Line Noise

This week on Line Noise a legend returns: Karl Bartos was first on Line Noise  in 2022 around the release of his autobiography; The Sound of the Machine, My Life in Kraftwerk and Beyond. In 2026 he returns and the emphasis is on his solo career and especially, his debut solo album Communication, which was re-released by Bureau B last year and which initially came out in 2003.  We talk about leaving Kraftwerk, liberation, the power of a group and his love of The Beatles, getting away from computers, guitars, Johnny Marr, remixing Planet Rock, the Telephone Call - he even plays us a few bars, Esperanto and so much more, in a wide-ranging and very warm interview. I hope you enjoy listening half as much as I enjoyed doing it. Line Noise comes with the support of Cupra. 

Our guest on Line Noise this week is Maara-Louisa Dunbar aka Maara, a Montreal producer and DJ whose brilliant new album Ultra Villain was released by NAFF on February 5. We talked about being a villain, narrative albums, misunderstanding, what the hell “home” means, Madonna, trip hop and more, in a very open-hearted interview. Line Noise comes to you with the support of Cupra.

Ben Cardew spoke to the very charming Flying Lotus at the Mira festival in Barcelona about the links between music and film, his body horror Ash, the scariest music in the world and the possibility of new records. Photo by Alba Rupérez. Line Noise comes to you with the support of Cupra.

This week Line Noise gives you two French house legends for the price of one: Busy P and DJ Falcon. Busy P is Pedro Winter, producer, DJ, founder of Ed Banger records and - yes - once manager of Daft Punk, the lynchpin of Parisian dance. Stéphane Quême is DJ Falcon, whose very first productions became the brilliant Hello My Name Is DJ Falcon EP back in 1999; he later formed half of Together with Daft Punk’s Thomas Bangalter and is currently working with Alan Braxe. Ben Cardew spoke to them at the Nitsa club in Barcelona ahead of their DJ gig about their relationship, DJing back to back, Falcon’s first productions, the birth of Ed Banger and so much more, including Pedro Winter giving the full background story to that night on October 25 at the Centre Pompidou when Thomas Bangalter returned to DJing alongside Fred Again and Busy P. Line Noise comes to you with the support of Cupra. Picture by @redporteros

Today on Line Noise we welcome one of the most brilliant minds in modern music, Matthew Herbert, a man who has sampled a pig from birth to plate; formed a Brexit Big Band; and headed up the BBC’s legendary Radiophonic Workshop. He still found time to create one of the most dazzlingy beautiful records in house music with Bodily Functions; and, only last year, released the brilliant Clay long player with Momoko. This Saturday (January 17, 2026) he is playing Poly-Rythmo Club at La Paloma. In the interview, we talked about everything from making a record from the sun to the state of dance music, plus Matthew gives a surprisingly in-depth answer to which of his songs he would play to my mum and reveals what he considers to be the most beautiful piece of music he has ever made. Enjoy. Line Noise comes with the support of Cupra.

Nuestro DJ favorito de Barcelona, Phran, nos visitó para hablar sobre la música electrónica en Venezuela, pinchando con Arca, raptor house, changa, minitecas, sus sellos Vimana y ACA y mucho más. (Emitido por primera vez en 2024)

Ben Cardew hablo con DJ Fra, leyenda de la música electrónica en Barcelona y booker de Primavera Sound, sobre la importancia de Underground Resistance, antes de su concierto en Primavera Sound 2026. ¿Quiénes son este misterioso colectivo de Detroit? ¿Por qué son tan importantes para el techno? ¿Cuáles son sus mejores temas? Todo se revelará en un programa tanto para los fans de UR como para quienes los descubren por primera vez.

Ben Cardew spoke to Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith about loss, love, death and more as she prepared for the release of her new album Thoughts on the Future. Also on the agenda: body music, the most romantic song in the world, farming, yoga and silence, in 40 illuminating minutes. Line Noise comes to you with the support of Cupra. Photo by Tom Saccenti.

Basic Unit are the Line Noise artist of the year for 2025, for the re-release of their classic Timeline album and the release of their first new material in 20 years, the Redux EP. Ben Cardew spoke to Ben England, half of Basic Unit alongside Rick Dallaway, about defying expectations, progressive house, Autechre, techstep, the unique way in which Timeline was made, cult success and mad production skill. Plus, we discuss falling in and out of love with drum & bass. Line Noise comes to you with the support of Cupra.

Ben Cardew spoke to Hungarian wonder producer Gábor Lázár about MaxMSP, random edges, recording live and eureka moments, live at the MIRA festival in Barcelona, November 2025. Line Noise comes to you with the support of Cupra. Photo by Ga?bor Nemerov.