04/14 - A Calm Crashed Onto Me

Big return to the studio this week. Finally having some time for my own work. And for that I require some strange electronic music to transport me to the cape of creativity.

Jenny Wilson - Restless Wind

I've neglected my native country for too long. More swedes on the lists! (unfortunately not on grooveshark)

Kelpe - Half Broken Harp

Ideal drawing music. Unpredictable beats leading astray.

Glasser - Landscape

That strange little synthy marimbaesque riff has stayed resolutely stuck in the middle of my brain for the entire week.

Chairlift - Sidewalk Safari

Amazing sounds. Amazing singer.

Burial - Come Down to Us

This is so beautiful. Probably the most beautiful work the man has done. Gahd, that moment at 10:35. Kills me. Every time. Sincere, empathic and magnificent.



Did they bring you down? Then pick yourself up with one of the most happy-inducing tunes I know:

03/14 - Anyone Who Ever Played a Part

Following a week when things largely went my way. I worked, I succeeded, I performed, I danced.

Daryl Hall & John Oates - I Can't Go For That (No Can Do)

The dancefloor. There's no place like it. Fill it with friends, some spilled drinks and a few heliumballoons and I'll do almost anything that you want me to!

N.W.A. - Express Yourself

Don't be another sequel!

The Velvet Underground - Sweet Jane

The life-affirming rock-song to rule all other life-affirming rock songs.

Them - Gloria

Don't know if you ever heard this on a crowded dancefloor. Don't know if you ever worked yourself up to a frenzy spelling that name and then screamed it out in unison with everyone else in the club. It's the gourmand's way to enjoy the song.

Joe Henderson - Blue Bossa

With this tune in the headphones even grocery-shopping at Morrisons becomes a joy.

02/14 - I Can't Get Out Of What I'm Into With You

There's been too much new music on my lists lately. Let's balance it out with some ooold songs:

Scott Joplin - Leola

So, let's go way back, back before pop culture, before rock n roll, before jazz even... to Scott Joplin. The king of ragtime. This was where the 1900s started. And what a wonderful start it was.

Miles Davis - Straight, No Chaser (live)

There are better versions of this classic tune. But they don't have that bass-solo, with those fingersnaps. Seriously. Don't just half-listen to it. DIG IT.

The Matthew Herbert Big Band - Misprints

Matthew Herbert, the king of conceptual irresistible sample-music, once joined up with a real jazz big band, had them play his compositions and then edited the fuck out of them. I bought the album. I loved it. I saw them live. It was one of the extraordinary concerts of my life. His wife Dani Siciliano came onstage wearing wellingtons and sang this; what could possible be the theme song to my art practice.

Follow the meaning
Read all the books
Pick out the reading
Be as dumb as you look

Dinah Washington - I Get A Kick Out Of You

I do. Get it. A kick. Out of that trumpet amongst other things.

Grizzly Bear - All We Ask

Much because of the literally show-stopping, and absolutely stunning version of it that finished off the concert embedded below. Jump to 2:00:11 if you just wanna listen to that song, but NO. No. Treat yourself to the whole thing. You won't regret it. So many spinetingling moments. An absolutely jawdropping concert, from start to finish.

01/14 - Empty As A Pocket With Nothing To Lose

New year; new colours; new ways to listen. Top 5 soldiers on. Maybe this year someone will be interested.

Paul Simon - Diamonds On the Soles of her Shoes

Thanks to Boxen-Andreas for making this one of the very first songs I heard in 2014; a splendid remix blessed the dancefloor during our ApoCalypso-newyears-party. A favourite song from an album I've listened to for as long as I can remember.

Andrew Bird - Not a Robot, But a Ghost

I hear the clockwork in your core
Time strips the gears till you forget what they were for

Goldfrapp - Jo

Something rung extremely familiar here. It took a few seconds then I had it: it's Ces Gens La! Goldfrapp have sampled Jacques Brel! And me, well, I'll take any excuse to include one of the most wonderful performances ever... on triche....

Sigur Rós - Ísjaki

I'm starting to think Kveikur deserved a place on my top 10 albums 2014. It's growing for each listen...

Iron and Wine - Lovers' Revolution

Another grower from the year past. What a way he has with words still:

Now we're one
One of the parade wake widows walking home into the setting sun
One of the soldiers lost in the dreams that never lose the gun
One of the wise men wandering the podium without a tongue
One of the trophies tarnished by the mess we made of being young
One of the prayers one of the promises swallowed with our chewing gum
One of the deaf ears dumber all the time for all the years of drums
One of the wide-eyed soap boxes buried under Washington
One of the beat cops combing every sidewalk crack for love
One of the crowded stars uncounted when the map was done
One of the withered in the garden left to wonder when the rain will come

dat beard!