11/22 - Too Much In My System

Some offcuts from the last couple of months, cobbled together into a rickety monument over the summer of 2022.

 

 

Labrinth ft. Zendaya - All For Us

I've been crying some in front of the TV lately. Reason being that I've watched both seasons of Euphoria over summer, one of the most beautiful TV dramas I've seen.  Starting out I was kind of hesitant, thinking it seemed both too bleak and too sensationalist, but by the second episode already, there was so much warmth and character development I just had to stick with it, and boy am I glad I did. Through experimental storytelling devices, musical numbers and visual approaches that teeter on being too much it always managed to feel so real, and so empathic. Also I never understood the hype around Zendaya before, but after these couple of months I am in awe. Stupendous acting. This collab music number is from the finale of the first season, and although the finale of the second season was even more perfect, this still gives me the feels thinking back on it.

 

 

DVBBS & Borgeous - Tsunami

One of the bands that didn't make it onto my last Top 5, celebrating the Clandestino Botnik Festival, was young South African trio Phelimuncasi. They played after the tremendous BCUC, which could have been a thankless job, but they certainly managed to keep the dance frenzy going with some of the oddest beats I've heard, giving us all a sense of what a hip Durban night club might sound like. But on record their music doesn't really appeal to me as much. However, after the gig was over, one of the guys didn't want to leave so he stayed behind and did a bit of regular DJ:ing and in the early morning hours, this was the last tune he played. By that time those magnificent beat drops basically set off mass hysteria, and they're still mighty powerful in my home speakers too.

 

 

Friends - I'm His Girl

Just a great song I heard on the radio a couple of weeks back. Like a Shangri-Las, updated for 21st century sensibilities.

 

Lakou Mizik ft. Joseph Ray - Ogou (Pran Ka Mwen)

Another of the greatest weekends of the summer was had in Emma's house up in the hills of Aberdeenshire. In between excursions to the different Scottish biotopes – loch, river, hill and coast – we lazed around the big wildgrown garden, talked, watched owls, and cooked. When it was Alex turn at dinner, he played this, and my ears perked up. An all around gorgeous track.

 

Beyoncé - Summer Renaissance

It's been such a busy season that I didn't even have time to listen to the new Beyoncé album when it came out. Now I have, and while it's not my favourite of hers, it feels like a grower. And ending with an explicit Donna Summer tribute was a good move. It's been. a good. Summer.

Applause, 

a round of applause