Hello everyone!

This Week's Playlist - Season 4, Episode 3.

Hello everyone!

It’s been a moment since my last newsletter. 2 months more precisely.

Life took over. I said goodbye to my grandfather with a quick trip back to Lebanon, baked maamouls (traditional Lebanese cookies) for Easter, working a lot and watching more football than usual with PSG Champions’ League run and my local non-league football team winning another silverware this season.

On top of that, I’m getting ready for the arrival of the little one in early June. I might drop a sleepless dad survival playlist at some point in July.

Here are 10 songs for your ears with notes about each pick. I. And before that, some interesting links.

Hope you enjoy them, and see you next month.

Links

1. Arte released the Paris gig of Nick Cave from the 2024 European tour. On the same tour, I went to see him in Leeds.

2. Max Romeo was a great social commentator, railing against inequality and discord. I didn’t know much about him besides his famous sample (cf last pick)

There is a YouTube link for each of the songs on the cover, and here are the playlists for each streaming platform:

Listen on Spotify

1. Charif Megarbane - Hanadi

Honour where honour is due, with one of my favourite Lebanese (but not only) artists. I wrote about him multiple times already.

The stackhanovist multi-instrumental wizard is back with a new masterpiece, very picturesque psychedelic / blues jazz.

He’s playing in London tomorrow and I’m really hyped to see him.

2. ETAF - Bad Influence

I discovered ETAF live this March. Came to shoot their gig for and I knew nothing about their music but the bio. I didn’t regret.

“Etaf is a Kuwaiti singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist based in London. Genre-defying and unapologetically iconic, Etaf has carved out a distinct musical identity that is daring and innovative”

I wasn’t ready for such a high level of energy and mix of so many influences from Middle East pop, hiphop, and other crossover genres.

If you are interested, there’s a really good live recording available on YouTube.

3. Postcards - Dust Bunnies

One more Lebanese band and I’ll stop.

An absolute banger from one of the most exciting Lebanese indie bands from the last 10/15 years.

4. Moderat - Sick With It

I’m claiming once a week the control of the office speakers. So I have to play some more chilled electronic music otherwise my colleages are a bit annoyed at too much blasting heavy metal.

5. Tunde Adebimpbe - Magnetic

The voice of TV on the Radio (the 2000s 20-Another multi-instrumentalist I’ve been following since her first album, paving her way from Dirty Projectors.

Angel Deradoorian's new album “has subsumed a heady brew of sonic eclecticism across experimental chamber pop, jazz-spiked post-punk and minimal synth” - Far Out magazine.Another multi-instrumentalist I’ve been following since her first album, paving her way from Dirty Projectors.

Angel Deradoorian's new album “has subsumed a heady brew of sonic eclecticism across experimental chamber pop, jazz-spiked post-punk and minimal synth” - Far Out magazine.year-old Thomas listened a lot to TV on the Radio) is back with a new single, slightly more groovy and experimental. He released his first solo album earlier in April.

6. Nina Simone - I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free

I finished Warren Ellis book “Nina Simone's Gum”, and rediscovered a lot of her work.

7. Deradoorian - Set Me Free

Another multi-instrumentalist I’ve been following since her first album, paving her way from Dirty Projectors.

Angel Deradoorian's new album “has subsumed a heady brew of sonic eclecticism across experimental chamber pop, jazz-spiked post-punk and minimal synth” - Far Out magazine.

8. The Bambir - Lose Yourself

The Armenian rock stars are back with a new single and a much more electric and punchy sound than their previous records. It took me a couple of spins to get into it, but I really enjoy it now.

9. Blood Incantation - The Message [Tablet II]

Blood Incantation released one of the most praised albums of 2024 in the metal sphere (which, for whatever reason, I forgot to cover in this newsletter).

Needless to say, I was waiting for their gig with high expectations, very curious to see how they would translate their psychedelic death metal on stage.

I saw them at the Roundhouse earlier this month and I’ve been completely blown away. They played their album its entirety, from the growling parts to the more atmospheric and progressive melodies.

This is one of the chilliest tunes.

10. The Prodigy - Out Of Space

An homage to Max Romeo, who left us in April with one of his most iconic songs sampled :-)

Until the next time, Godspeed!

Thomas

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Hello everyone!

This Week's Playlist - Season 4, Episode 2.

Hello everyone!

February's gone in a whirl.

Shortest month of the year, grinding at work, grim weather, and politicians throwing axes at each other (I was writing about it almost 3 years ago).

Second monthly episode, with 10 songs for your ears with notes about each pick. I. And before that, some links I found interesting.

Hope you enjoy them, and see you next month.

Links

1. Adrien started a (French) newsletter. 1st personal episode.

2. A review by Bandcamp of Ruptured Record (the infamous Lebanese alternative artist)

3. A very unsettling yet fascinating graphic novel about Armenia

There is a YouTube link for each of the songs on the cover, and here are the playlists for each streaming platform:

Listen on Spotify

1. Opeth - A Story Never Told

I went to see Opeth live earlier this week at the Roundhouse. Phenonemal, as usual. I’ve been following them live for more than 20 years now and this is one of my most memorable nights with them.

Their new album marks a return to a more growling sound but the last song in a nice, more melodic epilogue.

2. VÆV - Cross My Heart And Hope To Die

I’ve followed Mehdi (the mastermind behind VÆV) for even longer (since the early days of 2000s online music communities). Since with his band Breaklose and more recently with VÆV.

He released a new album earlier this month, completely DIY approach.

Expect “pop melodies, new and old synths, folk, hip-hop beats, ambient textures, string quartets, guitar solos, Gregorian chant, early 2000s Finnish gothic metal, Michael Jackson, and more.”

Here is one of my favorite tracks of the album.

3. Carbon Based Lifeforms - Escape

A ambient track track from the soundtrack of a niche survival apocalypse movie I watched this month.

4. Mogwai - God Gets You Back

Mogwai released a new album I had on spin for most of the month of Feb

5. Maii & Zeid - Hassafer Baeed

Thanks to Spotify suggestions, I discovered another Zeid Hamdan (the living god of alternative lebanese music) usical ventures, a duo with Maii, a composer from Egypt.

6. Justice - Phantom 1.5 (live)

I saw Justice live in Alexandra Palace. Briliant show but I somehow ended up missing the live raw energy of their first tour.

7. Belleruche - Fuzz Face

A trip-hop record we played a lot in the office’s speakers.

8. Daniel Blumberg - Search Party (The Brutalist soundtrack)

The Brutalist movie:

The closing track of the 2nd part. 3h15min long, split in 2 parts. I much more preferred the first one, but the closing scene is so intense, supported by this grandiose finale.

