Spy Fiction, Disco Revolution

Studio 360

This week, it feels like the 1970s all over again. Eastern European spies grab headlines and flamboyant disco stars top the charts. Kurt Andersen talks with Alan Furst, author of the new thriller Spies of the Balkans. And a professor explains how disco changed music and American society way more than we think. Plus, the experimental bands Matmos and So Percussion get together, and music happens when they break out a cactus and a bucket of water.

Invest in independent global news

The World is an independent newsroom. We’re not funded by billionaires; instead, we rely on readers and listeners like you. As a listener, you’re a crucial part of our team and our global community. Your support is vital to running our nonprofit newsroom, and we can’t do this work without you. Will you support The World with a gift today? Donations made between now and Dec. 31 will be matched 1:1. Thanks for investing in our work!