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Playlists: songs about strategic and dangerous waters

April 1, 2026 Peter Kimpton

Spin the music: this week’s playlists pull in a swirl of superb stories

Yaaaaar, me hearties! Troubled waters to dire straits, the world is full of hazardous seas from bad weather to human folly and war. Inspired by last week’s topic nominations, guest Captain Marconius tells many a rich tale with his canticle pickings …

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In avant-garde, African, blues, calypso, classical, country, dance, drone, dub, easy listening, electronica, exotica, experimental, folk, funk, indie, instrumentals, jazz, krautrock, lounge, music, musicals, playlists, pop, postpunk, prog, psychedelia, punk, reggae, rhythm and blues, RnB, rock, rocksteady, samba, showtime, ska, songs, soul, soundtracks, traditional Tags songs, playlists, oceans, water, history, seafaring, The The, The Bee Gees, David King Bolger, The Tragically Hip, Fleetwood Mac, Beatnik Turtle, Ralph McTell, Paco de Lucia, Brand New, Mick Harvey, Amanda Acevedo, Gillian Welch, Alison Krauss, Emmylou Harris, Stan Rogers, The Unthanks, Gill Scott-Heron, Brian Jackson, Albany Shantymen, Neil Gaiman, The FourPlay String Quartet, Morphine, The Fisherman's Friends, Panssarijuna, The McCalmans, The Police, Corrie Folk Trio, Alfred Apaka, New Order, Nick Cave, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Vance Joy, Johnny Preston, Long Johns, Lionel Long, The Kilkennys, Alan Avon & The Toyshop, Enya, Radio Birdman, The Simpsons, Gentle Giant, Bristol's Hope, Frankie Paul, Cedric Myton & The Congos, Blind Willie Johnson, The Saints, Amelia Coburn, Peter Hammill, Gorky's Zygotic Mynci, Freddie Hubbard, Henry Jackson, Dirty Three, Inlay, Laura Estees, Sven Libaek, Weather Report, Avril Lavigne, The Evaporators, Marco den Ouden, Marconius
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Playlists: songs with musical or thematic surprises

February 18, 2026 Peter Kimpton

… you’re in for a big surprise …

Aliens to unexpected identity, unusual sounds to strange artistic combinations as well as the lyrical subject itself, guest Marco den Ouden brings a box of brilliant surprises in response to our Big 10th Birthday Topic

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In African, avant-garde, blues, bossa nova, calypso, classical, comedy, country, dance, disco, drone, dub, easy listening, electronica, exotica, experimental, folk, funk, hip hop, indie, gospel, instrumentals, jazz, krautrock, lounge, metal, music, musical hall, musicals, playlists, pop, postpunk, prog, psychedelia, punk, reggae, RnB, rock, rocksteady, samba, showtime, ska, songs, soul, soundtracks, traditional, trip hop Tags surprises, songs, playlists, Orson Welles, Jeff Wayne, Hurrah, The Ames Brothers, Duke Errol and the Lords, Tone-Loc, Childish Gambino, Britney Spears, Nine Inch Nails, The Stranglers, Les Paul, Mary Ford, Paul Hampton, Fred Lane & his Hittite Hot Shots, Simeon Bright, The Singing Surfriders, "Squeeze" Kamana, Rosalía, Rosalia, Bjork, Yves Tumor, Chicago, Vicki Lawrence, The Grateful Dead, Chuck Berry, Lori McKenna, Alice Cooper, The Dickies, Jun Togawa, Ramsey Kearney, Maestro Subgum, Omega Tribe, Ringo Sheena, Rupert Holmes, Alan Jackson, Jimmy Buffett, Bruce Haack, Miss Nelson, The Beatles, Barbara Manning, The Monkees, Kiss, Chaba Fedela, Ray Charles, Ho'opi'i Brothers, Jim Shandy, 50 Cent, Peter Pringle, Public Enemy, Herb Albert, Evolution Control Committee, Manfred Mann, Angelina Jordan, Marco den Ouden
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Playlists: comedic songs

January 28, 2026 Peter Kimpton

Heated exchanges: Rita Moreno and Animal of the The Muppets

Silly ballads to battles of the sexes, parodies to social commentary, odd duets and witty wordplay and musical japery, guest jester Marco den Ouden picks a bundle of lyrical and other laughs inspired by last week’s comedic songs theme

