New music finds its way to me in many ways. I collect tracks here and there like dust, until I eventually have enough to roll into a disc, which happens only once or twice a year.
These discs are stamps in time, each one a ring in the tree trunk of my musical life. They don’t include my roots, that is I don’t add any songs which I already know. So they always bring up memories of my first experience of these songs and where I was in my life when I heard them.
I’ve given these compilations many different titles over the years. They were originally recorded on my tape deck so I still can’t help calling them mixtapes even though the medium has changed. The latest title comes from a term I heard Paul Morley used to describe the genre “New Pop”. Weary of rock and post-punk genre imitators by the end of 1980, he called for artists to push towards an “overground brightness”.
“But there is definitely a new mood spreading: not something that gives in to crass commercialism. A mood that picks up and re-models the dreams and themes of the original punk groups… Teenagers who are picking up on pop for the first time should have a fresh, changing choice not a stiff handed-down one. The rock jumble sale, those seventh hand emotions, those worn out tricks, those cracked egos. The mood is there… Change of images. Towards an overground brightness, fighting for the right to bring life back to radio, to make the single count, to be let through to their natural audience. Modern excitement… “Democratic dance music!” For choice and value.”
— Paul Morley in the NME, 20th December 1980
These compilations are eclectic, but to me these songs are essentially pop. They have melodies, hooks, unique vocals or delicious sound design. They won’t be everyone’s idea of pop, and this particular mix leans into some pretty noisy stuff, but sometimes we need that sort of noise in our lives. Sometimes good noise really helps.
You can listen over on Mixcloud.
Notes follow below.
Arlo – Diamond (Buy), 2024
I discovered this track when I was scouring the YouTube channel of the incredible French production studio Meat Dept. Apart from the naturally next-level music video, this song has an irresistible dirty groove and sparkling crisp production through which Lola Delon’s soulful strains empower. The duo is Art Bleek and Lola Delon both born in France and collaborating between LA and Burgundy. Vive la France!
Hypsoline – Space Babe (Buy), 2022
A few friends mentioned this all-woman Brighton band to me after loving their live show at the Prince Albert last year. I really enjoyed watching some of it on Youtube but couldn’t find the same track. No matter, I found this one and it’s great. Nobody seems to know them right now but I don’t think they’ll be secret for long.
Santigold – Shake (Buy), 2022
In all honesty we’ve actually been listening to Santigold’s live version of Lights Out a lot recently, but it’s a track I already know so is disqualified from the compilation! We were also energised by her awesome Tiny Desk concert during which she performs Shake. This year has not been without it’s hardships and this is the kind of song that helps you get back on your feet.
6161 – Prowl (Buy), 2025
This band was another recommendation from a couple of friends who got to see them play live at ALPHABET in Brighton. When I looked them up I found this lightning in a bottle recording session and had to buy the album right away. The bombast of those horns mixed in with intricate synth textures and the unpredictable patterns in the music makes them truly exciting to listen to. Incidentally I love the way that session is shot, it really captures the feeling of what it’s like recording music, that odd combination of the somewhat dry, technical world of the studio plus a heightened flow state (if you’re lucky).
J.C.R.G. – World I (Buy), 2024
I avoid Spotify as much as possible, but hanging with a friend recently he provided background music via a playlist on his phone. When his playlist came to an end Spotify queued up this little ditty. I jotted their name down and subsequently found them doing an epic performance on KEXP and had to get the album.
Kugelschreiber – (me x u) ≠ (u x me) (Buy), 2024
It means ball point pen in German. I discovered these guys because of vocalist/bassist Sharron Fortnam’s connection to Cardiacs and William D. Drake. I’m a sucker for science-themed music and I love the lo-fi pop here with those very Cardiacs-y syncopated beats keeping you on your toes.
Cindy Lee – Diamond Jubilee (Buy), 2024
I heard about Cindy Lee’s magnum opus Diamond Jubilee simply because of it’s uniquely un-marketed release. The album came out via a geocities website —yes, apparently they still exist! I just love the way this track builds and releases into it’s incredibly languid groove. It’s like I’m flying on a magic carpet through clouds with a tiny transistor radio straining to get a clear signal.
Loaded Honey – Over (Buy), 2025
I looked up Loaded Honey after reading a brief review in the Observer newspaper. Damn these guys are amazing at emulating that 60s soul sound. J Lloyd and Lydia Kitto’s main band is Jungle so it’s no wonder, they really know what they’re doing.
