Music And Sleep | Late Night Tales | AMP Printworks | Tourist | 5/4/19

Helloooooo! God, it feels like it's been absolutely ages. I've been wanting to write every day but omgjustsobusyyouguysitshardbeingme, aka I have failed to make the time. But now I'm here, making the time, so there. Everything I want to talk about today happened in the space of last week, it had been in the calendar for a long time, and so I'm super excited for this one. I've got an album release, a gig and my birthday 🎉 to cover, all very important, deep, meaningful stuff you know.

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

BEST 10 SONGS OF 2018 | 24/12/18

It's been a while since I made a blog post, but now I'm back home for the holidays I'm excited to sit down and write up some music thoughts. I've been playing tons of electronic music to my parents to good reception (I think) since I've been back, determined to get them raving. x

Just to catch you up on some things in the last couple of weeks, Disclosure's 'Where Angels Fear To Tread' has been my Christmas mood, and I've just discovered Subjoi's 'Flashing Lights' EP which I have been obsesseddddd with. A couple weeks ago I went down to Brighton and saw Four Tet (3rd time this year!) at Patterns, which has been the best gig I've been to recently. Being at the front and seeing him DJ so close up was a whole different experience. I'm going to save my praise for later in this post, but he never fails to impress.

So, as it's coming to the end of the year, I wanted to do a review of my favourite songs of the year, it's definitely the main trend at the moment. I think it's been a pretty diverse year for music and great stuff has been coming out all over the place. Certain songs define the sound of the year, whether it's pop or tech-house, and these are the top ten I think represent that for me. Opinions are opinions, and I'm not saying I know better than anyone else, but I can vouch that they're all tunes regardless. 

#10 Thank u, next - Ariana Grande

Starting off the list with an extremely niche and obscure artist, most of you probably have never heard of her but I'm great at discovering these hidden gems, it's a gift. In reality, the reason I've included this is the exact opposite. I've never seen a pop song so perfectly marketed for its audience. 'Thank u, next' blew up instantly on release, sends a good message and is catchy af. It's certainly not musically innovative, but it does what it was made for better than any other song this year. Paired with the music video that came with it, I reckon it's one of the key pop culture moments of 2018, and for that it deserves a place on this list. Ariana's vocals are soothingly smooth and gel well with the warm synth chords. Feel good, easy listening. 

#9 Sometimes The Going Gets A Little Tough - Mella Dee Going Got A Bit Tougher Mix - Finn

Can't say much for the original but Mella Dee's remix is pure gold. Feeling down? This will cheer you up. Feeling happy? This will maintain your mood. Going out? This is will get you gassed. Shoutout to my friend Rosie for bringing this track into our circles and not allowing anything else to be played - you've got it into this list. The melody bounces along so cheerfully it's hard not to dance along, and even though it's repetitive it doesn't get old. There's a shorter version, but the 'tougher' mix manages the build ups more effectively and overall produces a better track. 

#8 February 3rd - Jorja Smith

Jorja Smith brought us her first full-length album this year with 'Lost & Found' and it didn't disappoint. I was going through an intense breakup when it came out and so it's always going to have personal meaning to me (same with Lily Allen's 'No Shame' - ouch). Quite a few of the songs had been released before, but out of all of the new content, 'February 3rd' is the most memorable. The instrumentation is stunning, the perfect backing to Jorja's honeydew voice, making the perfect vibe for chillout sessions. The emotions are raw, emphasised by the high note of the chorus hook. My personal favourite part of the song is repeating countermelody in the synth that comes in about halfway and continues almost to the end of the song, bringing you into a trance of 2018 R&B.

#7 Keflavik - Kasper Marrott

Keflavik, meaning 'Driftwood Bay', is a town in Iceland, and Kasper Marrott is a producer from Denmark. He brings fire from the cold fjords to techno with this track, and it's one of my favourites from the genre ever. It's ecstatic, alive, energised, it doesn't stop for the whole eight minutes. I find it quite impressive that it manages to stay continuously interesting for such a long time and at such high energy. There are multiple breakdowns, different layers of melody intertwine and crossover creating completely different sounds, and the bass thumps through the whole time. The complexity of the texture is allowed to work by a simple bassline which keeps everything grounded. 

#6 Immaterial - SOPHIE

SOPHIE's new album this year 'Oil of Every Pearl's Un-Insides' was a big moment for electronic music this year. It's been nominated for Best Dance/Electronic Album at the Grammy's, and it featured the artist's own vocals for the first time. This track, 'Immaterial', actually features Cecile Believe as the vocalist, but it completely represents SOPHIE's 'hyperkinetic' style. All of the instrumentation is built on waveforms rather than utilising any samples, and so it's completely built from scratch. She is constantly groundbreaking in electronic music, and is the sound of the future. Not to mention, the track is an absolute BOP, with the hard hitting bass and synths making it great to dance to. The bridge and build up to the final chorus is fantastic, and it is one of the best songs I've heard on a night out for pure hype value. We stan!

