Mix #23

The summer has been long. Yet September feels even longer, but in that January way, taking the summer further and further away from our memory. 

Here is my latest playlist, Mix #23

We start with Julianna Barwick which sounds like a sunrise, before moving into lots of old stuff - Steely Dan, Elliot Smith, Dean Blunt, Link Wray, Nick Cave, Joni Mitchell, Nina Simone, Nick Drake, X Ray Spex, Cocteau Twins, Frank Sinatra Jr. (didn't know of him before Protomartyr stuck him on a playlist), Robert Wyatt and Kate Bush. There are pockets of new things though including Pozi, NNAMDÏ, Kelly Lee Owens with John Cale, SAULT and Mary Lattimore.

I had that classic Baader-Meinhof feeling when I heard this song by Einstürzende Neubauten, it's great. I think about the Baader-Meinhof Phenomenon a lot.

Some fun stuff courtesy of Mariah (not that one, a Japanese group), CMON (this kinda makes me think of "Temporary Secretary"), Plastics (also Japanese) and Rupa.

The Other People Place is another project from James Stinson, who is also Drexciya, which was featured on the last playlist. Both are pretty new to me. On a Detroit tangent, you might have heard the Bruno Furlan song at the city's BLM protests. 

One of the things, I've been doing over this year is a remote film club. We watched Dil Se and the film's standout moment by far was this scene, hence it's addition to the playlist.

Photo credit - Emil Hernon

 

Mix #22

Amidst everything in our lives and the world around us, we can turn to music when we need to. 

Before you do though, please read this from Big Joanie's Stephanie Phillips https://www.thewire.co.uk/in-writing/essays/understanding-blackness-to-understand-black-art-by-stephanie-phillips

Here is a link to a document I put together collating UK & Irish based charities working to support Black lives. I'm adding charities as I come across them. Get in touch if you have any additions.

Photo credit: Tropico Photo

Mix #22

Newer things from Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith, Bright Eyes, Bob Dylan, Ela Minus, Jamie XX, Laura Marling, Fiona Apple, Wesley Gonzalez, Sinead O'Brien and Tkay Maidza.

Older things from Manu Dibango, Nick Cave, Quando Quango, Townes Van Zandt, Grace Jones, John Prine, The Feelies, Frank Ocean, Prince, Perfume Genius, Drexciya, Le Tigre, Gabriel Garzón-Montan, Betty Wright, Bee Gees and Fela Kuti - there's loads of old stuff actually, some of which is new to me. 
It's a long playlist, and this is after me removing a big chunk at the end, so shouldn't be long till Mix #23!

Bandcamp are supporting artists more than ever as this time. Check out their next Bandcamp Fridays here, including a special one on Juneteenth. The Quietus have done some recommendations related to that here, if you don't know The Quietus, check out these recent pieces as an introduction:
On the wealth and privilege issues of electronic music that takes in Brixton Market - here.
A suitable obituary for Genesis P-Orridge - here.
They always need support, so consider that option if you like these pieces.

Love to you all and #BlackLivesMatter 

Mix #19

No Best Ofs here, just another playlist. Merry Christmas!

Mix #19

Old: The Pharcyde, Beat Happening (we just reissued their catalogue), Beefheart, some banging Yellow Magic Orchestra, Sonic Youth, Bauhaus, Pavement (Malkmus played this one at his recent Moth Club), ABBA (always and forever) and Tricky. 

New: Pozi, couple of Blood Orange bits, Caroline Polachek (the video is the best thing), TNGHT came back, Tierra Whack, Caribou, Sudan Archives, Buscabulla (a new signing to us, v good), Lankum, Bombay Bicycle Club, Helado Negro, Nick Cave (looking forward to the shows next year), Disq (this song is so great), Dry Cleaning, Joanna Sternberg and Yves Tumor. Plus big up Barry.

New to me: Roberto Cacciapaglia, Mike Edge, U.N.P.O.C. (very Pixies), Michael Orr (reissued this year) and Julie Covington. 

We finish with one of the biggest singles of the year "Sunglasses" by one of the best new bands: Black Country, New Road. 

David Alan Harvey

Other things that have been happening apart from losing an election. I visited Charleston House (the former home of Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant of The Bloomsbury Group), went to the Gormley exhibition at The Royal Academy and took a day trip to Liverpool for the Keith Haring one. Explored Dorset and Shropshire. Saw Rosalia for the second time, saw Lizzo for the second time (but the first time since "Juice"), went to see Death of a Salesman starring Wendell Pierce. Watched the new Ken Loach and Parasite. And most excitingly perhaps, went to Lewes for their annual fireworks - was as good as I thought it would be!

Mix #13

This first song by Nino Ferrer is so bloody good. I hope you all agree. 

The rest of this playlist delves into a fair bit of older stuff: Erykah Badu, The Three Degrees, Neil Young, Parliament, Blind Willie Johnson, Nick Drake, a Devo interlude, Paul McCartney , Nick Cave (his Primavera set was incredible!), Section 25 (new to me), Nu Shooz.

Plus new Haley Bonar - though she's just going by HALEY now, Young Fathers (love seeing how far these guys have come & rightly so), Oneohtrix Point Never, Junglepussy, Beach House, Mitski, Janelle Monae, Christine & The Queens, The Goon Sax, Amyl & The Sniffers, LUMP. I might have to buy the Kadhja Bonet, Kamasi Washington and Kali Uchis albums - a lot of good stuff on there! 

Mix 13

Juno Calpyso

Other highlights from Primavera last month were Thundercat, James Holden & The Animal Spirits. We visited Casa Vicens - Gaudi's first house and after visiting Barcelona 6 times previously, I finally went inside Sagrada Familia - what a wonder. 

Earlier this month I also visited Mersea Island and lunched at The Company Shed. So much food, it's BYOB (B standing for bread and wine here).

I watched my first Agnes Varda film, Cleo from 5 to 7, part of the BFI's season. Get involved

Mix #4

Some more tunes for you to enjoy. Stuff from the last few months, old favourites and random songs that have popped back into my head. 

Mix #4

Credit - Mária Švarbová