From the Basement
Encyclopedia
From the Basement is a podcast
turned television programme created by music producer and engineer Nigel Godrich
that features live performances from various musicians, without a host or audience.
.
The series was to focus on intimate, live performances by musicians without a host or an audience. Godrich told Pitchfork Media
in an interview, "We’ve got a lot of people that I’d like to see on the show [that] we’re talking to. [But] I don’t want to mention their names. Obviously, I’m really interested to capture some really iconic, bigger names– really the whole point is to get people who are having their moment, to try and get a definitive record of what they’re doing."
Godrich first conceived From the Basement as a means of authentically documenting music being made. Drawing further inspiration from British television music series The Old Grey Whistle Test, Godrich came upon the idea of a television program. Despite early reports, “From the Basement” would not appear on British television, because of not taking on corporate sponsors.
Unfortunately, this option wasn't feasible as it didn't generate enough money to produce the episodes to the quality level desired. Instead, the producers went to international TV networks to receive money up front to produce the series.
on December 1, 2007 and premiered in the US on Rave HD
on the February 22, 2008, followed by a run on the Independent Film Channel
in the fall of 2008. The IFC chose to split the episodes listed below into shorter, half-hour segments.
They were also amongst the final programmes broadcast by the now defunct YLE Extra
in Finland
.
MHD (Music High Definition) network on Comcast cable in the US is now broadcasting a Radiohead only version
of the program. It is unclear whether the show was produced all at once, or was recorded over multiple sessions.
A second series of shows ran on Sky Arts from December 3, 2008 to January 7, 2009.
On 10 March 2009 the series of performances was released on DVD
.
on the piano performing songs from the then upcoming Radiohead
album In Rainbows
, alongside performances from The White Stripes
and a collaboration between Four Tet
's Kieran Hebden and drummer Steve Reid
. The episode was filmed by director Sophie Muller
.
Episode 6 of series 1 was filmed in Bob Clearmountain
's Berkeley Street Studio in Los Angeles
rather than in London’s Maida Vale Studios
.
Podcast
A podcast is a series of digital media files that are released episodically and often downloaded through web syndication...
turned television programme created by music producer and engineer Nigel Godrich
Nigel Godrich
Nigel Godrich, , is a recording engineer, record producer and musician. He is best known for his work with the English rock band Radiohead and is sometimes referred to as the "sixth member" of the band...
that features live performances from various musicians, without a host or audience.
Background
In September 2006, it was announced that Godrich, along with creative director Dilly Gent, producer James Chads and John Woollcombe, were shooting the music series From the Basement, filmed from London’s Maida Vale StudiosMaida Vale Studios
Maida Vale Studios is a complex of seven BBC studios on Delaware Road, Maida Vale, London.It has been used to record thousands of classical music, popular music and drama sessions for BBC Radio 1, BBC Radio 2, BBC Radio 3 and BBC Radio 4 from 1946 to the present...
.
The series was to focus on intimate, live performances by musicians without a host or an audience. Godrich told Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media, usually known simply as Pitchfork or P4k, is a Chicago-based daily Internet publication established in 1995 that is devoted to music criticism and commentary, music news, and artist interviews. Its focus is on underground and independent music, especially indie rock...
in an interview, "We’ve got a lot of people that I’d like to see on the show [that] we’re talking to. [But] I don’t want to mention their names. Obviously, I’m really interested to capture some really iconic, bigger names– really the whole point is to get people who are having their moment, to try and get a definitive record of what they’re doing."
Godrich first conceived From the Basement as a means of authentically documenting music being made. Drawing further inspiration from British television music series The Old Grey Whistle Test, Godrich came upon the idea of a television program. Despite early reports, “From the Basement” would not appear on British television, because of not taking on corporate sponsors.
Format
Originally when the pilot was in production, From The Basement was to be an online programme only. The series would be available solely as an Internet download, with individual videos available for purchase through iTunes and through the official website. The first episode was available for download in December 2006.Unfortunately, this option wasn't feasible as it didn't generate enough money to produce the episodes to the quality level desired. Instead, the producers went to international TV networks to receive money up front to produce the series.