9. Rage Against The Machine - The Narrows

I also dug into the 1st Rage Against The Machine album demos. There are some interesting tracks in there.

10. Harakiri For The Sky - Street Spirit (Fade Out) feat. Groza

A heavy metal cover of Radiohead to finish this month’s playlist.

Thanks Rakkan for the discovery (For the metalheads here, Rakkan is curating a “Song of the Day” daily playlist on Spotify.)

Until the next time, Godspeed!

Thomas

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• Did you enjoy these songs? Forward this email to a friend, or buy me a coffee :-)

• Missed an episode: Here are the archives.

Hello everyone!

This Week's Playlist - Season 4, Episode 1.

Hello everyone!

First and foremost, Happy New Year to all of you (yes, I'm late, but we are still in time). I wish you all the best for the next year (or, more precisely, 11 months and 1 day now).

Welcome also to the 4th year of this newsletter.

This is the first monthly episode of this new format, with fewer topical picks (I'm quite happy not having to think about this in this very weird month of January).

But I digress. Without further ado, here is a monthly playlist with 10 songs for your ears. Quite Mainstream this month.

Here are some notes about each pick. I hope you enjoy them, and see you soon.

There is a YouTube link for each of the songs on the cover, and here are the playlists for each streaming platform:

Listen on Spotify

1. Angelo Badalamenti - Twin Peaks theme\

Twin Peaks theme: an hommage to a great movie director who left us this month.

2. Darren Korb - No Escape (Hades OST)

Darren Korb: I dug into video game soundtracks, especially Hades, very prog ambient.

3. Asian Dub Foundation - 1000 Mirrors (feat Sinead O´Connor)

Asian Dub Foundation: I went to see them playing over the "La Haine" movie earlier in January. An important movie of my teenage years.

4. So You Say You Lost Your Baby

Death in Vegas: I (remotely) played some tunes for a friend birthday party. Forgot how I enjoyed partying on Death In Vegas during my student years.

5. The Old Dead Tree - Don’t Waste Your Time

The Old Dead Tree: I also enjoying the return of another French metal band I was listening to as a student. With a much more modern sound.

6. Akkadian -Teardrop

Akkadian: A very interesting cover of Massive Attack classic by a British metal band.

7. Serj Tankian’s Jazz-Iz-Christ - Yerevan to Paris

Serj Tankian’s Jazz-Iz-Christ: It took me until December 2024 to discover Serj Tankian's (System of a Down singer) jazz project.

8. Radiohead - Go Slowly

Radiohead: I forgot how good is their 2007 album “In Rainbows” disc 2 is.

9. Massive Attack - Silent Spring

Massive Attack: Talking about the trip-hop mavericks, an unknown (at least for me) track from their 2006 compilation “Collected”.

10. Deftones - Rosemary

Deftones: Honour where honour is due with some recent Deftones track to finish this week's spin.

Until the next time, Godspeed!

Thomas

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• Did you enjoy these songs? Forward this email to a friend, or buy me a coffee :-)

• Missed an episode: Here are the archives.

Hello everyone!

This Week's Playlist - Season 3, Episode 44.

A final newsletter for 2024. Another year has gone by. A weird and roller-coaster one in many ways.

I hope you can all rest with your loved ones during this festive period.

It has been three years since I started this newsletter as a little hobby while in between jobs, and now I'm working full time, a more demanding one.

I wanted to thank you all for your readership this year again, for the replies, comments, and shares, both longtime readers and newcomers. Thank you all, really.

Thank you again this year for the guests who took the time to dig into their favourite tracks and share them with us all.

Don’t worry, I’m not stopping the newsletter yet: I am just making some slight arrangements for 2025 - which will bring some personal (good) changes - more on that in due time.

I’m moving to a monthly curated playlist with featured guests in between. :-) So expect the same level of weird geeky playlists, just less frequent.

Back to the music:

• So for the last episode of 2024, here are some songs from artists I listened to a lot, who released albums this year.

• As an end-of-the-year bonus, I’m adding 5 tracks, for the less faint-hearted-heavy-metal junkies of the audience.

I hope you enjoy it and see you next month :-)

There is a YouTube link for each of the songs on the cover, and here are the playlists for each streaming platform:

Listen on Spotify

5 of my favourite albums of 2024

1. Godspeed You Black Emperor - GREY RUBBLE - GREEN SHOOTS

Godspeed You! Black Emperor released a new album this year, with an unambiguous title “No Title as of 13 February 2024 28,340 Dead”, referencing the Palestinian death toll during the Israel-Gaza war (and sadly the title is already out of date).

GYBE has been an influencial band in my musical journey. Their epic, repetition-oriented chamber post-rock result to a meditative and hypnotic loop.

“A kind of perfect soundtrack to a society on the edge of all-out war, of the push-and-pull between total doom and inextinguishable hope for something better.”

2. The Bambir - Trnenq (Jump in)

The Armenian rock stars released another album this year. This is their second single.

According to their own words: Titled “Mankakan Khagher” (Children’s Games), the band’s 12th studio album hints at the mindless atrocities and sufferings that adults endure by not having maturity towards others and to themselves. Adults are children full of cruel desires, as no one is truly matured into grown ups.

3. Ulver - A City in the Skies

I wrote about Ulver when one of their members passed away earlier this year.

In the meantime, they released a new album (which was recorded for years). Some elegant electronic pop music, while keeping their original maverick mindset.

4. Sanam - Bell

The debut album of the Beirut based SANAM was released in 2023: “A feast for the senses—an amalgam of krautrock, free rock, Arabic maqams (melodies), and poetry.”.

However, they released a live album in 2024 and I was able to catch them on stage last summer in London and it was one of the best gigs I’ve been to in 2024.

5. Tigran Hamasyan - The Curse

The piano virtuoso colossus is back with a new concept album around Armenian mythology.

This album, recorded with a whole rock band, and brings his very characteristic fusion sound of jazz music and Armenian traditional tunes to another level, adding more influences from Baroque dance to hip-hop, djent and heavy metal.

5+1. Kendrick Lamar - Reincarnated

Like everyone else, I got hooked on Kendrick Lamar’s surprise release.

5 of my favourite heavy metal albums of 2024

Lowen - Najang Bah Divhayeh Mazandaran

Doom / progressive metal from London. Really cool fusion of Iranian music and mythology with doom metal. The Iranian women vocal lead is remarkable.

My Own Private Alaska - All The Lights On

Piano core from Toulouse, France.

We had Mathieu, the singer, in the newsletter earlier this year.

