The eighth floor

[Old Codger Fan]

At first, I thought CA was a fine replacement for Annie Mac, at least in terms of not seeming to take herself so seriously.  Over time, however, there is just something about the tone of voice she employs (on 80% of her links) that's really started to grate. 

 I've been struggling to describe this in a way that someone who has never heard it might get - My best effort for now is - Imagine someone having to speak-up at a noisy Wedding Reception, so the DJ can hear what she is requesting him to play - Not only that, but with a rising inflexion which hangs in the air just long enough to suggest either that she thinks the DJ is a bit slow-on-the-uptake, or that he is an Australian, and that's her way of trying to ingratiate herself with him.

That she chooses to speak in this way is demonstrated by this latest Glastonbury trailer, in which she does none of the above - i.e. there is a pleasing touch of 'bass' in her voice every time she is about to reach a punctuation point : https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p0frf1zb/bbc-trailers-glastonbury

 

[BBCAaron]

@Old Codger Fan I sure at the time was the lone wolf that thought she wasn’t going to get the show. Whilst she was ok and fine enough replacement for when Annie Mac was on holiday or was feeling ill. But she didn’t seem to be someone that anchored the authority the show needs. But think she from few times have tuned in hasn’t been a presenter that made sure that I didn’t turn off and hasn’t been a presenter that has felt that I should want to keep listening. I get the tone of voice as if you are talking about a new song, album, band or artists as Future Sounds requires need to be able to sell it and get people to be looking up said album or artist. Think having her continue on mid mornings would’ve given the daytime bit more stability and I think is one of the prestigious slots on any station. Don’t know whether the curation has changed but doesn’t feel too much like most streaming playlists.

[coffeeandgin]

With Clara, I have no doubts that she's an excellent broadcaster in general but I always find her shows just 'fine' and nothing more. She does all the things you'd want a Radio 1 presenter to do very well but I'd struggle to tell you what makes a Clara show different to any other show on the station. Her shows are basically a 6/7-10 fine enough to listen to but can pale in comparison to stronger shows and Jack's show after does seem to have a bit life to it.

I do wonder that if Radio 1 knew Scott would leave a year after the 2021 changes if they might have kept Clara in her morning slot instead.

[Old Codger Fan]

3 hours ago, BBCAaron said:

" ...I get the tone of voice as if you are talking about a new song, album, band or artists as Future Sounds requires need to be able to sell it and get people to be looking up said album or artist..."

That's what I assumed the 'rationale' to be, too. Unfortunately, she'll often go on to add insult to injury by mentioning the key information (i.e. artist name!) as a throwaway mumble at the end!  Unless you've got a device which shows you the tracks being played (and maybe that's an automatic assumption also, on her part), you're gonna miss it ...

[DC]

Meh is the word, just background to me. I hear the odd interesting tune but I wouldn't go out of my way to listen. If I'm driving at that time I may have her on for an hour, but as soon as Jo Whiley comes on at 7 I switch over. Sometimes stay with Sara Cox beforehand.

[AndyK77]

Have to agree here.  I have nothing against Clara and don't mind her but I have zero positive emotion either.

Jack would be much better in this slot and him replaced by Kerrie Cosh, Alyx Holcombe or Nels Hylton.  I'd probably prefer Kerrie as she has a broader taste in music.

[BBCAaron]

I agree with your point think in terms of what she does that may have tempted radio 1 at the time I’m clueless of the rationale about having her to take on the show that people don’t tune in because the presenter is on but because its Radio 1 and set features or such. I find with no insult a lot of stations have presenters that you tune in because you like the station and just stably occupying the airwaves and having a voice on the station

2 hours ago, coffeeandgin said:

With Clara, I have no doubts that she's an excellent broadcaster in general but I always find her shows just 'fine' and nothing more. She does all the things you'd want a Radio 1 presenter to do very well but I'd struggle to tell you what makes a Clara show different to any other show on the station. Her shows are basically a 6/7-10 fine enough to listen to but can pale in comparison to stronger shows and Jack's show after does seem to have a bit life to it.

