Suffering Jukebox

After five weeks in Europe, I'm back on the airwaves! This morning's episode features a phone interview with Patricia McInerney from Basket of Hammers. This Thursday, Friday and Saturday (October 30th-November 1st) at The Old Ambulance Station in Namba, Basket of Hammers presents Samhain, three nights of expertly curated sound and vision featuring musical performances by Mick Turner, Heinz Riegler, Naomi Blacklock, Our Carlson, Deafcult, Kitchen's Floor and more. Plus screenings of All You Need Is Death, A Grand Mockery and Film Safari Ghana. Tickets and more information available here; https://events.humanitix.com/samhain-2025-8an7kyms

I'll also be speaking -again, by phone- with the one and only Our Carlson, who has just released his latest album OC Spray via BDSM-420 Records and will be playing (the above-mentioned) Samhain festival on Friday 31st October and Vinnie's Dive Bar at Southport on Sunday 2nd November. You can find otu more about Our Carlson here; https://ourcarlson.bandcamp.com/music

Nick's Pick of the Week is Jim White's Inner day, which was released last Friday, October 24th. You can hear it in all the usual places, or purchase it here; https://jimwhitedrums.bandcamp.com/album/inner-day and my review can be read below.

Jim White: Inner Day (Drag City)

Released October 24th 2025

Inner Day, Australian percussionist Jim White’s second solo record, is an expansive, expressionist masterwork that stretches even further into fields of experimentalism than last year’s All Hits: Memories. White has spent decades building a reputation as one of the most creative (and in-demand) drummers across an endless variety of genres. His solo albums contain all the dexterity one would expect, with an introspective —albeit playful— character that seems to increase with each new release. This playfulness takes centre stage on Inner Day.

White has featured on more album’s reviewed on this show (and Darker With the Day) than any other single musician. He is best known as the drummer for Dirty Three, but his chameleonic ability to add depth, colour and complexity to almost any composition has resulted in fruitful collaborations with the likes of Marissa Anderson, Bill Callahan, Ed Kuepper, Cat Power and Giorgos Xylouris - to name but a few.

Arranged and produced with the assistance of White’s longterm collaborator —former Rites of Spring and Fugazi member— Guy Picciotto, Inner Day also features a spirited contribution from experimental multi-instrumentalist Zoh Amba. Despite being mostly instrumental, Inner Day is notable for featuring White’s debut appearance as lyricist and vocalist. White sing-speaks on two tracks, Inner Day and I Don’t Do/Grand Central, both of which are album highlights, the latter of which also features Amba on guitar and vocals.

Opening with Deathday, the first third of the album features short songs composed of keyboard/synthesiser, percussive elements and occasional drums, whilst Inner Day’s middle section comprises several longer songs containing the same elements as before. Their extended length, however, allows White to further develop and expand on the album’s earlier vignettes. Stepping and Two Ruffys are prime examples of this meditative song structure that reaches its zenith on the almost twelve-minute 11.12.24, a track that calls to mind his —Dirty Three bandmate— Warren Ellis’ work on Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds’ Ghosteen album.

Jim White is a man and musician who is constantly full of surprises. He is quietly spoken, but thoughtful and his unassuming, humble personality means he is often overshadowed by his more extravagant and vocal co-conspirators. Inner Day is a giant leap forward as a solo artist, it pushes far beyond the potential merely hinted at on his previous record and demonstrates a growth of expression that is —quite frankly— staggering. Inner Day is a uniquely beautiful album made by an artist with a restless thirst for innovation and a strong contender for one of 2025’s best records.

Nick Stephan

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