365 Days of Song Recommendations: Sep 18
Bitter Tang — Michael Rother
Michael Rother spent a hot minute in Kraftwerk, early days, but is more known for his bands Neu! — they made an appearance on 365 Songs earlier this year — and Harmonia. I never knew much about him, the man, until earlier this year when I discovered his immensely excellent ambient 2020 album, Dreaming. This was his first album in sixteen years, though he’s been composing scores for German film and television shows behind the scenes.
As a self-proclaimed scholar of sad, lyrical music, I know I’ve spent a considerable amount of time and energy listening to, and promoting, songs that’ll destroy your mood. But even I’m struggling these days to allow myself to delve so deep into melancholy. I get enough of that with the state of the world — wildfires, floods, diabolical racist militias raging in the streets (and that’s just in America), a never-ending pandemic fueled by misinformation amplified through tech companies that still employ too many of my friends. And all that’s left me wondering just how much heaviness I can handle in those moments when it’s just me and my music, or me, my music, and a book.
And that takes me back to Michael Rother. Again, I don’t know him or much of anything about his spiritual journey, but I do know Dreaming sounds a whole lot different from where he started. Though there are a few bleeps and bloops, there’s not a ton of early Kraftwerk or electronic in his sound — back when tech was promising and not terrifying, when computers held the future of humanity rather than our collective demise.
Don’t get me wrong. Dreaming certainly has a layer of melancholy to it, but it’s also soothing. It’s a soundtrack that doesn’t get in the way of whatever else you’re doing, while setting a reflective, uplifting mood. It’s a quiet album released just as quietly, with no fanfare or buzz — which is exactly why I’ve been promoting the shit out of it. There’s no skippable track here, it’s just pure lovely ambient pop with a spirit that encourages you to let go of all the horror for 50 minutes, 58 seconds. Singer Sophie Joiner whispers softly on each of the tracks, adding light lyrical flare, but not in a way that disrupts or rattles the mood. This is music reminiscent of being pleasantly high on a beach, alone in the fog. And these days I can think of nowhere I’d rather be.
“Bitter Tang” is the 261st song on the exclusive #365Songs playlist:
