de-minimis: August 2014

31 August 2014

dauwd - 'lydia'

Ah, now this is beautiful. Minimal electronica at its very best. Taken from the Total 14 compilation album from everyone's favourite minimalist record label, Kompakt and well worth more than a few listens.

new order - 'fine time (silk mix)'

Let's roll back the years with this classic.

tricky - 'silly games (feat. tirzah)'

Track 11 from Tricky's new album has this warm and mellow re-invention of the Janet Kay classic. Unfortunately there's no glass-breaking high notes but don't let that detract from a wonderful cover from what is another superb album from Tricky.

emiliana torrini - 'echo horse'

I've been a big fan of Ms Torrini for a long time now and her latest album only re-affirms just how good a singer/songwriter she is. There's always something slightly different that I hadn't noticed before every time I listen to her albums. She's an Icelandic national treasure, for sure.

hafdis huld - 'lucky (glastrophobie remix)'

My favourite Icelandic singer returns with a lovely little remix.

the acid - 'fame'

A side project by fellow Brightonian, Adam Freeland, The Acid have a new album out 'Liminal' and on first listen this track evokes the sound of the XX. Perfect for a Sunday morning.

30 August 2014

buddy and cathy rich - 'and the beat goes on'

Really looking forward to catching Craig Charles spin some funky tunes tonight in Brighton. And the beat goes on!

genesis - 'follow you, follow me'

Now this is a proper guilty pleasure. I love this tune. Not very fashionable, certainly not cool but sod all that, it's a grand tune.

28 August 2014

jurassic 5 (feat big daddy kane and percee p) - 'a day at the races'

One of my favourite hip-hop tunes of the noughties, it's a real nod to the kind of old school stuff I used to love in the late 80s.

damon albarn - 'hollow ponds'

To end an eclectic music mix this lunchtime, I'll leave you with a song from Damon Albarn's latest album 'Everyday Robots'. I'm not his biggest fan but I do think a large part of that is down to his persona rather than the music itself and I've enjoyed listening to him of late, especially this tune.

omni trio - 'soul promenade (nookie remix)'

Drum and Bass - that's what I need to listen to right now.

vashti bunyan - 'holy smoke'

I mentioned Ms Bunyan this morning and curiously, I see that she's released today a single from her latest and probably final album. It's 'classic' Vashti Bunyan inasmuch as it's ethereal, quite minimal and delightfully innocent.

hollie cook - '99'

Britain has a great knack of producing innovative and extremely talented female singers and Hollie Cook is no exception. If you haven't got round to hearing her 2014 album 'Twice' and soulful reggae is your thing then there's no reason to delay giving it a listen any longer.

conor oberst - 'governor's ball'

With his recent troubles well behind him, Conor Oberst sounds like he's found his groove again with his particular brand of bittersweet, clever songwriting and a knack for a catchy tune.

27 August 2014

lewis - 'cool night in paris'

As with Rodriguez and Vashti Bunyan, Lewis is another star enjoying a magnificent renaissance after decades of obscurity. And there's nothing kitsch or ironic in why he's having such a big resurgence. His album is a real hidden gem evoking John Martyn at his very best. Check this out.

thee oh sees - 'the lens'

This is a wonderfully trippy little tune. Very atmospheric and ever-so-slightly retro with great use of an old style organ.

the amorphous androgynous = 'the watcher'

Shades of the Peter Gunn theme tune here. Love it.

wye oak - 'glory'

Sounding ever so reminiscent of School of Seven Bells or maybe a little bit Fleetwood Mac, this tune is taken from their 2014 album 'Shriek'.

lady & bird - 'que n'ai je'

Lady & Bird are one half Israeli singer Keren Ann and one half Icelandic musician Barði Jóhannsson. The song has a very French feel to it aside from the title and it's not surprising given Keren Ann's upbringing in that country. If you like the kind of smokey jazz club feel to your music then you'll love this track.

26 August 2014

babes - 'atmo (always turn me on)'

Let me start with a NSFW warning for the video. It's implied rather than explicit but just in case...

This is a superb pop tune by LA band, Babes. It reminds me a lot of the first Pipettes album but with a grungy, twangy guitar interlude. It's a great tune.

25 August 2014

aphex twin - 'nusxxtrabo780'

After a very long hiatus, he's back and sounding as fresh as he ever did.

luluc - 'reverie on norfolk street'

Last one from me tonight and it's a folky tune from Australian duo Luluc. It reminds me in part of a lot of other great folk tunes but tiredness is messing with my brain at the moment and I can't recall which ones precisely! Ah well, it's a great tune anyway. Good night.

