All the Playlists

Part 20 – Given Circumstances

17 April 2018

I’m in a heightened state of nerves throughout my first summer term of 1978. Hasn’t Spicy appointed me to Fitzrovia to try and drag cricket up by its bootstraps? ‘We’ve fallen behind our competitors,’ he’d said at interview.

My side has taken shape over the season with Young Giles at the centre of things as captain. I take him to one side after an early match. ‘Well done. You handled the fielders really well. Good judgment.’…

Bet She Looks Like You – Nick Hakim

17 April 2018

Where do I start? Nick Hakim’s soulful voice hit me like a truck. So
much so that I remember where I was when I first heard him. I was
trying Japanese shaved ice for the first time (Not a fan) and this
song was playing in the store. Me being a music nut I got up out of my
seat and politely demanded the name of the song. I immediately put it
into my playlist and had it on repeat for days.

The Magician – Andy Shauf

17 April 2018

Andy Shauf’s The Magician explores a third person take on what is going on inside the mind of a magician as he is about to pull off his climatic trick – and that’s exactly what it is, a trick. The trick involves facing death, a real nail biter that only a magician would be able to escape. He disappears and audience is moved to the edge of their seat in anticipation. The trick is only as good as it’s reveal as that’s what the audience wants to see. Anyone can disappear, but not everyone can reappear. However, by contrast, the opening lyrics of the song are self-reflective of the magician, “do you find its gets a little easier each time you make it disappear.”

Heroína – Sumo

17 April 2018

Luca Prodan, el buscado por Interpol.

El que se niega a realizar el servicio militar obligatorio y es encerrado 3 meses en un calabozo.

El declarado como “enfermo mental” por la ley italiana…

Postcard – Athena Varosio

17 April 2018

A perfect mix between synth, piano, woodwinds, strings and dulcimer. Melody is hypnotical, catching, relaxing, dreamy. Perfect to let your fantasy run away from the fear of flying.

Freedom – Rival

17 April 2018

Generations before us have laid down their lives to protect it and now we’re giving it away in return for “likes”. Freedom is an essential ingredient of justice and democracy, but those of us lucky enough to live in a free country risk squandering it in return for free access to social media. In their gently funky blues song Freedom, Montreal rock band Rival remind us to be alert to the danger: “How could we ever have a right to complain / when we’re the ones that said it’s okay / to take our freedom away?”

To Be With You – Mr. Big

17 April 2018

After an amazing anthem song for our nights out, why not continue the vibe and make encourage our drunk friends to sing even louder (and out of pitch of course)…

Love$ick – Mura Masa ft A$ap Rocky

16 April 2018

So i hear A$ap’s unmistakable voice and amazing flow blasting through the radio with an awesome beat going along with it and my curiosity is piqued- what song is this, who produced it, why haven’t i heard it before..? Shazam to the rescue and I have answers! Next thing I have it on repeat for weeks (yes! i am one of those people).

Emmoğlu – Mustafa Özkent

16 April 2018

Mustafa Özkent is a musician, composer and arranger that synthesizes Turkish folk songs with funk elements.  Best known for his 1973 album, Gençlik İle Elele, he also earned a reputation as a demanded session player, arranger, and producer,…

End of the Affair – Ben Howard

16 April 2018

There is something so powerful about sorrow set to a tune. It is almost an appeal from the artist to his/her listeners; asking for support and recognition. Yet it is so personal: for every listener to experience their own emotions through the track.

I Walk Alone (feat. Justina Soto) – Sungazer

16 April 2018

Some of you may have expected this since I mentioned Adam Neely in the previous track.

Sungazer is his musical project with drummer Shawn Crowder, where its sound palette is mainly driven by glitch sound effects, bass, guitars and drums….

Space Lord – Monster Magnet

16 April 2018

My oh my how time flies. Track 15 already. 

Monster Magnet are a great band. I have yet to listen to their most recent album, which I hear is great, but I plan to spend this coming weekend doing just that. They’re a kind of enigma. Like last weeks featured track-wranglers Electric Six, they’ve got a sense of humor about themselves…