Voice Box, Purr and The Glass Harp

01/11/21 • 19 min

This week, we find out why cats make those noises, learn how to make a glass harp, and hear some early experiments in voice distortion.

We also hear what maverick musician Thomas Truax likes the sound of.

More from Thomas Truax here: https://www.thomastruax.com/

Source material:

Glass harp: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glass_harp

A Toast To Christmas with the Singing Glasses: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkjcjfirKlU&list=OLAK5uy_lDFHNHLvjJ4L7TV9E-a8DBiwMLhG-zKx4

Cats:

https://www.loc.gov/everyday-mysteries/zoology/item/why-and-how-do-cats-purr/

https://www.loc.gov/everyday-mysteries/zoology/item/how-do-cats-communicate-with-each-other/

Talk Box:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk_box

Music by Lee Rosevere: https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com/

Further details about Frank Burton:

Frank’s website: https://www.frankburton.co.uk/ (Visit for more details about Frank’s books, A History of Sarcasm, One Hundred, and Everything I Am, plus the video series The Ragbag Rambler.)

Frank’s email: [email protected]

Twitter & Instagram: @ragbagpresents

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we find out why cats make those noises, learn how to make a glass harp, and hear some early experiments in voice distortion.

We also hear what maverick musician Thomas Truax likes the sound of.

More from Thomas Truax here: https://www.thomastruax.com/

Source material:

Glass harp: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glass_harp

A Toast To Christmas with the Singing Glasses: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkjcjfirKlU&list=OLAK5uy_lDFHNHLvjJ4L7TV9E-a8DBiwMLhG-zKx4

Cats:

https://www.loc.gov/everyday-mysteries/zoology/item/why-and-how-do-cats-purr/

https://www.loc.gov/everyday-mysteries/zoology/item/how-do-cats-communicate-with-each-other/

Talk Box:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk_box

Music by Lee Rosevere: https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com/

Further details about Frank Burton:

Frank’s website: https://www.frankburton.co.uk/ (Visit for more details about Frank’s books, A History of Sarcasm, One Hundred, and Everything I Am, plus the video series The Ragbag Rambler.)

Frank’s email: [email protected]

Twitter & Instagram: @ragbagpresents

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Previous Episode

Yawns, Traffic and The Knocker-Upper Man

This week we find out what causes us to yawn, and discover the surprising history of the alarm clock. With contributions from Leanne Kelly from the band, New Spell. Check out New Spell’s music here: https://newspell.bandcamp.com/

Source material:

Why Do We Yawn? https://www.loc.gov/everyday-mysteries/biology-and-human-anatomy/item/why-do-we-yawn/

The History of Alarm Clocks: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alarm_clock

The Knocker-Up: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knocker-up

Joe Stead: The Knocker-Upper Man: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kq1qm6hSHFs

Music by Lee Rosevere: https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com/

Further details about Frank Burton:

Frank’s website: https://www.frankburton.co.uk/ (Visit for more details about Frank’s books, A History of Sarcasm, One Hundred, and Everything I Am, plus the video series The Ragbag Rambler.)

Frank’s email: [email protected]

Twitter & Instagram: @ragbagpresents

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Next Episode

Snooker, Dennis Potter, Slot Machines & Shake Your Gragger

This week, we learn about the psychological impact of slot machine sound effects, the use of the gragger in Judaism, and Dennis Potter’s trademark lip synching techniques.

This week’s brief guest appearance is by the poet Theophilus Kwek. Check him out here: https://www.theophiluskwek.com/

Also, here’s Frank’s interview with Theophilus Kwek on the Ragbag podcast: https://shows.acast.com/5b93ef1248d0840933a8f131/episodes/ep67

Source material:

Tapotement: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tapotement

Ronnie O’Sullivan’s World Record for fastest maximum break: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qw4IiJa3fdk

Ratchet: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ratchet_(instrument)

The Impact of Sound in Modern Multiline Video Slot Machine Play: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10899-013-9391-8

The Singing Detective: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Singing_Detective

Shake Your Gragger: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJnAnOePqaE

Dry Bones: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOhx3i53WGE

Laurie Anderson, Is Anybody Home? https://www.ubu.com/sound/anderson.html

Music by Lee Rosevere: https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com/

Further details about Frank Burton:

Frank’s website: https://www.frankburton.co.uk/ (Visit for more details about Frank’s books, A History of Sarcasm, One Hundred, and Everything I Am, plus the video series The Ragbag Rambler.)

Frank’s email: [email protected]

Twitter & Instagram: @ragbagpresents

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.