Friday, 12 June 2020

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 

Monday, 23 March 2020

Mix #21

This playlist happens to be longer than normal, but perhaps  that's helpful in these times of social distancing and self isolation. 


There is a lot of bops in here.... new music from LA Priest, Against All Logic (Nicolas Jaar's other thing), Yaeji, Darkstar, Thundercat, Jessy Lanza, Roisin Murphy, Perfume Genius, Jarv Is, Squarepusher and Empress Of. 

Older stuff from Richard & Linda Thompson, Arthur Russell, Dolly Parton (yes I did listen to the podcast), Glen Campbell, Pavement, Gary Numan, there's also one Love song and one Arthur Lee song cos why not! 

Some more Welshies in the mix, plus this cool Japanese punk/new wave band from the 80s, OXZ, and a Turkish spot. 

Also, a reminder, now, more than ever, please support the independent companies/shops/artists you love (I will share some links below). 


Maria Lax
A few things I did before social distancing kicked in, went to see the Max Martin musical & Juliet (was great fun), went to Bologna (before things kicked off there too), checked out Heat 4 of Man Up (this will continue whenever it can and I have big expectations for the Tommy R*obinson drag king), stayed in an Oast House (very cute) and now it's zoom karaoke/quiz happenings and House Party gatherings till the end of time.  

Stay clean, well and enjoy! 

Links for your perusal. 

Charity
https://twitter.com/TrussellTrust
https://twitter.com/SFTSLondon
https://twitter.com/centrepointuk
https://twitter.com/ageukcampaigns
https://twitter.com/scope

Food/drink
https://twitter.com/WrightsFood
https://www.instagram.com/topcuvee/
https://www.instagram.com/finks.london/

Record shops/Venues/Music mags
https://twitter.com/LAVIDAESUNMUS
https://twitter.com/worldofechoshop
https://twitter.com/_stranger_than
https://twitter.com/Bandcamp
https://twitter.com/UpsetTheeRhythm
https://twitter.com/tomerecords
https://twitter.com/VirtualPints
https://shop.crackmagazine.net/pages/crack-magazine-supporter
https://www.loudandquiet.com/subscribe/
https://instereomag.bandcamp.com/merch/word-search-by-babak-ganjei-heavy-weight-poster-postcard

Film
https://twitter.com/BFIPlayer
https://twitter.com/CurzonCinemas
https://twitter.com/ThePCCLondon
https://twitter.com/mubi

Arts
https://twitter.com/artsemergency
https://twitter.com/artfund Save Derek Jarman's Prospect Cottage

Friday, 21 February 2020

Mix #20

I made this playlist at the end of the year, but got a bit delayed.

Mix #20

Newish things - Just Mustard, Sauna Youth, Sinead O'Brien, Adwaith, India Jordan, The Guest (BCNR connect), Kali Uchis, Giant Swan, Shanti Celeste (this is probably the level that these playlists can max out, techno don't feel right in amongst other stuff), Shopping, Weeping Icon, Peter Ivers and Shygirl.

Old charms - Bjork, Funkadelic, Liquid Liquid, Iggy Pop, Mount Kimbie, Current 93, Shellac, Rupa (new to me though), Elvin Bishop, Stereolab and Brian Eno with David Byrne.

Boris Nikolaevich Ermolaev
New Years in Cornwall seems like a long time ago, but other things I've been up to are the Straw Bear Festival in Whittlesey, visiting Sofia for the first time (sadly no kukeris for us). I cried to Little Women, watched the mentile and not the classic I was excpecting El Topo, sang at The Karaoke Hole, went to NME Awards and headed to Glasgow to see wondrous Angel Olsen.

Thursday, 19 December 2019

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!

Thursday, 10 October 2019

Mix #18

This has ended up been really long. 

Mix # 18

Returns from Neil Young, Chromatics, Iggy (not sure about all the songs mind), Sheer Mag, Richard Dawson, Girl Ray, Angel Olsen (this one is particularly brilliant), Grimes ("and I like it like that"), Anna Meredith, LDR and Holly Herndon. 

