| From The Basement | |
|---|---|
| Created by | Nigel Godrich |
| Directed by | David Barnard/Sophie Muller/Quin Williams |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Language(s) | English |
| No. of seasons | 2 |
| No. of episodes | 13 |
| Production | |
| Producer(s) | James Chads John Woollcombe |
| Location(s) | Maida Vale Studios, London, England The Hospital Club, Covent Garden, London |
| Camera setup | Multi-camera |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | Sky Arts |
| Original run | December 18, 2006 – January 7, 2009 |
| External links | |
| Website | |
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.[1]
Contents |
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 Studios.[2]
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."[3]
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.[3]
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.[4]
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.[5]
The podcast launched on December 18, 2006. The first UK broadcast was on Sky Arts 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.[6]
They were also amongst the final programmes broadcast by the now defunct YLE Extra in Finland.[7][8]
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.[9]
Each episode of From The Basement features performances from several musical artists. The first podcast episode of the series featured Thom Yorke 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.
| # | Title | Original air date | Production code |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | "Episode 1" | Unknown | 101 |
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| # | Title | Original air date | Production code |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | "Episode 1" | Unknown | 101 |
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| 02 | "Episode 2" | Unknown | 102 |
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| 03 | "Episode 3" | Unknown | 103 |
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| 04 | "Episode 4" | Unknown | 104 |
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| 05 | "Episode 5" | Unknown | 105 |
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| 06 | "Episode 6" | Unknown | 106 |
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| # | Title | Original air date | Production code |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | "Episode 1" | Unknown | 201 |
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| 02 | "Episode 2" | Unknown | 202 |
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| 03 | "Episode 3" | Unknown | 203 |
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| 04 | "Episode 4" | Unknown | 204 |
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| 05 | "Episode 5" | Unknown | 205 |
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| 06 | "Episode 6" | Unknown | 206 |
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