Category: New

Nothing Left to Lose – Everything But The Girl

Well if you were wondering what an Everything But The Girl track from the 21st century sounds like then here is your answer. Nothing Left to Lose is Tracey Thorn and Ben Watt’s first new recording as Everything But The Girl since 2000, and the first release from their upcoming album Fuse. It is an intentionally modern sounding, punchy dance track. The final refrain – “Kiss me while the world decays. Kiss me while the music plays” – is more than enough to give you goosebumps.

The video is well worth a watch as well. Amazing choreography, incredible dance performances, and nifty camerawork – executed in a single take. Top marks.

Bonus track: yeah, obviously.

Best of 2022

A very Happy New Year to you all. Thanks again for checking out the blog, and sending feedback, ideas, and love.

Before we get to 2023, here’s one final post on 2022.

Here are my most played tracks of the year courtesy of Spotify. Some gems in there. Heavily featured artists include Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs, Bonobo and Hand Habits.

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37i9dQZF1F0sijgNaJdgit?si=a571c8ffb4884b22

And finally, here is a link to my top 50 on Soundcloud. Knock yourself out.

Someones Lifetime – Peza

This one is pretty special. ALFOS / Sean Johnston has played it the last couple of times I’ve seen him and both times it has been one of the set highlights. After the second listen last weekend Sean very kindly ID’d it for me, and so here we are. Talking Heads and LCD Soundsystem brought together in beautiful harmony. Enjoy.

If you are a regular reader you’ll know of my love affair with A Love From Outer Space. If not, you’ve got some catching up to do.

Welcome Sunset – Sefi Zisling

Well now you have an answer if someone asks you who your favourite Israeli trumpeter is – and his name is Sefi Zisling.

Welcome Sunset is a really nice upbeat jazz EP, but the undoubted star of the show is Obas Nenor’s Extended Dub of The Sky Sings. It is a bit more sparing on Sefi’s trumpet, but hugely atmospheric in a way that heroes it when it appears. It reminds me a lot of Simian Mobile Disco’s collaboration the Deep Throat Choir on Murmurations. Well worth a listen.

Feelings – KH

In the comments section for this track someone has written “I’m a Kieran-sexual (musically speaking)” which is a bit gross but at the same time I know what they mean.

You get the sense that KH is having some fun with Feelings. The monstrous track name is almost unsearchable. And in the track itself, an iconic Star Guitar sample gets kicked back to the beat by Britney. Fun.

Kieran Hebden is the man behind KH (aka Four Tet). You can see him play live, accompanied by the incredible Squidsoup lighting, at Alexandra Palace in the new year.

More Dusky

Long time no see listeners. I’m back with a triple-helping of Dusky goodness.

First up, one of my fave tracks from 2012, their remix of Cloud 9’s Don’t You Want Me Baby. This’ll be sure to get a smile on yer face.

But look, this is Dusky we are talking about, and it all really began (just over) a decade ago with Stick By This. Earlier this year they released a deluxe 10 year anniversary edition with some tasty little edits. Here. You. Go.

And finally, they released a new album just last week. Maybe you were at EartH this weekend for the launch party. Anyway, Pressure is a tribute to the sound of their youth, which is… garage. I have to be honest, most garage isn’t really for me – but for these guys I’ll make a small exception. Check it out here.

Manifest Bliss – United Freedom Collective

With the sun out as it is today, there’s a lot to like about this record.

Manifest Bliss is the debut single from United Freedom Collective, a new project from Mathieu Seynaeve, WaiFung Tsang and producer Robbie Redway. They say their music draws on the clinical work of Seynaeve and Tsang while also taking influence from worlds of Zen Taoism, Chinese plant medicines, and worldwide healing traditions. Lofty goals, but it really does come through, in a Bonobo and Maribou State kind of style. Enjoy!

Never The Same – Loods

I’m highly aware that this is skating just on the ride side of cheese (kind of Loods’ MO) but sometimes you’ve just got to let go. If you do that, you will be rewarded, because this feels real good. Definitely a track to be enjoyed in the sunshine after a drink or two. There’s not much subtlety about it, just strings and horns working to full effect. Summer 2022 baby!

The track is out now on Steel City Records. He’s not from Sheffield, he’s from Newcastle. But not that one, the one in Oz. Which is actually known as Steel City. Who knew?