I do wonder that if Radio 1 knew Scott would leave a year after the 2021 changes if they might have kept Clara in her morning slot instead.

 

[BBCAaron]

52 minutes ago, AndyK77 said:

Have to agree here.  I have nothing against Clara and don't mind her but I have zero positive emotion either.

Jack would be much better in this slot and him replaced by Kerrie Cosh, Alyx Holcombe or Nels Hylton.  I'd probably prefer Kerrie as she has a broader taste in music.

Think nothing against her personally she is competent and a capable broadcaster. I think that maybe she’d been better of being able to have a lot of television work and big television job as think she can develop and have a successful career. Think there maybe more the consensus of a neutral vibe 

[BBCAaron]

1 hour ago, DC said:

Meh is the word, just background to me. I hear the odd interesting tune but I wouldn't go out of my way to listen. If I'm driving at that time I may have her on for an hour, but as soon as Jo Whiley comes on at 7 I switch over. Sometimes stay with Sara Cox beforehand.

It’s something that feel I’ve not been one to actually want to and enjoy the casual drop and listen to now and then. I would listen more regularly before to that show inparticular whether it was Zane Lowe and Annie Mac they did good in having the exclusives to feel more exclusive and not picking so many tracks that are in the charts or on the stations playlist but could in a few weeks time. 

I’m only 22 and do hope that when next generation have their chances at specialist programmes it can feel less background 

[Old Codger Fan]

15 hours ago, BBCAaron said:

" ... if you are talking about a new song, album, band or artists as Future Sounds requires need to be able to sell it and get people to be looking up said album or artist ..."

 

11 hours ago, DC said:

"Meh is the word, just background to me. I hear the odd interesting tune but I wouldn't go out of my way to listen .."

Herein lies the problem. Straining too hard to whip up enthusiasm can have the opposite effect.

[BBCAaron]

11 hours ago, Old Codger Fan said:

 

Herein lies the problem. Straining too hard to whip up enthusiasm can have the opposite effect.

I think that at times Jack can be bit too hard with the enthusiasm in some of his lines and phrasings get repetitive in the bursting of excitement for the show itself. It’s not a bad thing, I feel like within time throughout his career his tone and style will soften and change as he matures into his career. I do think he’d do a fine job in the hot seat of Future Sounds. Potentially theres room for a soft re-jig of some of the Future Sounds shows next year. 

[onlyME]

Also doesn't help there isn't a handover. Annie Mac would have one with Nick Grimshaw. Scott Mills and Zane Lowe had one. With Clara she just goes straight into it after the news. Even the start of the programme throws itself straight into the new music.

[Old Codger Fan]

4 minutes ago, onlyME said:

Also doesn't help there isn't a handover. Annie Mac would have one with Nick Grimshaw. Scott Mills and Zane Lowe had one. With Clara she just goes straight into it after the news. Even the start of the programme throws itself straight into the new music.

I only ever tune in for the second hour - but yes, I can see how this would be jarring ...

Again, what's most frustrating is that these are all easily fixable things  - The content of the show (both the tracks played, and what Clara has to say about them) is fine - So why isn't it working as it should???

[DC]

I'm sitting here wondering how long it's been since Steve Lamacq left Radio 1, who did that show but at an 8pm start for you whippersnappers. Feels like Zane has been gone an age too by now.

[abertom]

Would a Vick and Jordan 3.30-5.45 slot work 6-7 Vick or Jordan (alternate as I think 3 voices is too much) with Clara or Jack to bridge the gap and then Clara or Jack does the next hour solo

[AndyK77]

Another thing about Future Sounds - is it me or are there more older tracks played on the show than there used to be?

 

The vibe is just a world apart from the history of that show - I was curious and googled - look at this article about an album from the Evening Session which Mark Goodier originally created in 1990.  That tone was carried on by Jo Whiley and Steve Lamacq, Steve solo, Zane Lowe and Annie Mac.  Jack's Future Artists show is much closer to that style.

