I am a somewhat busy boy at the moment. One factor of adult life that I was not anticipating is just how relentless it can be; work, life admin, and even the fun bits pile up until you’re caught in a blur of stuff. In the immortal words of Smash Mouth, “The years keep comin’ and they don’t stop comin’”. This is a feeling that is very much shared by my partner Meg, who arrived back from a research trip/home visit to California on Thursday, and then almost immediately scooted back up to Cambridge the following morning for the start of the new term. Meg’s been doing her PhD for a little while now and so we’re both a bit more used to the rhythm of the Cambridge school year, but I’m still amazed and dumbfounded at how she manages to handle the spinning plates that come with juggling multiple lives in disparate geographic locations.
However, one thing that does occasionally get left by the wayside in this process is the discovery of new music. So to reduce the inevitable onslaught of music recommendations/news/beef updates that she’s forced to endure during the time we get together, we have a little ritual; at the start of each new term I put together a playlist of songs to provide a soundtrack for the next 8 weeks of her life. I try to include a good mix of things to cover the variety of moods that doing a PhD will bring to your life; ragers, boppers, heartbreaking stuff. Weaving it into something cohesive is a challenge, and not one I’m always able to succeed at, but I feel like I’ve done a reasonably good job this time. So for this week’s postcard, you’re invited to have a little peak into the playlist that I put together for Meg for her Easter term. I’ve cut the somewhat meaty tracklist down to our standard ten tunes that should in turn both energise and soothe you. So grab your backpack, pack your pencil case, and let’s dive into your syllabus.
Who had nu-metal returning on their predictions for 2024? Not me, that’s for fucking sure, but this is one of those times when I’m very glad to be proven wrong. We’re kicking off class with the new single from Irish post-punkers Fontaines D.C., who are back with an evolved sound and very silly outfits. These guys are another band who so far had managed to evade my attention apart from one or two tracks (including this absolutely slamming remix by Soulwax), but I’d heard a lot of positive press about this first taste of their new album so I thought I’d give it a spin. Man I’m glad I did, because this has become a real staple of mine in recent months. Whilst they haven’t entirely gone down the road to being full Limp Bizkit clones, the added shades of nu-metal—massive drums, quasi-rapped vocals and that weird ol’ gasp during the chorus—bring something very special to the track. It reminds me a lot of some of the stuff that Alex G was playing about with on his last record, which in my mind is a huge compliment, and makes me very excited to hear what else they have in store for us.
On the other end of the spectrum, we have a spectacular new song from Jessica Pratt off her long awaited new album Here in the Pitch. It blew my mind that it’s been 5 years since her last (excellent) record Quiet Signs, which became an immediate favourite of mine for the hushed and haunting world it managed to create. Despite clocking in at a slight 27 minutes, the new album more than makes up for the long wait. The hallmarks of the classic Jessica Pratt sound remain, but they’re no longer confined to the quiet of night; that huge reverb is now applied to something much brighter, and is augmented with a wide variety of instrumentation including saxophone, flute and even drums(!). The track I’ve chosen for inclusion here, “Better Hate”, exemplifies this shift to a sunnier disposition, bringing elements of 60’s psychedelia and bossanova into the fold to great effect. If you need a record to accompany your morning coffee, look no further.
Last but certainly not least, we have a track off the new record by jazz saxophonist Jasmine Myra, to which we have papa Dean to thank! After discovering her on Spotify last year, my dad requested tickets to see her in Brighton last Monday for his Birthday gift. I was blown away by the gig, which saw Jasmine joined by a seven-piece band who were a true force of nature: think of the power of early Cinematic Orchestra and you’re on the right track. The highlight of the show for me was the performance of the track I’ve included here, called “Glimmers”, which was inspired by her appreciation and love for hip-hop. The restraint of the players here works so well; each part is allowed to wander and improvise, but never overwhelm the feeling that the track is going for. It results in this sense of controlled tension throughout the song, all held together by the incredibly tight yet expressive drums laid down by George Hall. Don’t pass down the opportunity to see her live if you get the chance. You will be mezermised.
As always, the Tidal link is here for you folks. I hope that this little postcard can give you a good soundtrack for whatever you’re learning at the moment. But until next week, class dismissed!
Postcard 17: 13/05/2024
Fontaines D. C. - Starburster
Amen Dunes - Boys
Peshay - On The Nile
Vampire Weekend - The Surfer
villagerrr - Runnin’ Round
The Bures Band - Let In Outside
Jessica Pratt - Better Hate
Jasmine Myra - Glimmers
David Murphy - Citi na gCumann
Oisin Leech, M. Ward, Tony Garnier and Steve Gunn - October Sun