20th September 2012

LV* – Work featuring Spoek Mathambo (NAT)

This is just cool. It’s so smooth it and hypnotic I find it simply irresistible.
The other reason this caught my attention is the fact that it features Johannesburg’s Spoek Mathambo, who is lauded by Rupture and Lamin on WFMU. When I did some research into him I found some pretty interesting (not to mention off the wall) stuff. His record label (sub pop) Biography begins “Spoek Mathambo makes the Afro-futurists look old school.” All I can say it wow! He also presents a unique style, hip hop meats hipster. Some days I will be 1% as modish as this:
Spoek Mathambo:

/RjK
*Artist #521

19th September 2012

Robbie Robertson* – Somewhere down the crazy river

While this is not fresh in the sense of being released recently or by an unknown artist, it is fresh in the sense I heard it for the first time today.

This is taken from Canadian icon Robbie Robertson (good name) of The Band fame’s eponymous debut solo album which was released in 1987 and it has a classic 80’s sound. Not to mention some classic 80’s style on display in the video! Hello mullet…

/RjK

*Artist #520

18th September 2012

Modest Mouse* – Float On

iPod song #3. Apologies the music hasn’t been too fresh over the past few days. I promise to attend to some research over the coming days. Hopefully this will bear fruit with some exciting new tracks.

I mentioned earlier in the week that I felt one of the signs of a good song is it’s ability to stay with you after you listen to it. This must be one of the most infectious guitar riffs I know.

/RjK

*Artist *519

17th September 2012

The Velvelettes* – Needle in a haystack

This is 2 minutes and 30 seconds of pop perfection.

The Velvelettes were one of a cadre of amazing female vocal groups that were releasing records on Motown around this time, along with The Supremes and Martha and The Vandellas amoungst others. I’m not sure it gets much better than this…

/RjK

*Artist #518

Lucky Soul – Struck Dumb


I thought I would get caught up with a couple of tracks that came on my iPod while in transit over the past couple of days that I hadn’t thought about for a while.

Lucky Soul are from London but I first heard them while drunkenly riding in the back of a taxi around Chicago. It’s strange how global music has become. They make great pop tunes, that have a great retro sounds. Apologies for the video here, I couldn’t track down anything better.

/RjK

15th September 2012

Van Morrison – It’s all in the game / You know what they’re writing about

I have been meaning to post Van for a while. Firstly I am a self confessed devotee of his music but also because I nearly saw him play in Dublin a few weeks ago before inclement weather intervened (why even bother with gigs in parks in Ireland?).

This pair of tracks closes out the 1979 album Into the music. They aren’t his most iconic work but I have listened to them relentlessly over the past few months. I think they are classic Van; starting with a spacey, meandering cover of an obscure 50’s tune then building and building to a crashing, heartfelt crescendo (see about 6:30 onwards).

Meet me down by the pylons...

/RjK

14th September 2012

Third Eye Blind* – Semi-charmed life (GPF)

Apologies for the interruption to normal blogging service. I am back from Barcelona and just about in one piece. It’s a fun city, if a little sketchy. I did manage to find some time to relax too, which was welcome. I could get used to chilling by the water and enjoying the sunshine!

This is a song that reminds me of school. If the mark of a good song is that it makes you want to hum the tune after hearing it then this qualifies in spades.

/RjK

*Artist #517

13th September 2012

DL Incognito* – Universal love featuring D-Shade (NAT)

Hip hop banger that I have been meaning to post for a while from Canadian rapper DL Incognito.

/RjK

*Artist #516

12th September 2012

Talking Heads – Road to nowhere

This seems like appropriate music to soundtrack a foreign trip to a stag do…

Also, David Byrne (lead singer) has a new book out that looks interesting and that I certainly mean to check out when I get a second.

/RjK

11th September 2012

Bruce Springsteen – Born to run

I have been meaning to post this for a while and it feels fitting to post someone iconic and American today. It doesn’t get much more of either than Bruce Springsteen.

This is typical of him in that it is urgent and compelling perhaps even epic yet there is something simple and heartfelt about it too that we can all relate to.

It kind of feels like the calm before the storm this evening as I am off to Barcelona tomorrow for another stag do at the weekend. I am feeling not a little dread about how I will likely be feeling on my way home on Sunday. Apologies if normal blogging service is interrupted. At best I imagine the post will be brief for a few day.

/RjK