I have the best job in the world! ;-) Not only do I get to curate two amazing lists - this essay writing list and Music to Grieve to, but if you didn’t know - I get to listen to every track published on musicto.com each week. Yes - it’s a tough gig - listening to sometimes over 30 hand selected tracks and reading their accompanying write ups - it’s a music lovers dream gig.
The beauty of it is that I get exposed to many different types of music that I normally wouldn’t even think of listening to - this week’s track is a case in point. It is featured this week on one of our newer lists - Music to Explore Everything curated by the wonderful writer Maria Fish - I do enjoy her descriptions every week and her music choice is always interesting - but when I heard the opening groove of this track I knew that I already knew it.
You see - it had been added to the also amazing Music to Forget Your Troubles playlist, curated by our resident drummer Caitlin Moss back in July and I remember loving it at the time. But this is the funny thing about music - it takes several listens of a track before it gets into your head and you decide whether you’re going to love it or not. And even tough i had dug the track back then - it was only when I heard it again this week that I realized just how good it was - and that - with a little rule bending - how perfect it would be for the essay list.
Coming in just shy of 7 minutes there’s plenty of track to get lost in before you hit repeat and while yes - there is a vocal track and there’s clearly a lyric - the vocal positioning is such that you can barely make out what’s she’s saying - particularly if you’re head down focusing on the next word to come out of your fingers ;-)
But it’s the tempo changes that pull it from being a cool groove into a super cool groovy groove. You have to be one tight ass band to pull that kind of thing off and this trio makes Scrooge McDuck look profligate! I’m super grateful to Maria for having the chance to listen to this again and super stoked to share it with all of you - you should - most definitely - take it out for a spin (or seven…)
You can learn more about Khruangbin here:
About the Curator: Andrew McCluskey
The first visual memory I have is that of the white upright piano in Singapore, Hell and the dark forces lived at the bottom, Heaven and the Angels at the top. They would play battles through my fingers and I was hooked.
Although I've always played, I haven't always been a musician. Most of my twenties were spent working with people, buying and selling and learning how the world works. It was in my thirties that I came to America and focused on music and began to develop music2work2.
Latest Posts
Lonely Dream – Drunken Kong Remix – The Archer, Drunken Kong
24 November 2021
But as I’ve moved from ideation to manifestation, the energy of the playlist needed to change – solo piano is good for thinking – but 8 minutes of 130 bpm edm is great for getting things down
Out Of Reach – Cristoph, Yotto, Sansa
8 November 2021
So if you’ve been listening to the playlist recently you know what’s coming. Last week’s track was all about setting the intent for change – away from the more relaxing ideation space of solo instrumentation to this week’s electronic track from Cristoph, Yotto and Sansa.
Mr. Clay – Johnny Klimek, Tom Tykwer
31 October 2021
I’ve known for a while that the feel of the list was going to change – while piano instrumentals are perfect for reflection and ideation – at some point you need some energetic input to get your fingers moving.
Andrew McCluskey
The first visual memory I have is that of the white upright piano in Singapore, Hell and the Dark Forces lived at the bottom, Heaven and the Angels at the top, they would play battles through my fingers and I was hooked.
As a psychology graduate I studied how sound affects human performance.
As a musician I compose instrumental music that stimulates your brain but doesn't mess with your language centers, leaving you free to be creative and brilliant without distraction.
As a curator I research how music can improve your life and create flow - I can tell you what music to listen to when studying for a test and why listening to sad music can make you feel better.
As a creator / contributor at musicto I’m part of a global creator community that collaborates through music. You can learn more about our community here.