Trelldom - The Voice Of What Whispers

Experimental and avant-garde black metal with a saxophone

Spectral Wounds - Fever & Suffering

Punk and raw black metal from Montreal

Heriot - Siege Lord

The new cool kids of the British industrial / death metal core scene

Some great albums I covered in previous episodes:

• Zeal & Ardor - Greif

• Arooj Aftab - Night Veil

• Julie Christmas - Ridiculous & Full of Blood

• Nadine Shah - Filthy Underneath

• SLIFT - Ion

Until the next time, Godspeed!

Thomas

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• Did you enjoy these songs? Forward this email to a friend, or buy me a coffee :-)

• Missed an episode: Here are the archives.

Hello everyone!

This Week's Playlist - Season 3, Episode 43.

An exceptional mid-week episode today.

I started to draft a music selection about some random topic on Saturday. And then Sunday happened, with a historical day for Syria and the collapse of the 5 decades of dictatorship Assad regime. Soon to be followed by the (never-ending) horror of the aftermath, Monday and today.

Again, writing about music felt a bit off.

But I’m back, with 5 songs from Syrian musicians, as a sign of support for their people.

I hope you enjoy it and see you next week.

There is a YouTube link for each of the songs on the cover, and here are the playlists for each streaming platform:

Listen on Spotify

1. BEDOUIN BURGER - Nomad

Bedouin Burger is Syrian celestial vocalist, composer and musician Lynn Adib and Lebanese multi-instrumentalist Zeid Hamdan, intersecting Arabic folk with pioneering electronica.

2. PSYCHALEPPO - Elhelwa Di (feat. Hamed Sinno)

“Hello Psychaleppo, aka Samer Eldahr, is a multi-instrumentalist and producer hailing from Syria who introduced a fresh sound in his early releases. With a fresh approach that viewed Tarab, a cornerstone of traditional Arabic music, through a contemporary lens, Hello Psychaleppo placed Tarab in a predominantly electronic landscape.”

- Stepfeed magazine

3. KHEBEZ DAWLE - Beta’ammer

Some captivating Syrian post-rock in exile in Germany.

4. REFUGEES OF RAP - Haram (ft. Nadin)

Brothers Yaser and Mohamed Jamous created Refugees Of Rap in 2007 while settling in a Palestinian refugee camp in Yarmouk, Syria.

Their texts offer a glimpse of life in the camp and denounce the situation in Syria. They were forced into exile in 2013 and moved to France the following year.

5. Lena CHAMAMYAN - Lama Bada Yatathana

Lena Chamamyan is a Syrian singer-songwriter known for her unique style that blends jazz, Arabic folk music, and Western classical music.

She’s singing here a traditional poem.

Until the next time, Godspeed!

Thomas

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• Did you enjoy these songs? Forward this email to a friend, or buy me a coffee :-)

• Missed an episode: Here are the archives.

Hello everyone!

This Week's Playlist - Season 3, Episode 42.

We saw Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds earlier this month in Leeds (a week before my trip to Le Guess Who). I know my basic Nick Cave songs (including the one used for a famous English TV channel) but that’s it.

The two-and-a-half-hour show moved me in so many ways: the show's energy masterfully led by these “extraordinary, ageing gentlemen”, the songs that influenced so many of the bands I have listened to since I was a teenager and the communion with the public.

It made me realize Nick Cave had a much greater impact on my music tastes than I knew.

I thought for this week to pick up 5 songs, either from Nick Cave, or covered by Nick Cave, or some of his collaborators.

I hope you enjoy it and see you next week.

There is a YouTube link for each of the songs on the cover, and here are the playlists for each streaming platform:

Listen on Spotify

1. METALLICA - Loverman

That was literally my first contact with the songwriter.

A cover of Loverman by Metallica, released in 1998. I remember vividly going to buy the record (I was 16) and being hypnotized by the groovy vibe (the middle part section spoken word) of this cover. It definitely benefited from the rest of the album.

2. Amanda PALMER - The Ship Song (Live)

Amanda Palmer is always a good client for covering some classics.

3. DIRTY THREE - Furnace Skies

If Nick Cave masterfully holds the reins of the show, Warren Ellis is definitely the heartbeat of the Bad Seeds, switching from one instrument to the other.

This is the opening track of his other band, Dirty Three, who’s described their member as "rumbling, dynamic sound incorporated open-ended, improvisational, electric rock ... minus the jazz-rock histrionics".

4. Nick CAVE & Warren ELLIS - White Elephant

“Carnage”, the 2021 word album of the 2 masterminds is also a gem, which I discovered with this tour. They played White Elephant on stage with the four-member gospel, which was one of the greatest moments of the show.

5. Nick CAVE & the BAD SEEDS - From Her To Eternity (live)

Honour, where honour is due for this final track.

A magnificent live rendition of an early Nick Cave classic. Look at this: the punk energy, the musical performance, the image quality. The whole show is available on YouTube and worth every minute of it.

Until the next time, Godspeed!

Thomas

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• Did you enjoy these songs? Forward this email to a friend, or buy me a coffee :-)

• Missed an episode: Here are the archives.

Hello everyone!

This Week's Playlist - Season 3, Episode 41.

Really sorry for the 2 weeks of silence. I was sick for a week and flew to Le Guess Who festival last Thursday (a 4-day festival happening across the whole city of Utrecht -between a five-hall contemporary music complex, TivoliVredenburg, and other musical venues and churches across town).

This is my third time there (I reported my trip in 2023 on this newsletter). It is always a pleasure to come back to this annual pilgrimage. Some people spend a week retreating in a remote place to isolate and self-reflect, but I prefer to attend a packed four-day music event with more bands than I could ever think of discovering.

So for this week, 5 bands I discovered (or enjoyed) at LGW24.

I hope you enjoy it and see you next week.

There is a YouTube link for each of the songs on the cover, and here are the playlists for each streaming platform:

Listen on Spotify

1. GAISTER - Sento

I’ll start with the last act of the festival.

Gaister is a trio formed by Olivia Salvadori (a classical soprano turned to experimental music), Akihide Monna (drummer of Japanese acid punk band Bo Ningen) and Coby Sey (keyboards, machine and voice)

Their first released album is a weird musical creature, mixing haunting Olivia’s vocal improvisation, drums and weird sound textures.

Their performance transcended this eerie feeling to sheer tension in the Hertz auditorium, for a whole hour.

2. DARKSIDE - Paper Trails (Live in Paris, June 5, 2023)

I have already written about Darkside in this newsletter.

Darkside is the progressive/experimental rock project of DJ Nicolas Jaar and his sound engineer. It started as a side project and now tours on an (almost) regular basis.

This is a recorded testimony of their live performance from last year, morphing one of their classic songs into a frantic dancing / industrial jam at the end.

3. SHARDS - Amen, amen, amen

Another highlight of the festival was the set of Shards.

The London-based choir played in a church song of the Rennaissance composer William Byrd.

4. MABE FRATTI - Kravitz

One more discovery of this year.

Mabe Fratti, a singer / celloist. She’s coming from Guatelama, and playing as a trio with a drummer and keyboard.

Her latest album distills pop melodies across her more experimental groovy base. I would really recommend it.

5. AROOJ AFTAB - Bolo Na (ft Moor Mother & Joel Ross)

Talking about groovy bass, listen to this ferocious contrabass beat.

Let me re-introduce you, Arooj Aftab. The Pakistani/American songwriter puts traditional poems in an acoustic jazz manner.

I discovered her in LGW 2021 and since then, she has released her new album “Night Reign”, from which this track is taken.

Until the next time, Godspeed!

Thomas

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• Did you enjoy these songs? Forward this email to a friend, or buy me a coffee :-)

• Missed an episode: Here are the archives.

Hello everyone!

This Week's Playlist - Season 3, Episode 34.

A new exercise for this week. A throwback 20 years ago, in the glorious year of 2004.

I was slowly entering adulthood, getting out of my metalhead teenage years, and broadening my musical tastes (I discovered Ulver the year before). I got my first laptop.

It was also during those years that sharing and discovering music on the Internet became easier. This was before the YouTube era (but Audiogalaxy was still going strong). I discovered a lot of new bands at that time.

I also started going more regularly to gigs with some friends. Some of them documented these last year (cf episode 121).

So, for this week, I dug into my archives, trying to retrieve what I was listening to in that era.

I hope you enjoy it and see you next week.

Subscribe now

There is a YouTube link for each of the songs on the cover, and here are the playlists for each streaming platform:

Listen on Spotify

1. Mark Lanegan - Methamphetamine Blues

First, I discovered the Queens of the Stone Age on MTV a couple of years ago, with their "Rated R" album.

I went to see them at the Elysee Montmartre during their 2003 tour. Of course, they had Mark Lanegan on stage to sing his lines on the songs from their "Songs for the Deaf" album.

Of course, I had no idea who he was. It took me until the release of his seminal album the following year to really appreciate one of the prominent figures of the grunge scene.

2. RJD2 - Since We Last Spoke

I also got more into electronic music and abstract hip-hop. RJD2 was already buzzing strong and I remember vividly his set in a park in Western Paris one spring afternoon for the release of his second album.

3. Le Tigre - Don’t Drink Poison

I think I somehow discovered le Tigre randomly and, by doing so, extended the electropunk stream by downloading music on Audiogalaxy and Soulseek.

4. Pain of Salvation - Imago

The Sweddish prog rock band played their new concept album in their hometown of Eskilstuna, Sweden.

I was a big fan at the time and b.eing student and a lot of time to spare, we decided with 2 other friends to go to the gig.

We were skint so we book the cheapest Ryanair flight and slept in a tent near the venue.

5. Explosions In The Sky - First Breath After Coma

While the album is from 2003, I saw the band twice on stage during 2004. Once on a peniche boat and then at a music festival.

This was my first live contact with post-rock and long and instrumental pieces.

Until the next time, Godspeed!

Thomas

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• Did you enjoy these songs? Forward this email to a friend, or buy me a coffee :-)

• Missed an episode: Here are the archives.

Hello everyone!

This Week's Playlist - Season 3, Episode 39.

I'm pushing myself to get back to the weekly groove for this music newsletter. A late Sunday edition yet again.

Autumn is here in London, endless greyness, rain, scarves, and mist in the morning when cycling to work.

2024 does not disappoint, with a bleak start, and grim news, in UK, Europe and world wide.

I wanted to share some of my recent rotations, including some of the songs I've been listening to to boost me up for this week.

I hope you enjoy it and see you next week.

Subscribe now

There is a YouTube link for each of the songs on the cover, and here are the playlists for each streaming platform:

Listen on Spotify

1. Zeal & Ardor - To My Ilk

I am starting with Zeal & Ardor and ending with the closing track of their brilliant new album.

The raging crossover metal is getting soaked in more pop melodies to make a catchy and unique sound, and I've been returning a lot in the last couple of weeks.

They are also very impressive live, but that's a story for another newsletter.

2. Hania Rani - It Comes in Waves (Live at Studio 1)

I saw Hania Rani last year in the Roundhouse and really enjoyed it. Her ethereal neoclassical / electronic music / piano record is probably one of the ones I listened the most in the last year.

She just released a live album (we love live recordings here) which is a perfect companion for your autumnal commute.

3. Bachar Mar-Khalife - Wolfpack (A Live in Paris)

The genius Lebanese musician released a highly energizing live recording (I wish he would come and play in London), and this piece is purely electrifying.

Mesmerizing piano and dancing beats for a frantic finish.

4. Lovage - Pit Stop - Take Me Home

I rediscovered this gem from the 2000s thanks to the Spotify algorithm (again).

Lovage is a four-head monster ephemeral band formed by Dan the Automator. It features prominent collaborators such as Mike Patton (from Faith No More and Mr. Bungle), singer Jennifer Charles (of Elysian Fields), and Kid Koala on the turntables.

The group recorded only one album (called “Music to Make Love to Your Old Lady By” - a whole programme). It’s a mix of trip-hop, downtempo beats, and sultry vocals, creating a lounge-inspired, almost eerie atmospheric vibe.

This is the opening track of the album.

5. The Smile - Eyes & Mouth

The Radiohead side-project of Radiohead's Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood and Sons of Khemet's Tom Skinner is more active than their respective bands.

They just released a 3rd album, probably their most mature to date, with the oh so characteristic sound of Jonny Greenwood on the guitar.

Until the next time, Godspeed!

Thomas

• Want to comment/reply/say hello? Just hit reply — your email goes straight into my inbox. :)

• Did you enjoy these songs? Forward this email to a friend, or buy me a coffee :-)

• Missed an episode: Here are the archives.

Hello everyone!

This Week's Playlist - Season 3, Episode 38.

2 weeks without a weekly newsletter...

Since late September, like many Lebanese people worldwide, I've been horrified at what's happening back home in the last couple of weeks. Writing music posts for a hobbie newsletter felt suddenly completely pointless.

And while I was reaching out to friends and relatives, a very old friend (I had been trying to get on the newsletter for a long time) sent me a message out of the blue.

"I believe that the war makes me feel the need for distractions, including finally submitting something for your newsletter! The mind works in mysterious ways..."

A nice kick to get back in my groove.

So, for this week, please find 5 very powerful live (and very niche) renditions by Rima's favourite artists.

I hope you enjoy it and see you next week.

Subscribe now

There is a YouTube link for each of the songs on the cover, and here are the playlists for each streaming platform:

Listen on Spotify

1. Fairouz - خذني ازرعني بارض لبنان (Take me and plant me in the land of Lebanon.)

Starting with Fairuz because no matter how many bombs the enemy throws at us, the love of Lebanese people for their country is unassailable.

This is a song about a longing to be planted like a seed in the ground of Lebanon.

I believe this version was recorded at the Royal Albert Hall in London in 1989, although it is not properly credited. You can feel the expat crowd moved by some of the powerful verses.

2. Nina Simone - Feelings (live 1976)

This extraordinary performance of the cheesy standard "Feelings" by Nina Simone in Montreux in 1976 is a classic demonstration that it's not the score; it's what you do with it.

I find that Nina's loneliness is palpable in this song, as well as her desperation to connect with her audience, who doesn't seem to bring itself to break the sacred silence.

3. Julien Lourau - Tu mi Turbi

In this 2002 Amiens performance of "Tu mi turbi", from his album "The Rise", sax player Julien Lourau, along with pianist Bojan Z, Henri Texier at the double bass and André Cecarelli on the drums, reach, I believe, a point of ectasy.

They seem to need to land themselves towards the end.

4. Keith Jarrett - Köln, January 24, 1975, Pt. I (Live)

I couldn't help but include Keith Jarrett's monumental 1975 Köln Concert, which almost never happened because the venue had mistakenly prepared a shitty piano and had no alternative.

This is the breathtaking part, but it should IMHO be followed by the rest of the recording for a full experience.

5. Abdel Halim Hafez - Qareat Al Fengan Live

And I'll finish with a live recording of Qareat al fengan (قارئة الفنجان, the coffee fortune-teller) by Abdel Halim Hafez, with lyrics from Syrian poet Nizar Qabbani.

This was the last song the great master recorded before his death in 1977. It is a poem of impossible love, sadly resonant with Abdel Halim's own destiny.

Until the next time, Godspeed!

Thomas

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Hello everyone!

This Week's Playlist - Season 3, Episode 37.

Other than Oasis, the other band reunion everyone talks about is Linkin Park. I never really listened to them (except for the first album, "Hybrid Theory," which I didn't really like)," so I won't go too much into details.

The only point I wanted to discuss was their "Hybrid Theory" remix album, "Reanimation". It went out at the same time I was starting to open my horizons to other musical genres. As much as the Reanimation lineup aged quite badly, this album opened my eyes to the art of remixes and how a song can turn into another completely different gem with the help of electronic music.

So, this week, here is a selection of my favourite remixes. Again, if you have any good suggestions, I welcome them. Send them to me, and I will share them in a reader's digest.

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There is a YouTube link for each of the songs on the cover, and here are the playlists for each streaming platform:

Listen on Spotify

1. BJORK - The Dull Flame Of Desire (Modeselektor's Remix For Girls)

Björk’s released a live recording of her “Volta” album. The album included a bonus disc with remixes of the same songs.

This is perhaps the most famous one, from Modeselektor, turning one of the best songs of the album into a rave party anthem, slicing and chopping the Icelandic singer’s voice into some hypnotic vibe.

2. FRANZ FERDINAND - The Fallen (Ruined by Justice)

The Justice fanboy I am had to include a track they reworked.

And what better example than this "ruined by" banger(i.e., rendering the song utterly unrecognizable) from a boring rock-pop band?

3. DISCLOSURE - Magnets ft. Lorde (Jon Hopkins Remix)

Another electronic/psychedelic rendering of a bland pop song by one of my favourite electronic music composers in the last 10 years.

4. NINE INCH NAILS - The Great Destroyer (remixed by Modwheelmood)

A chilled/alternative rendition of NIN's track of Year Zero.

The band released instrumental versions of all the album's songs, including GarageBand and Abelton, resulting in a myriad of fan-made remixes.

5. GIL SCOTT HERON & JAMIE XX - NY Is Killing Me

A classic to finish this week's selection.

2010, GSH returned with his first album in 16 years (a masterpiece). The whole album was remixed by Jamie XX the following year.

So what better song than the most iconic one for one of the greatest NY urban jazz pets to finish this week's newsletter.

I will let you enjoy it and see you next week.

Until the next time, Godspeed!

Thomas

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Hello everyone!

This Week's Playlist - Season 3, Episode 36.

This is a follow-up to last year's edition, with a bunch of songs I discovered through various newsletters I'm reading (not enough). Also, if you have any good suggestions, I welcome them. Send them to me, and I will share them in volume 3.

A range of very niche picks, in a, for once, the spirit of a very chilled Sunday late night.

I will also link the newsletter for each pick. I hope you enjoy it.

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There is a YouTube link for each of the songs on the cover, and here are the playlists for each streaming platform:

Listen on Spotify

1. Killer Mike ft Anthony Hamilton - NOBODY KNOWS

A hip-hop/soul/gospel opening track for an unusual opening for me.

• Newsletter: Sonic Postcards #119

2. M83 -Run Into Flowers (Jackson remix)

Herb Sundays is one of my favourite music newsletters (which I'm not reading/listening to as much as I should)

A weekly newsletter, with a different curator each time, aimed for a chilled Sunday morning, driven by a long-time DJ / record label manager. Always very niche and exciting picks.

• Newsletter: Herb Sunday vol. 124

3. King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard - Le Risque

I've been reading the Quietus for a long time, and they consistently release an extensive playlist every month (4+ hours of fun).

KGLW's new single was part of the August one, so here is it, for a very unusual groove for them, with all the layers of voices.

• The Quietus subscribers’ August 2024 playlist

4. Mulatu Astake & the Heliocentrics - Cha Cha

Ethiopian jazz from Anthony Chalmer's playlists. On top of being a great playlister on NTS, Anthony is also the booker behind Baba Yaga's Hut, one of the most maverick booking promoters in London (I went to so many gigs he organized, there's room for an entire newsletter :-))

5. Galt MacDermot - Coffee Cold

A piano jazz classic slid in this week's newsletter. Suggested by the amazing Spotify algorithm.

I will let you enjoy it and see you next week.

Until the next time, Godspeed!

Thomas

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Hello everyone!

This Week's Playlist - Season 3, Episode 35.

Two significant bands reunion in the last couple of weeks (hints: a Britpop duo and an American nu-metal/alternative rock band)

I managed to get tickets for Oasis. The 90s grunge teenager Thomas didn't really care about Britpop. However, living in England for 10 years made me realize how big they and their songs are for the English culture. So I would definitely go.

While discussing this weekend with friends, we wanted to know which bands we would like to see reunions. Here is a selection from me.

I hope you enjoy it and see you next week!

