Hey there. This is my first public “music thread” (previously hosted on a private subreddit for a closed group of online friends) and I’m trying something new. I don’t if this will work, but hey; every great journey started with a single step right? Although technically, so did every bridge-based suicide attempt, so as a metaphor the whole “first step” thing is pretty flawed from the get-go. Anyway, here’s what I’ve been listening to in the past few weeks, and some of the “why”.

Click here for the “play-a-long” YouTube playlist.

1. Bonobo — First Fires [North Borders]

A month-and-a-half ago I visited a bar in Southampton called The Cellar, on a whim issues by searching Google for “good places to eat drink southampton please”. It was a cool place; the food was great, the chips were some of the best I’ve had, the drink selection varied and reasonably priced, and the woman behind the bar was playing some great tracks, including this album. There are a few stand-out songs on North Borders; my personal favourite is the closing track Pieces, but they all have value. A solid effort from a great performer.

2. Tove Lo — Stay High (Habits Remix) ft. Hippie Sabotage

I actually genuinely love this track. I don’t listen to the radio or go to clubs anymore, so this song hasn’t been overplayed for me in the slightest. I just generally feel very strongly towards… even the video is phenomenal. The beautiful empty pleasure of youth transcribed in 4 minutes 22 seconds.

3. FKA twigs — Two Weeks [LP1]

Let’s just get this out of the way: FKA twigs are fucking weird. Their music is sensual, offbeat, and the Guardian culture definition of “electronic alternative”. I’ve been listening to a few YouTube playlists recently that feature songs from their previous EP, but this is a new effort that captures what was great about those and improves on the (lack of) formula. twigs is a triple-thread; tone, melody, and flow. I’LL BE LISTENING TO THIS TRACK FOR MORE THAN TWO WEEKS HA HA HA seriously though it’s pretty good you guys.

4. Movement — Us [MOVEMENT EP]

People say that Movement ripped off Jai Paul’s Jasmine on this song, citing the similar chord progression as evidence. I don’t know about that, but I think prefer Us over Jai’s efforts. Coincedentally a friend of mine put on a Spotify playlist that has Jasmine on it, and I instinctively started singing the lyrics to this song so maybe there’s some truth to the copycat claims. All I know is that this is a nice little late-evening downtempo beat.

5. Metronomy — I’m Aquarius [Love Letters]

I really like Metronomy. Of all the bands I’ve loved over the years, Metronomy is one of a handful I enjoyed in school and still enjoy now. I used to listen to their Nights stuff on the way in to town, iPod Nano earphones connected; warm high beats to match cold low walks into the centre of Bristol. This song is basic, developing on the stunning English Riviera formula (one of my favourite albums). I actually haven’t listened to the whole new album so I should probably do that at sometimes, but for now I intermittently enjoy the singles when they crop up.

6. Game of Thrones — Main Theme (80's Version) by Steve Duzz

What it says on the tin.

7. Arctic Monkeys — Do I Wanna Know? [AM]

I completely missed this when it came out last summer, so forgive me for posting. Seems like I missed a great effort from Arctic Monkeys, an act I’ve had an on-off relationship with ever since they loudly burst onto the scene. Still, you can’t deny this 75m view tune:

Have you no idea that you’re in deep?
I dreamt about you nearly every night this week
How many secrets can you keep?
‘Cuz there’s this tune I’ve found that
makes me think of somehow
and I play it on repeat

Lyrical propensity. This whole album seems like really great agency work: the cool minimal video, the wording on the lyrics, the great album art, the entire ‘campaign’ feels really polished. Great work, AM record label.

8. Thief — Closer (Akouo Remix)

This song sounds like the opener to a trap night hosted at an old arcade. Imagine drinking rum & Ka Grape Soda, and having boys and girls dressed as Tetris pieces grinding against you… that’s what this song is like.

9. Jamie xx — Girl

A subtle banger from the king of consistency. Both this and the recently released Sleep Sound prove Jamie still got it, just in case for some reason you felt like he lost it. He hasn’t, it’s still there. He keeps it on top of the microwave so he remembers to take it to work every morning. He’s very considerate and cautious when it comes to ‘it’. I don’t like the new raving track though, not as good.

10. Flume & Chet Faker — Drop the Game [Lockjaw EP]

I really like Flume which is weird because I feel like I should be poised to hate him for some reason. I like this track way more than Talk is Cheap. Chet Faker has a generically nice voice, and Flume has generically nice production skillz. Both combine to make a track better than the sum of its parts.

11. Lorde — Tennis Court (Flume Remix)

Don’t you think that it’s boring how people talk?
Making smart with the words again,
well I’m bored
Because I’m doing this for the thrill of it, killin’ it
Never not chasing a million things I want…
And I am only as young as the minute is full of it
Getting pumped up on the little bright things I bought…
But I know they’ll never own me

For a 12 year old alt girl from a country more famous for hosting two fantasy movie trilogies that for its rich native tribal history and culture, Lorde goes pretty fucking hard. I’m glad she’s a young successful woman doing something different though, better than the Disney-branded mainstream pre-addict alternatives.

12. Drake — I’m On One (Shlohmo Remix)

Stumbled upon this one whilst scraping Shlohmo tracks. I really like Shlohmo; he’s got a consistent style that shapes to fill the vessel, as opposed to many other artists who shape the vessel to fit their form. I don’t even like this track this much, there’s just something captivating about the chorus; like a James Blake bit, it’s a one-trick-pony that pulls you in quickly. I dunno, I like it. I’m on one.

13. Owen — One of These Days [At Home With Owen]

Owen is a beautiful artist, and you should stop what you’re doing now and download all his discography (or at least New Leaves) and chain through it. This is music to walk and smoke and think to, which I did a lot a long time ago. Good Friends With Bad Habits, A Trenchant Critique; introspective comedown music for the walk home in the morning.

14. Sampha — Without [Dual]

I don’t even know why I put this in here… I mean, it’s good don’t get me wrong, it’s just not my favourite thing. I’ve been re-listening to it a lot recently because it’s been cropping up in playlists I’ve been using to write to at work. Still, I felt like I should put it in so I did. I’m trying to be more instinctual and less indecisive. It’s not working.

15. Kentucky Route Zero, Act III — Too Late to Love You (in-game version)

This is a completely shameless upload from myself. I’m actually genuinely unashamed, because it’s a beautiful interactive track from a game that not nearly enough people will get to experience. I’m just gonna copy paste my YouTube description:

The ephemeral musical centre-piece of the third act of Kentucky Route Zero, a game that’s doing things I always wished games would do. Junebug and Jonny perform to what could technically be called a crowd, putting a post-robotic spin on a song they heard in this very same tavern a long time ago.

Find out more about Kentucky Route Zero here: http://kentuckyroutezero.com/

16. J Dilla — Last Donut of the Night [Donuts]

They say you should end on a high, so respect the Dilla whilst watching this great little video.

Young man went out an’ made a name for himself

Yeah. Hopefully.