An A-Z Of 2024

The last three days of 2024 will feature more reflections and selections from what has been a really good year for music.

 

Today's selection is exactly what the post title suggests: 26 songs over 98 minutes, listed alphabetically by artist (ignoring 'A' or 'The' prefixes).

I've picked up lots of recommendations, mostly from fellow bloggers and, more recently, Bluesky, though rarely from music magazines these days. Thanks then to @marksmusic1977.bsky.social and Ernie Goggins for introducing me to Ana Lua Caiano and The Zawose Queens respectively. 

 

Mark posted Vou Ficar Neste Quadrado by Ana Lua Caiano as a contender for Album Of The Year and it's easy to hear why. Ana Lua Caiano’s debut album "melds rural Portuguese music traditions with layered vocals, synthesizers, insistent beats and field recordings", but it hits hard, takes some unexpected twists and turns, and packs a hell of a lot into less than half an hour.

As a paying Last Night From Glasgow member for the second consecutive year, I've received another steady stream of quality new releases and reissues on gorgeous vinyl, frequently in a variety of unexpected colours and hues, as well as access to dozens of albums via their digital vault.

Included in my vinyl package was Holding Up Half The Sky by Xan Tyler. Xan's got previous on this blog, notably Clarion Call, her collaborative album with Mad Professor in 2021. Holding Up Half The Sky is produced by Boo Hewerdine and immerses the listener in the "life stories of some incredible women [...] a journey shaped by adversity and challenges [and] arriving at a place they were seemingly destined for." The songcraft is superlative and a big hit with Mrs. K too.

 

I first heard Steve (A Weekend In Egham, 1996), the second album by Billy Reeves, via the LNFG digital vault shortly after it was released in the spring. I enjoyed Billy's first album very much, but this one had an immediate impact on my and over the course of the year, I have become obsessed with the album. Definitely one of my most played. 

 

The vinyl album wasn't included in my LNFG membership so of course I had to buy it. I kept meaning to write about Steve, but I procrastinated so much that Billy released two further albums since, a live set with Gavin Laird and, in November, his third solo album. I've heard the former - it's great - and the latter is on order.

 

There have been many triumphant returns for artists this year, including China Crisis and The Blow Monkeys (both also on LNFG), The The (their first album in a quarter of a century) and Ultravox, albeit via a deluxe 40th anniversary reissue of Lament and decent remixes by Steven Wilson and Moby. 

Some comebacks were a complete surprise, and exceeded all reasonable expectations. Gavin Friday's album Ecce Homo is produced by Dave Ball and is supercharged music for the heads and the hedonists. Why slow down at 65? As good as any of Gavin's previous albums, which were frankly brilliant.

 

Fluke's return seemingly came out of nowhere, Jon Fugler and Mike Tournier joined on this new adventure by the stunning vocals of Leah Cleaver. Two singles - Insanely Beautiful and Real Magnificient - and a standalone song (Jack) that are up there with their best material. The world is a better place with Fluke's music in it.

I knew of Lisa Moorish in the 1990s, though more for the pop press and tabloid features than her music. Drawn in by a David Holmes remix, the single Sylvia is a statement of intent and then some. A song about poet Sylvia Plath, set to urgent rhythms with a sublime vocal and hooky lyrics ("where do I end and you begin?"), it got my attention and Lisa's album Divine Chaos is equally worth your attention (and money). A powerful and very welcome return.

Less comeback and more career change, Dan Wainwright released the first of two solo albums this year. I was familiar with Dan's psychedelic electronica/dance/dub music and remixes. I'd also picked up on social media that he'd decided to turn away from that, learn to play the ukelele and write songs drawn deep from the soul and his lived experience. I reviewed Dan's debut back in February and I stand by every word. A shock if you're familiar with Dan's previous work, but stick with it and the songs reward with each play.

Creativity seemed to be in overdrive this year, with an astonishing quantity of quality music from Richard Norris and A Certain Ratio. Hifi Sean and David McAlmont recorded enough music for two (themed) albums and that's exactly what they've done. The first of these, Daylight, was out in August and is packed with poptastic tunes, including the anthemic Celebrate. The follow up, Twilight, is out February 2025 and, if preview single Star is anything to go by, will be as good as if not better. Truly a perfect musical partnership.

