THE BEST MUSIC: NEW & OLD
Happy Hallowe’en readers.
For this spooky classic we are going all the way back to ’62. It rocked the party at a ’45 only’ night I was at in Beirut. Hands down the weirdest back-to-back set I’ve ever seen, courtesy of Justin Barwick. Get weird.
This is a sumptuous re-imagining of Toto’s Africa. It extends the pure joy of the track across a wondrous 10 minutes, wave after wave. Bliss.
Never have your vegetables sounded so good. This 1982 banger is one to add to your 3am disco set repertoire.
Further reading: I came across the track in this mixmag article – 10 early-80s post-disco tracks that helped inspire house.
Where to start with these guys?
Here probably, their latest album, american dream. The highlight (amongst a full set of quality) is how do you sleep? It’s a new kind of protest track – anthemic, with super powerful synths. YES. One to chuck on repeat.
This is a really cracking remix by LA dance music staple Lovefingers. He lends oh baby a new chuggy tempo and confused percussion. He converts the track from an introspective number to what you want to hear when you are messy drunk on the dancefloor.
And finally, two of my favourite tracks from the archives. If these have aged at all I haven’t noticed.
One final word of advice. See. Them Live.
Photo credit: Mine! (for once)
Every Sunday I bring you something a little more downtempo to ease you back into the world.
Now then, Bristolian trip-hop legends Massive Attack. Their latest album from 2010 is a varied, wondrous number. Definitely worth a re-visit.
Historical note: Heligoland is a tiny island just off the North coast of Germany, rendered uninhabitable by bombing in the latter stages of the Second World War. Now you know.
Moody. Unsettling. Spooky. Bewitching. Enchanting. A Rolling Stone review of this 2012 album, the band’s first, described it as “the sound of heartbreak and celebration happening simultaneously.” I love that. Basically, Poliça are a 5-piece outfit from Minneapolis making synth-pop music fit for a Hallowe’en party. Get to know.
Also, they are on tour. I have 2 tickets for sale at face value at London’s ICA on Saturday 3rd November. Let me know if you want them.
Oh, and one last thing – chill, I’ve got you covered.
Every Sunday I bring you something a little more downtempo to ease you back into the world.
Today, the smooth tones of Wayne Snow. Wayne (real name Kesiena Ukochovbara) was born in Nigeria and moved to Berlin to launch his music career. He picked up the name ‘Snow’ as a play on his blackness. He released his first EP Red Runner in 2014 on Tartelet Records, produced by Max Graef. In his music you hear the confluence of German and Afro sounds. It’s good.
One from his new(ish) album, Freedom TV.
Wayne featured on Max Graef’s Running.
And my favourite, Rosie.
Hey – whoever said that all music has to be cool these days? This old-skool banger comes to you straight off Now That’s What I Call Music 51. Hell yes.
I’m off to see this fella tonight in Brixton. If you don’t know about him, where have you been?! Electronic music that manages to be light and intense and magical and deep all at once. Two Thousand and Seventeen and Planet are two gems from this one. Enjoy!
This is one from the archives. One of Caribou’s lesser-known early albums, Andorra. It is a lot more vocal-heavy and low-fi than what he is famous for now, with influences from 60s psychedelia. Even so, you can hear hints of the more housey direction he went in later.
It takes you on a journey through a few genres – its variety and subtlety means its the kind of album you can session again and again. It always brings me back to where I was when I first discovered it. My pick from the album is the final track Niobe. Listen to it last!
HARRY'S MUSICAL EMPORIUM 