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There is a YouTube link for each of the songs on the cover, and here are the playlists for each streaming platform:

Listen on Spotify

1. RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE - The Ghost of Tom Joad

One of my first contact with Rock music was back in 1995 with their so much recognisable sound.

I managed to see them in 2008 during their first reunion and was in line for their second one in 2022 before Zack de la Rocha injured his leg. The band then cancelled their tour and went on another indefinitely long hiatus.

2. SONIC YOUTH - Mary-Christ

Kim Gordon and Thurston Moor founded the NY noise-rock powerhouse and released 15 albums during about 3 decades. They also got married along the way.

They split after 27 years of marriage, and the band was dismantled shortly after.

They continue their solo careers, respectively, but I would love to experience the chaos and noisy atmosphere of Sonic Youth on stage once in my life.

3. AT THE DRIVE-IN - Arcarsenal

I got quite late (in the last 5 years) into the post-hardcore band.

Would love to see them on stage as well.

4. OCEANSIZE - One Day All This Could Be Yours

Oceansize was a British rock band formed in 1998 in Manchester. They mix elements of alternative rock, post-rock, progressive rock, and even metal (you may have guessed :-)).

I got hooked by their first album, "Effloresce".

Sadly, they stopped in 2011. Mike Vennart is now the touring member of Biffy Clyro.

5. DAFT PUNK - Short Circuit

Honour where honour is due.

Probably the most powerful band of a generation of electronic music lovers.

I discovered them in my teenage years. Their album "Homework" was released when I was 15, and this band, along with Prodigy, was my gateway to electronic music.

I missed the 2006/7 tour and bite my fingers every time I listen to the live record.

Until the next time, Godspeed!

Thomas

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Hello everyone!

This Week's Playlist - Season 3, Episode 34.

Tore Ylwizaker, the keyboard player for Ulver (Wolves, in Norwegian), passed away last week. The band published a vibrant hommage on its website.

Ulver was instrumental in my musical education. I discovered them in the early 2000s (more about that later) after listening to many mainstream rock and heavy metal bands as a teenager).

I could not find a way to get a hold of any of their albums, so I had to order the only two CDs (“Themes from William Blake” and “Perdition City”) my local record shop could find from his dealer.

It was very different from anything I listened to before, mixing electronic and industrial music in a very avant-gardiste. That was very disorienting at first and completely out of the typical musical patterns I was used to. And while I could not tell if I liked it or not, I ended up coming back to these records a lot in the next couple of years.

Ulver became my gateway to many electronic/experimental music I've been listening to since then. They represent to me a true metal spirit: relentlessly pushing boundaries and moving you out of your comfort zone.

The least I could do is pick up 5 songs about them for this week's rotation.

I hope you enjoy it and see you next week!

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There is a YouTube link for each of the songs on the cover, and here are the playlists for each streaming platform:

Listen on Spotify

1. THE GATHERING - A Life All Mine

My first contact with Ulver: Garm (Kristofer Rygg, the singer and main composer) was featured as a guest on this song, the closing track of their 2003 album, "Souvenirs".

This album, while boldly departing from their metal sound, required a lot of spins before I really got into it. However, it ended up being my favourite. It's one of their most progressive sounds, adventuring in new spheres such as trip-hop (and even hip-hop) or electronic music.

2. JEFFERSON AIRPLANE - Today

Fast Forward a decade. Ulver releases a cover album of obscure 60s psychedelic tracks.

It is my favourite original song in the whole album.

3. MOTHLITE - Something In The Sky

We continue with long-time Ulver collaborator Daniel O'Sullivan's solo project, Mothlite.

It is my favourite track on a gentle and relaxed album. Electronic, but somehow organic, too.

4. ÅRABROT - Kinks of the Heart

Årabrot were on my radar of the bands to listen to for a while, but I never took the time to dig into their discography.

This week's playlist was the perfect opportunity: Kjetil Nernes, who essentially IS the band Årabrot, along with his musician wife Karin Park are good friends with Ulver, from the same metal/noise rock music community in Norway.

Here is the main track of their 2021 album, Norwegian Gothic, a noise rock with a very pleasant 90s flavor, somewhere between Mastodon and Fugazi.

5. ULVER - Eos (Live at the Norwegian Opera)

Honour where honour is due.

The opening track of their most seminal album is also the prime of Ulver (& Tore) 's ambient music era (before they embarked on their synthpop sound).

This live rendition of the song is a pure gem.

I vividly remember their gig in Paris on that tour—the opening, the ambience, the video backdrop, and the vocals—probably some of my best live music memories since I started going to concerts.

Until the next time, Godspeed!

Thomas

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Hello everyone!

This Week's Playlist - Season 3, Episode 33.

A featured guest this week.

I welcome not only a musician to this newsletter but also a singer I have seen on stage so many times in the last twenty years, singing with Psykup, My Own Private Alaska, and many more. Matthieu's voice sits somewhere at the crossroads of metal, post-hardcore, and more folk/rock influences.

Here are five of his favourite songs—as Rock as you could have imagined. :-) For those interested, please check at the end of this email for some of Matthieu's bands.

I hope you enjoy it and see you next week!

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There is a YouTube link for each of the songs on the cover, and here are the playlists for each streaming platform:

Listen on Spotify

1. IDLES - Grace

If you still wonder whether rock is dead, you need to listen to IDLES. Everything about it is Rock. The attitude. The sound. The look. Without ever falling into any cliché. A disconcerting musical personality.

IDLES doesn't come to make something pretty or to look cool. These people have always managed to unsettle, while simultaneously generating both fascination and repulsion.

Their latest album could have been the end of this well-deserved hype, but that is not the case. The musicians are clever, the structures are relevant, and what can we say about the immense charisma of Joe Talbot, the singer?

The music video for this "Grace" is finally a must-see, somewhere between absurdity and enchantment.

2. PINK FLOYD – Wish You Were Here

I think PINK FLOYD is definitely my favorite band, and they might never be equaled.

There is such depth and emotion in "Wish You Were Here" that I think I've cried dozens of times listening to this track. When I read about the context and the meaning behind the origin of this song, I was even more moved!

The ghostly presence of Syd Barrett, who had become a shadow of his former self, and his friends facing loss and madness, emptiness, and addiction. Everything about this song is powerful. Even the album's artwork is a masterpiece.

3. LES COWBOYS FRINGANTS – La Tête Haute

When I learned of the death of Karl Tremblay from Les Cowboys Fringants, I cried like a child all morning. Truly. I don’t know why...

Other artists dear to my heart have already passed away. But this time. I don’t know. The lyrics. The context. The humanity. The melodies. The story. Him. I was listening again to the tracks my colleague Ludi used to play for me, and the tears kept flowing. They wouldn’t stop.

