smith's footsteps are spread throughout her new album, You Have Reached Your Destination and William Dart follows along willingly. Songwriting doesn't come… Read more Audio
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Kronos Quartet Celebrates Pete Seeger
25 Oct 2020William Dart looks at familiar Pete Seeger songs, inventively and resourcefully dressed up for 2020 by Kronos Quartet on its new album, Long Time Passing. Read more Audio
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Joachim Cooder and the songs of Uncle Dave Macon
18 Oct 2020William Dart features the new album, Over That Road I'm Bound, in which Joachim Cooder explores the songs of one of the Grand Ole Opry's original stars Uncle Dave Macon. Read more Video, Audio
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Ex Goodshirt
11 Oct 2020Two decades after Goodshirt climbed to pop success, William Dart catches up with new music from two of its band members, Gareth Thomas and Rodney Fisher. Read more Video, Audio
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Remembering Janis
4 Oct 2020Janis Joplin passed away fifty years ago, on 4 October, 1970. William Dart submits a little piece of his heart by way of a tribute. Read more Audio
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Wild Sides
27 Sep 2020William Dart features Suzanne Vega, Bettye LaVette and Paul Kelly dipping into the songbooks of Lou Reed, Paul McCartney and Cole Porter. Read more Audio
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Half-yearly Regrets
20 Sep 2020William Dart catches up on music that has slipped out of recent programmes' schedules, with Edith Piaf, Brian Wilson, Van Dyke Parks, Shirley Collins and Seth Haapu sharing unexpected common ground. Read more Audio
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E waiata ana a Maisey Rika ki ngā whetū
13 Sep 2020William Dart celebrates Maori Language Week with Maisey Rika's superb new album, Ngā Mata o te Ariki Tāwhirimātea. Read more Audio
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Unexpected Collaborations
6 Sep 2020After delighting in some truly bizarre comings-together from the past, William Dart looks at the new releases from Taylor Swift with The National, and Bebel Gilberto with Thomas Bartlett. Read more Audio
New Horizons
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