Picking Up For You

It's somehow 10 years since Metronomy released The English Riviera, so it's time for an anniversary edition with previously unreleased bonus tracks.

Lead amongst these is Picking Up For You, a laid back jam fitting in with the vibe of the album. Yet you can see why it didn't make the cut at the time. Not that it's not decent, it's just The English Riviera is a sublime album. 

And to be fair all the new bonus tracks are listed as outtakes:

• Aquarius (Outtake)
• Picking Up For You (Outtake)
• French Organ (Outtake)
• Friends (Outtake)
• The Ballad Of The 17 Year Old (Outtake)
• Jazz Odyssey (Outtake)

Big fan of the retro-fitted video based on the album's artwork for Picking Up For You too:  

And there's a cassette. I'm very tempted by the cassette. Do I need it though? 

Should I spend £13 on an album I already own on a medium I can't play right now? My Sony Walkman WM-B52 is currently dead and Techmoan is always warning about the crapness of new tape players. What would Martin Lewis say? I wonder if Big Mart likes Metronomy?

7 in 1 (3)

Old songs for endless times.

‌Body and Soul - The Graylands

Sad-boi coldwave from 1983? Always, always, always.

‌The Passions - I'm In Love With a German Film Star

Another one of those 'how have I not posted this before' bangers. Exquisite post-punk. It's a glamorous world.

Chic - Chic Cheer

The groove to end all grooves. I nicked my mum's copy of C'est Chic back in the day, man I hammered that album.

‌Hot Chip - Wrestlers

As played in a recent Sunday Glove Songs feature on RadMac, this deeply silly song (and video, which I forgot James Murphy is in) is also weirdly pretty and affecting. Willy Nelson!

‌Alice Deejay - Better Off Alone 

I think you can apply 'deeply silly yet weirdly affecting' to this track too.

Christ, if you told me at 14 that I'd be dancing around the kitchen in a dressing gown to this 20 years later... I would've probably believed you TBH. Anyone for Rock The Park in Wrexham this summer?

Also, can we all celebrate the top shithousery of calling your album Who Needs Guitars Anyway?

‌Skip Mahoney and the Casuals - I Need Your Love

Strife-riddled soul music from 1972? This punches.

‌Tatsuro Yamashita - Fragile

Tyler, the Creator listens to city pop then?

Related post: 7 in 1 (2)

Original Image: Atlas Image [or Atlas Image mosaic] courtesy of 2MASS/UMass/IPAC-Caltech/NASA/NSF

Daft Punk's 1997 Essential Mix

Been on a Daft Punk binge after the news a few weeks ago. I still think Human After All is under-rated and I still don't really get Random Access Memories. However, this awful hot take from Pitchfork on Discovery has been a new joy.

Yet the main thing has been Daft Punk's Essential Mix from 1997. A pumping two hours of French filter house, proper techno, and influences, it's on BBC Sounds for the next couple of weeks in its Classic Essential Mix strand. It's also worth a listen for Pete Tong's hilariously naff intro and input from 1997, well Smashie and Nicey.

retailgroup · Daft Punk- Essential Mix - 1997.03.02

This isn't the first time Daft Punk's mix has been on the Classic Essential Mix strand either. Or should it be Thomas Bangalter's mix? Back in April 2020, Busy P did the intro, as the now Ed Banger label boss was the then Daft Punk manager. And Bangalter did the mix on Busy P's decks in his flat.

Anyway, as it's also been posted in the last year, it means it's quite easy to find a decent download of Daft Punk's Essential Mix. Il n'y a pas d'excuses.

Radio 1's Residency: Spring 2021 Update

Here we go again. Six months on from the last post, it's rotation time for the BBC Radio 1 Residency.

Ins

• Anz
• Avalon Emerson
• Carista
• Carl Cox
• Shy FX*

Outs

• Disclosure
• DJ EZ*
• Eris Drew and Octo Octa
• Saoirse
• Teki Latex

Remainers

• Amelie Lens
• Joy Orbison
• Sherelle

* I've got asterisks going on here as the upcoming episodes still have DJ EZ but Anz announced Shy FX on her debut show. And I'd prefer Shy FX to DJ EZ, so let's go with that, shall we? But it's gotta be said in previous shuffles, it's usually four in, four out, four remains. Who knows.

Anyway, the new additions look good, Carl Cox is one of the dons on UK dance, I've previously posted an Avalon Emerson production, and it'll be nice to dip my toe back into d'n'b with Shy FX. I'm not aware of Anz or Carista, but it's always good to hear some new DJs.

My minor gripe is with who has remained, I'd happily swap those three for Eris Drew and Octo Octa, Saoirse, and Teki Latex, but the latter two have had a long run so I suppose it should be mixed up. Shame though. I do feel that Eris Drew and Octo Octa are unlucky however, their shows were always a riot.

Still, let's see what the next six months will bring.