My Summer Playlist 2010
Here at theSprout we are never afraid to hide away from the cutting edge of popular culture and so, with the summer on its way, have decided to give you, our fellow Sprouters, the cutting edge in summer tunage.
The following 15 tracks have been handpicked by yours truly and reflect the varying dispositions the great British summer has to offer. Each song has been released in 2010 by a variety of artists both heard and unheard of from across the planet.
You’ll find no Cheryl Tweedy here I’m afraid, just good summer songs for what we all hope will be a good summer.
And, after you’ve sampled my stall of balmy compositions perhaps you’d like to upload and share your own summer soundtrack as, although I tried my very best to find something for everyone, alas everyone is never pleased. Here goes:
[Sub Ed Note: If you have Spotify, click here to hear most of tommy b's playlist]
Track 1: Race Horses - Cake
And so we begin. The most exciting new band of 2010, Race Horses, hail from Aberystwyth and their album Goodbye Falkenburg is a corker, with songs in both English and Cymraeg depending, according to singer Meilyr Jones, “whatever language the song needs”. Unclassifiable in terms of genre, this is an ambitious debut from a band “bored of modern music” whose creative juices know no borders - Meilyr’s influences range from Bowie, Buddy Holly and Tchaikovsky. So to kick off this here playlist I’ve selected Cake, the first single off the album (But to be honest I could have picked any track due to the brilliance of this dbut). This track in particular has Wales written all over it - take a listen.
Track 2: Eddy Current Suppression Ring - I’ve Got A Feeling
Yeah I know what you’re all thinking, I’ve got a feeling of the tonight’s gonna be a good good night variety but no, this is Aussie line-up Eddy Current Suppression Ring (name!) with a track off their new and quite suitably Australian named album Rush To Relax. They released their fist two albums in Britain last summer receiving a rare five star review from the folks at The Guardian and their third effort is every bit as good. Recorded, like the previous two, in a matter of hours in the band’s humble practice room, the album’s garage rock sound is epitomised in this track, I’ve Got A Feeling, which is a great one to rock out to in your flip-flops. The sound is “rough, unpolished, primal and fresher than tomorrow’s milk.” Just how I like it.
Track 3: Retribution Gospel Choir Hide It Away
For starters Retribution Gospel Choir are a rock band not a choir. This anthematic and ridiculously catchy opener to their second record, 2, released in February, has summer pumped into its chaotic and yet graceful guitar build ups which rise and fall like any good pop/rock record. They have been described as the most physically fit band on Earth; drummer Eric Pollard is a distance swimmer, and Ultimate Frisbee champion with state basketball credentials; bassist Steve Garrington also dazzles on the court, but it’s his long-distance running skills that mark him a champion; Alan Sparhawk, who plays guitar and sings, has extensive experience in American football, stays fit as a distance trail runner (and is a member of the band Low). And their music is full of such energy perfect for a “party round my place”.
Track 4: Light Pollution - Good Feelings
With hints of Animal Collective and Grizzly Bear, Chicago’s Light Pollution have melodically made their way onto the scene with Apparitions, their full length dbut released later this month. Good Feelings is a stunning track fit for any BBQ or evening ‘chill out’ and if I wasn’t but a lad of tender years, I could well imagine myself with wine in hand, Light Pollution in ears, at the latter part of a summer’s day.
Shimmering arpeggios match up with swirling analogue synths which produce the most beautiful rounded sounds. Good Feelings will certainly bring a smile to any lo-fi pop fans face and although written “over the course of a long, stoned, agoraphobic winter spent isolated in a heatless warehouse west of Chicago”, it’s a gorgeous summer tune. [Sub-Ed Note: TheSprout does not encourage drinking or smoking, but you knew that already right? I'm just saying...]
Track 5: Standard Fare - 15
These Sheffield indie poppers are the kind of band whose name you’d happily scrawl on the cover of your school exercise book and have been a welcome addition to my already messy school planner. If you like the music in Juno, then you’ll go head over heels for these newbies and their lovelorn tunes, youthful energy and brilliantly balanced his ‘n’ hers vocals.
Their debut album, The Noyelle Beat, was released at the end of March and is full to the brim with delightful songs written and performed by Emma Kupa, Danny How and Andy Beswick, who make up the band. A favourite track is Philadelphia, which has the lyric: “Global warming is getting me down / It’s making the sea between us wider and deeper.” A uniquely charming approach to climate change I think you’ll all agree. However, after some consideration, I picked the single 15, which tells the story of a strange attraction for a 15 year-old. “Nothing happened!,” Emma has reassured.
Standard Fare are sure to be big. They’re just pop perfection.
Track 6: Richard James - When You See Me (In The Pouring Rain)
With a title suitable for many summers past, this track is off Richard James’ new album, We Went Riding, set for dispersion into the big wide world on the 28th June. Co-founder of uber-respected-within-the-industry Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci, Richard recorded this, his second solo record since the band’s separation, in a house in Pontcanna, overdubbed in various locations around Wales and polished off in Carmarthen. This particular song is rather gentle, folky and countrified and at first seems rather bland, but it’s a grower. He remains a Welsh music legend and I would recommend this for its simple majesty.
Track 7: Fyfe Dangerfield - Faster Than The Setting Sun
Released as a single this year, from last year's Fly Yellow Moon, this is a cracker from the new king of all things Radcliffe & Maconie (BBC Radio 2, 8pm -10pm, Monday-Wednesday. Well worth tuning in for) and he deserves his plaudits. Pianist and singer in The Guillemots, Fyfe Dangerfield is no newcomer to the world of pop and his soaring voice is currently used on the John Lewis advert, the one with the woman through the ages, to great effect if you ask moi. Faster Than The Setting Sun is memorable and stunning and is played upon the wireless rather often at the moment. And why? Because it’s ruddy brilliant.
