By Nilpferd
As this playlist completes the solos-duos-trios theme trilogy I've guru’d over the past couple of years, I thought I'd take a quick look back at the other two playlists. Perhaps obviously, the solo playlist focused on musical genius or emotional introspection. With trios it was more the sound-world which was in the foreground, a “melting of the spirits” among the three band members.
Duos have been a bit harder to pin down (as well as identify, with uncredited musicians popping up unexpectedly). Traditionally they have been most common in classical music, the blues, jazz, and worldwide folk music.
From the end of the 1970s technology seems to have become far more influential for the duo than for the solo or trio. Overdubbing, sampling, drum machines, electronics and synths have allowed lyricists/singers/rappers to combine with DJs/multi-instrumentalists in a myriad of ways and genres. The duo offers more musical breadth than all but the most extremely polymath soloist can manage, combined with more freedom than the slightly more conventional musical realm of the trio. So much for my extremely subjective impressions on the subject, but here is my pick of your nominations.
Ella Fitzgerald and Paul Smith – I'm Getting Sentimental Over You. (OliveButler)
Excellent, introspective date for the prolific singer more accustomed to holding her own against big bands. This 1960 recording with pianist Paul Smith, a long-time Fitzgerald accompanist, is fascinating for the way Ella throttles down her usual power, focusing instead on nuance and shades of tone, while Smith adds deft daubs of his own.
Billie Eilish – My Future (ajostu)
Poised on the cusp between the future and the past, this lockdown-recorded single is mellow and poignant, yet upbeat and optimistic. Billie Eilish and brother Finneas O'Connell are destined for greatness and already display songwriting skills far beyond their years.
Joni Mitchell – Talk To Me (nosuchzone)
One of the things two people can do better than any other number is chin-wag. The irrepressible Joni is at her most talkative here and one of the few musicians to have actually put collaborator Jaco Pastorius firmly in the shade. The bubbling voice, guitars and bass guitar on a joyfully loose piece echo the theme as this pair "squawk like chickens".
Charley Patton & Bertha Lee – Yellow Bee (attwilightlarks)
Very rare recording of Bertha Lee singing a version of a Memphis Minnie song with husband Charley Patton. The pair apparently had a very rough relationship but their musical combination here is sublime and haunting.
Ali Farka Touré and Toumani Diabaté – Doudou (Shoegazer)
Exquisitely hypnotic intermeshing of Touré's guitar and the kora of Toumani Diabaté, who achieve a miraculous Steve Reich-like phasing of riffs on their last recording, released posthumously after Touré's death.
The Creatures – Miss The Girl (ShivSidecar)
“Queasy Ballard-ian car porn lyrics” (@SSC) from the Siouxsie Sioux + Budgie side project. Erotic impressions of a wreck apparently involving an automobile and a truck full of xylophones.
Black Sheep – The Choice Is Yours (amylee)
Duality abounds in this classic early nineties track by the Native Tongues Posse duo, consisting of Dres and Mista Lawnge. Are you gettin' with this, or are you gettin' with that? Well, I think I'm down with "this" actually. Nice random cat in the video too.
Eric B. & Rakim – Let The Rhythm Hit 'Em (magicman)
Were they the greatest? Hip-hop seldom reaches this level of sustained power. Organized Konfusion clearly took this track as their benchmark a year later on Releasing Hypnotical Gases. Where O.K. played it safe with some funky Weather Report drums and bass, Eric B. gets added props here for his manipulation of Bob James samples. Rakim's flow is peerless.
Flawless: Eric B. & Rakim
The Kills – No Wow (DiscoMonster)
Less well known than The White Stripes but equally talented. The dynamics here are perfectly balanced and controlled, allowing the tension to build right up until the final seconds.
Suicide – Rocket USA (MussoliniHeadkick)
Innovative proto-techno drone from Martin Rev and Alan Vega. A minimalist masterpiece. More car-crash lyrics here incidentally. This time with a DeLillan slant, taking a ride in a killer's car on doomsday.