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In African, avant-garde, blues, bossa nova, calypso, classical, comedy, country, dance, disco, easy listening, dub, exotica, experimental, folk, funk, indie, instrumentals, krautrock, jazz, lounge, music, musical hall, musicals, playlists, pop, postpunk, prog, psychedelia, punk, reggae, RnB, rock, rocksteady, samba, showtime, ska, soul, soundtracks, traditional, trip hop Tags songs, playlists, comedic songs, comedy, Victoria Wood, Tony Ferrino, Steve Coogan, Bjork, Loudon Wainwright III, Garfunkel And Oates, Riki Lindhome, Kate Micucci, Frankie Howerd, June Whitfield, Rita Moreno, The Muppets, Jacques Dutronc, Val Doonican, Weird Al Jankovic, Groucho Marx, Lonzo & Oscar, The Dubliners, Steve Martin, Billy Idol, Stan Freberg, Bongwater, Tom Lehrer, Kenneth Williams, Bodo Watke, Marti Fisher, Rachmaninov, Igudesman, Joo, Marty Feldman, Father Ted, The Jolly Boys, Tom Waits, Flight of the Conchords, Flanders and Swann, Jimmy Durante, Spike Jones, Bernard Cribbins, Afroman, Lonnie Donegan, Les Dawson, Jane Bond & The Undercover Men, Johnny Cash, Cliff "Ukelele Ike" Edwards, Ross & Sargent, Butthole Surfers, Ray Stevens, Dr Hook, Vivian Stanshall, Cheech & Chong, Peter and the Test Tube Babies, Philip Jeays, Cream, Mighty Sparrow, The Mighty Sparrow, Loretta Lynn, Conway Twitty, Arrogant Worms, Nicolay Ramm, National Lampoon, Marco den Ouden
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Playlists: songs about candles and candlelight

December 17, 2025 Peter Kimpton

Reflections on candle music …

With metaphors for the fragility of life, relationships and more, and inspired by last week’s topic nominations, guest of the week Marco den Ouden lights a bright and beautifully illuminating selection on this festive and glowing theme

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In African, avant-garde, blues, comedy, country, dance, disco, drone, dub, easy listening, electronica, exotica, experimental, folk, funk, gospel, hip hop, indie, instrumentals, jazz, krautrock, lounge, music, musical hall, musicals, playlists, pop, postpunk, prog, psychedelia, reggae, RnB, rock, rocksteady, showtime, ska, songs, soul, soundtracks, traditional, trip hop Tags songs, playlists, candles, light, Oscar Fredik Church Orchestra & Choir, Jackson Browne, Javier Solis, The Decemberists, Elton John, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Tong Li, Pulp, Macy Gray, Chanté Moore, Shirley Bassey, Eric Bibb, Neil Young, Peter Paul and Mary, Jane Siberry, Peter Hammill, Nina Girado, The Crests, Janis Ian, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Blondie, Mink Deville, Hall & Oates, Jethro Tull, Buena Vista Social Club, Tina Arena, Aswad, The Moody Blues, Max Romeo, REO Speedwagon, Joe Sun, Paul McCartney, Mouse Rat, Darrell Scott, Laura Marling, Tommy James, Dinah Washington, Jackie Leven, Rascal Flatts, King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, Frank Sinatra, Beau Brummels, Local Al & Mummypowder, Froth, Xymox, Mike Oldfield, The Cues, Sara Bareilles, Bobby Hutcherson, Giorgia Fumanti, Christophe Maé, Marco den Ouden, Marconius
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Playlists: songs from musicals that transcend their genre

November 5, 2025 Peter Kimpton

A revolutionary show: Les Misérables (with revolving stage)

The curtain rises and and it’s time fabulous show! Picking from the many nominations from last week’s topic, Marco den Ouden directs a set of playlists of transcedant numbers from over a century of song and dance landmarks

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In music, musicals, musical hall, songs, pop, rock Tags musicals, playlists, songs, Paul Robeson, Jerome Kern, Oscar Hammerstein, Billie Holiday, George Gershwin, Nina Simone, Leslie Bricusse, Anthony Newley, Patrick Page, Anais Mitchell, Tommy Korberg, Benny Anersson, Bjorn Ulvaus, Tim Rice, Burton Lane, Alan Jay Lerner, Hugh Masekela, Mbongeni Ngema, Lena Horne, Doris Day, Julie London, Sammy Fain, Paul Francis Webster, Bobby Troup, Rumi, Andrew Choi, Gordon McRae, Richard Rodgers, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Julie Covington, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Fats Waller, Howard Keel, Louis Calhern, Keenan Wynn, Betty Hutton, Irving Berlin, The Flesh Failures, Gerome Ragni, James Rado, Galt MacDermot, Harve Presnell, Alan J Lerner, Frederick Loewe, Carmen Twillie, Lebo M, Elton John, Claude-Michel Schönberg, Alain Boublil, Jean-Marc Natel, Ejae, KPop Demon Hunters, Marco den Ouden, Treat Williams, Grand Bush, John DeRobertas, Elaine Page, Barbara Dickson, The Doors, Christopher Lee, Muse, Shirley Bassey, Asha Bhosle, Udit Narayan, Ella Fitzgerald, Johnny Mathis, Connee Boswell, Nat King Cole, Tony Bennett, Diana Krall, Noelle Cordier, Cecile McClorin Salvant, Marisha Wallace, Marni Nixon, Ramona Davies, Paul Whiteman, Yvonne Elliman, Fred Astaire, Leo Reisman, Willie Nelson, Kenny Rogers, Mary Kay Bergman, Robert Lindsay, Maryann Plunkett, Sarah Vaughan, Newkid, Angela Lansbury, Cliff Edwards, Lady Gaga, Eydie Gorme, Wini Shaw, Colm Wilkinson
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Playlists: songs about fountains

