Gray Days and Gold, August 2023
Hello, friends. Once a month, I assemble an hour-long radio show (except it’s not on the radio) of new music that deserves an ear. For context, in this episode I introduce something as a “banger” and then proceed to play a song that sort of sounds like a 1940s dance band popped Seconal together and are gradually falling asleep. If your own definition of “banger” is anywhere near as unfashionable as that, you might be in the right place. No login or subscription required—or for the Lloyd Doblers in the audience, nothing sold, bought, or processed—just press play and enjoy.
You can listen to this episode via the embedded player just below in this post—if you don’t see it, try turning off your ad-blocker then reloading the page—or on the Mixcloud website, via the Mixcloud mobile app, on your Sonos system, etc.
There’s also a more barebones iteration of this episode’s playlist (minus my commentary, as well as tracks ) on Spotify and Apple Music.
If you like what you hear, please support the artists. You’ll find buy links to the tracks in the bulleted list below.
Gray Days and Gold, August 2023
- The Duckworth Lewis Method, “Flatten the Hay” (2009) • BUY
- Rachael Dadd, “Feather” (2023) • BUY
- Daniel O’Sullivan, “For Ari” (2023) • BUY
- Andrew Judah, “Suggestions” (2023) • BUY
- La Bibliothèque de la Bergerie, “Loterie Solaire” (2023) • BUY
- Thomas Walsh, “A Good Day for Me” (2023) • BUY
- Asynchrone, “Plastic Bamboo” (2023) • BUY
- Babi, “Croton” (2023) • BUY
- Momus, “Men Are the Problem” (2023) • BUY
- Sternpost, “Kalksinter” (2023) • BUY
- Co-Pilot, “Spring Beach” (2023) • BUY
- Pallmer, “Freshet” (2023) • BUY
- Ben Callicott, “Agency” (2023) • BUY
- Bly Wallentine, “Deep Pleasure” (2023) • BUY
- Natalie Rose LeBrecht, “Holy” (2023) • BUY
Apropos Nothing Appendix
Andy Partridge on songwriting
Speaking not just as an XTC fan but as someone who’s performed in a couple of XTC tribute shows, few things are as elusive and delightful as learning the exact chords and fingerings that the group—and especially Andy—used. While Andy’s given numerous interviews in which he discusses songwriting through his synesthetic lens, I’ve never seen him go in-depth on the structure of his guitar-based compositions like in this new series of interviews with guitarist and composer Chanan Hanspal. (I was unable to embed them here, so watch on Hanspal’s YouTube channel.)
Sodajerker on Songwriting: Stephen Duffy
I suspect a handful of us listeners have been lobbying for years for Stephen to appear on the preëminent songwriting podcast and, now that he’s promoting the new Lilac Time album Dance Till All the Stars Come Down, the day has finally arrived.
Rick Beato: The Jimmy Webb interview
My travel schedule will cause me to miss seeing Jimmy Webb in person on his current speaking & performance tour, so I was glad that Rick Beato recently met him in the studio for a wide-ranging talk. Particularly enjoyable: the anecdote about James Taylor phoning up while attempting to play “Wichita Lineman”, but unsure that the song was really in F as Webb had told him. Webb proceeds to play through the chords and realize that at no point does it ever land on anything that’s plainly an F, “…but it IS in F.” All hail the king. (Watch on YouTube)
As always, thanks for listening. If you have questions, suggestions, etc. please feel free to contact me. And if you’d like to receive these posts via email, sign up below.
