Original video located here. Accessed 4th October 2022
Song title: Bermuda
Artist: Hey Geronimo
Year: 2016
Why I like this song:
I've been saying glowing things about Hey Geronimo and they have delivered with their debut album.
And this was the standout track: A glorious sense that everything is going wrong but it's still worth celebrating.
Original video located here. Accessed 20th July 2016
Song title: A New Career In A New Town
Artist: David Bowie
Year: 1977
Why I like this song:
And now we reach the Berlin Trilogy - Seems you can't tackle David Bowie's oeuvre without addressing these three. A career highlight and often regarded as his best work. So let's talk about the one that wasn't recorded in Berlin: Low.
Listening to Low one thing that strikes me is it's familiarity. If the Bowie albums I've listened to prior sound perplexing to me, this is one that sounds like something I've heard before - largely due to to the fact that it has been replicated many times since: Having grown up with Icehouse and the Cure, I can see (hear?) their DNA in this album. I have even picked up Not Drowning Waving's approach of half pop songs/half instrumentals.
But even if this album spawned a host of disciples, it still sounds fresh and timeless. Indeed, if the seventies were indeed a fertile period for music then this could well one of the standouts.
In fact out of all the Bowie albums I've heard, this could well be my favourite.
Original video located here. Accessed 18th July 2016
Song title: Halcyon On and On
Artist: Orbital
Year: 1993
Why I like this song:
I've heard some good things about Orbital's 1993 album (the Brown album) so I thought it warranted a look.
I already knew of Orbital as my brother had The Altogether album and he thought highly of it. But apparently much has gushed about the Brown album so it warranted further investigation.
Turns out, the rumours were indeed true: This was a thing of beauty and has aged remarkably well, sounding just as fresh as was twenty seven years prior. Which is indeed a difficult thing to accomplish. Very danceable and very hypnotic at the same time - just as the above track demonstrates.
Original video located here. Accessed 15th July 2016
Song title: X Files theme remix
Artist: Triple X
Year: 1996
Why I like this song:
Yes it's a blatant cash-in on one of the most popular TV shows on at the time but that beat still hits hard.
Original video located here. Accessed 8th July 2016
Song title: Mother Mother
Artist: Tracy Bonham
Year: 1996
Why I like this song:
I thought this was hilarious as a teen and I still enjoy it as an adult - largely due to the older I get, the more relatable this song becomes.
Funny thing: This is such an unhinged song. Right from the word go, the descending chord pattern establishes the mood and the lyrics don't paint a very positive picture. And let's not forget: that scream is the chorus is potent.
Original video located here. Accessed 18th August 2018
Song title: In Memories Kotowari
Artist: Taku Iwasaki
Year: 1999
Why I like this song:
I am a big fan of Rurouni Kenshin, like a lot of other people, and I regard the OVAs, Trust and Betrayal, very highly. And this, it's theme, fits in very well with it, being moody and tragic.
Iwasaki may not reach the level of distinction reserved for Yoko Kanno and Joe Hisashi but he can certainly deliver the goods.
Original video located here. Accessed 1st July 2016
Song title: Buy Me a Pony
Artist: Spiderbait
Year: 1996
Why I like this song:
Full throttle indeed.
My first encounter with Spiderbait was Monty. Didn't think much of it but this was what really won me over.
And as it happened, it's parent album, Ivy and the Big Apples, was essential listening to my mid-teens. It spoke to me, with it's mixture of aggression and cuteness, and is pretty much a quintessential teen album. If you disagree, then you were clearly never were a teenager.