Oldies from Frank Ocean, Steely Dan, Joni Mitchell, Broadcast, Slint, Roy Orbison, The Cramps, VU and Delta 5. 

Elsewhere, I've been slow to the Nao album, but this song is so good, Koffee, Squid, Robert Wyatt - sidenote check this cover from Squid, Haruomi Hosano, Pavement's cover of Bunnymen, Mort Garson, Silver Jews (I've heard two covers of "Trains Across The Sea" in the last month, rest in power DCB) and have been mildly obsessed with "Baby" by Donnie & Joe Emerson this summer gone. 
Castells, Tarragona © Reuters
Summer is most definitely gone. I spent the ends of it camping in 30mph winds in Dorset, sleeping in an English Heritage site overnight without a tent (aka my first microadventure), bowling around End of the Road festival, clubbing in Berlin and scoping out Millennium Mills as part of Open House London. 

I also went here and nearly threw up, but I think that's the appropriate reaction. That article linked is a good and interesting read. 

The photo above reminds me of Guy Bourdin, would like to visit this festival. 

Friday, 2 August 2019

Mix #17

This playlist starts with Scott Walker and ends with Cassius, Philippe Zdar's brilliant and joyful band. 


Elsewhere, a great song from KAZU and the return of Jai Paul and David Berman! There are two Steve Lacy tracks because I've been waiting for this record. New stuff from Gia Margaret, Flying Lotus, Kevin Morby, Black Midi (not my fave new London band), Bill Callahan, Sleater-Kinney (we will miss you Janet), Roisin Murphy (it's one of two proper bangers here, the other been new Daphni). I've been a bit slow to Yves Tumor but after seeing him at Primavera, I'm in.  

I have watched the video for FKA Twigs' "Cellophane" numerous times, plus her Practice video on the time and energy it takes to create art. 

Oldies include Massive Attack, Chrome, Protomartyr (just reissued by us), Strawberry Switchblade, George Harrison, The 13th Floor Elevators (recommended just before Roky Erickson passed away), James Yorkston, Big Star, Prince and Robert Wyatt. 

Tom Hegen

Other things I have been up to; I visited The Homewood, a wonderful modernist National Trust property in Esher. You have to book a few months in advance but it's well worth the wait and suprisngly convoluted journey. 

Trying out the carbonara and lemon meringue at Circolo Popolare - Gloria's sister restaurant and equally hot. Yum tum and loved the kitschyness of it, even if I think they could have taken it up a notch. 

Visiting our fair seaside towns of Deal, Southwold and Aldeburgh. Deal is home to the UK's only post-war pier.

Thursday, 2 May 2019

Mix #16

Look at all the peaches! And behold, a new mix for May. 

Mix #16

The Passenger - dir. Michelangelo Antonioni

That new Aldous Harding video is great - Amish but make it big. Other new music from Lafawndah, Weyes Blood (her underwater artwork is very cool), Cate Le Bon, Sharon Van Etten (Despite going back to Tramp all the time, I've been slow on coming to this record, however, this is great - heartfelt Springsteen vibes), Fat White Family (such a disco banger), Yo La Tengo, The Comet Is Coming (jazz bass), Kindness, Edwyn Collins, KOKOROKO and Hot Chip return - rejoice!  

New things to me: NOV3L, Gaijin Blues, Nardeydey, Spelling, Acetone's version of the Midnight Cowboy theme (dreamy), Charlotte Adigéry, Alan Hull, Jake Xerxes Fussell (top voice too), Anna Domino and Weval. 

And then splashes of Stereolab (love their art so much), Silver Jews (had I forgotten about David Berman's voice - straight there), Channel Tres, Alex Chilton (from Big Star), Gorky's, The 5th Dimension, Wiley... 

And yes, I grew up in Streatham.