Since I last posted a playlist some forever months ago, it's more than time for a new one. You'll find embeddable playlists for both Spotify and Deezer at the bottom of this post.
Today marks the 50th anniversary since Beach Boys' "Pet Sounds" was released. Truly a seminal landmark in pop music and beyond, I'm looking forward to seeing Brian Wilson playing the entire piece at the Primavera Sound festival in less than a month!
Also, Manic Street Preachers are celebrating the 20th anniversary of their great "Everything Must Go". I've included the last track from the re-release of the album, a teary-eyed distorted thing; I love the ending, the boxy radio-sounding quality where there's some guitar masturbation going on.
Holy Fuck's new album named "Congrats" is coming very soon, and they've so far released two tracks, of which I love "Tom Tom" the most. However, the song "Xed Eyes" is a lot fucking better with this tripped-out video extravaganza to aid it.
Clark, the fine electronics artist, has made the soundtrack for "The Last Panthers" - a TV-series that's mainly known for David Bowie consciously providing the theme song for it - which is calm and instrumental, dark and droning.
I just found out about Anoushka Shankar today. What a track. This video is actually even more powerful than the track by itself, where she's playing the track - which is written by Ravi Shankar, her father - with Tanmoy Bose (tabla) and Kenji (Tampura) at the Neurosciences Institute:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CnhcGpmH9Y
...and, writing of powerful musicans:
Silvana Imam is one of the best rappers in Sweden. Although I've found her new album, "Naturkraft", to be patchy in terms of quality, when she lights up, she sets off. This track is one of the brighter moments.
It took me a lot of time, but when I saw the trailer for Sofia Coppola's "The Bling Ring", I quickly learned that there's apparently more to Sleigh Bells than I first thought. Even though that track, "Crown On The Ground", is a perfect mix of distortion, guitar, melody and voice, I just love "Infinity Guitars", so it's here.
Grigory Sokolov, what a dude. Even though he was a virtuoso piano player, he let his emotions take the lead. I really enjoyed his outbursts and shit. Also, check this vid, it's a like a rollercoaster ride:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5TSan3JUrc
From that to: Death Grips.
David Bowie liked them, according to Tony Visconti. I've gotta say, even though the band's over, they've released quite some material since. Their latest album, "Bottomless Pit", from where this track is picked up, is their best yet if you ask me. And it's a ride, too, a high-octane one.
Steve Mason was once in mighty The Beta Band, whose "Dry The Rain" will forever light some way. However, he went somewhat ill and then a lot better, and his latest album attests to his song-writing capacity, even to his great voice. Akin to Doves, get in there.
Thanks to Rough Trade, I've just discovered Karl Blau. His latest album, "Introducing Karl Blau", is a great country rock one. Go listen. And yes, he reminds me of a certain Patrick Pestorius.
Mogwai are always Mogwai, and this is one of their best tracks. They've recently-ish released a compilation named "Central Belters", which I recommend if you haven't heard them before.
As for the Furries, I've just covered this track - which is grand - so find out for yourself; fingers will be crossed for an album to be released onto the world as soon as possible.
Lakker have just released their second album - they actually refer to it as a "maxi EP" - “Struggle & Emerge”, which is a more varied techno album than their first one, which I loved. This is the loveliest song off the new album.
http://open.spotify.com/user/pivic/playlist/0VHorCQ2AIUcDEQW2L1TIt