I later learned that he kept his cancer a secret from fans for 2 years while writing "La Tête Haute." So, the tears flowed even more. I saw all the tributes. The Montreal hockey players who emblazoned their jerseys with Tremblay's name along with "Étoiles Filantes." Francophone artists who wrote beautiful words about Karl, I’m thinking of Gauvain Sers among others, and so many others. I listened to "Plus Rien" again. It almost overwhelmed me.

Then, a big swipe of the sleeve, and the tears stopped. But I swear, when I hear the violins in the video, it’s close to flowing again. So many things resonate. That’s the role of music. To be the mirror of our buried reflections, painful or enchanted. Apparently, Karl’s words resonated with many people.

Bravo & thank you.

4. PROTOMARTYR – Polacrilex Kid

Algorithms do their job well sometimes.

I was supposed to listen to some post-punk bands, and I found myself thinking that post-punk can be very boring at times. We can play the hipster and force ourselves to get excited about mustachioed guys playing shoegaze at bourgeois festivals, but we have to admit, post-punk has often become boring.

So when PROTOMARTYR's sound starts, you are inevitably drawn in by a strong personality. The spoken word is embodied and musical. The guitars seem inspired by the best post-rock bands from Scotland. The rhythm is fresh, clever, and finally innovative.

A name that slaps. Everything is there!

5. SLIFT – Ilion

A few years ago, I was coaching a rock band from Ariège called SLIFT.

I’m not going to play the expert and say, "I knew before everyone else that they would one day sign with Sub Pop Records," no… I’m not going to ride the buzz either, like half the scavengers in the scene, no.

I just saw a good band in the morning. Which became a very good band in the evening. And which, several years later, became an excellent band.

I just want to talk about the joy we had together, and the joy I sometimes have during those days. That precise and uncontrollable moment when the band, through trust and letting go, generates that rare strong, vivid, palpable emotion, both for the audience and for themselves…

They were annoyed by the formatted advice given by some professionals: "You need to talk more on stage, you need to develop communication…" I preferred to tell them: "You’re the bosses, no one decides for you, if you find it annoying to talk about trivialities to the audience, don’t say anything. It will be obvious that it annoys you, and it will annoy you, and dampen your energy, no one wins."

They wondered if that was respectful. A fair point. I told them that when I see them enjoying their sound like a kid enjoys Nutella, when I see them smiling at each other after a solo that took them far, when I see their bodies drenched and in a trance, I see nothing but respect. Disrespect is when people play music but don’t care in the end. And the audience often feels it. And music is important to Jean, Dawan, and Canek. Everything that happens is therefore well-deserved. The stage never lies.

Some more links

• 🔉 My Own Private Alaska

• 🔉 Cancel The Apocalypse

• 📷 Matthieu on Instagram

• 🔉 Agora Fidelio on Spotify

Until the next time, Godspeed!

Thomas

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• Did you enjoy these songs? Forward this email to a friend, or buy me a coffee :-)

• Missed an episode: Here are the archives.

Hello everyone!

This Week's Playlist - Season 3, Episode 32.

First playlist in two weeks. I took a well deserved break last weekend. Back on the weekly ritual today.

I spent a week mostly offline with my family, eating a lot and watching the Olympics in Paris. A lot has been said about these games (and its opening ceremony) and it was really fun to see all the events taking place in a city I know so well.

However, time for another 5 tracks as a final thank you to the Olympic spirit.

I hope you enjoy it and see you next week.

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There is a YouTube link for each of the songs on the cover, and here are the playlists for each streaming platform:

Listen on Spotify

1. Nina Simone - Ain’t Got No / I Got Life

Starting with a tribute to Simone Biles, who made me watch more gymnastics in 2 weeks than during my entire past life :-)

Nina Simone, for one of her lesser-known hits (at least for me). The live rendition is also worth a listen.

2. Cult of Luna - A Dawn to Fear

Heavy metal made it into the spotlights, with Gojira playing in front of the concierge for the opening ceremony (which was so cool).

Phoenix played for the closing ceremony (amongst a jam with Air, Kavinsky, and Angele).

Metalhead nerds would have spotted another connection with heavy metal there: Phoenix's drummer is a Swedish from Sri Lanka who also plays with Cult of Luna, the atmospheric metal band from Umea.

Here is a track from my favourite album from them; very slow, chill and atmospheric vibe.

3. Snoop Dog - Gin & Juice

Arguably the actual mascot of the Olympic games :-)

Here is an oldie from his first album.

4. Supreme NTM - That’s My People

I mentioned it during my previous episode, but the basketball level of this Olympic tournament was one of the highest. It was an incredible game to watch. USA beat France in both finals (Men's and women's), with a nail-biting finish in the Women's finals.

The men's French team had a very rough start to the competition, barely winning against average teams and being battered by Germany, one of the contenders.

During the Playoffs, they found their groove back by making their way to the Olympic final, with a "Racaille" attitude (thug attitude in English) and fighting spirit.

Guerschon Yabusele made a huge impact on those games, especially this dunk on Lebron James, which became instantly iconic.

Here is a song from the greatest "Racaille" hip-hop duo of all time as a thank-you for their silver medal.

5. DJ Mehdi - Signatune (Thomas Bangalter edit)

The electronic music French touch was omnipresent during these 2 weeks (starting with Justice, as a background track for the 100m male participants presentation and Olympic closing ceremony).

Slightly lesser known is the iconic tune of DJ Mehdi (may he rest in peace), reworked by half of Daft Punk. It was such an iconic moment that it was used for the final of the Olympic torch relay.

Until the next time, Godspeed!

Thomas

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Hello everyone!

This Week's Playlist - Season 3, Episode 31.

It’s hot, I’m soon on holidays and the Olympic games are in full force.

My brother is back for another selection of 5 nerdy yet very catchy picks (as usual), as he’s done before.

I hope you enjoy it and see you next week.

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There is a YouTube link for each of the songs on the cover, and here are the playlists for each streaming platform:

Listen on Spotify

1. Kiki Gyan – Keep on Dancing

Sometimes considered the African Stevie Wonder, Kiki Gyan was a funk disco keyboard player in the 70s and 80s, notably playing with Osibisa. He unfortunately seems to have had a difficult end of life with poverty and severe drug addictions...

In 2012 Soundway Records published a post-mortem compilation of his best solo hits, which are genuinely all bangers!

2. Kai Richarz – Was werden denn die Andern denken

Cool chill music from Germany. I couldn’t find much info about the artist, and I believe this one popped up in my spotify recommendations a few years ago but I still enjoy listening to it!

3. Jantra – Jaborouna Jabor

The mesmerizing and otherworldly sound from Sudanese keyboard player. The rhythms initially feel a bit off but eventually take you to a different galaxy.

