WILT_2023-14

A playlist of songs that intrigued me from Sunday to Saturday. Week of 2 Apr 2023 to 8 Apr 2023.

1. Bangalter: Mythologies: X. L’Accouchement – Thomas Bangalter, Romain Dumas, Orchestre National Bordeaux Aquitaine
2. Parasite – GoGo Penguin
3. l8r h8r – Terekke
4. Receiving (Jon Hopkins Piano Version) – ANNA, Laraaji, Jon Hopkins
5. Etude No.12 (XA4 Remix) – Philip Glass, XA4
6. Together – SAULT
7. Higher – SAULT
8. Jack’s Gift – SAULT
9. Fight for Love – SAULT
10. In the Air – SAULT
11. Homegrown – CARRTOONS
12. Le Départ – Adi Oasis
13. Serena – Adi Oasis
14. Dumpalltheguns – Adi Oasis
15. The Duke – DARGZ, Moses Boyd, Simon Dufor
16. Nurture – Greg Spero, MonoNeon, Ruslan Sirota, Robert Sput Searight

Hyperlink to Spotify playlist: WILT_2023-14

Notes

I came across an article that former Daft Punk member, Thomas Bangalter’s latest project was composition. This intrigued me enough to seek out the compositions of Bangalter, which in this case were written for a ballet called Mythologies, performed by the Orchestre National Bordeaux Aquitaine, and directed by Romaine Dumas. The piece that I chose to highlight features string thrills and arrangements that remind me of Jonny Greenwood referencing Penderecki, but in a more simple setting that allows you access to more ready emotions.

Non-classically trained musicians finding their way to composition always fascinates me because it is as if something awoke in their musical journeys and developments, and they’re seeking some order amidst the chaos, if anything to try ruddering amidst the tempest.

I then continued on a path of listening to similar songs. Parasite by GoGo Penguin jumped out with its strong double bass arrangement and performance, while l8r h8rby Terekke’s soaring synth work was enough for me to lose my labours in brief respite.

Receiving (Jon Hopkins Piano Version) was originally written and performed by ANNA and Laraaji, both well-regarded electronic musicians in their own right, but in this version with a piano arrangement by Jon Hopkins, the sensation of time slows down and this version is even more contemplative than the original.

Etude No.12 (XA4 Remix) by Philip Glass and XA4 round out the first section of this playlist that features classical and electronic music presented in unconventional ways. If anything, the membrane between genres is very clearly permeable.

The second development of this playlist and the week draws a lot from 11, the 2022 album by SAULT. This musical collective/band releases music faster than I can listen, but whenever they release something, it’s as if they have something to say about the current zeitgeist. I love the unhinged wah-wah guitars found on Together as well as the very simple yet infectious afro-blues groove and melody. This immediately leads into Higher, a simple and raw musical arrangement featuring a minimalist back beat and basic synthesiser chords that somehow strip away any and all fanfare from the vocals. 

Jack’s Gift is a musical interlude that showcases a spiritual message of love and fear. It’s a bit cheesy, but somehow I do not think it was particularly meant for our ears, but more a reminder from the artists to themselves. Fight for Love showcases more of those nu-soul guitar parts that texture this album so well, but what really stands out for me is the vocal harmony that sits just under the main vocal melody of the chorus. And lastly, In the Air crescendos with a gorgeous reverb-drenched guitar part that reminisces the rock movements of the seventies, all while retaining the soulful charm that they have been delivering throughout the whole album thus far.

The third stretch is a bit haphazard of sorts. Part random but extremely groovy recommendations, such as Homegrown by CARRTOONS and Nurture by Greg Spero, MonoNeon, Ruslan Sirota, and Robert Sput Searight, and the other the discovery of Adi Oasis’s music.

Oasis caught my attention when Le Départ came on and I was enamoured by the groove that I had to check out the rest of the album. What greeted me was tantalising basslines with just the right amount of grit on it, plus a wonderfully soulful falsetto that brings a warm sunshine through the windows. Serena is one such song. From the way the horns bring in the song, to the way the rhythm arrangement provides the lightest yet sturdiest of grooves so that the typhoonic melody parts simply blow through like a gentle breeze. Dumpalltheguns on the other hand lets its presence be felt. From the tonality of its chords, it is both authoritative and rebellious, definitely not satisfied with the status quo but delivering its message through spurring the body into motion.

While the second last song on this playlist, still The Duke by DARGZ, Moses Boyd, and Simon Dufour is a perfect storm of drums, piano and saxophone. Every part is so immediately heard, and yet so perfectly balanced. If only all collaborations were this tight.