Ghost Tapes 1 To 9 by Jo Bartlett is another album that I've played repeatedly all year and it just gets better with each listen. When I posted about the album in April, I reflected on "the soundscapes that Jo has created, not least the bringing together of electronics, acoustics and voice resulting in an album that feels organic, human and warm." The songs were infused with the spirit of Jayne Casey and Nina Walsh, whilst holding their own with contemporaries Tor Maries (Billy Nomates) and Angel Olsen. In other words, right up my street.

 

I've written previously and above about the formidable talents of female artists, and today's selection includes further examples by Jane Weaver, Emily Breeze, Katy J Pearson, Eno Williams (Ibibio Sound Machine), Samantha Morton, John Glacier and Yaya Bey.

 

Producers have also, er. produced some incredible music this year. Cruelly missing from today's selection are Hugo Nicholson and David Harrow's Revolvalution or CTRL+S EDITS 2024, an album of excellent edits by Neil Parnell aka Tronik Youth.

Joe Thornally, son of legendary producer Phil, released his 5th (or 6th) album as Vegyn, The Road To Hell Is Paved With Good Intentions, in the spring. I came to Tales From The Infinite Loop or What Goes Around Comes Around by Nigel Butler via a recommendation from former bandmate and founder of theaudience, Billy Reeves. Both albums are very, very good and the latter is going on Bandcamp at the ridiculous price of 50p!

 

The Woodentops came back with a bang last year, the superb single Ride A Cloud, with a brilliant video and remixes and the promise of an album to follow. Another April release, Fruits Of The Deep, delivered far beyond the promise of the lead single, as I wrote about at the time.

I've not yet mentioned DJ Helen's inspired fusion of David Holmes' remix of Orbital's Belfast and Mike Garry's updated recording of his poem Tonight. The 4-minute version tells you what you need to know but you really need to go for the full 12-minute monty with this one. 

 

And a highlight of my many new dub purchases this year has been The Mood EP by French punnilinguists Prince François Far I and ShaYaman, available in 5 flavours, including a remix by Owl Trackers and all in tribute to Lee 'Scratch' Perry.

 

Then it's back to LNFG for Amelia Lironi and Naomi Mackay aka Quad 90, the '90' presumably referencing the year that advance single Anodyne calls to mind, not least a lost single by New Order. Not included simply to fill that difficult 'Q', I'm looking forward to their debut album in 2025.

 

Oh, and I nearly forgot Metronomy! Suffice to say, I love the Loose EP and the short, snappy, poppy collaborations, encapsulated brilliantly by Pan Amsterdam's spoken word vocals on Nice Town.

 

Finally, a very special mention for Ernie's African Odyssey over at his 27 Leggies blog, with concluded on 13th December after over 60 posts, 57 countries, 550 artists, 350 songs and 200 videos. The majority of music and artists were completely new to me, including sisters Leah and Pendo, aka The Zawose Queens, who featured when Ernie visited Tanzania in October. Maisha ("Life") is the title track of their debut album and a joyous close to today's selection. 

Note on Sunday: 

 

If you were here earlier this morning, you will have read that the majority of the above sleevenotes were to follow later, as my usual blog writing routine flexed to accommodate an extended Clan K over the festive period. 

 

Various family members left this morning, giving me some time to return to the keyboard and finish off this post. Of course, that kitchen full of dirty pans, crockery and cutlery isn't going to wash itself, so I will sign off now and be back here on Monday with another reflection on some great music this year. 

 

Casa K is well and truly back to it's chaotic norm!, and so is this blog! Thanks for sticking with me xx

 

 

1) De Cabeça Colada Ao Chão: Ana Lua Caiano (Vou Ficar Neste Quadrado)

2) I Know Who Trashed The Blue Peter Garden (Part II): Billy Reeves (Steve (A Weekend In Egham, 1996))

3) Where You Coming From (Jane Weaver Rework): A Certain Ratio (Christmasville UK EP)

4) Big Boss Man: Dan Wainwright (Dan Wainwright)

5) 1997 (Single Version): Emily Breeze (Second Rodeo EP)

6) Real Magnificent (Single Version): Fluke ft. Leah Cleaver (Real Magnificent EP)

7) Cabarotica: Gavin Friday (Ecce Homo)

8) The Show: Hifi Sean & David McAlmont (Daylight)

9) Black Notes: Ibibio Sound Machine (The Black Notes EP)

10) One In A Hundred: Jo Bartlett (Ghost Tapes 1 To 9)

