A playlist of songs that intrigued me from Sunday to Saturday. Week of 12 Jun 2022 to 18 Jun 2022.

WILT_2022-24

1. We Could Stay – Josin, Ólafur Arnalds
2. Pictures – Ralph Heidel, Homo Ludens, Josin
3. saman – Ólafur Arnalds
4. The Bottom Line – Ólafur Arnalds, Josin, Reykjavik Recording Orchestra
5. Saudade (When We Are Born) – Ólafur Arnalds
6. Avril 14th (Aphex Twin) – Murcof, Vanessa Wagner
7. Bless Those Tired Eyes – Clem Leek
8. 1st Soundscape – James Blake, Endel
9. The Whirling Ways of the Stars That Pass – Floraleda Sacchi
10. Become – Launder, Soko
11. The Truth (Ron Trent Remix) – Fort Romeau, Ron Trent
12. Lady in the Darkest Hour – Kate Bollinger
13. Parking Lot – Hana Vu
14. Who Am I But Someone – Kate Bollinger
15. Untitled IV – Fort Romeau
16. (In The Rain) Fort Romeau
17. Spotlights – Fort Romeau
18. Gutter – Hana Vu
19. Keeper – Hana Vu
20. Ultra Blue (feat. Newborn Jr) – Heathered Pearls, Newborn Jr., Somniac One
21. Forest Dark – Nailah Hunter
22. Green To You – Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith, Emile Mosseri
23. Luos Higher – SAULT

Hyperlink to Spotify playlist: WILT_2022-24

Notes

For the start of the new week, I thought I would explore something with more tempo. I started off based on some notes I made from previous weeks, but nothing stood out and the idea got thrown out the window the moment I heard We Could Stay by Josin and Ólafur Arnalds.

The next few songs after The Bottom Line are from a series of recommended songs.

Saudade (When We Are Born) refers to the deep emotional state of nostalgic or profound melancholic longing for something or someone that one cares for and/or loves. I don’t think that I have felt this way for a very long time because I have been blessed with a wonderful relationship with my partner. But I hazard that should I ever lose her, this would be the state I find myself in until my winter ends.

I attempted to explore more of the universe surrounding Clem Leek after reading his bio. A composer from England, but nothing really stood out although I remember some were accompaniments to a bout of copyediting that I was doing.

I restarted the exploration process with James Blake’s 1st Soundscape, a piece that he did in collaboration with Endel.

That followed up beautifully with The Whirling Ways of the Stars That Pass by Floraleda Sacchi, a haunting harp piece evoking the falling of leaves. Unfortunately I have not truly experienced the passing of stars because I live in a light-polluted city. But perhaps it would be an experience I seek out in my lifetime. Speaking about this does evoke a memory of the expanse of the empty ocean, for I sailed once on a large ship when I was nineteen during my national service. It was a quiet unlike any other.

I revisited the playlist Ghostly: Latest Releases, and that led to many new discoveries that I did not know had been added to the Ghostly International stable of artists. New standouts to me included Hana Vu, Kate Bollinger, as well as Launder and Soko, alll whose brand of melody, and indie shoegaze guitar all deserve attention as breakouts and fresh ideas.

There’s a lot of music by Fort Romeau here, which I am surprised by, but also, I think I miss the classy house beats that the talented producer seems to be so eloquent with.

The final three songs in the playlist were first noticed for their interesting titles, but ultimately added because of the unique ambience, arrangements or beats that are used to evoke a sense of adventure and promise toward the hopeful power of music. In particular Luos Higher by SAULT is just a thrilling string and choral performance, and caps off the playlist with a certain purity and rebellion, book-ending against the electronic genesis at the behest of its creator.