Photographed: Stereolab (Photo by Steve Double)

BEAUTIFUL THINGS PLAYLIST

WEEK 8 - 12th AUGUST 2022

YO LA TENGO - 'CENTER OF GRAVITY'

I Can Hear The Heart Beating is the eighth studio album by Yo La Tengo, and 25 years after its release, most can say with certainty that it has aged extremely well - in the same way that lasagne always tastes better after a few days in the fridge than when it was fresh and hot out of the oven. 'Centre Of Gravity' is one of the cosiest of the bunch; a simple, warm love duet sung sweetly over a beguine beat. The lyrics are my favourite thing about the song; innocent and playful, like little butterflies in your stomach. "Whenever you are next to me, center of gravity, can't feel both feet on the ground". Awwww.

You can find the 25th Anniversary Reissue of I Can Hear The Heart Beating by Yo La Tengo on the Flying Nun Record Shop here. 

STEREOLAB - 'SIMPLE HEADPHONE MIND'

Stereolab recently announced the sixth instalment of their 'Switched On' compilation series, Pulse Of The Early Brain, due for release in early September. One of the most recent singles is 'Simple Headphone Mind'; a 10-minute, swirling kosmische, with an incessant beat chugging along underneath layers of synth ambience, field recording samples and experimental vocal tidbits. It was the second collaboration with Steve Stapleton's project, Nurse With Wound, and can be found - along with 20 other archived tracks - on the upcoming Switched On Vol. 6 compilation. 

You can pre-order it via the Flying Nun Record Shop here. 

GIRL FRIDAY - 'YOU'RE GETTING A DOG'

You've heard Vera Ellen, but have you heard her L.A-based project Girl Friday? Featuring her signature, instantly recognisable vocals over drum machines, synth leads and angular guitar rifs, 'You're Getting A Dog' is a song for the dance floor. 

You can find 'You're Getting A Dog' on Bandcamp here. 

EARTH TONGUE - 'MIRACULOUS DEATH'

Earth Tongue released a new song last week, 'Miraculous Death' (recorded with the help of Jonathan Pearce of The Beths) , paired with a self-directed music video - either of which are nothing short of a dramatic, cinematic paragon. The song is a ripping, fuzzy banger, never letting up the momentum until the candles lead the "unwilling human to the miraculous death". Brilliant!!!

You can find 'Miraculous Death' on Bandcamp here. 

JONATHAN BREE - 'BEAT YOUR HEAD'

Jonathan Bree's whimsical debut, The Primrose Path, is one of my favourite releases from Aotearoa's musical discography to date. 'Beat Your Head' is a slow walk through a rain cloud, with peeks of sunlight peeking down through the use of glittering celestial synths and string pizzicato. Its cyclic verse form is simple, yet with each reiteration of the theme, a new layer is added until you are completely incapsulated in Bree's fantastical sound world.

You can find The Primrose Path by Jonathan Bree on the Flying Nun Record Shop here. 

JESSICA PRATT - 'SILENT SONG'

My favourite thing about Jessica Pratt is her melodies, which move through the stave as easily as a daydream. On 'Silent Song' she sings a sweet duet with herself over a simple finger-plucked guitar, with affectionately placed piano reserved for some of most tender moments. I struggle to choose a favourite from this album - it is most certainly one of my most worn vinyl records. It is well worth a hundred listens and more, and I never get tired of entering her intimate sound world.

You can find the album Quiet Signs by Jessica Pratt on the Flying Nun Record Shop here. 

WU-LU - 'SLIGHTLY'

Wu-Lu's debut is a marriage of hip-hop and punk, and one of my favourite releases of the year so far (Read Callum's full review of the record here). 'Slightly' is one of the quiet moments on the record, expressed over a lazy trip-hop groove, with skilful chops and screws breaking the tenebrous vocals. 

You can find the album LOGGERHEAD by Wu-Lu on the Flying Nun Record Shop here. 

AMAMELIA - 'GAP SELECTION'

Tāmaki Makaurau-based electronic-pop producer extraordinaire, Amamelia, has announced her long awaited sophomore LP - Bananamelia! - coming to us on November 3rd via Sunreturn. Alongside the announcement, she has unveiled the first single titled 'Gap Selection'; a slow groove incorporating a downtempo beat with raw analog sounds played on an old Jen SX-1000 synth. 

You can pre-order her upcoming album Bananamelia! here. 

BLACK MARBLE - 'DAILY DRIVER'

This track from Black Marble's third album is a balmy synth-pop piece, reminiscent of 80's minimal wave a la Solid Space or Ceramic Hello. Each element, from the simple drum machine, the fluid bassline, the shimmering synth leads and his straight-faced vocals are unceasingly catchy, with an air of breeze.

You can find the album Bigger Than Life by Black Marble on the Flying Nun Record Store here. 

MARLON WILLIAMS - 'EASY DOES IT'

Marlon Williams is back with 'Easy Does It' - the breezy fourth single from his upcoming and highly anticipated album My Boy. The song is paired with a visualiser directed by Martin Sagadin and Marlon himself, perfectly encapsulating the song's dreamy, sun-kissed quality; his silky vocals and warm chord pops warming us right up from the ears down.

You can pre-order My Boy on the Flying Nun Record Shop here. 

✰✰✰