11) Long Range Driver: Katy J Pearson (Someday, Now)

12) Sylvia (Radio Edit): Lisa Moorish (Sylvia EP)

13) Nice Town: Metronomy x Pan Amsterdam (Posse EP Volume 2)

14) Beginningless: Nigel Butler (Tales From The Infinite Loop or What Goes Around Comes Around)

15) Tonight In Belfast (Edit): Orbital ft. DJ Helen, David Holmes & Mike Garry (Tonight In Belfast EP)

16) The Mood (Owl Trackers Remix): Prince François Far I & ShaYaman (The Mood EP)

17) Anodyne (Radio Edit): Quad 90 (Anodyne EP)

18) A Field In Dub: Richard Norris (Oracle Sound Volume Three)

19) Broxtowe Girl: Sam Morton ft. Ali Campbell & Alabaster DePlume (Daffodils & Dirt)

20) Linoleum Smooth To The Stockinged Foot (Album Version): The The (Ensoulment)

21) Lament (Moby Remix): Ultravox (Lament (Deluxe Edition))

22) A Dream Goes On Forever: Vegyn ft. John Glacier (The Road To Hell Is Paved With Good Intentions)

23) Dream On (Album Version): The Woodentops (Fruits Of The Deep)

24) You're My Muse: Xan Tyler (Holding Up Half The Sky)

25) A Survivor's Guilt: Yaya Bey (TRAИƧA)

26) Maisha: The Zawose Queens (Maisha)

An A-Z Of 2024 (1:38:18) (KF) (Mega)

Elect Tronik

Today's selection features Tronik Youth aka Neil Parnell, and is a follow up of sorts to last Wednesday's spotlight on recent purchases from NEIN Records, the label Neil co-founded with Ian Considine over a decade ago.

 

In a 2018 interview celebrating 5 years of NEIN, Neil described the label's mission as "trying to spread some dark magic around the worlds dance floors" and this brief, C90-friendly mix attempts to reflect some of that in his own remixes and releases as Tronik Youth.

Most of the tracks are from the last few years, but I have included Tronik Youth's debut in 2006 with a remix of Listen Up! by Gossip. At the time Neil, a record shop boss and DJ, got involved with a friend who ran Back Yard Records. The two discovered and signed Gossip, Neil had a go at doing a remix and the rest is history.

 

If you're new to Tronik Youth and like what you hear, head first to NEIN Records on Bandcamp, where you will find a fair few Tronik Youth releases, re-edits and remixes of other label artists for your listening pleasure. 

However, a quick online search will also throw up a vast catalogue of music released on other labels and with other artists in the past two decades, as 2014's Suicide Doors on tici taci (included here) illustrates.

 

1) Cult Haze (One Of Us) (Tronik Youth 'Ritual' Remix): Dan Wainwright (2021)

2) Wrong System (Jay-Son Remix): Tronik Youth (2024)

3) Suicide Doors (Inaigo Vontier Remix): Tronik Youth (2014)

4) I Say Yes (Tronik Youth Remix): Cosman (2024)

5) Listen Up! (Tronik Youth Remix) (Edit): Gossip (2006)

6) Red Shift (Tronik Youth Remix): MAN2.0 (2022)

7) Serpens Caput (Tronik Youth Remix): Celestino (2023)

8) Ghosted Me: Tronik Youth (2024)

 

2008: Rework It: 5

2021: The Universal Energy Within EP: 1

2022: Red Shift EP: 6

2023: tici taci Decade Volume 1: 3

2023: We Are Nothing But Space Dust Remixes EP: 7

2024: I Say Yes EP: 4 

2024: Tronik Youth Club Edits EP: 8

2024: Wrong System EP: 2

 

Elect Tronik (45:28) (KF) (Mega)

Random Bag

As the title suggests, a dip into my bag of Bandcamp Friday purchases and a selection that's not quite as eclectic as a glance at the line-up might indicate. 

