Jon Writes:
White Horses by Wolf Alice
Ten years and four albums into their career I thought I’d written off Wolf Alice as a band that just didn’t do it for me. Despite festival-headlining popularity and acclaim, including winning the esteemed Mercury Music Prize in 2018, I’ve always been unmoved by their music, which seemed to be a pale imitation of better indie rock artists that came before. But I love their most recent single, ‘White Horses’. Maybe it’s because it reminds me somehow of the ethereal ‘Windstorm’ by School of Seven Bells or maybe it’s just that Wolf Alice have finally discovered a sound that’s their own.
I Contain Multitudes by Bob Dylan
Though he’s an undisputed legend, Bob Dylan has grown increasing hit-and-miss as a live performer in his old age. He hadn’t produced an album that prompted me to part with my money since Oh Mercy in 1989, featuring one of my favourite Dylan songs, ‘Most of the Time’ but that changed with his 39th studio album, Rough and Rowdy Ways in 2020, his finest work of the 21st century. And the song ‘I Contain Multitudes’ seems to sum up a lifetime’s mystique and myth-making, truly a pleasing surprise: “I’m a man of contradictions, I’m a man of many moods, I contain multitudes”.
Knees Up by Olly Murs
I’ve never been a fan of The X Factor and the music of this 2009 talent show runner-up has largely passed me by. All these years later, you’d expect someone with that pedigree to be trading solely on past glories, but ‘Knees Up’ is a million miles from the mass market pop that shot him to fame. A bastard child of Supergrass, Madness and Country House-era Blur with a dose of unashamed jollity from the pre-war music hall circuit, I never thought I’d be hitting replay on an Olly Murs song but here we are.
‘Run Run Run’ by The Libertines
If you weren’t around in Britain in the early 2000s it would be difficult to imagine just how ubiquitous Pete Doherty of The Libertines had become in a very short time. One half of a due of riotous songwriters with his friend Carl Barât, his every move was seemingly reported by the tabloids to the extent that his exploits and, shall we say euphemistically his relationship with drugs, quickly overshadowed the achievements of the band. With so much distraction from their career ambitions, no one thought they’d survive beyond a second album and they did break up, but somehow Doherty and Barât’s friendship has weathered the storms. Two further albums have emerged, ten years apart. I didn’t expect much from the semi-concept album All Quiet on the Eastern Esplanade but it became one of my favourites of 2024 and the hook line from the instantly catchy lead track ‘Run Run Run’ is like a motto for the band and their persistence: “You’d better run, run, run boy, faster than the past…”
‘Zarathustra’ by Ash
I’ve loved Ash since their early teenage power-pop punk Trailer mini-album featuring the song ‘Jack Names the Planets’ still a live favourite more than 30 years later. In that time they have mostly stuck to the script, producing exciting guitar pop with big power chords, singalong lyrics and pumping bass and drums. So imagine my surprise when I dropped the needle on their latest album Ad Astra in 2025, which starts with a deep, rumbling synth chord, joined by a slow drum beat and then the unmistakable melody of Richard Strauss’s ‘Also Sprach Zarathustra.
‘Disintegrate’ by Suede
A band that once were wild and sexy and provocative in their youth, Suede’s swaggering self-titled debut was thrilling, but their bloated follow-up didn’t interest me and their shift into indie pop with their third alienated me still further. That was 30 years ago and I haven’t paid a lot of attention since then, so maybe they have been doing consistently good music for a while now. It’s time for me to delve back into their more recent catalogue because their 2025 album, Antidepressants, really worked for me.
‘Catch These Fists’ by Wet Leg
After a truly superb and original 2022 debut, Wet Leg toured the world relentlessly and it hardly seemed possible with such an intense schedule that they’d be able to write another album of songs that could live up to the first. So it wasn’t exactly a pleasant surprise so much as a relief when they came back in 2025 and had lost none of their raw energy or knack for a lyrical or melodic hook. ‘Catch These Fists’ was our first indication that we didn’t have to worry about “difficult second album” syndrome.
