Since the six-hour Join The Future takeover of Noods Radio aired last Sunday (7th March 2021), I’ve been genuinely blown away by the amount of positive feedback I’ve received from listeners. It means a lot to know that many people have found it informative, educational and entertaining.

The good news is that it doesn’t mark the end of Join The Future on the radio, but just the start. From April 23rd 2021, a regular Join The Future show will air every other month on Noods – and always on the second Sunday of the month. It will contain the same blend of dance music history, audio documentary style packages, new interviews, themed shows and guest DJ mixes. There will no doubt be the odd mix by me, too.

In the meantime, all five parts – or, as I like to think of them, episodes – of Sunday’s Join The Future takeover are now available to listen to at your leisure via the Noods’ Mixcloud channel. To make life easier, I’ve embedded each of the episodes below, with a little bit of info about each show below the embedded audio player. My recommendation would be to listen to them in order – that’s the best way to enjoy the unfolding story.

Part One: Britain’s First Dance Music Boom

The pre-history of Bleep, from Northern Soul to electro and acid house. Features a classic electro mix from CP Smith (CPU Records)

Part Two: Soundsystem Roots

How reggae, dub and soundsystem culture shaped the Bleep & Bass sound. Features a specially commissioned 80s/early 90s steppers reggae mix from JD Twitch (Optimo), and an extended excerpt of Anniss’ conversation with former soundsystem builder and studio don Rob Gordon (Forgemasters, Warp Records co-founder) from the 2019 No Bounds Festival in Sheffield.

Part Three: Play The Five Tones

Bleep & Bass outside Yorkshire, with a focus on the inspiration it provided to young DJs, dancers and producers elsewhere in the UK. Features an extended interview with Peter Duggal (Demonik, Doggy) as well as an interview with, and DJ mix from, West Norwood Cassette Library.

Part Four: Bleeps International

The impact of Bleep & Bass outside of the UK, particularly North America. Features a stunning, Bleep-inspired guest mix from Clone crew member and IsBurning Amsterdam resident Titia.

Part 5: Hardbeat & Bassline

British bass music since Bleep, with a specific focus on bassline and later 21st century UK bass mutations. Features an interview with Breaker Breaker boss Haider, in which he discusses some key records in the evolution of bassline, and a simply superb guest mix of modern bass music from Sheffield-born producer Porter Brook.