#5 Night Surfing - Booka Shade Rework - Booka Shade

I always go on about songs being a journey, but this song is a JOURNEY. A rework of the original from their EP 'Cut The Strings', Booka Shade create an emotive masterpiece from what was already a strong track. The suspense grows stronger, the music gets louder, the meaning gets deeper. Even as the arpeggios hop around rapidly, the overarching melody is steady and effective. The bassline springs along underneath, and the waveforms distort to embody a different sound per breakdown of the structure. 04:38 in particular is brilliant, with a slight melodic alteration to emphasise the emotionally-charged drop. Their EP Rosebud which they released quite recently is also really great so check that out, but if you're up for a journey, listen to this one. 

#4 Siren Calls - George Fitzgerald

I really struggled to choose just one track from Fitzgerald's 'All That Must Be', but I settled on 'Siren Calls'. It's ambient, mysterious, I get this image in my head of riding a boat through a foggy swamp, as you hear movements in the waters that you can't see. The air is green, the trees hang low, ripples flow across the top of the water. The drum beat, with the echoing cymbals, is hypnotising, and quite new to my ears. Together with the acid synth it creates a classic electronic sound. It's the silence three minutes in, however, before the music returns once more, that I really love about the song. It's unexpected, as if you think you're safely through the swamp before the mysterious sounds return again. Can't wait to see him at Printworks next year! Along with...

#3 Pick Up - DJ Koze

The one and only. Koze's album 'Knock Knock' is potentially the best one this year, and in particular this track has been everywhere this year. I heard it in countless sets this summer, and it never gets old. It has that air to it as if you've heard it years ago, like it's already nostalgic, and that's really hard to capture. Maybe it's the way he has sampled Melba Moore together with Gladys Knight, and that little guitar hook is fantastic without a doubt. He brings out the melancholic tone to the lyrics that he sampled in a totally unique way over the joyful instrumentation. Other songs on the album are fantastic too, 'Seeing Aliens', 'Colors of Autumn', but 'Pick Up' is definitely the one that is going to be remembered, that will remind us of 2018 in years to come. 

#2 Opal (Four Tet Remix) - Bicep

Nothing reminds me more of this summer than this song. When they launched the confetti cannons at Lost Village on the final drop of the track, everybody felt so united in the moment and I remember it every time. If I was going purely based on personal attachment, this would have to be number one. Four Tet has taken an already great track and with just a few minor alterations to enhance the 'plot' of the music he has perfected it. From the ambient opening to very last second, it's unadulterated enjoyment. He's played it every time I've seen him which indicates how big it's been this year, and it's such a crowd pleaser. The articulated main melody flows seamlessly between soothing and harsh, and the samples of talking voices and Four Tet's classic sporadic metallic tones really add to the atmosphere. The drums are simple and compliment the music pleasantly. I think what really makes this track work is that it never tries too hard; there's no overly exploding drop or moment everything leads up to. It's the feeling it gives you as a whole, and for that, I think it's one of the best songs of 2018.

#1 It Makes You Forget (Itgehane) - Peggy Gou

Somebody had to come first, and I think Peggy Gou deserves that with the year she's had. The Ninja Tune EP 'Once' features this track as one of three, all of which are great, but 'Itgehane' is unquestionably the standout. I also loved her At Night remix so much, but felt like this one is the more iconic choice. Like 'Pick Up', it has the air of an instant classic, but it doesn't sample or make reference to past tracks to create this, you can just tell it's that brilliant. It came on 5 times at a house party I was at earlier in the year, and it really made me realise that you just can't get enough of it. The Korean lyrics are beautiful, and the meaning behind them is awesome. The mixture of acoustic and acid sounds blend wonderfully together, and it's a track for all ages. When music is good, it's just good. In addition, the remixes she's released for 'Itgehane' are all pretty cool in their own way, so check them out here. I recommend the I:Cube one in particular. As she plays more and more around the world and cements her place in the community, 2018 will be the year it all happened for Gou. I can't wait to hear what she has in store for us next year!

So, there's the top 10. Please feel free to share your thoughts or any track I've slept on with me! I've made a Spotify playlist including them all if you want to listen to them all at once, so you can find that here. A few others worth mentioning that are also sick are One More, Silky, Man of the Land and Lightning - Ross from Friends Remix. Merry Christmas everyone! I'm hoping to make another post before New Year, so hopefully see you then. x