PLAYLIST: Sol, Sis
Bask in the sun a little bit, Sip some tea. slow it down. Embrace your community.
With “mixed” feelings that I share my Summer Solstice playlist - Sol, Sis.
We need a bit of sun. June is a lot - Black Music Month, Pride Month, Juneteenth, the official start of Summer, and Father’s Day. This spans at least 25 years of experiences and kicking back.
And now on Soundcloud:
1. “It’s Summertime” - Morcheeba (Kent, England)
Just a feel good track to start the playlist from one of my favorite groups. Skye Edwards’ voice is sparkling on this collab with Lambchop’s Kurt Wagner.
Filmed in 2018 when times were a bit different:
2. “I Like It Hot” - Honey Dijon, Greentea Peng (Chicago/London)
Honey Dijon - one of the titans of the house music scene, currently bouncing between gigs and events. This track from her latest album, Nightlife brings back the cool on a hot summer day.
3. “It’s Love (Trippin’) - Goldtrix feat. Andrea Brown (London, England)
25 years later, this track is still slaps. The first of a couple tracks that are throwbacks. This one-off collab has staying power for years to come with he rolling bass indicative of drum n’ bass producers brought to 2000s house.
I was living in Philly when this hit, but I was today year’s old to learn (or maybe reminded) it’s a “cover” of Illy Jilly from Philly!!!
4. “Travel light - Sound Support Remix Edit” - Kraak & Smaak (Leinden, Netherlands)
My Duchies are back - where Goldtrix getting a little darker with its groove, Travel Light let’s the sun shine in
We saw the winter pass
Springtime last
Summer strollings
We watched the silver lining
Hearts were smiling
Shining all the way
5. “Pawa! - Crazy P Disco Dub” - Asha Puthli, Say She She (India/Brooklyn)
From DJ Mag “Released to mark Sunday’s International Women’s Day (8th March), ‘PAWA!’ is a disco-funk track that celebrates “feminism and the power of togetherness”. It’s the first collaboration between the legendary Indian disco vocalist and the US group.”
I love the Brooklyn-based trio Say She She and looking forward to finally catching them in person soon!
6. “Love’s Theme” - Groove Armada (London, England)
Groove Armada another 90’s mainstay (like Morcheeba) is back with a sample of Ashford & Simpson’s “Get Out Your Handkerchief”
On my favorite label, Glitterbox
7. “Superbloom” - Jessie Ware (London, England)
The title track of the album brings the orchestral decadence of laidback summer patios and pool days. Looking forward to catching her live for the first time this autumn.
Jeff loved her podcast with her mum and we listed to many-an episode while on our summer roadtrips.
8. “Femme Hysteria” - Haute & Freddy (LA via Houston/Detroit)
The band so nice they appear on the list twice!!! Amazingly theatrical songwriters for pop stars and now out on their own, Haute & Freddy are so much fun!!!!
I caught them on tour in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, but they’re coming back opening for Melanie Martinez.
REQUEST: Anyone know them directly?!?!? Inspired minds want to know!!!!
9. Crutch” - Love Spells (Houston)
Bringing it down for a little “summertime sadness” Sir Taegan Harris as Love Spells defies expectations with the etherial shoe gaze timbre of his voice.
NON-ENGLISH BLOCK
10. “Pixels” - Mado (Paris, France)
Kickin off our Euro block, and snapping us back in a bop, even if it continues the ennui - the French chanteuse Mado - unsigned, Leo - love her
tout vole
ou va le pire ?
j’ai tout recollé y’a plus rien qui m’anime
sad boy
tu peux le dire
c’est trop difficile d’assumer qu’elle se dise
mon cœur réduit en pixels
et c’est le bug de tout mon système
tête brûlée sous le soleil
elle a mis feu à mon logiciel
—
everything’s flying apart
where is the worst of it heading?
I’ve glued it all back together, but nothing moves me anymore
sad boy
you can say that
it’s too hard to accept what she says to herself
my heart reduced to pixels
and it’s a glitch in my whole system
hothead under the sun
she set my software on fire
11. “Bibidi Bobidi Bu” - Ditonellapiaga (Rome, Italy)
Margherita Carducci is the pop sensation whose second album, Miss Italia lands her ont
O the global scene. I think I need to make another excursion to Italy, though, just to catch one of her shows. I don’t mind.
Dicono che quando meno te l’aspetti,
Improvvisamente
La vita ti mette di fronte a un bivio tra
La scelta del cuore e la più conveniente
Ma c’è ancora chi mente
Chi dice che in entrambi i casi non ci perdi niente
Ma ci perdi sempre
—
They say when you least expect it,
Life suddenly brings you to a crossroads between
Following your heart and taking the practical path
But there are still those who lie
Who say you lose nothing either way
But you always lose something
12. “Volando Voy” - Amaia (Pamplona, Spain)
THANK YOU PUBLIC RADIO for getting me into this incredible Spanish artists!!! Ok I seem to be in a kick of Spain lately - maybe it’s the Iberian vibe of so many cultures living there for centuries.
