THE BEST MUSIC: NEW & OLD
I’m growing a moustache to raise money for the Movember Foundation. So this month I will be honouring some of the best moustaches in music. You can donate to my mo here: https://mobro.co/harry-mo
Today it is Mr. Gypsy Jazz himself, Django Reinhardt. He is credited as being one of the most influential and talented jazz musicians of all time. It is the kind of music that takes me to the banks of the Seine in the 50s. Smoky and black & white. It’s wistful and glorious.
I’m growing a moustache to raise money for the Movember Foundation. So this month I will be honouring some of the best moustaches in music. You can donate to my mo here: https://mobro.co/harry-mo
Followers of the blog will know I’m a big fan of Sylvan Esso. This is the album that kicked everything off for the lovable North Carolina duo. The smoothness of their production has come on since they released this one, but in terms of raw freedom of sound, I think this release is hard to match.
Dress and Coffee are my highlights, but there aren’t really any weak tracks. Fun fact, the repeated final refrain from Uncatena (“All I want from you’s a letter and to be your distant lover. That is all that I can offer at this time”) is ripped directly from a break-up letter that singer Amelia Meath received in her teen years. Apparently the experience of having a massive crowd sing it along with her at gigs is incredibly cathartic.
I’m growing a moustache to raise money for the Movember Foundation. So this month I will be honouring some of the best moustaches in music. You can donate to my mo here: https://mobro.co/harry-mo?
Some cool jazz for your Sunday. The legendary Charles Mingus. What a cool bloke.
Every Sunday I bring you something a little more downtempo to ease you back into the world.
I’m literally in Beirut (the city) right now. In honour of that fact, and the fact that Beirut (the band) have just released the title track from their upcoming album Gallipoli – here it is! Full of their trademark whistful brass sounds.
Tour details can be found here. Tickets are on sale for the London date now. These guys gave me one of my favourite ever gig experiences, so get involved before they sell out. The album will be released in February.
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.
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.
Every Sunday I am going to bring you something a little more downtempo to ease you back into the world.
Okay, so, today, something extremely different.
This is less song, more sound-art. To a lot of people, Beethoven’s 9th Symphony is pretty instantly recognisable. Artist Leif Inge took the composition (which normally lasts 70 minutes) and stretched it to last a full 24 hours without any distortion of pitch. What results is in an incredibly cinematic piece, with unimaginably deep texture and nuance. If you want to switch off, or go to another mental plane, this should be your soundtrack.
Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-EGtq6vVHY
Part 3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQfa-I6Gczc
Every Sunday I am going to bring you something a little more downtempo to ease you back into the world.
Music for some broody alone-time. Tamaryn specialise in the kind of shoegaze / indie-rock that evokes vast, bleak, windswept landscapes. Real Autumnal vibes [see album cover]. My pick off the album is Love Fade. Anyway, settle in and enjoy.
Every Sunday I am going to bring you something a little more downtempo to ease you back into the world.
Everyone has heard of Simian Mobile Disco. But no-one has heard Simian Mobile Disco sound like this. They have collaborated with all-female vocalist group Deep Throat Choir to put together this eerie, magical album. Sometimes soothing, sometimes unnerving, it is adventurous, super original and a really rewarding listen.
In particular, watch out for Caught in a Wave and Defender – the two highlights.
HARRY'S MUSICAL EMPORIUM 