Eclectic Summer 2020 welcomes JaRon Marshall, James Blake, Dimash Kudaibergen, Childish Gambino, and more
When inspiration dawns upon you, you listen
Happy Friday, friends!
This week, I rediscovered my love for building playlists designed to be listened to in a specific order. I’ve always loved doing that, and I’d forgotten!
Before, this newsletter was just me sharing fun new music.
Now, it’s going to document my journey as I build Eclectic playlists each season from the most unique, extraordinary music of all genres—and even sample it in my own work from time to time. (Adam, let’s collab again à distance !)
I’d love for you to follow along. I’d also love for you to contribute music you’re discovering, that others might love to hear as well. Just hit reply!
Currently building:
New music this week
REMINDER: The best way to listen is to open up the playlist on Spotify or on YouTube and hit “play” from the top. This way, you don’t have to keep coming back to hit “play” for each next song. 😉 However, if you want to preview the songs, I’ve included the YouTube embeds below. Enjoy!
We kick things off this week with a track from NYC beatmaker Blockhead’s new bubbly 3-track EP. (Blockhead is perhaps known only for his 2009 one-hit wonder The Music Scene.)
I picked this song because, among everything Blockhead has been releasing recently, this truly represents the style I’ve come to know him so well for: a mesmerizing, oscillating rhythm of strange instrumental samples from God knows where, progressing steadily through a series of well-coordinated loops:
Next up, the soft and elusive tones of James Blake make two appearances, deservingly, and it seems he’s on a roll collaborating with hip-hop artists:
You might recognize the second one from the score of my favorite Marvel film… 🏴 🐅 Elizabeth, I know you’re really gonna dig both of these heavy beats!
Following is 26-year-old Kazakh vocal prodigy Dimash Kudaibergen slaying the famous Starmania song “S.O.S. d’un terrien en détresse” (translate: “S.O.S. from an earthling in distress”) with his legendary 6-octave range, incredible power, precision, and cinematic style.
The more I listen, the more I wonder whether Freddie Mercury has reincarnated. I can’t help but hear Rami Malek in Bohemian Rhapsody:
“When I know they’re listening, when I know I really have them, I couldn’t sing off key if I tried.”
Elizabeth, you have to share this with your grandma! 😊 David, I think you & mom will really like it as well. Anyone who can appreciate truly original music (and for whom opera isn’t nails-on-the-chalkboard) should get a big kick out of this.
It’s such an amazing song and performance, it deserves two mentions: this one a second version on American television. Both are live — which one do you prefer?
We’re carried right along into Nocturne, the new single from heavy post-rock duo El Ten Eleven. The steady, motivating pace is sure to help you knock through a few extra emails. It slowly progresses into something approaching doom metal, and carries you effortlessly along its rampant pace of crushing, ambient guitar riffs.
David & Joey, I have a feeling you’ll dig this one 👌
We lighten up to Bill Frisell covering Bon Iver with two legendary French musicians, grammy-winning harmonica master Grégoire Maret and film score composer Romain Collin (Ringo, Malala Fund). The music video, filmed right alongside their studio record, illustrates just how lucky we are to have such gifted and passionate artists working together:
Among others, I know Kris & Dad will really enjoy this 👌
Okay, you probably don’t know global-style trio Khruangbin, but you definitely know Leon Bridges—and I’m THRILLED that they teamed up for this groovy, soulful 4-track EP whose self-titled opening track made the list this season:
It’s a super chill, sit-outside-with-a-drink-and-some-friends kinda sound that I can’t get enough of.
I also had to add this next track courtesy of Adam’s excellent Big Vibes playlist on Spotify. It’s groovy as hell, soulful as they come, and memorable: “loving you is hip… hop…” 👌 and the sneaky spoken word performance in the middle? Fire! Who comes up with this stuff??
We close out this week’s update with good ol’ Childish Gambino (Donald Glover) on a pure white release titled simply the date it was released—3.15.20—shortly before shit really started hitting the fan in the West.
Thankfully, Glover got it out just in time for us to enjoy. It’s one of those rare albums produced as a single continuous journey, which many of you know I absolutely love 😀
Take it from 0.00 all the way to 53.49 when you’ve got an hour to listen. You’ll hear from a few guest artists, but mostly it’s Glover’s unique mind experimenting as always.
We’re closed out with young Glover junior learning about love, and it’s a cute moment that I’m glad they kept on the record. 😊
Hit reply and let me know what you liked and what you’re listening to!
Thanks for reading,
jtc