 

1) Obsolescence Programmée: schroothoop (2020)

2) Space Drohne (Duncan Gray Remix): Matt Gunn (2023)

3) Old Hands: The Scientist (2015)

4) Maria De Barro: Disco For The People (2019)

5) You're All In Disguise (Marshall Neeko Remix): Jimmy Riley (2024)

6) End Of Times (Ono-Sendai Sound Version): David Harrow + Little Annie (2024)

7) Eye Co (Cover of 'Jock-A-Mo' by James 'Sugar Boy' Crawford & His Cane Cutters): Marshall Watson (2024)

8) Inspiration (Instrumental) 2: Kerri 'Kaoz' Chandler Presents Arnold Jarvis (2021)

9) Like A Bird: Dan Wainwright (2024)

 

2015: Old Hands EP: 3 

2019: Chapter One Edits EP: 4

2020: Global Riddims Volume 2: 1

2023: Mostly Fiction: 2 

2024: Dad Giveaway: 8

2024: Dan Wainwright: 9

2024: End Of Times EP: 6

2024: Eye Co EP: 7

2024: Solidarity Riddim: 5

 

Random Bag (44:28) (KF) (Mega)

What You Need Is To Be Free

Next Thursday is 29th February, Leap Year's Day, and Dan Wainwright marks the occasion with the release of a self-titled (or untitled, if you prefer) album.

 

I first featured Dan's music here very early on, not even 50 posts in and just getting into gear with daily uploads. Swiss Adam at Bagging Area had switched me onto Dan's music and I was immediately hooked. Broadly speaking, electronic music but with elements of dub, psychedelia, deep-down vocals and equally at home on a pair of headphones or booming from club-or-pub speakers.

 

In the past three years, I've regularly featured Dan's music in Dubhed selections and end of year round ups, not least the excellent Psychedelic Science, a deep, dubby collaboration with Rude Audio and a highlight of 2023.

 

Dan's new album is a different proposition altogether, eight songs of Dan singing, accompanied only by his ukelele. Is there a need for ukelele-playing singer songwriters in the 21st century? Abso-bloody-lutely.

I pre-ordered the album and Dan very kindly posted the CD to me in advance of the official release day, so I've had an opportunity to listen to the album a fair bit in the past couple of weeks.That in itself has proved to be a unique personal experience.

My usual go-to is a plug-in CD/DVD player and I generally listen to (and rip) CDs via the Clan K computer. It's a bit temperamental though and randomly refuses to play certain CDs, despite various attempts at cleaning, coaxing and cursing. Dan's album drew the short straw on this occasion.

My car doesn't have a CD facility so the only other option to hand was a CD & radio that we bought for Lady K when she was little, mainly to play audio books on CD, and which has been long-abandoned. It kind of works, but needs a bit of effort. It requires an absolutely stable surface otherwise the CD skips. The lid no longer stays closed, so you either need to place a weight on it or lift the carry handle to an upright position to (mostly) keep it shut, otherwise the CD stops playing. The back- and forward-skip functions are unreliable. The radio aerial snapped off many years ago.  The once pink-and-white body now looks more mouldy-peach-and-piss-yellow. But it did the job.

 

Logistically, this has also meant that I've inevitably played to the album either late at night or very early in the morning through headphones, which has provided an even more intensely intimate listening experience.

I've been on Dan's mailing list since 2021 so what, from a casual glance at his Bandcamp catalogue, may seem like an abrupt change of direction has been many years in the making. The last couple in particular focused on practicing and finding a voice with the ukelele, with regular YouTube uploads (unavailable now) of Dan's works-in-progress. Even so, the album shows how much further Dan has come in that time.

I can't confess to owning a vast amount of ukelele-led music, yet it feels absolutely right for the songs and album as a whole. These are deeply personal reflections and narratives that benefit from the musical setting. At times, the ukelele stylings reminded me of Spanish guitar generally and the stripped-back sounds of, say, Rodrigo y Gabriela.

Dan's 'practice' YouTube uploads also included covers of John Prine, Neil Young and Willie Nelson, which are also useful pointers to the sound and the feel of the album.

Is it folk? I guess so, the narratives appear to inspired and informed by Dan's lived experience and presented with accessible lyrics that you can imagine being sung around a campfire or in a pub, with others joining in as the occasion demands. The other 'folky' aspect that I really like is that Dan's singing voice retains his regional accent. It's something that I am personally drawn to when listening to music, but feels even more important given Dan's journey to this album and finding his own voice.

You don't need to know about Dan to enjoy the album, the songs welcome you in and enrich you in their own right. However, Dan's openness about his struggle with continuing down the 'easier' and more established path of electronic music, the impact on his health and well being, and the desire to give life to the lyrics and music that he'd been crafting in the background for the past decade or so lends the album a different, affecting quality. 