For the playlist, I chose her cover of Kiko Veneno’s “Volando Boy”
Señoras y señores
Sepan ustedes
Que la flor de la noche
Es pa´ quien la merece
Enamorao de la vida
Aunque a veces duela
—
Ladies and gentlemen
Let it be known
That the flower of the night
Belongs to the one who deserves it
In love with life
Even though it sometimes hurts
13. “Salam” - Mestiza (Spain)
These Andalusian divas… O. M. G. Dios mio. The mixture of flamenco, house, and other influences from the area (an area where Christianity, Judaism, and Islam lived in harmony for centuries) combine to transport us to La Mancha. The windmills don’t hurt…
The song “Salam” (“peace”) is from their album “Spanish Chica” A universe where flamenco roots, Arabic influences, Latin electronic music, fashion and feminine energy merge into one continuous visual journey.
GIRLS JUST WANNA HAVE FUN
14. “Chakzilla” - Chaka Khan (Chicago)
Age is nothin but a number… Chaka Khan keeps reminding us this and has a new album coming out in September.
Chris Rizik writes, “Emerging from her friendship with pop songstress Sia, “Chakzilla” is a campy dance number, the video for which has Chaka dominating a metropolis landscape like a science fiction movie giant.”
“And like the theme behind so many invasion flicks, the song is a story about breaking out – in this case, breaking out from years of waiting for the right lover who would let the singer’s unguarded brilliance come through.
15. “Dance the Pain Away” - Haute & Freddy
This song is just so good and every time I listen, the ending lick segues beautifully to
16. “Number 1” - Goldfrapp (Bristol, England)
Any excuse to listen to Alison Goldfrapp and Will Gregory’s tunes is fine with me! I was able to catch Alison solo as the opener for Scissor Sisters last May, but it may be the last time for the foreseeable future. She recently announced probably not touring the Americas cited “demand” ugh! We shall see if the blue dot scare adds to this concern.
17. “Buzz and Tommy“ - MantaRayBryn (South East Cornwall, England)
From his IG: “This track started as a list of advice to my younger self, but soon became me trying to throw a lifeline to those stuck in a deep dark closet, and also an homage to the real Buzz and Tommy (go and look it up). Anyway get loose to it, learn the dance moves, get with someone hot, be gay to it.”
18. “I Feel So Free - Peggy Gou Energy Mix” - Madonna (Bay City, Michigan)
Madge’s new album arrives in July. She’s already made appearances at Coachella, Tribeca Film Festival, and even Times Square, in partnership with Grindr.
This remix gives me a Danceteria vibe and I’m not mad.
19. “Feelin’ Good Tonight - Rimarkable Remix” - Louie Vega, Willy Soul, Funki Cadets (NYC, Detroit)
Fresh off Movement Festival last month, I will always bring Rimarkable into the mix. It was absolute kismet during lockdown I listened to her mixes on the Defected/Glitterbox Radio shows and got me hyped for my move to Detroit. Her sets are always different and with so much depth.
The FADER: What is the importance of Movement Festival to Detroit Techno?
Rimarkable: The importance of this festival is that here you are getting the source that has transcended genres and gone to different countries, different planets, different galaxies. This is the birthplace of techno and it’s important to always reference the source. What’s also amazing is that Detroit is on the river, so that frequency is traveling even further and further and further. If you come to the festival, you can be a part of that frequency.
20. “Nightmare (Sinister Strings Mix)” - Brainbug (Ceggia, Italy)
Pride 2001. Caligula. Hammerstein Ballroom, NYC. Full orchestra onstage for one of the most iconic tracks of the era. Victor Calderone remembers and shared the VHS transfers!
“After months of planning and rehearsing in my home, the moment finally arrived. At 4 a.m., the curtain opened at the Hammerstein Ballroom to reveal an unannounced 50-piece orchestra performing alongside me as “Nightmare” by Brainbug echoed through the room.
For a few magical minutes, classical and electronic music collided in a way that felt completely unexpected and deeply emotional. The energy in that room erupted and was unlike anything I had ever experienced before.”
21. “Hustler” - Simian Mobile Disco (London, England)
20 years later, this track brings me into the Italo-modern era a la Reggio Emilia’s Benny Benassi.
22. “Healer” - D’Leesa (Atlanta)
After hustlin’, we need some healing. Soft, Sapphic Soul. Bedroom Pop
This came up on my YouTube today and the bass line along with her voice is perfection!!!!
23. “All the Lovers” - Kylie Minogue (Melbourne, Australia)
Celebrating 40 years performing, Aussie diva mixes it up with the Abbey Road Session of her track from Aphrodite. I’ve seen her at the aforementioned Hammerstein Ballroom, Edinburgh Castle, and now MSG but I’ll give you the visual splendor of her arena tour in Europe. I don’t know we’ll be able to experience these productions any time soon.
24. “Disco Apertivo - Boys Shorts Remix” - Ursula 1000, Sarah Maison (Brooklyn/Hyères, France)
Jeff would always appreciate an Italo-inspired track and this poolside sip is no exception
25. “They Say Vision - Robbie Rivera Vocal Mix Part Two” - Res (Philadelphia)
Another 25 year old track. Res is one of the most underrated writers and this track stays with me all this time.
She’s been re-releasing her work and I’m thrilled its become available digitally than on my CDs.