Andrew Writes:
Au Pays du Cocaine – Geese
Was hipped to Geese recently – spent Sunday with their their new album – Getting Killed – the whole album was most definitely pleasing – it felt like listening to Neutral Milk Hotel’s In the Aeroplane Over the Sea for the first time. The looseness of the band yet – tight has anything when they want to be – influences from Radiohead, Talking Heads, even U2 in there – so not anything particularly new but – when taken as a complete whole I felt surprisingly pleased by the end of it!
Jenna Writes:
These songs push me outside of my normal taste, which is always a good thing. “her” by JVKE is a little more folky than what I’d usually go for, but something about it surprised me. It was the instruments at first and then as soon as his voice came in, I was hooked.
The emotion and power in these lyrics completely pull me in. Honestly, this feels like it should’ve been in The Summer I Turned Pretty (if you know, you know).
Read about something that pleasantly surprised Jenna lately
Otis Galloway Writes:
Unhinged – Masigo
It’s the most gorgeous piece of hip-hop music I’ve ever heard. I love songs that start as one thing and then become something else – like Good Vibrations, Layla, Bohemian Rhapsody. This track feels like a musical Russian doll. It starts with this West Coast, cruising-around-Los-Angeles energy, like you’re just moving through the city, seeing people, living your day. And then the ending feels like watching the sunset at Venice Beach – that perfect pink LA sky that never gets old. Every time I hear it, it gives me something new. The last minute of the song is like sipping a really well-aged whiskey – rich, decadent, beautiful. I cannot wait to work this into a DJ set.
2/1 Music For Airports – Brian Eno
I’ve been listening to a lot of Eno lately, especially Music for Airports. Track two on side one is my favourite. I don’t even know how to properly describe what Brian Eno does – his music feels like DNA rewriting itself. He’s one of the best kinds of weirdos in music. When I first saw Roxy Music and spotted him in the background in his space boots and futuristic suit, I knew immediately he was the coolest person in the band. He’s endlessly inspiring. This is the man who gave us Remain in Light, the best Devo album, and some of Bowie’s greatest work. He should be wrapped in bubble wrap and protected at all costs. He’s a brilliant human being, and every time I listen to his music, it reminds me why I fell in love with sound in the first place.
Read about something that pleasantly surprised Otis lately
Andie Writes:
Pleasantly” feels like an understatement when I talk about the three songs I’ve added that surprise me. It’s more like I was “wow-ed” First off, I immediately had to add Childish Gambino’s ‘Me and Your Mama’ first time i heard that drop, I knew I was in for an insane ride. All his screams and emotions were so powerful, you can feel it in your chest too! Crazy vocals!!
I had to add this cover of ‘Come Back To Earth’ by Rayland Baxter. My top artist in any season is Mac miller and I was absolutely surprised when I discovered this cover. Rayland Baxter made it this beautiful balance of Jazzy and soft, while in my opinion, still keeping the whole meaning of the song. It felt so warm and heartfelt, I melt every time I listen to this version.
Lastly ‘Golden Line’ by Djo. I gotta say I was really surprised by this because It’s such a different sound from what I know of Djo and his past tracks. His vocals sounded very different from before and the song was just beautiful. I looooved the lyrics. It continuously surprises me with each listen!
Read about something that pleasantly surprised Andie lately
Track Listing
- White Horses – Wolf Alice
- Knees Up – Olly Murs
- Run Run Run – The Libertines
- Disintegrate – The London Suede
- 2/1 – Remastered 2004 – Brian Eno
- Mirrors – Furrows
- Au Pays Du Cocaine – Geese
- Lover, You Should’ve Come Over – Jeff Buckley
- Zarathustra – Ash
- Unhinged – Masego
- Golden Line – Djo
- I Contain Multitudes – Bob Dylan
- Come Back To Earth – Raylans Baxter
- Me and Your Mama – Childish Gambino
- You’re Right – Hector Gachan
- her – JVKE
- Edward 40hands – Mom Jeans.
- catch these fists – Wet Leg
Playlist Image by Ian Stauffer on Unsplash
This playlist is part of The Human Collective. Each week we take a prompt and create a playlist and accompanying articles. This week we were looking at songs that pleasantly surprise us. Learn more about The Human Collective here.