I was rooting for Dan to believe in himself and take the bold step of saying "this is me" with this album and he's done it. I really, really like this album.

1) I'll Come Running

I came across the Devil 

And he looked into my eyes

2) She Knew What She Knew 

Fresh air of the spring

And the sun is shining down 

 

3) Liberty 

Sadly I didn't bring my kite

So I cannot fly tonight

 

4) Plain To See 

You know I love you, you know I do

You said you don't need it

I said I don't need it too

 

5) Time Are Hard

When I woke up this morning

I didn't think you'd be here with me

  

6) Until There's Peace 

Why don't you talk to me my darling?

 

7) Big Boss Man 

Give me my money, Big Boss Man

I worked so hard

Just to earn my hand

 

8) Like A Bird

Don't be alone

Take what you need

And walk along until you're free

 

 

Three of the songs are available to preview on Bandcamp, though I would encourage you to pre-order ahead of next Thursday's official release as the other five songs are every bit as beautiful. 

 

 

 

  

 

 

Why Why Why Why

My introduction to the magnificence that is The Woodentops' Why Why Why was pretty innocuous.

I bought the double pack 7" single of Everyday Living on the strength of the title track and having the 12" mixes of Move Me and Well Well Well on the bonus vinyl. Rounding out the package on Side 2 was a track, singularly titled Why, which I'd never heard before.

Both the 7" A- and B-sides were remixed by the band with Adrian Sherwood. Both were good songs, the latter a fairly sedate chugger with crashing percussion but no hint of it's subsequent future as a Balearic classic.

I've never been to Ibiza so I missed the opportunity to hear the song played out there. However, the first inkling I had that Why Why Why was so much more than a B-side was hearing 1987's Live Hypnobeat Live album. Here, the acoustic strum and Rolo McGinty's insistent vocals come to the fore, creating an uptempo rhythm that drummer Benny Staples follows. Staples was a co-writer, along with Rolo and guitarist Simon Mawby, and it's a fascinating example of how the song evolved from it's studio origins to those exploratory live performances.

The video heading this post is from a later live performance at the Dominion Theatre in London circa 1988. It stretches Why Why Why out even further to over seven minutes but not a second is extraneous. Makes me wish I'd been there back in the day, it ust have been an incredible experience.

I've included three other versions of Why Why Why, starting with Adrian Sherwood's extended mix from the 12" single, just under eight minutes of On-U goodness. 

 

Next up is the Balearic Re-Edit by Tony Johns & Dave Boreham, which appears to date from 1988 but I'm not sure if it had a release prior to it's appearance on the (excellent) Before During After compilation in 2013. Still sounds pretty fresh to these aging ears in 2023.

Last up and a first time discovery when putting this post together is A WTF Acid Dub Remix, one of eight commissioned by and released on Wall Of Sound in 2016. Despite the obvious interpretation, WTF is in fact an acronym for the remixers, Dan Wainwright and Trevor Fung. Trevor is a legendary DJ and key player in the Balearic movement of the late 1980s, whilst Dan has been a regular on this site for his glorious 21st century take on psychedelic electronica. The pair strip the song - and tempo - right back, with Rolo's vocal pared down to a titular chant and "are you ready now?". 

 

Admittedly, none of the remixes can match the live performances but it's wonderful to see Why Why Why - and The Woodentops - continue to inspire three decades later.

 

In Space We Trust

The final selection of 2022 highlights was becoming a bit of a monster. This nearly ended up as a 22-track, two-and-a-half hour megalomaniamix, such was my difficulty in paring down the many, many songs that I've loved this year but which hadn't made it onto the previous selections this week. 

 

Nobody needs a monster mix on New Year's Eve though, me included, so here's a rather more reasonable 10 track selection at just over an hour. I could quite decide if I was creating a club or a chill out area but hopefully enough to get a party started...in our case, Clan K, the cat, some food and party games and skipping Jools Holland's Hootenanny.

 

More of the usual suspects but a couple of new (to me) artists, BT COP and Residentes Balearicos, that were respectively introduced via the superb Shelter Me and Higher Love Vol. 2 compilations earlier this year.

 

And, just under the wire for consideration in 2022, I got home from work to find that my first package from my Last Night From Glasgow subscription had arrived. Four beautifully packaged coloured vinyl albums from Popup, Billy Reeves and The Soup Dragons and - most eagerly anticipated of all - on double yellow vinyl, Happy Ending by Hifi Sean and David McAlmont. Needless to say, the latter made my night/week/year.

