This podcast begins with a flurry of out of tune sounds clashing together, only lightly audible in the mix as the attention is on the narrator. Immediately, a soundscape that reflects the title and theme- Bad Vibrations- of the podcast is set. The narrator explains that this podcast is an exploration into how sound and music actually physically affect us, providing rhetorical examples such as “can music control your nervous system” and if it can ”turn you into a knife wielding murderer”. Whilst the topic of the podcast has been drawn out, an entire summary on the points covered has not been laid out, instead a passage of an interview which he has conducted is played. The flow feels more natural and conversations like, whilst information isn’t being repeated- all the information given feels fresh and interesting.

Exploring ideas laid out in James Kenneway’s book Bad Vibrations, the podcast explores claims throughout history about the idea of music making one ill- which Kenneway regards as “just plain nonesense”. Despite this opinion, the podcast somewhat gives credit to these claims (considering the time periods and science of those times) by detailing where music has an effect on health. The phenomenon of musicogenic epilepsy leads to those affeted having siezures induced by music. However, the difference between inducing and causing is made clear- the condition is not as a result of music, but once an individual suffers from it, music will beome a point of sensitivity for them, the same way light is for epileptics typically. The speakers use this point to take away credibility from the historical claims, and move onto their next point. I find this interesting, as I would have loved to be given an insight into the modern science behind musicogenic epilepsy, so as to gather my own opinion as to whether music has a negative effect on health. The podcast goes on to detail other phenomena of music inducing ill health and death, such as conductors dying whilst conducting works by Wagner, and Benjamin Franklin’s glass harmonica.

The idea of pathological music is explored- music as a catalsyt for disease, and music as a dangerous nervous stimulant. The discourse around this focuses on women, always with a focus on womens’ fertility. With a growing interest in psycohology, there too was an emphasis on analysing composers’ mental weakness. With 20th century psuedo scientific racist theories about music, the arguments around pathological music become futile, however, polotical weaponisation of music continues. This includes torture using music in the war on terror, and in CIA interrogation methods (totrture).

The podcast concludes by letting the reader know that research into the harmful effects on music on health is vague and inconclusive. I would have liked to hear examples of Wagner’s work, or even the CIA interrogation music within the podcast to add aesthetic quality. It would have also been nice to hear more than one person be interviewed. As this is a podcast series, however, it is understandable that there is a sole focus on one interviewee. I enjoyed listening to this podcast.