24 August 2014

vampire weekend - 'hudson'

It's certainly a lot darker than their usual fare. It's got a great choral interlude that sounds quite epic, like a David Lean soundtrack.

agnes obel - 'fuel to fire (david lynch remix)'

Danish singer, Agnes Obel gets a moody and atmospheric turnaround from the inimitable David Lynch.

botafogo - 'hombre suburbano'

How about a bit of Argentinian blues on a Sunday? Let's do it!

22 August 2014

angel olsen 'white fire'

If you like Mazzy Star then you'll love Angel Olsen. From her 2014 album 'Burn Your Fire For No Witness'.

gurdas maan - 'ranjha (folk soundz remix)'

Punjabi singer Gurdas Maan is given a fresh lick of paint with this very well-crafted remix. Proper part music.

elliphant feat. skrillex - 'only getting younger'

It's a great tune, I'm going to say that upfront so that I don't come across too much as an old fuddy-duddy but Elliphant is Swedish and quite obvously white. How has she developed a South London Jafaican accent for this tune? Is she taking the piss? Stop it. You look ridiculous.

warrenpeace feat scroobius pip - 'frnklystvn'

Yes, yes, yes! This is a monster tune - or is it two tunes in one? There's the Scroobius philosophising but whammo we're then full-on into a Henry Rollins-esque rant/rhyme. Love it!

As an afterthought, is this tune having a massive pop at Morrissey? If so, it's about time.

ólafur arnalds - 'only the winds (ryan davis a letter from far away reprise)'

Ryan Davis put together this remix and it features on the new Anjunadeep 6 album. Ambient dance music is not my usual cup of tea but this particular remix is quite beautiful.

the war on drugs - 'under the pressure'

I came quite late to the WoD party and I'm regretting not giving them a chance sooner. They have a crispness to their music that pushes all the right buttons with me. Here's the new video too to accompany the song. This tune is great for festivals.

peter groskreutz - 'schublehre'

We all need a little bit of minimal techno in our lives. Actually I'm not joking here, it helps me to focus when working. This is a superb new tune that popped up on my timeline. Plenty of meat on the bone, so to speak. For a minimal techno tune it's vey "in your face". I like it a lot.

m83 - 'lower your eyelids to die with the sun'

Don't ask me why but if you want the very best song titles then always, and I mean always, look for a post-rock band. This is no exception and the tune is anthemic and so uplifting. A great Friday tune. This is a previously unreleased video from M83 to accompany the tune.

16 August 2014

the inspiral carpets - 'i want you'

No-one ever said it was gonna be easy.

12 August 2014

iamamiwhoami - 'tap your glass'

This is some seriously funky music and the video is not too bad either.

11 August 2014

manjul - 'haille sellassie i fasa'

French-born, Mali-native Rastafarian, Manjul is a perfect example of someone whose life revolves around his music...and more power to his elbow. He combines traditional Malian music with reggae and dub to great effect. This track leans very heavily towards the Malian but the track title should tell you where his sympathies also lie.

10 August 2014

dummy mix 220 - joe goddard

Got to share this with you. As you may know Dummy Mag have a regular DJ mix and this time it's the turn of A-lister Joe Goddard and he's certainly not disappointed with this compilation. Love it.

orchestral manoeuvres in the dark - 'secret'

In the mood for some 80s pop? I am.

l'orange - 'man of the night (feat. erica lane)'

If there's a better tune for a rainy Sunday morning then I've yet to hear it. Superb stuff from ever brilliant L'Orange.

08 August 2014

perez prado - 'mambo no. 5'

Forget that awful recent abhomination, this is the real deal, hailing from the 50s by the incomparable Cuban genius that was Perez Prado.

saint saviour - 'reasons (maribou state rmx)'

Why oh why oh why isn't this lady the biggest thing in pop music? It's a crime, that she isn't.

johnny cash - 'the legend of john henry's hammer'

A piece of pop trivia for you. This is my eldest son's favourite Johnny Cash track.

mirel wagner - 'no death'

She has a new album out but I'm going to return to a few year's back with a seductively dark album, the type of ballad that Nick Cave excels so well at.

mø - 'walk this way (kant remix)'

Danish producer remixes Danish artist with spectacular results.

ruu campbell - 'crossroads (the dusk remix)'

Fans of Nick Drake will love this tune. Ex-Leftfield singer's 'Crossroads' track (a slightly 60s tinged folky number) has been given a moody remix by producer Soren. The overall effect is quite beautiful. It's only available to stream on the405 website here. You can listen to the original track below.

we were evergreen - 'dormant (the wonderland sessions)'

This is a lovely tune to return from holiday to.

03 August 2014

linnea olsson - 'breaking and shaking'

Now this is a damned fine pop tune. Actually, it's much better than fine. Swedish singer, Linnea Olsson treats us to 3 minutes of pop that will grab you from first listen.