Track 8: Kings Go Forth - Don’t Take My Shadow
Released on May 31st on Luaka Bop, here is a tune from The Outsiders Are Back another dbut album for you to dig you teeth into. Kings Go Forth, a Milwaukee based soul band, have been a going concern for six years, after co-founder Andy Noble, proprietor of the fabled Lotus Land record shop met long time Milwaukee area R&B performer Black Wolf and decided to assemble a powerhouse group whose Four Tops-esque vocal harmonies and groovy vibes are thrilling and refreshing. BBC’s Lloyd Bradley sums up this track rather well: “The album’s centrepiece is the six minutes of Don’t Take My Shadow, the sort of gutsy, layered, string-drenched, dancefloor-workin’ that Gamble and Huff would have been proud to call their own.” And the single has been mixed by Tom Moulton, the legendary producer and originator of the remix and 12-inch single format. So, to re-cap, it’s a soul/funk groove which will get anyone up and dancing in no time.
Track 9: Tracey Thorn Oh! The Divorces
The unique and distinctive voice behind Everything But The Girl (ask your parents) is back with the lyrical Love And Its Opposite, an album with an interesting accompanying quote. “When I was young, I imagined middle age to be a kind of comfort zone, but in fact, having got here, I now feel it's more of a war zone. The songs are where I dump all that s*** so that I can get on with my life without jumping off a bridge.” Honest yes, but depressing nay, as the quiet and reflective songs allows Tracey Thorn’s voice to shine. Oh! The Divorces is the first single to be taken from the album and can be downloaded for free from the record labels website. It’s certainly not for the party, more for the quiet after the storm. And it’s free, so go on!
Track 10: Field Music - Let’s Write A Book
Let’s Write A Book, Field Music’s second single off their hugely celebrated double disc, 20 track affair Field Music (Measure), is a fabulous “call to arms for the perpetually apologetic.” An inspired and surprising Northern funk work, with Bowie like vocals and an 80s beat; this is not your typical rock single. Listen out for a fabulous glockenspiel solo. The video is also rather excellent.
Track 11: The Ruby Suns - Cranberry
New Zealand pysch-poppers The Ruby Suns released their sunny third album, Flight Softly, on March 1st and Cranberry is just as delicious as it sounds. Led by songwriter and producer, Ryan McPhun - his name, real, telling us what to expect from his music - The Ruby Suns draw inspiration from Ryan’s travels around the globe combine psychedelic indie pop with world music. Ryan recorded this album entirely on his own but the sound is nothing but lonely, the single Cranberry is “a dreamy slice of sun drenched cockle warming dance pop.” Just what you need to perk yourself up on a rainy afternoon.
Track 12: Slaraffenland - Meet And Greet
In 2009, the Danish Arts Council awarded five Danish bands generous grants to continue their work. Among them: Slaraffenland, a band whose potential is huge and name is immensely difficult to pronounce, but charmingly translates as “the land of milk and honey”. "We have waited a while... still it'll take us some time" begins Meet And Greet, the first single from their dbut album, We’re On Your Side, which is full of folky Fleet Fox harmonies and gentle guitar rifts. The best of Denmark are surely good enough for our humble waiting ears - oh I think so.
Track 13: Jakob Dylan Nothing But The Whole Wide World
Utterly gorgeous. Son of Bob, perhaps the most influential songwriter of his time, but very much his own man, Jakob Dylan’s new release Women And Country is well worth a listenin’. Member of The Wallflowers, Jakob has been on the scene a while and this album is full of the folk/country/rock you’d expect and the mesmerising lyrics come with any Dylan record it seems, Bob or Jakob.
I'm here on the blacktop/
The sun in my eyes/
Women and country on my mind/
Bolting me out/
Over the borderline/
Oozing with coastal calm this one simmers away, never losing any of its charm but never overdoing it.
Track 14: The Coral 1000 Years
Yay! The Coral have been a firm favourite of mine ever since I heard the wonderful Dreaming Of You.
And now they’re back, with a new album and this fabulous single, 1000 years. Starting with a soothing ooo-ooo, you know the way I mean, the track flows along like the sea stroking the soft sandy shore and you become lost in the lush proceeding silence wondering what exactly it is you’re supposed to be doing. Well, it was like that for me. The track is released this Saturday (5th June) and the album Butterflies follows on the 12th.
Track 15: Jessy Matador - Allez Ola Ol
Oh I had to. France’s Eurovision entry this year, Allez Ola Ol is more suited to the clubs of Ibiza than the streets of Roath but it’s cheesy, bouncy and full of energy, like any half decent dance tune. (Incidentally it finished in 12th place, outrageously beaten by winner Lena whose entry for Germany never rose above a poor Lily Allen impression but still managed to win the thing. That’s Eurovision for you.) Quite definitely a summer song, as the interesting video shows (watch out for his angry Aaw! at the end, classic!), this one is for all you dance fans out there. Irresistibly irritable like all good pop songs, this one is my only guilty pleasure. Enjoy.
So there are my suggestions. Why not offer some tracks of your own by uploading your own playlist or simply sharing a comment below? As Oslo, hosts of the aforementioned Eurovision this year, quite importantly told us; “Share the Moment and share your summery records with the rest of Cardiff on theSprout!”
Well I added the last bit.
IMAGE: Voxphoto
1 Comment – Postiwch sylw
lemonnhead
Rhoddwyd sylw 72 mis yn ôl - 3rd June 2010 - 20:11pm
Ahaa! Oh tom how I love your writing! You really make me laugh!
I'm definately going to be listening to all of this music, and by the way, I think aformentioned might be your new favourite word! ;)
Well done you!