A cozy hollow of musical treats to share

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Monday 31 October 2011

Chattanooga Memoirs

I still remember the words to this from singing it at school in music. I was about 12. And loved it. 






Chattanooga Choo Choo
by Glenn Miller


Pardon me, boy
Is that the Chattanooga choo choo?
Track twenty-nine
Boy, you can gimme a shine
I can afford
To board a Chattanooga choo choo
I've got my fare
And just a trifle to spare

You leave the Pennsylvania Station 'bout a quarter to four
Read a magazine and then you're in Baltimore
Dinner in the diner
Nothing could be finer
Than to have your ham an' eggs in Carolina

When you hear the whistle blowin' eight to the bar
Then you know that Tennessee is not very far
Shovel all the coal in
Gotta keep it rollin'
Woo, woo, Chattanooga there you are

There's gonna be
A certain party at the station
Satin and lace
I used to call "funny face"
She's gonna cry
Until I tell her that I'll never roam
So Chattanooga choo choo
Won't you choo-choo me home?
Chattanooga choo choo
Won't you choo-choo me home?

Playlist: Daisy Picking in Motion

For Alice T, who panicked in a job interview and said she loved trance music, then couldn't remember any.



  1. Lemaitre - Blue Shift
  2. Memoryhouse - To the Lighthouse (Millionyoung Remix)
  3. Daedelus - It's Madness (Nosaj Thing Remix)
  4. Unicorn Kid - No Hope Kids
  5. Sunday Girl - Love You More (RAC Remix)
  6. Memory Tapes - Bicycle (What Kind of Breeze Do You Blow Remix)
  7. Snoop Dog (feat. Kid Cudi) - That Tree (Clockwork Remix)
  8. Kelly - When Saints Go Machine (Shlohmo Remix)
  9. The Beatles - Eleanor Rigby (Remix)
  10. The Rapture - How Deep Is Your Love (A-Trak Remix)
  11. Florrie - Call 911 (Florrie Remix)



Thursday 20 October 2011

Playlist: Drizzle Down the Drain

A little mix of indie rock, folk, jazz, electronic 'shoegaze' (?), dream pop. You know...





  1. The Apache Relay - Lost Kid
  2. Ford and Lopatin - The Voices
  3. The Rumble Strips - Boys and Girls in Love
  4. Scoundrels - Arrogance Blues
  5. Phantogram - As Far As I Can See
  6. St Vincent - Cruel
  7. 2 Door Cinema Club - Do You Want It All
  8. Willy Moon - I Wanna Be Your Man
  9. Kasabian - Re-Wired
  10. Girls - Laura
  11. Bombay Bicycle Club - Magnet
  12. Amber States - Morning Sun
  13.  M83 - We Own the Sky
  14. The Strokes -  You Only Live Once


Dad's Influence





I was on a late night music crawl in outer Youtube last night when I found myself looking up, and questioning where I had heard a song before. It was Adele - fat, beautiful, soulful Adele - singing a cover of something I had heard, but not for a long time.


The song is called ‘I Can’t Make you Love Me’, and was originally by Bonnie Raitt, an American blues singer who is now 60ish. It’s a sad and powerful song. At first though, before I could really listen to the song itself, I was struck with confusion. Where had my memory been?


As I clicked on Bonnie Raitt’s original song, I recognised her ginger hair and kind face in the video picture from a CD album my dad used to keep in his car. There is not a single moment I remember listening the song, but more a general recollection of listening to Bonnie Raitt in those early mornings when he would drive me to school. Everyone else was allowed to listen to Radio1, but I was stuck with Dad’s weird choice of old music. Sometimes jazz and blues, sometimes piano, guitar, sometimes classical. Never what I wanted, at the time. 


And as I played the song over and over, I realised how beautiful it was. The lyrics told a story of heartbreak, and the tune was modest and perfect. It was personal and sad.  


I listened to other people’s covers of the song, and felt a wave of appreciation for my dad. I probably have a few of these little gems stored up somewhere in my head. My music taste is not something I was born with, but something that grows. We like songs for different reasons: the feelings they provoke, the thoughts they induce, or the memories they trigger. 

Playlist: Pop girl sleepover mix (For Barbara)

Something to naked pillow fight to...


  1. Jessie J - Domino
  2. Beyonce - Love on Top
  3. Crystal Fighters - In The Summer
  4. Rihanna (feat. Calvin Harris) - We Found Love
  5. David Usher (feat. Usher) - Without You
  6. Laidback Luke (feat. Example) - Natural Disaster
  7. Cher Lloyd (Oh God) (feat. Mike Posner) - With Your Love
  8. Loick Eissen - Me Without You
  9. Wolfgang Gartner (feat. Jim Jones and Cam'ron) - Circus Freaks
  10. Modestep - To The Stars (Break the Noise and The Autobots Remix)
  11. High Contrast (feat. Tiesto) - The First Note is Silent

Wednesday 12 October 2011

Twin Atlantic - Brave Hearts

Formed in 2007, Twin Atlantic have released 3 albums and have supported some big names in the world of rock music. They are a very Scottish band: made up of Sam McTrusty (vocals, guitar), Barry McKenna (guitar, cello, backing vocals), Ross McNae (bass, backing vocals) and Craig Kneale (drums). But it is not just their names which are Scottish. Unlike the current wave of singer-songwriters who sing in a somewhat unexpected attempt at a 'posh South accent mate', Twin Atlantic embrace their Glasgow roots. And it works.

