I first heard this track from Bonobo's Late Nite Tales and am like whaaaaaat? Nina Simone did Reggae. Well she didn't just do reggae she wrote an anthem to define the dark streets corroding to urban decay and post-industrial cities with wheels falling off the Wagon. 'Oh Baltimore, ain't it hard' croons SImone as you feel you could never quite understand how she feels but you know there's something capturing a record of daily life.
This is the alternative theme tune to the Wire, this is the TV theme tune never played and with it on in your car after a gig you can't help but feel you are in your own TV show being soundtracked as your car turns that darkened corner and the energies are slowly released to chill.
You can learn more about Nina Simone here:
About the Curator: Sam Murray
Sam Murray is a liability when it come to music, he harbours a secret passion for cheese but most of all actually believe the Eurovision Song Contest has good songs, and that if he played them to you without knowing it was from the contest, you would love it too!
It is said if you cut Sam open out will fall a punch card for a music box and a drum for a heart powered by every step he takes. He is a professional clarinetist and plays in several bands in a variety of style. He also holds a Masters Degree in Popular Music, so you would hope he knows his stuff, and is currently working towards a Popular Music PhD exploring the music scene in Portland Oregon.
Sam holds three fundamental truths in life:
- Everyone can make music
- Music is best made when answering questions and solving problems
- There is no such thing as a ‘guilty pleasure’, own your dark music secrets!!