 

https://apopfansdream.wordpress.com/2020/03/14/the-best-of-the-mark-goodier-radio-1-sessions-nighttracks-1992/

 

Thinking more about it, the problem with Clara feels to me like she is presenting it like a regular mainstream radio show.  She's very competent but it has none of the vibe of exciting the listener about new music, it may as well be the mid-morning show on a Global station.

[BBCAaron]

4 hours ago, AndyK77 said:

Another thing about Future Sounds - is it me or are there more older tracks played on the show than there used to be?

 

The vibe is just a world apart from the history of that show - I was curious and googled - look at this article about an album from the Evening Session which Mark Goodier originally created in 1990.  That tone was carried on by Jo Whiley and Steve Lamacq, Steve solo, Zane Lowe and Annie Mac.  Jack's Future Artists show is much closer to that style.

 

https://apopfansdream.wordpress.com/2020/03/14/the-best-of-the-mark-goodier-radio-1-sessions-nighttracks-1992/

 

Thinking more about it, the problem with Clara feels to me like she is presenting it like a regular mainstream radio show.  She's very competent but it has none of the vibe of exciting the listener about new music, it may as well be the mid-morning show on a Global station.

I think the past incarnations had license to play older music or more mainstream that isn’t futuristic as think with the ‘Future Sounds’ name it bounds them play new music, new artist and more left field experimental stuff but incomparision to before the future sounds name it felt that they were playing music a lot more that wasn’t yet on the playlist and a show you can find new music from.

If say Clara Amfo were to present the programme on say something like Capital FM it would stand out and have different edge and cut to the rest of the programme and would be more competitive. I think they could easily bring the Future Sounds and Artists shows together if Jack Saunders were to take over the programme.

[Old Codger Fan]

18 hours ago, DC said:

I'm sitting here wondering how long it's been since Steve Lamacq left Radio 1, who did that show but at an 8pm start for you whippersnappers. Feels like Zane has been gone an age too by now.

Lamacq's 'Evening Session' run ended in Dec 2002, by all accounts.

The slot itself passed through many hands before Mark Goodier, with perhaps Janice Long making the biggest mark on it, in the 80's. 

A quick glance at this Schedule archive site suggests it was "As Radio 2", up until 1979 ~

Schedule - BBC Programme Index

 

 

 

[Old Codger Fan]

... Soddit, reading back through this, it occurs to me I've been persisting with the show for 2 years now - That's long enough - I'm sticking with Huw, on Radio Wales (Mollie's 'Future Pop' on Thurs still a good listen, though ...)

[UnofficialStark]

Catching up on Clara from yesterday and she sounds much more alive than she ever has before on Future Sounds. She's not sounding so dull or going so slowly anymore. Seems like a summer break was exactly what she needed so she could come back refreshed and put some more life and soul into the show

[Jono]

4 hours ago, UnofficialStark said:

Catching up on Clara from yesterday and she sounds much more alive than she ever has before on Future Sounds. She's not sounding so dull or going so slowly anymore. Seems like a summer break was exactly what she needed so she could come back refreshed and put some more life and soul into the show

Agree, feels like she's taken a leaf out of Alyx and Jack's book with handling the specialist shows.

[Old Codger Fan]

Listened last night from 7pm. No improvement, to my ears. Had switched over to Jo Whiley by 7.15pm.

[Theodore]

Hey there! It's interesting how our perceptions can change over time. Annie Mac definitely has a unique style. If you're looking for a different vibe, you might want to check out the Glastonbury trailer. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

[onlyME]

1 hour ago, Theodore said:

Hey there! It's interesting how our perceptions can change over time. Annie Mac definitely has a unique style. If you're looking for a different vibe, you might want to check out the Glastonbury trailer. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

Do you have a link?

[Old Codger Fan]

29 minutes ago, onlyME said:

Do you have a link?

I made a point about the difference in a Glastonbury trailer in my OP, so have no idea what Theodore was driving at ...