Just the name of the album would make music connoisseurs sweat: “Synthesized Sudan: Astro-Nubian Electronic Jaglara Dance Sounds from the Fashaga Underground”.

4. Wicked Dub Division feat North East Ska Jazz Orchestra – Mama

An Italian all star line-up for some powerful... Reggae? Ska? Dub? Not entirely sure how you describe this style! The rhythm, the big band, the slightly cheesy male singer lyrics, gets me boogieing every time!

5. Rachmaninoff – Prelude in G minor op. 23 no. 5

I visited a friend recently. His partner is a professional pianist and she was working on this piece which sounded awesome.

As always with classical music, there are as many versions as there are interpreters, so after a not so exhaustive youtube search I settle on this one from Yuja Wang (who seems to be a classical piano rockstar) live at Philharmonie Berlin in 2018.

5+1: La Fanfare en Pétard – Petit Martien

A friend of mine visited a few years ago and played this song every morning. Can’t tell you more about the band or anything else but the song puts me in a good mood every time!

5+2: dicht & ergreifend – Forever Youngg'seY

A funny take on the ultra famous song from Manu Chao. dicht & ergreifend is a duo formed in Berlin though they are both from southern Germany. This particular song is in southern dialect and makes use of the similarity between the original “me gustas tú” and “gwusst, dass du”, meaning “I didn’t know that you...”.

Until the next time, Godspeed!

Thomas

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Hello everyone!

This Week's Playlist - Season 3, Episode 30.

Like many of you, I watched the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games on Friday evening. I started watching it out of curiosity and became mesmerised by the following five-and-a-half hours.

A lot has been said about this (rain-soaked) opening ceremony, so I won't go into details. Still, the opportunity was too big not to use it for a weekly playlist about the Olympic spirit.

I hope you enjoy it and see you next week.

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There is a YouTube link for each of the songs on the cover, and here are the playlists for each streaming platform:

Listen on Spotify

1. Vangelis - Chariots of Fire

To start, a homage to the Paris 1024 Olympics games, with the theme of Chariots of Fire: The anthem from Vangelis (cf my other hommage playlist) composed for the historical movie about two British athletes competing for Gold during the previous Olympic Games in Paris a century ago.

2. Selekta T Mega - Balang

I had to dig for this one.

You all know I'm a huge basketball nerd. And one of the highlights of the Olympic games is usually the basketball tournament (Remember the Dream Team in Barcelona 92). This year's tournament is going to be one of the most disputed.

One of the underdogs is South Sudan. This year, their basketball team qualified for their first olympic tournament, is playing Team USA later this week (after an epic warm-up game in London).

So, an hommage to the underdogs with one song from the most prominent South Sudanese hip hop artist I could find (made famouse in the Blood Diamond soundtrack, featuring a Sudanese guitar player).

3. Tori Amos - Heart of Gold

Neil Young's classic "Heart of Gold" captures themes of perseverance, authenticity, and pursuing dreams, making it fitting for the Olympic Games.

And this cover from Tori Amos has a lovely 90s alternative rock spirit.

4. Woodkid - Prologue

The oh-so-recognisable Woodkid composed the prologue theme for Paris 2024. The electronic / neo-classical French composer, for a very catchy and chilling theme, was used multiple times during the opening ceremony (I believe).

5. Gojira - Silvera

Gojira stole the show of the opening ceremony with their in-your-face show with an opera singer in front of the concierge in fire and flames. It was breathtaking.

I've been a huge Gojira fan since their early years, and seeing them playing on the biggest stage with so much energy and flames made me emotional. Revolutionary songs, heavy metal music, flames, and energy—what could we ask for more?

So, to close this week's playlist, here is a song from their Magma album.

Until the next time, Godspeed!

Thomas

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Hello everyone!

This Week's Playlist - Season 3, Episode 29.

I wrote about TV shows and their themes last year for the finale of Succession (what a final season it was).

Another of the best TV shows of the last couple of years, The Bear, is back with a third season. I've really enjoyed it so far and for the occasion. I'm re-watching the first two seasons as a refresher.

For those who don't know about it:

The Bear is a comedy-drama television series featuring an award-winning chef who returns to his hometown of Chicago to manage the chaotic kitchen at his deceased brother's sandwich shop.

However, the soundtrack is very 90s rock music focused, for the pleasure of the 90s teenagers here. So, for this week, here are five tracks from the Bear.

I hope you enjoy it, and see you next week.

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There is a YouTube link for each of the songs on the cover, and here are the playlists for each streaming platform:

Listen on Spotify

1. Refused - New Noise

2. Sufjan Stevens - Chicago (demo)

3. Wilco - Impossible Germany

4. LCD Soundsystem - call the police

5. R.E.M. Strange Currencies

Until the next time, Godspeed!

Thomas

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• Did you enjoy these songs? Forward this email to a friend, or buy me a coffee :-)

• Missed an episode: Here are the archives.

Hello everyone!

This Week's Playlist - Season 3, Episode 28.

Greetings back from London after two weeks away, between Hellfest and the South of France, for a wedding under a 30+°C sun. The return to a rainy London was brutal :-)

We'll be back with a bi-weekly guest starting next week. Still, for today, we're continuing another recurring mid-year tradition for this newsletter: the albums I find the most interesting of 2024 so far (I’ve skipped albums I’ve included in previous newsletters).

• Previous editions: 2022, 2023

I hope you enjoy it, and see you next week.

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There is a YouTube link for each of the songs on the cover, and here are the playlists for each streaming platform:

Listen on Spotify

1. Kiasmos - Told

“The Icelandic-Faroese duo follow their 2014 cult debut with a second album of meticulous, majestic, simply beautiful electronic music.”

• The Guardian review

2. Justice - The End (featuring Thundercat)

While I found their new album (the first in 8 years) quite passable (it’s missing some bangers, as we say in the jargon), the closing track of the new Justice album is quite something.

• Resident Advisor review

3. Alcest - L’Envol

The French shoegaze/black-metal band is back, 5 years after their previous album for another elegant gem with bright and uplifting angry music.

• Metal Hammer review

4. Arooj Aftab - Aey Nehin

I talked about Arooj Aftab in my OG playlist 2 years ago and more last year.

Arooj Aftab comes back for a more haunted and noir jazz album in 2024.

• Pitchfork review

5. Pearl Jam - Scared of Fear

A “back-to-the-roots” more raw sound for the grunge survivors, teaming up with a young-gun producer.

• Rolling Stone review *I might not have been as enthusiastic as this review but the album is still a good moment*

Until the next time, Godspeed!

Thomas

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• Missed an episode: Here are the archives.