 

Following yesterday's single of the year award, guess what? They've only gone and done it again.

 

2022 has seen some outstanding albums that I've lived with and listened to repeatedly. However, in face of incredibly strong competition, Happy Ending is just perfect from start to finish. I will be coming back to it again (and again) in future posts but in the meantime, no better way to close this compilation and my 365th post in 2022.

 

Happy Ending is my album of the year. 

 

Thanks for your support and comments and for continuing to inspire and motivate me on a daily basis. I never thought that I'd still be going, two years after starting this blog, but the constant delight of new music, unearthing personal favourites and being introduced to artists and music that I'd missed altogether is stronger than ever.

 

I hope, however you're marking this evening and whoever you're spending it with, that you have a wonderful New Year's Eve and a fantastic start to 2023.

 

1) First Rays Of A New Life: Dan Wainwright & Elle Redding (Mother Oak)

2) Proof Of Stake: BT COP (Shelter Me: various artists)

3) Silent Disco Sucks (Duncan Gray Remix): Pete Bones & The Stones Of Convention (Hyena Hopscotch Remixes)

4) Balearic For President: Residentes Balearicos (Higher Love Vol. 2: various artists)

5) Summer Lovin' (Full Length Version): Cerrone & Purple Disco Machine (Summer Lovin' single)

6) Dexter In Dub (Bedford Falls Players Remix): Perry Granville (Dexter In Dub single)

7) Space Is Us (Basement Jaxx Remix): Telefís ft. Sean O'Hagan (Space Is Us EP)

8) Jezebellearic: Jezebell (Jezebellearica Volume 1 EP)

9) Sail On: Al Mackenzie (Sail On single)

10) Beautiful: Hifi Sean & David McAlmont (Happy Ending)

 

In Space We Trust (1:02:00) (Box) (Mega)

Waves Out Of Phase

Another dive into the music that I've been enjoying so far in 2022. The selection has a slightly more melancholy edge than I was intending, but otherwise just a sample of the outstanding sounds that have emerged over the past six months.

 

No surprise to see Andy Bell, Trentemøller and Momus, whose albums have been highlights for quite some time. Telefís (aka Cathal Coughlan and Jacknife Lee) and Katy J Pearson are relatively new acquaintances, whilst the prolific Dan Wainwright has released not one but two albums so far, the latest with his partner Elle Redding. 

 

Enjoy!

 

1) Adar Newlan: Imarhan ft. Gruff Rhys

2) Thickener (Full Fat Original): 10:40

3) Bowroux (Ed Mahon Remix): Pete Callard

4) Totentanz: Momus

5) Cue The Tears (Anton Newcombe Remix): Dot Allison

6) All Too Soon: Trentemøller ft. Lisbet Fritze

7) Bright Star: Anaïs Mitchell

8) Talk Over Town: Katy J Pearson

9) Sing The Blues: Dan Wainwright

10) The Kindness Of Others (Concretism Remix By Chris Sharp): Dohnavùr

11) We No Normal (Anger Management): Sherwood & Pinch ft. Daddy Freddy, Ghetto Priest & Jen Jen

12) Archbishop Beardmouth At The ChemOlympics (Radio Edit): Telefís

13) Mother Oak: Dan Wainwright & Elle Redding

14) Holiday In The Sun: Andy Bell

Waves Out Of Phase (1:08:40)

Is There Room In Your Life For One More Trip To The Moon?

In case you were disappointed by Friday's lack of beat-laden bangers, here's a suitably slipshod mix to see in Saturday. 

As usual, it's an eclectic mix spanning 1993 to 2022. It may not keep you moving, as k.d. lang implores, but you will hopefully get an involuntary twitch or jerk here and there. I would like to apologise for the cack-handed segueways and fade ins but if I did, I'd have to do so for each and every track. Hopefully, the quality of the tunes will encourage you to overlook my enthusiastic but amateurish approach...!

A couple of current loves in here, including one of many excellent remixes of the current David Holmes single and the latest in a consistent series of great one-off tracks by Pye Corner Audio aka Martin Jenkins. There are some reworkings of musical legends Gong, Kraftwerk and The Cure and - I couldn't resist - two helpings of Andrew Weatherall, back-to-back. 

