A well-placed song in a film holds the power to shape a viewer's emotions, heighten tension, set the tone, foreshadow events, provide insight into characters, or deepen the narrative. In essence, music is the heartbeat of the cinema that can elevate a film from good to sublime.

Take it from someone who knows, like this week's Third Lad, Barry Andrews - he's had songs soundtracking pivotal moments in films such as Manhunter and Band of the Hand.

Barry Andrews began his professional music career in the punk era lending his keyboard stylings to a little band that you may have heard of, XTC, giving them one of the most defining and distinctive features of their sound for their first two albums. After leaving XTC in 1979, he released a fine solo EP and single, formed the short lived Restaurant for Dogs, and played with Iggy Pop and Robert Fripp's League of Gentlemen before forming the band Shriekback with Gang of Four bassist Dave Allen and singer Carl Marsh in 1981. For the better part of the last 43 years, Barry has kept Shriekback alive through various incarnations, continuing to release music that’s daring, experimental, and artful, as well as maintaining an ambitious and rewarding solo career.

Thanks to Paul Richison for the great guest suggestion and introduction.

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E246 - Barry Andrews (Shriekback, XTC) - Top 5 Songs from Films