Feature/ 'Blood on the Tracks': A Podcast to Unite All Music Lovers

Music Sub-editor Guy Marcham runs through BBC Sounds' 'Blood on the Tracks' podcast

Music boffins rejoice! For the BBC's brand new musical podcast, Blood on The Tracks, has finally been commissioned for a new 10-part series, following on from its highly successful pilot in late March.

Podcasts have well and truly boomed within the past year, with more people than ever choosing the format to soundtrack their mundane work journeys, food shopping and weekly runs. With plenty of podcasts available for self-declared music geeks like myself, there can often be too much choice. Whether it's deciding between Elis James and John Robins' hilarious and informal Radio X show or Romesh Ranganathan's 'Hip Hop Saved My Life', there are simply too many options.

To help you juggle university work and a healthy dose of music - I have chosen just one essential podcast for you to lose yourself in. I therefore point you towards what has easily been my favourite podcast of 2018. Beating tough competition in a year which the BBC have coined 'the year of the podcast boom'.

Blood on the Tracks is now not just the name of Dylan's finest record but also one of the BBC's best podcasts. Put together by Fighting Talk presenter, Colin Murray, the format is simple. Murray invites four celebrities (not all associated to music) to bond over one thing only - their driving passion and interest in music. Guests such as Stuart Murdoch, Annie Mac, Nish Kumar and Scroobius Pip have all been tasked in delving deep into their record collections, unearthing colourful stories about the music they love. Such stories range from their favourite album closers to party anthems.

It's a show that uncovers all sorts of musical anecdotes and comical gems, such as Stuart Murdoch of Belle & Sebastian working as part of the security personnel for a Pixies gig in Glasgow to Sean Ryder's drug fuelled alleged UFO sightings. The podcast is something for all to enjoy, not just pretentious and aloof chin stroking scenesters. From Miles Davis to Katy Perry, Blood on the Tracks does not care for false pretence. This is best illustrated by the show's iPod shuffle round - in which the guests musical choice is left purely up to chance, within their own musical collection.

Blood on The Tracks is therefore certainly worth a listen - the perfect place for an eclectic mix of humorous musical anecdotes, powerfully emotive discussion and amazing tunes.

You can catch up on the series on the BBC Sounds app now.

Featured image: Blood on the Tracks/ BBC

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