This 'classic British accent', displayed so beautifully by bands like The Kooks, has been copied so queerly by bands from all over the UK that it has now lost any meaning or mystique. Twin Atlantic sing real songs, with their real accent and it conveys real emotion. It is difficult to imagine their songs being sung any other way!


Some songs become more personal for a reason. Perhaps they make you think of a person, a place, a film, the music video, or even where you were when you first heard it. Twin Atlantic songs are more personal because of the thick Scottish accent unintrusivley and thoughlessly worked through each line. Well...for me anyway.

Favourite tracks:
- Make a Beast of Myself
- Yes I was Drunk
- Edit Me



I love this video. He starts in brown Converse shoes, and finishes in green.

Monday 10 October 2011

Cover vs. Original


SONG: Stay Awake


ORIGINAL: Example
This recent dance track is a standard Example track with clever lyrics. Fun.


COVER: Nina Nesbitt
This acoustic cover is impressive and different. She has a beautiful voice and when the guitar gets going it is original.

Thursday 6 October 2011

GIG! - Goldfish



Band name - GOLDFISH
Who - Two guys from Cape Town, South Africa DJ-ing. Together. As One.
Music Genre - Jazzy-house-beats-meets-funky-electronic-fun...ish.
Albums -
Caught in the Loop’(2006),
Perceptions of a Pacha’(2008),
Get Busy Living’ (2010).




Wednesday 5 October 2011

Original vs. Cover

SONG: Wake Me Up (Hold Yuh)

ORIGINAL: Ed Sheeran 
Originally by Ed Sheeran, this acoustic song is pretty boring until the last minute when he transforms it into Gyptian's Hold Yuh. It's beautiful!


COVER: Tom Longhurst (?!)
Tom Longhurst's YouTube cover is perhaps even more tuneful than Sheeran's. Very personal.

Playlist: Sleepy Snail

Slower stuff. For a schleepy snail.

  1. Life in Film - Alleyway
  2. Angus & Julia Stone - And the Boys
  3. Bon Iver - Can't Make You Love Me
  4. Dark Dark Dark - Daydreaming (Supply and Demand Remix)
  5. Jess Mills- End Credits
  6. Life in Film - Get Closer
  7. Michael Kiwanuka - I'm Getting Ready
  8. Black Diamond Bay - I Dreamt We Were Bank Robbers
  9. Maverick Saber - I Need
  10. Tinie Tempah (ft. Emeli Sande) - Let Go
  11. Jess Mills - Live For What I'd Die For
  12. Golden Silvers - Magic Touch (acoustic version is better!)
  13. Twin Atlantic - Make a Beast of Myself
  14. Lucy Rose - Middle of the Bed
  15. Coldplay - Paradise
  16. Ed Sheeran - Wake Me Up (Hold Yuh) (last minute is worth it)
  17. Birdy - Without A Word (dubstep remix almost works too)
  18. Peggy Sue - Lover Gone
  19. Aloe Blacc - Momma Hold My Hand
  20. Ed Sheeran (ft. Wiley) - You



    Legend Lyrics

    Wretch 32 (ft. Alex Mills) - Anniversary

    "We just went halfs on a baby"
    (0:35) 

    Tuesday 4 October 2011

    Think acoustic, think simple, think Fink


    Stumbling across the busy backstreets of YouTube, where I often find myself happily lost after a long day ‘at the office’, I found Fink, aka Fin Greenhall.

    Currently based in Brighton, England, Fink has written songs for John legend, produced artists like Amy Winehouse, appeared on Bonobo’s Days To Come (2006) album and most recently colaborated with Professor Green on the 2010 track, Closing the Door. Clearly Fink is not new to the music industry.

    In June 2011, he released his 5th album, Perfect Darkness, which has an acoustic feel, but Greenhall also DJs under the name Sideshow. Generally, his tracks are pretty chilled-out and acoustic, and there is something private about their lack of catchy, mainstream choruses. He has an honest, bluesy voice and the simplicity of his songs makes them comforting. For me, there is a definite Dave Matthews Band feel, and something jazzy about Fink my dad would appreciate (with the exception of the Professor Green part).

    Altogether, he seems a creative singer-songwriter who has released some easy-listening tunes - perfect after a long day ‘at the office’...




    Favourite tracks:

    Playlist - Mixymatosis

















    1. The Count & Sinden - After Dark
    2. Jose Gonzalez - Crosses (Boogaloo Crew Remix)
    3. Arthur Russell - This Is How We Walk On The Moon (Youth Return Remix)
    4. Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros - Home (Whole-Z Remix)
    5. Jackson 5 - I Want You Back (Blame Remix)
    6. Herve - Together
    7. DRT - Rising Sun (Boogaloo Crew Remix)
    8. I Blame Coco - Self Machine (La Roux Remix)
    9. Beirut - Scenic World (Pocketknife Remix)
    10. Gyptian - Hold Yuh (Major Lazer Remix)