Friday Playlist #4

It’s been a while since I posted a Friday Playlist. Here is a list of the albums I am listening to at the moment:

1. Kasabian – West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum

I have their first two albums – I love the way their music is developing. The psychedelia of this one particularly attracts me. The track ‘Fire’ brought the crowd to their feet at Glastonbury.

2. Eels – Meet the Eels: Volume 1

I loved ‘Novocaine for the Soul’ when it came out. This is a retrospective which shows just how talented Mark Oliver Everett (E) is! A great songwriter.

3. No-Man – Schoolyard Ghosts

I’ve been following this band for a while – this recent album is stunning. Steven Wilson (Porcupine Tree) makes great music and Tim Bowness sings in a beautifully fragile voice with great lyrics.

4 . Jon Hassell – Last Night the Moon Came Dropping its Clothes in the Street

The unique path that is Jon Hassell continues to become more mesmeric and spell-binding! The use of the studio as an instrument is becoming more astounding in his work.

5. Bon Iver – For Emma, Forever Ago

It’s like Neil Young starting again – with a broken heart and an acoustic guitar.

6. Steven Wilson – Insurgentes

Wilson’s solo album has fantastic big tracks with great guitar work and frequent collapses into brain-shattering noise. He really understands how to shift from beauty to chaos.

7. Tom Waits – Small Change

Early album – I’m gradually buying up the back-catalogue whilst waiting for the new one!

8. Doves – Kingdom of Rust

Fourth album shows how tight their music is – a three piece with soul and prog all mixed up.

9. Friendly Fires – Friendly Fires

Reminds me of A Certain Ratio meets Jamiroquai (the good bits of each!) I love the innocent energy and infectious dance-ability of this album.

10. Antony and the Johnsons – The Crying Light

OK, everyone says about the voice, but what about the stunning album cover, the arrangements and the range of this album. In a world carved out for itself.