So, I'm a huge fan of the Late Night Tales series of compilation albums on Spotify. I wish I could say I've listened to all of them, but out of what I've heard Bonobo's is my favourite and it's been a cool way to see into an artist's brain a bit. They give an eclectic interpretation of music to listen to in the calm of night time and Floating Points aka Sam Shepherd released his instalment last Friday. It's a mixture of jazz, ambient, soul, folk and more from the archives of his collections, and I'm not gonna lie, it's fantastic. None of these songs are the kind of thing I would easily find through my own means of discovering new music, it feels like receiving insight from an expert. I've listened a couple times through but would have to listen a lot more before I could give a proper breakdown on each of the tracks. That being said, opening with 'Untitled, Live in Portland' sets up this hollow yet luminous atmosphere, as if we're creeping into the cave in the woods that is this record, submerging ourselves in the gloom of the music. It's sombre, but not necessarily sad. The shower of rain brings us into the free flowing 60's sound of The Rationals' 'Glowin'' and you really settle into it.
The jazz and folk moments in the next few tracks feel so natural, and 'Blood of an American' sounds like it's sung so personally, as if you're sitting on the top of a hill with the singer, watching the sun over the fields before you. I absolutely love 'Sea Fluorescent', it undulates and sinks the chills right through your mind, it only came out this year but has a maturity to the sound that would make you think its older. For the spoken word, 'Ah! Why, Because the Dazzling Sun' is wonderfully emotive, and the themes and imagery of the sun draws together the album for me, as that's a recurring image I get from each track; the still, mellow and golden sunlight casting its rays through the melodies.
The whole thing has made me think about how music and sleep interact in a really interesting way. Sometimes if I can't sleep I'll listen to music with earphones, which I know you're not supposed to really do, but it does create an intriguing effect. I feel like it's almost therapeutic, because as you fall asleep and you're thoughts become more abstract, so does the way you respond to the music you're hearing. You associate different tones in the music with the random thoughts that pass through your mind, and sometimes the complexity and chaotic order of it all can help you see from a new perspective and come to realisations in yourself. It works the other way too, in that the way your mind is working allows you to hear the music different, as if its pulsing through your actual mind rather than your ears. Anyway, the record is beautiful, I'm really satisfied with Floating Points' take on the Late Night Tales theme, so gonna be my April vinyl purchase!
On the note of vinyls, boy did I get SPOILED for my birthday. I got 'Morning / Evening' and 'Only Human' by Four Tet, Tourist's most recent album (which we'll get to later), but most incredibly, the 'Moth/Wolf Cub' EP by Burial and Four Tet... unreal. Can't believe I actually own it! It's been so exciting to put a new record on every morning when I eat my cereal, listen to the pulsing synths under the crackling of the stylus and feeling as extra as I can at 8am. The gifts were great, and I have never felt more grateful for my friends, especially for how PENG Friday night was. Annie Mac curated Printworks for the evening, featuring DJ Koze, George Fitzgerald, DJ Seinfeld among others. Honestly, one of the best nights I've been to this year, if not ever. Dramatic? Probably, but I'm standing by it.
I don't wanna go on about it again but Printworks never fails to impress me as a venue in London. It genuinely feels like an isolated location that you are in and around, like you're part of the community taking part in the event, which is exhilarating. It's so well run, I never feel like I'm waiting long for a drink or the toilet, or getting from room to room even when it is a particularly packed moment. I am able to have my own personal space whenever I need it but the atmosphere of the crowd is still present. Musically, phenomenal. Each set I experienced was pleasantly different to the next. We started with George Fitzgerald's eclectic mix, which moved between genres seamlessly and we found ourselves in heavy techno one moment to heavily world influenced tracks the next superimposed with captivating electronic melodic lines. DJ Seinfeld presented his own niche very well as I expected but it was nonetheless enjoyable. He played his remix of Burns by George and as they were playing back to back it was nice here. The ever-so-slight solemnity his lofi house brings to me is actually really nice to experience in a club setting.
Nothing compared even slightly to DJ Koze's set, though. What a KING. It was just fantastic, pure party vibes, I couldn't fault it if I tried. The main thing that will stick in my head for a very long time is his use of huge extended versions of songs which somehow keep the crowd going again and again and again. 'Pick Up' went on for almost fifteen minutes but every single time they launched the volume of the Printworks sound-system back up to max again the crowd absolutely loved it, it was pure euphoria and the moment was so special. But he managed to do it again, with his mix of 'Operator' the joy in the air was tangible. It's such a classic disco, celebratory feeling and being surrounded by all my best friends on my birthday it just felt so right. It's so simple, but the use of volume was actually so effective. If you ever get a chance to see him, seriously go, it's worth it even for a pricey event. Annie Mac then rounded off the night, and while I wouldn't say it was as stylistically exciting as what came before, I really have to give it to her that she knows how to read and please a crowd. It was perfect that she came last, because at that point you do just want to get gassed on the hype of the drops and get as much dancing as you can get in before the end of the night. When the music stopped and she took a few photos the cheering went on for ages, such good vibes in there. I featured on one of the pictures Printworks put up which made me crease. So, yeah, pretty good birthday I guess.
I also got to see Tourist live in concert the day before! Lucky me. There wasn't as much anticipation and hype for this, but I still really enjoyed it. The feel good sound he has to his music is very fun to hear live. And opening with 'Emily' in the first song or two got me excited to hear his new music so soon after it has been released, and I really think that song is stunning. Watching him onstage is interesting, cause he's really feeling the music and you can see him committed to the ups and downs of the mood he's building in the room. Use of lights was effective but not too much, which I think is a very important part of the gig. 'Apollo', 'We Stayed Up All Night' and 'Too Late' were all sick, classic build up of texture and heavy bass drops, but nothing compared to the encore of 'Run'. It was just soooo peng, and when it got to its climax it was really one of those moments when you are even aware of your surroundings because you're so lost in the music. Also, in a small monologue at the end he shouted out The Nest in Dalston as the first club he performed at ever, which was across the road from where we are. Just a personal hype here, cause it's one of the first clubs me and my friend Rosie got into at uni when we started going out. It's quite cool to hear someone you admire and are inspired by their art have a personal connection to the same place you have in life and makes you realise how lucky you are to share London with so many other amazing people.
Anyway, I felt like I had a lot to get through but didn't want to drag on on each thing so hopefully that was a good summary. If you haven't, check out Floating Points' Late Night Tales, and his other stuff as well. I really appreciate the long-form style he uses and how he builds up the mesmerising patterns of his music steadily and consistently. Just as a few random songs to listen to that I've heard recently, because I love doing this lol, check out 'Ketones', 'Las rosas en el limite del noventa y ocho', and oh, the new Peggy Gou 'Starry Night'. I really like it, gets me excited for summer. I think she's very effectively established a sound she represents, and while it's always peng regardless, when you're in just the right mood it bangs. Have a great weekend, listen to something you wouldn't normally xx
