Andorra – Caribou

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!

The Cure – Jadu Heart

Masked duo Jadu Heart are back releasing music with a new EP, The Gloom That Looms. It’s their first release since they entered the scene with their awesome EP Wanderflower on Mura Masa’s Anchor Point records. In The Cure they capture their original catchy screwed-up electro-poppy style – if a little less raw than their previous outing. I’m a bit disappointed by the other track on the release tbh, but hey, can’t win ’em all.

Watching them live last year, the gig had that exciting kind of energy you get when you are watching a band ‘before they’re big’. They are playing another date in London at OMEARA on 21st November. Tickets on sale now. (By they way, they make you feel real old)

9 Beet Stretch – Leif Inge

 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

Part 4: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0-OC8yo0f0

Part 5: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfBZeAQ-Vt0

Smalltown Boy – Bronski Beat

This one is a bit massive. Its only Bronski Beat perfecting the 80s dance track.

Smalltown Boy became a huge gay anthem back in the day – it’s about the rejection of a homosexual kid by his family and society. Since then it found new life in Supermode’s massively popular Tell Me Why.

This track sent the crowd flying at Giant Steps at Houghton this year – expect it to do that to most dancefloors.

Disclosure

A shout out to Disclosure. They went from being pretty cool and on trend with Settle in 2013 (think You & Me, Help Me Lose my Mind, etc.) to being pretty lame and samey with Caracal in 2015 (think Omen) to being cool again in 2018. They’ve released 6 new tracks, each of which draws from different genres and all of which are pretty impressive pieces of production. 3 of them, really worth a listen. Fair play. Fair play.

First-up an 80s style banger.

Some lively electronica.

And finally, a cool afro-inspired tune featuring everyone’s favourite Malian/Ivorian Fatoumata Diawara.

Tried – BADBADNOTGOOD & Little Dragon

I keep a little list of artists that I really really want to see live. Little Dragon has been on that list for a while. And then; 1) Little Dragon is playing London in November; 2) Little Dragon is playing at Printworks*; 3) Harvey Sutherland is supporting. So I’m pretty happy about all this.

* Probably the best soundsystem in the city

Tried is her latest release – a typically soulful and funky collab with BADBADNOTGOOD. They a bunch of jazzy joker from Ontario. One of my highlights from Glasto last year was seeing them bop around the stage barefoot enjoying themselves just about as much as anyone else in the crowd.

Bonus track: my favourite Harvey Sutherland tune:

Nothing is Still – Leon Vynehall

What can I say about this guy? He makes sensational, original, all-enveloping electronic music. That’s what I’ll say. He’s been one of my favourite producers for years and always impresses in your headphones or in the flesh.

He is currently doing a live tour of his album Nothing is Still which is well worth a watch. The album tells the sonic story of his grandparents’ emigration from the UK to New York in the 60s, and it’s something special.

Pick up tix here: https://leonvynehall.lnk.to/liveAP

Echo Mountain Sessions – Sylvan Esso

Sylvan Esso are a lovable duo from North Carolina. Listening to them always makes me feel some mix of nostalgic, happy, hopeful and wistful. In this live EP they invited a group of their musician friends to perform their tracks for a day – they only did a few takes to make sure the compositions feel fresh, and it really really works. If you know the band the tracks are instantly recognisable, but still feel completely new. To be honest, they are worth listening to for the sax alone.