“The Last Rotation Of Earth” is the first track off the titled album by BC Camplight, I had previously heard of BC Camplight, but had never delved into his wonderful music. This was the song that put the hook in me, and what a song! It starts with a groovy, reverb drenched drum track and the sampled voice of someone saying "into orbit" or into "our planet" - I am not quite sure. But along side the title we are clearly dealing with a very meditative and broad themes. A perspec

“Moonshine” is the third track on Pacific Ocean Blue , the only solo album released by Dennis Wilson. Dennis Wilson’s contribution to music has long been overlooked. In recent years, though, time has been kinder to his work—as it often is with great art that’s initially underappreciated. There’s something oddly contemporary about his sound, even grungy. Known as the drummer of the Beach Boys—a band that sold the California dream of girls, cars, and surfing—Dennis’s solo work

As my brother reminded me, it was the 50th anniversary of Led Zeppelin’s seminal album “Physical Graffiti” last week. As albums go, you’d be hard pressed to find something as well orchestrated and cohesive as this double album. For all of the 70s rockism and bravado that has somewhat browned around the edges, especially in these modern times, Physical Graffiti represents the collective talent of a band at the peak of their musical powers. “Rock Gods’ aside, when all of the du

In Loving Memory by Gabriels sounds like it was recorded at the back of an old house somewhere in the mid west, in a derelict room with a rickety old piano...and maybe a couple of rusty old microphones thrown in to the mix. The starkness of the production lends itself well to what is an extremely bleak and haunting song about the loss of a loved one. Despite the rather stark sound, it is beautifully produced and the atmosphere within the song is palpable and particularly omin

This song is from Joni Mitchell's 1976 album, the same one that features "Coyote" among other classics. The album showcases more developed instrumentation and an extraordinary level of musicianship, with contributions from top session players like Larry Carlton and Jaco Pastorius, who help bring these life-affirming songs to fruition. "Amelia" is a spacious, emotive, and stunningly beautiful track—one of my favourites, not just by Joni Mitchell, but by any artist. After looki

I am not too familiar with Nilsson, aside from the very famous cover of Fred Neil's "Everybody's Talkin". This is the shortest review I have written, for the same reason this song is so great. The magic of "Early In The Morning" is the fact that it relies on the very simplest elements to create a really great sounding song. The song features a typical major blues structure, with what sounds like an organ playing the solitary vamp. The only other instrument featured is Nilsson

Reviewing this song from the perspective of someone who knows virtually nothing about Alex Cameron—aside from being a talented and experimental Australian artist—this track was a brilliant and striking discovery on my Spotify Discover Weekly playlist. Since then, I’ve learned that Alex Cameron is very much the archetypal "artist's artist," known for adopting stage personas and delivering conceptual albums tied to each character. This particular song comes from an album featur

This is a fantastic collaboration between the late, great Tony Allen and Damon Albarn. Personally, I think the song evokes a very unusual and unsettling feeling. Musically, the combination of Allen's incredible drumming and Albarn's straightforward vocal delivery blend seamlessly, with added ska elements, notably the trombone giving it a very contemporary feel. The rhythm section drives the song forward beautifully, with the bass locking in perfectly with the drums. The lyric

This is one of the most resigned and world-weary vocals I’ve encountered. It’s basic in its form, but that’s all it needs to be. I am not too familiar with Willie Wright, but when I heard this song, it felt like a familiar voice, speaking to me like he'd known me his whole life. As I understand it, the album its from "This Is Not A Dream' was his last commercial release whilst he was still alive. As I grow older, I find myself drawn to simplicity and straightforwardness in bo

At the risk of appearing too glib, I wanted to share a variety of tracks on this blog that influence, entertain and inspire me—not necessarily music that I love in the same way you might enjoy something by The Beatles or Oasis for example. To keep things interesting I want to keep sharing music that I find interesting... in one way or another. This particular track was another Discover Weekly find. It’s a live recording of Alfred St John's Trinidad & Tobago Steel Drum Band ba

" Sense" is a song co-written by Terry Hall and Ian Broudie from the Lightning Seeds. It's one of several songs they wrote together, including "Lucky You," "What You Say," and a few others. Landing right at the start of the Britpop era, this song embodies an extremely '90s production, complete with airy-sounding drums, synths, slightly chorused guitars, and the like. I heard the Lightning Seeds' version first, and while I liked it, I didn't appreciate how good it was until I

When I first heard this track, I knew absolutely nothing about Sleadford Mods and I thought John Lydon was singing alongside lead singer Jason Williamson. It instantly reminded me of a Mark E. Smith type creation, and I immediately loved the direct delivery. The hypnotic looped riff is simple, direct, and is a perfect vehicle for the montage of lyrics that follow. The lyrics are delivered with a violent snarl, depicting interactions in the pub, opinions on the young and old

This is my favorite track off Bowie's "Young Americans" (1975). It might be one of his most impassioned vocal performances, certainly among his earlier discography. The song begins with a mellow and blissed-out guitar montage featuring very soulful chords that introduce the verse groove. The horn parts, drenched in reverb and delay, drift across the sonic spectrum, creating a washed-out, "end of the night" feel. Then the backing vocals enter with an easy and dreamlike warmth.

I'm really struggling to categorize Robert Palmer's "Woke Up Laughing" from his 1980 album "Clues." The rhythm, apparently borrowed from an African mbira style, is central to the song, with a polyrhythmic structure that circles back to the "1" every 12 bars. Instead of getting bogged down in the technicalities of the rhythm, though, it's what gives the song this unique dreamy vibe. It's like the song drifts in like a dream. It starts off with Palmer riffing lyrics against the

I first heard this interesting song on my Spotify "Discover Weekly" playlist. Amanda Bergman is a Swedish singer-songwriter who is also part of the band Amason. This is quite an abstract song containing some extremely well-crafted lyrics. I think it is loosely based on the complex dynamics of a troubled relationship and self-realization, delivered through metaphorical and impressionistic imagery. These metaphors can be interpreted in multiple ways, but there seems to be an ov

This song is undoubtedly one of my favourites by The Beach Boys, highlighting a criminally underrated period of their discography. After their surf classics of the 1960s and excluding Brian Wilson's incredible projects like "Smile," The Beach Boys transitioned into a more mature and developed style of songwriting. During this time, less prominent members truly came into their own; This track, from their 19th album, was written by guitarist Carl Wilson and manager Jack Rieley,

A blog where I review a "handpicked" song. Each featured track is added to my Spotify 'Picked Playlist,' showcasing my personal favourites.