Broadcast
The podcast launched on December 18, 2006. The first UK broadcast was on Sky ArtsSky Arts
Sky Arts and Sky Arts HD is the brand name for a group of art-oriented television channels offering 18 hours a day of programmes dedicated to highbrow arts, including theatrical performances, movies, documentaries and music...
on December 1, 2007 and premiered in the US on Rave HD
Rave HD
Rave HD was a music channel that broadcast exclusively in High definition and 5.1 Dolby digital surround sound in the United States. Rave HD featured live concert performances from artists such as CHIC, The Cure, Green Day and world premieres of original programming such as Beautiful Noise.It was...
on the February 22, 2008, followed by a run on the Independent Film Channel
Independent Film Channel
The Independent Film Channel is an American cable TV network that airs independent film and related programming. IFC programming includes commercially interrupted feature-length films, original documentaries, shorts, animated series, original series, acquired series, and content exclusively for...
in the fall of 2008. The IFC chose to split the episodes listed below into shorter, half-hour segments.
They were also amongst the final programmes broadcast by the now defunct YLE Extra
YLE Extra
YLE Extra was a Finnish television channel owned and operated by YLE, the channel launched on 27 April 2007. It replaced YLE24. YLE Extra ceased broadcasting on 31 December 2007 and it was replaced by YLE TV1+, a temporary channel which broadcasts YLE TV1 with fixed subtitles....
in Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
.
MHD (Music High Definition) network on Comcast cable in the US is now broadcasting a Radiohead only version
In Rainbows – From the Basement
In Rainbows – From the Basement is a 2008 live video album by the English alternative rock band Radiohead. It features ten live performances of songs from their album In Rainbows and the bonus CD included in the discbox edition of In Rainbows...
of the program. It is unclear whether the show was produced all at once, or was recorded over multiple sessions.
A second series of shows ran on Sky Arts from December 3, 2008 to January 7, 2009.
On 10 March 2009 the series of performances was released on DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
.
Episodes
Each episode of From The Basement features performances from several musical artists. The first podcast episode of the series featured Thom YorkeThom Yorke
Thomas "Thom" Edward Yorke is an English musician who is the lead vocalist and principal songwriter for Radiohead. He mainly plays guitar and piano, but he has also played drums and bass guitar...
on the piano performing songs from the then upcoming Radiohead
Radiohead
Radiohead are an English rock band from Abingdon, Oxfordshire, formed in 1985. The band consists of Thom Yorke , Jonny Greenwood , Ed O'Brien , Colin Greenwood and Phil Selway .Radiohead released their debut single "Creep" in 1992...
album In Rainbows
In Rainbows
In Rainbows is the seventh studio album by the English rock band Radiohead. It was first released on 10 October 2007 as a digital download self-released, that customers could order for whatever price they saw fit, followed by a standard CD release in most countries during the last week of 2007. The...
, alongside performances from The White Stripes
The White Stripes
The White Stripes was an American rock band, formed in 1997 in Detroit, Michigan. The group consisted of the songwriter Jack White and drummer Meg White . Jack and Meg White were previously married to each other, but are now divorced...
and a collaboration between Four Tet
Four Tet
Kieran Hebden is a post-rock and electronic musician. Hebden first came to prominence as a member of the band Fridge before establishing himself as a solo artist under the moniker of Four Tet....
's Kieran Hebden and drummer Steve Reid
Steve Reid
Steve Reid was an American jazz drummer who played with a wide range of artists including Miles Davis, Ornette Coleman, James Brown, Fela Kuti and Sun Ra, and as a session drummer for Motown.- Biography :...
. The episode was filmed by director Sophie Muller
Sophie Muller
Sophie Muller is a British music video director, noted for her long-time collaborations with artists like Sophie Ellis-Bextor, No Doubt, Sade, Shakira, Shakespears Sister, Garbage, Blur, Annie Lennox and Eurythmics.-Background:...
.
Episode 6 of series 1 was filmed in Bob Clearmountain
Bob Clearmountain
Bob Clearmountain is an award-winning American music engineer, mixer and producer. He has worked with many prominent names in music including Bruce Springsteen , The Rolling Stones , Bryan Adams , Robbie Williams Bob Clearmountain is an award-winning American music engineer, mixer and producer. He...
's Berkeley Street Studio in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
rather than in London’s Maida Vale Studios
Maida Vale Studios
Maida Vale Studios is a complex of seven BBC studios on Delaware Road, Maida Vale, London.It has been used to record thousands of classical music, popular music and drama sessions for BBC Radio 1, BBC Radio 2, BBC Radio 3 and BBC Radio 4 from 1946 to the present...
.
Podcast
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Television Series 1
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Television Series 2
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