The opening twofer by Baron Von Luxxury aka Blake Robin and k.d. lang remixed by Tony Garcia may be a bit of red herring regarding the subsequent direction of the mix, but I think it just about works. 

I've also dropped in a bit of uptempo Four Tet, from Kieran Hebden's excellent 2020 album Parallels, as well as Confidence Man. The latter track might be from 2017, but their current album Tilt is on constant rotation at Casa Khayem.

 

To close, another Dubhed favourite, Dan Wainwright. Dan and his partner Elle Redding have just released a new album, Mother Oak, which I received this week, so expect to a further appearance here in the not too distant future.

1) I'm Not Bad, I'm Just Drawn That Way (Instrumental): Baron Von Luxxury (2013)

2) Just Keep Me Moving (Wild Planet Mix By Tony Garcia): k.d. lang (1993)

3) It's Over, If We Run Out Of Love (Working Mens Club Remix): David Holmes ft. Raven Violet (2022)

4) A Sprinkling Of Clouds (Belly Dance Mix By System 7): Gong (1999)

5) Evidence The Enemy: Andrew Weatherall (2017)

6) Bubblegum (Andrew Weatherall Remix): Confidence Man (2017)

7) Aerodynamik (Intelligent Design Mix By Alexis Taylor & Joe Goddard): Kraftwerk (2007)

8) Wrong Number (Crossed Line Mix By Omid Nourizadeh): The Cure (1997)

9) Parallel 8: Four Tet (2020)

10) Dirty Window Of Opportunity: Pye Corner Audio (2022)

11) Nothing Ever Stays The Same: Dan Wainwright (2021)

Is There Room In Your Life For One More Trip To The Moon? (47:45)

Waiting For My Life To Change

Another Bandcamp Friday, another clutch of new songs to add an already impressive 2022. Ten random selections of highlights from the year so far, some so newly purchased that I listened to them for the first time whilst compiling this playlist.

Catherine Anne Davies aka The Anchoress delivers another beautifully balanced cover of a song that Jackson Browne wrote when he was 16 and Nico recorded for her debut solo album, Chelsea Girl, in 1967. In between, a smattering of songs from albums that set the bar high early from Andy Bell, Dan Wainwright, Mr. Oizo & Phra and Trentemøller. Momus' latest album officially dropped on 1st April and I wrote about it here. Confidence Man have also released their latest, Tilt, and on a single play so far, it's enormous fun.

 

David Holmes & Raven Violet have followed up last year's superb Hope Is The Last Thing To Die with the equally brilliant It's Over, If We Run Out Of Love. The song was initially released on Valentine's Day and a clutch of remixes have just dropped. Darren Emerson and Hardway Bros aka Sean Johnston deliver superb mixes, but they're all good, as this one (of two remixes) by Lovefingers & Heidi Lawden amply demonstrates.

 

I knew absolutely nothing about Jeshi, being drawn in by the flurry of label and artist mail drops that come in prior to Bandcamp Friday. A quick Google search reveals that Jeshi is from East London, has previously worked with slowthai and Vegyn and "turns the richness of British culture in swerving, genre-moulding rap". Ross From Friends, better known to his chums as Felix James Clary Weatherall, "provides his own compressed, fidgety interpretation of techno/house". It's a good combination.

 

Closing the selection and quite rightly celebrated on Bagging Area yesterday, is a track from the latest EP by Jesse Fahnestock aka 10:40. The lead track is a 2021 highlight, Kissed Again, originally appearing on the excellent Higher Love Vol. 1 compilation and deservedly getting a release in its own right. Its accompanied by two new songs, Coat Check and Fin, the latter described as "a haunting blissed out beauty tailor made for the majesty of a warm summer sunset". I can vouch for the fact that it works equally well on a dark, cold spring night and a bright, frosty April morning. What better way to finish the playlist, before hitting replay again?

1) These Days (Cover of Nico): The Anchoress

2) Riverside: Andy Bell

3) Relieve The Pressure: Confidence Man

4) Ruin From The Flood: Dan Wainwright

5) It's Over, If We Run Out Of Love (Lovefingers & Heidi Lawden Low Tide Mix): David Holmes ft. Raven Violet

6) 3210 (Ross From Friends Remix): Jeshi

7) Influencer Village: Momus

8) Hits Me (Instrumental): Mr. Oizo & Phra

9) Glow: Trentemøller

10) Fin: 10:40

Waiting For My Life To Change (49:48)