11/16 - Freedom Cut Me Loose

This week I'm only listening to Prince and Beyoncé's Lemonade, neither of which are on Spotify, so...

10/16 - Dandelions Lying Listlessly Listening to Echoes of Falling Palindromes

When essay-writing, it's good to listen to wordsmiths as a reminder of how fun it can be to construct sentences.

Antipop Consortium + Matthew Shipp - Coda

Let's start with an end.

Suddenly: death

Big Grams ft. Run The Jewels - Born To Shine

Three of my favourite rappers in the game (there's something absolutely amazing about Killer Mike's entrance here: "I walk in..." and you can almost feel the room shaking from his determination), and one of the most magical rap videos of the year:

Royce Da 5'9" ft Pusha T + Rick Ross - Layers

The sheer joy of constructing complex rhyme-suites is on full display here.

Kanye West - Fade

I think I've listened to it enough now to give my verdict: if the whole of The Life of Pablo was as good as its second half, it would deserve half the praise that Kanye himself heaps on it. Or in other words: Everything from Real Friends on, is pretty sweet. When the bass line drops in the closing track, you're ready to put up with almost any embarrassing Kanye-rhymes, and quite astonishingly, there aren't any.

Open Mike Eagle - Dark Comedy Late Show

I saw Jesus taking a selfie, and I photobombed

And dude better tag me 

Oh yeah, and this, of course:

09/16 - Yellow Diamonds In the Light

What a brilliant week in Glasgow. Much arty. Much party. These are my GI tunes.

Hot Chip - Dancing In the Dark

As untouchable as the original may be, this becomes more than the sum of its parts when they start weaving in those lines from All My Friends too. Two anthems in one!

Rihanna - We Found Love

Yes, obviously Work has been ubiquitous here too – what with all the work being shown everywhere, there really is no other other song that gets hummed as much. But the best Rihanna moment was at the Saturday afterparty, in a prom-like atmosphere in St. Luke's church, with balloons and bunting above our heads, the DJ played this and it felt like everyone was there and I loved them all.

Caribou - Our Love

That bass gives me the shivers! The tune almost doesn't need the beat drop. I just want it to keep shimmering around the bass forever.

Erykah Badu - Cel U Lar Device

Another top choice from the Saturday DJ. Why would you ever play the Drake version, when this exists? The 2:35 transition is ace. Erykah's phrasing is titillatingly precise. And the flowery soloing in the end adds some kind of weird nostalgia to the mix. The perfect workover.

William Onyeabor - Atomic Bomb

When in Glasgow, listen to William Onyeabor. That should be an adage.

I'm gonna explode

08/16 - Blood On Your Saddle

A bit of a strange mix, indicative of a scattered and slightly anxious mindset.

Bob Dylan - Idiot Wind

Love this sadder version of the ultimate resentment song.

We are idiots babe, it's a wonder we can even feed ourselves

Einstürzende Neubauten - The Garden

Over easter, I tried to discipline myself with essay-work, but ended up going on very frequent pottering strolls in the backyard. That's where you'll find me, unless it's pouring down with rain.

Portishead - Nylon Smile

Still an awe-inspiring album. Fractured and violent, but full of vulnerable beauty.

Wolf Parade - Modern World

Reading urban theorists and travelling between cities.

Modern world build things high
Now they house canyons filled with life

Marvin Gaye - Sexual Healing (live)

I wish there was a better sound quality version of this. The groove towards the end is just so tight and hypnotic. Like an unkillable beast it kicks back in, more fervent than ever, after Marvin hits his final note.