Tuesday Tunes--November 29, 2016
Shaun Cordingley
I am all over the place this week, musically, which is really good for you guys, as that means there's a good chance that there is something to suit all tastes...but it's going to make Future Shaun's life harder when he has to build the playlist.
That, however, is his problem...not mine!
The Guys From do not hold the rights to any of these songs, it is more our hope to expose our readers to new and different music that we are enjoying, or re-expose them to artists they may have forgotten about.
At the top of each section, will be the song name, followed by the artists' name linked to their website, so you can fall down the rabbit hole, finding and supporting what you dig.
Throwing Stones - Wolf and Willow
Starting us off this week is Melbourne-based folk duo Wolf and Willow with their song "Throwing Stones" off of their EP Born to Be which released earlier this year. This is a beautifully paced, soft-folk song which, to be honest, the lads described better than I ever could in their video notes:
Throwing Stones is the fifth and final track of our debut EP 'Born to be.' Recorded in a makeshift church studio, the boys looked to encapsulate youthful stories manifesting as their debut record. This song was written in two parts, the first in an aura of spite and malice following a falling out with a friend. I felt I was wronged but it was later after gaining some perspective that I found the situation was a result of my own actions. The song was then revisited and completed to how we know it today, as a declaration to move on from childish antics.
"Throwing Stones" really does feel like a thoughtful progression through a tumultuously emotional patch, all done over excellent acoustic guitars, and a great use of piano to just provide little musical highlights.
Do check out Born to Be if you like "Throwing Stones"; Wolf and Willow have made a very pretty folk EP, that is not just ballads like "Throwing Stones", but does pick up the pace into more adventurous songs as well--I suggest "Seaside" myself.
Queen Kunta - Sudan Archives
I generally don't put covers up on Tuesday Tunes, but Sudan Archives, a self-taught African folk violinist/vocalist/electronic producer's "Queen Kunta" is special. Taking Kendrick Lamar's funky, old school rap "King Kunta" (from the amazing To Pimp a Butterfly) and twisting it into a lounge-y, soulful piece, that rolls along not only on the strength of the beautiful vocals, but the clever, looping back-beat punching up some violin solos that are near hear-melting (speaking, of course, as a former cellist, in my pre-DJ days). I love this, and am very excited to continue to hear more tracks from Sudan Archives.
I can almost promise this won't be on the playlist next week (as this is a special release), but it was just too good not to introduce y'all to it; I feel like Sudan Archives is probably an artist who will show up on these lists again, so try not to be too heartbroken.
Left to Pay (ftr. Michal Martin) - Anki
Hailing from Bristol, electronic producer Anki has his debut album coming out next month called Circadian, and the first track I heard was "Left to Pay": this amazing blend of...late 1990s, early 2000s pop-punk rock style vocals from Micah Martin, blended into fun indie EDM. I realize that that sounds like a strange mix, but thanks to Anki's electronic design, which both enhances, and helps to feature the vocals (a heavy, club beat, and a few synth-electric guitar cuts make a big difference) into one of of my favorite electronic songs of the year.
Circadian comes out 12.12.16, so if you dig "Left to Pay", be sure to set a reminder to check it out.
Two Minds - Haus
"Two Minds" from London indie rock band Haus is one of those indie rock songs that sneaks up on you and ends up on repeat for days. This is a song that combines a bunch of elements, including a modern-alt haze, a snappy bass line, and shifting musical feeling, to perfectly balance, and at the same time, enhance the vocals, which pushes "Two Minds" beyond a lot of the other indie rock floating around out there. This feels like a song you would hear in a cool, indie film, and you would spend the rest of the day trying to track it down; it's an effortlessly cool rock song that I feel you need in your library.
If this is your first Haus song, I suggest also checking out a few of their other singles; "Haze" is one that I particularly like.
The Road is the Sky (ftr. Kayla Diamond) - LE
"The Road is the Sky" is probably the best folk/hip hop blend I have ever heard. Now I can't say I've heard many of them, but the combination here of LE and Kayla Diamond is gorgeous. Calling it Alternative Folk, the song is simple: featuring beautiful folk vocals from both artists, a hip hop chorus from LE in the middle, and all wrapped together by an elegant, lilting acoustic guitar (played by Diamond) that adds both that folk sensibility to it, with a slight sense of fun.
Honestly, I love what is happening in the indie folk scene, and LE & Kayla Diamond have...probably one of my favourite songs of the year in "The Road is the Sky"...but I suppose we will find out when we do our end of the year lists, yeah?
Here's the Apple Music Playlist for October 2016! Missing three songs again, which does make me sad, but this is a very fun, and diverse list...with...slightly fewer hard transitions in it then there has been on occasion when I've been putting these together.
Remember, if you want me to put these playlists on other services (like Spotify), let me know on Twitter (I've linked it below)
If you're looking for more Tuesday Tunes, are late to the party, or just want more theguysfrom.com in your day, here are the playlists for:
There are other (earlier) playlists available for you if you check out earlier articles or search on Apple Music itself.
See you again next Tuesday with five more Tuesday Tunes!
-S (@Shauncord)