A questionable yet wild theory about magic mushrooms aiding human evolution and the seminal classic Withnail & I collide to form "Stoned Ape" — the closing track on Apollo 6 and the final episode of season 2.

Thank you very much for listening and for your support! Apollo 6 is available to stream everywhere.

• Listen to Apollo 6 on Bandcamp: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://aloud.bandcamp.com/album/apollo-6⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ • Sign up for Aloud's weekly e-mail list: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.allthingsaloud.com/email-list/

We all know folks whose relationships deteriorated during the pandemic lockdown. "Stranger in the Alps", the penultimate track on Apollo 6, drew inspiration from such breakdowns. Join Henry and Jen as they talk about the writing and recording of this song, plus the unexpected role Walter Sobchak played in titling this song.

• Listen to Apollo 6 on Bandcamp: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://aloud.bandcamp.com/album/apollo-6⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ • Sign up for Aloud's weekly e-mail list: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.allthingsaloud.com/email-list/

Henry and Jen illuminate the genesis of the album's namesake, "Apollo." They share how an old mission control recording from NASA's Apollo 17 mission, a lyric from a Fiona Apple record, and intrusive thoughts of imminent demise converged to form an uplifting and existential composition.

• Listen to Apollo 6 on Bandcamp: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://aloud.bandcamp.com/album/apollo-6⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ • Sign up for Aloud's weekly e-mail list: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.allthingsaloud.com/email-list/

Jen and Henry unravel the backstory of the song "Ride On!" Surprisingly, the source of inspiration for this track came from an unexpected very place—unique in the Aloud catalog—thanks to a well-timed subscription to a streaming service during lockdown. They also delve into the heavy influence of 60s French pop, odd time signatures, and how maintaining a loose, fun atmosphere in the studio for this song was important. • Listen to Apollo 6 on Bandcamp: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://aloud.bandcamp.com/album/apollo-6⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ • Sign up for Aloud's weekly e-mail list: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.allthingsaloud.com/email-list/

In this episode: Jen and Henry dive into the depths of "Big Blue." Henry shares how his Twitter dependency over the pandemic served as grist for the creation of "Big Blue". The episode also explores how the July 2021 protests in Cuba became the emotional trigger point for the writing of this song.

• Listen to Apollo 6 on Bandcamp: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://aloud.bandcamp.com/album/apollo-6⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Jen and Henry unravel the story behind the Side A's closing track, "The Origin of the Hourglass is Unclear." As the oldest and most collaborative composition on Apollo 6, the duo recounts the divergent perspectives which met during its creation in Jen's parent's garage one winter in North Carolina. "Hourglass" not only inspired the segues between tracks on the record, but also led to two other songs, "The Ghost at the Feast" and "The Noise that Roared in the Space Between Worlds".

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As the dawn breaks, Henry shares with Jen the story of awakening early in the morning, endeavoring to reconnect with his inner songwriter. Through the pages of a Carl Sagan book, the serendipity of a gas pump's "Word of the Day," the comforting ritual of making coffee, and a reflective stroll through their neighborhood, Henry reveals the surprising sources of inspiration which breathed life into "Morning Moon".

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Jen and Henry dissect Apollo 6's third track "Meditation for the Housebound." They discuss the sonic experimentation behind the recording, the joy of blindly receiving recorded parts from bandmates, and the incorporation of new sounds to Aloud's palette.

Jen shares the personal inspiration behind the song, revealing how being housebound during lockdown and coping with anxiety led to her discovery of meditation.

• Listen to Apollo 6 on Bandcamp: ⁠⁠https://aloud.bandcamp.com/album/apollo-6⁠⁠

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