Elliot Smith – In the lost and found
I needed somethign mellow this morning to soothe me after what has been a long week and I came to this. It is taken off the excellent, if bleak, album Figure 8.
Elliot Smith was a talented but troubled guy. Posting Joy Division a few days ago made me think of him.
I wanted to post something more modern today having gone quite retro recently. This is pretty fresh and I have been enjoying it over the past couple of days. I hope you do to.
/RjK
Wilson Pickett – In the midnight hour
This was the first electronica song that really made me sit up and take notice of the genre. I had never heard a song so smooth and poised. It is taken off the groundbreaking album New Forms, which blew me away.
Roni Size is another of the Bristol crew I have posted recently and was a real pioneer of the drum and bass genre. He paved the way for more recent artists such as High Contrast. London Elektricity and pendulum.
Donald Fagen – I.G.Y. (What a beautiful world)
I thought I would post a bit of further nostalgia today. Being at home always puts me in wistful form. It is nice to remember times gone by once in a while though.
This is another favourite from the mythical mix tape which is a distillation of several long car journeys taken to the continent and back on childhood holidays.
Donald Fagen was half of Steely Dan and this is the high point of his excellent 1982 debut solo offering The Nightfly.
I am at home in Ireland this weekend. The purpose of the trip, other than to catch up with family and friends, was to help an old pal prepare for his wedding which is coming up in a couple of weeks. This particularly buddy and I bonded over a shared appreciation of hip hop many years ago and this was one of the first tracks we both loved. I am also glad to post it as being at home always puts me in a nostalgic mood and this strongly reminds me of being 19 and completely clueless. Happy times.
It is taken from the excellent album, Only built 4 Cuban linx… The album’s main conceit is that of Italian mobsters, and this song serves as a final refrain, a cry for redemption.
Another interesting note about Raekwon is that I saw him play live on March 17th in Dublin one year (with said buddy), it was certainly an interesting way to spend St.Paddies night….
/RjK
Jill Scott – Family Reunion
I love this song’s warmth. It is languid and full of rich imagery. Every time I hear it I feel like I am at the barbeque, eating the green potatoe salad, listening to uncle Jerome and watching Cousin Ruby shaking her good hip and body.
It is taken from the excellent album Beautifully Human, which has a paricularly good cover (the backdrop of this video).
Owiny Sigoma Band – Wires
This track fits with my recent world music motif. They have an interesting back story and I kind of think the London meets Nairobi sound works quite well. The vocal has a hushed quality that serves as a nice contrast with it’s energetic and hypnotic backing.
Joy Division – Love will tear us apart
Ian Curtis, lead singer of Joy Division died this day 31 years ago. They are a little too relentlessly bleak for me to listen to too much of them but this is a stupendous track. Clips in the video are taken from Control, a biopic of his life, which is enjoyable despite being as melancholy as you would imagine.
Manix – Feel real good
Classic early 90’s raver. I imagine it was a fun and interesting time to be young.