Daft Punk – Da Funk (ParaMhor)
I bought this as a cd-single on release, gobsmacked when I heard it in the store. Whether or not that squelchy synth is reminiscent of gangsta rap, as D-P intended but no one else seems to think, it's a massive track. Two monster riffs which intertwine over a thundering one-note bassline.
Coldcut – Beats + Pieces (MussoliniHeadkick)
We end with a pre Ninja Tunes classic from label founders Jonathon More and Matt Black, who met as fanatical funk fans inspired by Double Dee and Steinski's "how to" mix LP's. A little like two facing mirrors once they started bouncing ideas off one another, the pair's legendary Beats + Pieces is an infinitely inspired and giddy trip from Vivaldi to Led Zeppelin and introduced a unique "British" vibe to chop 'n paste music. More & Black had the pressing details soldered off the first batch of their singles in case anyone prosecuted, but in the end it was probably the sheer volume and brevity of the samples that kept the major players off their backs.
The A-List Playlist:
The B-List Playlist:
Ballaké Sissoko / Vincent Segal – Chamber Music (Seth Miller)
Bowed cello and kora combine exceptionally well here as both musicians transcend their respective instruments' traditional forms to create a moving and fluid fusion.
Touki – Diamono (TatankaYotanka)
Brand new release by two musicians who met while busking, kora this time combined with banjo, percussion and voice.
Estas Tonne and Michael Schulman – Walk in Paris (florian7)
Another former busker in violinist Schulman, who met the restless Tonne in NYC. Echoes of Django and Grappelli.
Diego El Cigala y Niño Josele – Más Oscura que la Noche (Maki)
Controlled power throughout this spellbinding performance.
R.L. Burnside – Shuck Dub (Nicko)
R.L. with Beal Dabbs on bass. Smoky. Suddenly I need a very seaweedy single malt.
The Black Keys – Have mercy on me (AltraEgo)
No – make that some Mississippi corn whisky instead. Black Keys pay tribute to R.L. Burnside's Hill country blues contemporary Junior Kimbrough.
The KVB – Always then (vanwolf2)
Nicely doomy drone with a J&MC feel.
John McLaughlin and Billy Cobham – Phenomenon: Compulsion (BanaziGalbasi)
They are just having a laugh here. John and Billy blow the cobwebs away.
Attila – Brain Invasion (SweetHomeAlabama)
From what has been described as "the worst rock n' roll album ever recorded". I think it's kind of catchy. A young Billy Joel doesn't quite realise his desire for heavy metal world domination but he has a few good riffs none the less.
The Spinanes – Noel, Jonah and me. (ShivSidecar)
Unusual in being one of the few groups suggested which clearly takes a trio template and just drops the bass. Sub-pop nineties goodness with open-tuned guitar, voice and drums from Rebecca Gates and Scott Plouf.
Sleaford Mods – Tied Up In Nottz (Shoegazer)
Classic quiet man-loud man partnership as Jason and Andrew socially distance in the back of a bus. Fuckin' shredded wheat!
Kiiiiiii – 4 Little Joeys (TarquinSpodd)
Classic loud woman- loud woman partnership demolishing a ditty I often singsang to my daughter. NO MORE JOEYS JUMPING ON THE BED!!!!!!
Guru’s Wildcard Picks:
Jan Johansson and Georg Riedel – Visa från Utanmyra
These early sixties recordings of Swedish folk songs are just magical.
Richard Galliano and Michel Portal – Blow Up
Gallic genius from the box squeezer and the tube tooter.
Syreeta – I Love Every Little Thing About You
Accompanied only by husband Stevie Wonder on TONTO, a huge "complete orchestra" synth.
These playlists were inspired by readers' song nominations from last week's topic: Dynamic duos: songs with just two performers. The next topic will launch on Thursday at 1pm UK time.
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