Pigmeat Markham – Who Got The Number (Listen), 1969
One of my main sources of tracks I’ve never heard before is the incredible free internet radio station Vintage Obscura. Originally a crate-diggers’ reddit thread, it plays a constant stream of discoveries in all genres from Japanese city-pop to punk. The only rules are the tracks must have fewer than 30,000 views on YouTube at the time of discovery and be released before the year 2000.
Pigmeat Markham was a comedian, singer, dancer and actor and his 1968 hit “Here Comes The Judge” is regarded as a forerunner of rap. This one is also funky and funny, an excellent combo.
Asha Puthli – Love Song of a Divorced Woman (Listen), 1980
When I first heard this song I thought I was hearing early unreleased Kate Bush. Asha is a queen diva in her own right, having studied and played music since childhood. She was part of Andy Warhol’s Factory scene, a fixture at Studio 54 and her music has been widely sampled. For some reason she’s on Vintage Obscura! It’s crazy how some artists never achieve wider recognition in spite of their obvious talents.
Hard Corps – Je Suis Passée (Buy)
Speaking of overlooked bands, this month Chris interviewed our good friend and live music journalist Nick Linazosoro who spoke to him about Hard Corps. I recall another friend saying he’d seen them support Depeche Mode in the 1988 when lead singer Regine Fetet shocked the audience by performing topless. Band member Rob Doran reflected that Regine’s “on stage controversies” could have been a contributing factor to scuppering their chances of following Depeche Mode to the US on tour. By the time they released their first album in 1990 they had split up.
Great electronic sounds, classic melancholy 80s Euro-synthpop.
Edwards & Armani – Up Your Bum, 1988
I can’t resist a bit of 303 combined with hard EBM beats. Throw in a cheeky lady saying “Up Your Bum” over and over and as far as I’m concerned you’re onto a winner. Edwards & Armani were Belgian duo Ferre Baelen and Rembert De Smet. Discovered via Vintage Obscura.
Igorrr – ADHD (Buy), 2025
We occasionally have nights in with mates where we take turns showing each other the coolest or weirdest music we can find on YouTube. One particular friend showed us Igorrr’s Very Noise. If you’ve never seen the videos produced by French studio Meat Dept, strap yourself in for some visceral body-horror combined with laugh-out-loud weirdness. They are uniquely brilliant at achieving a heightened realism in 3D that is all the better for being tilted towards humour and surrealism rather than staid literal representations.
Meat Dept aside, Igorrr’s music is equally rollicking violent comedy. There’s a kind of mad glee in the completely unbridled, nay unhinged release of it’s force. ADHD is his latest and Meat Dept certainly stepped up to the plate for the video too.
Pozer – Malicious Intentions (Buy), 2024
We watched the 2024 MOBO music awards in the UK and Pozer has such an impactful sound we both liked him right away. He also seems to have a sense of humour and theatricality, which counts for a lot in a genre often dense with po-faced gangsterism.
MC Ma’at – Pharma Sickness (Buy), 2020
Came across this on James Evan Pilato’s radio show Media Monarchy. The retro beats remind me of Nas circa 1999 and I like the anti big-pharma message. “Will the doctor tell me about fruit and good nutrition? / Will they ever find a cure or simply fight the symptoms?” Bring back political rap!
Odeal – Blame u (Buy), 2024
Another standout 2024 MOBO winner. Odeal nearly made us cry with every track we listened to. This man seems to have lived beyond his years and he articulates it beautifully.
Kazushi Inamura – Free Flight Girl (Buy LP), 1977
I heard this on Vintage Obscura at a time when I really needed some good music to escape into. It was and is melllow, funky bliss.
Colin Stetson – The Love It Took To Leave You (Buy), 2024
I credit Ted Gioia for bringing this to my ears first, but subsequently friends have also recommended the album. Colin Stetson’s abstract, aching saxophone played in a former metal foundry is voluptous and resonant. These tracks are slow and deep, they simply move the heart.
Laurel Halo – Belleville (Buy), 2023
Another track found written in my phone’s notes app without lineage. Laurel Halo is a DJ and electronic artist but I love this piece performed on a broken piano, recorded in one take.
Loaded Honey – Don’t Speak (Buy), 2025
This is a “bonus track”. I love when CDs wind down slowly to a quiet fade out then bring in something completely unexpected. I’m breaking my one track per artist rule here but this song is so utterly joyous I couldn’t resist it adding it as a closer.