Tilston & Robin get into the history of Random Hand, the stories behind the songs, and the tales that came about in the last two decades of the UK Punk & Ska scene. Expect some deep dives and some interesting chats, with the odd guest from time to time!
Robin start's us off with an interesting fact about Christopher Nolan's Batman Begins, and possible contribution to winter deaths. We explain how the our most ridiculous song name came about. The process of revisiting the song and relearning is brought up, throughout the episode, and Dan's enjoyment of some of the stranger bits. The subject matter leads us down a deep dive into how this sort of song becomes a staple, after only really writing Socio-Political songs before this. An unexpectedly important song in the back catalogue!
00:00 Intro04:03 Episode 4 - Did Christopher Nolan contribute to winter deaths?05:21 Dynamo P*nis De*th B*stard07:13 How we wrote it09:08 Relearning the song12:11 Lyrically, the first look at mental health14:20 1/4 of the band16:30 How about now?19:46 Showboaty front man21:00 Too personal22:30 Did you know we've been a band for 20 years?24:00 Giving a shit about your mental health25:11 Jubilation! Revisiting these songs we're like reading a diary28:10 Bass line!29:10 Riffy End - Produced Glitch32:25 Guesting for Alt Track33:24 Keeping a mistake on the record34:50 Banging on about the glitch again35:35 END!
31 Mar 2025
Handcast - 3. Milk + Snakes & Ladders
In this Episode Tilston & Robin discuss Milk + Snakes & Ladders. Sean's thoughts on the name of Milk when he joined the band come up. As well as what the title actually means. An earlier version of Milk is played with unexpected results. Thoughts on what might have happened had we not recorded the album. We also get into some influences on the tune you likely don'r hear. Snakes & Ladders brings up thoughts on the education system, and Robin recalls presenting the 'Sum41' bit.
00:00 Intro
01:37 Episode 3
02:30 Where we wrote it
03:31 What is it about?
04:15 Bit of a Stupid Title
05:37 Original Recording of Milk
08:20 Consolidating our sound
09:00 Influences
09:53 I sprinkling of Cultural Appropriation? You bet!
13:05 Gibberish Bark
16:28 The Bass line
17:10 The Chorus - Split Narrative
18:55 Weird Accent
21:28 What If?
23:36 Snakes & Ladders
24:25 The College Years
31:20 Back to the Song
31:46 Picking up the Horn
32:30 Getting our Sum 41 on in the Second Verse
34:15 Revisiting the Song for recent shows
36:18 How we write
39:28 Outro
24 Mar 2025
Handcast - 2. Scum Triumphant
Tilston & Robin begin to go delerius with the cold in the room, and ponder if people actually like Scum Triumphant. Where did the name come from, and was ronin planning a new band?The pivotal point when Random Hand consciously decided to change the sound to something you are more familiar with is discussed as well as how we almost had a horn section.The song also inspires us to discuss our love for the band Harijan, a band everyone should love!00:00 Intro01:36 Episode 2 02:31 Does anyone like Scum Triumphant?03:13 Writing the song, Was Robin going to start a new band?04:53 The Original Sound of Random Hand, and changing it!06:43 Putting Robin Center Stage08:58 One of the bands that changed us09:50 Back to Scum Triumphant13:00 Songs before the first EP14:32 Folk music impacting our arrangements15:55 Writing wisdom from Babar & Barney & Ian17:09 Not a naturally gifted singer18:50 Dani from Faintest Idea is shit too20:00 Have the songs changed?21:34 First chorus is too Long22:00 Joe you were right!23:11 Is shorter better?24:49 Did we rip off Goldfinger?27:20 the Random Hand mix28:40 TRUMPET29:35 Ska Treck tour & The Brass Council32:22 You can tell it's Jake35:00 Dan's Nightmare Scum moment36:46 A side note on Brass38:35 Enjoying it live39:42 Unnecessary overlay on record40:15 Robin pointing at the van & Tilston zoning out41:41 Reference to Harijan45:33 American Cover?46:27 Outro
17 Mar 2025
Handcast - 1. Setting the Scene & Play Some Ska
Robin and Tilston set the scene for how Random Hand came to record ‘Change of Plan’ and the abandoned first attempt. They get into the moment that inspired Robin to write 'Play Some Ska' and what was going on at the time in our local scene. The process of resurrecting the songs from 'Change of plan" is discussed, and how it was for all involved. And they reminisce about how their headline tour 6 months after the Album was released exceeded expectations
A minor camera issue means we lose Tilston for the last 15 mins, but you can hear him!
00:00 Intro
02:11 Epsiode 1 - Cold open?
03:49 Spare Suit
04:20 Why we Called it 'Change of Plan'
12:00 The End of Random Hand?
14:40 Tim G
16:45 Starting with 'Play Some Ska'
18:15 Writing 'Play Some Ska'
23:03 What's it About?
24:25 Streaming Performance
26:05 Memories of Recording
27:45 The Homestead
29:20 Back to the Track
29:43 The Synth Part - Where did the Sampler Come From
32:05 The Trombone
33:29 Why was it the First Track?
35:08 Performing 'Change of Plan' Again
39:32 Performing 'Play Some Ska'
40:40 Realising People Liked the Album!
43:48 The Bass Parts
46:20 Something to Bear in Mind
46:54 Outro
8 Mar 2025
Handcast Trailer
Tilston & Robin get into the history of Random Hand, the stories behind the songs, and the tales that came about in the last two decades of the UK Punk & Ska scene. Expect some deep dives and some interesting chats, with the odd guest from time to time!
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Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Spotify
5.0 / 5
12 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 65 / 100
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Quality
74
Social presence
0
YouTube
86
Engagement
51
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