August 27, 2025 Peter Kimpton

Songs pour out …

A fluid topic, fountains strike a deep emotional chord, while sometimes reflective and philosophical, cover a range from loneliness and sorrow to exaltation and celebration. Marco den Ouden turns on the the tap, inspired by the past week’s nominations

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In African, blues, classical, comedy, country, dance, disco, drone, dub, easy listening, electronica, exotica, experimental, folk, funk, gospel, hip hop, indie, instrumentals, jazz, krautrock, lounge, music, musicals, playlists, pop, postpunk, prog, psychedelia, punk, reggae, RnB, rock, rocksteady, samba, showtime, ska, songs, soul, soundtracks, traditional Tags songs, playlists, music, fountains, water, Jackie Wilson, Peter Perrett, Al Green, Echo and the Bunnymen, Jackson Browne, Alec Benjamin, Tracy Chapman, Lady Gaga, Grandmaster Melle Mel, Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever, Indigo Girls, Jackie Leven, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Charlotte Church, Judikay, Playing For Change, Frank Sinatra, The Sweet, Arrested Development, Buffalo Tom, Doll By Doll, Georges Brassens, Elvis Presley, Leon Ware, Janis Siegel, Sufjan Stevens, King Crimson, Kate Rusby, Joe Bonamassa, The Byrds, Black Uhuru, Carl Perkins, PJ Harvey, Fleetwood Mac, Clamavi de Profundis, Jorge Ben, Jah9, Rolf Stimson, Gran-Lee Phillips, Tom Harrell, Carol Rosenberger, Duke Ellington, Los Pekenikes, Paco de Lucia, Cyrus Chestnut, Lyle Lovett, Laurence Juber, Mad Unity, Lloyd McNeil Quartet, Geffion, Franz Schubert, Shang Wen-Jie, The Choir Of Beijing Takah, Les Cailloux, Camille, Marco den Ouden, Marconius
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Playlists: songs about endangered animal species

August 6, 2025 Peter Kimpton

It may not be long for the dugong, hauntingly heralded below in song …

From man-made causes – hunting to climate change and habitat loss, it’s a heartbreaking, tragic tale. But this musical menagerie also has poignant positivity, with guest Marco den Ouden adding conservation success stories in these moving, beautiful lists, picked from last week’s topic

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In African, avant-garde, blues, calypso, classical, country, comedy, dance, drone, dub, easy listening, electronica, exotica, experimental, folk, funk, indie, instrumentals, jazz, music, playlists, pop, psychedelia, punk, reggae, rock, rocksteady, samba, showtime, ska, songs, soul, soundtracks, traditional Tags songs, playlists, animals, Glenn Jones, Kokia, Burning Spear, Fox, Andrew Belew, Big Baby Driver, Dave Norman, Rob van der Touw, Let's Eat Grandma, Shonen Knife, Jefferson Airplane, Jethro Tull, Cosmo Sheldrake, Bowerbird Collective, Crosby Still & Nash, The Partridge Family, Vainica Doble, Bats For Lashes, The Monkees, Antonio Carlos Jobim, The Tokens, Desmond Dekker, France Gall, Ian Anderson, Great Lake Swimmers, Eric Whitacre, Yiannis Kalantzis, Omar Pène et Le Super Diamono, Linval Thompson, Renato Teixeira, Tom Rugg, Jeff Gulfoss, John Gregory and his Orchestra, Mandrill, Sly & The Family Stone, Walter Bishop Jr., Sven Libaek, Penguin Cafe Orchestra, Henri Texier & Azur Quartet, Hans Zimmer, Jacob Shea, David Fleming, Marco den Ouden, Jan Golfuss
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Playlists: songs about twins

May 27, 2025 Peter Kimpton

Ibeyi: French-Cuban twin sisters Lisa-Kaindé Diaz and Naomi Diaz

They cover a wide variety from identical, fraternal, or conjoined, but also doppelgangers, lookalikes, and twin objects. Marco den Ouden gets at the double with covering many aspects inspired by last week’s topic

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In African, avant-garde, blues, calypso, classical, comedy, country, dance, disco, drone, dub, easy listening, electronica, exotica, experimental, folk, funk, gospel, hip hop, indie, instrumentals, jazz, krautrock, lounge, metal, music, musical hall, musicals, playlists, pop, postpunk, prog, psychedelia, punk, reggae, RnB, rock, rocksteady, showtime, ska, songs, soul, soundtracks, traditional Tags songs, playlists, twins, siblings, Black Box Recorder, Manic Street Preachers, Ibeyi, Michel Legrand, Anne Germain, Claude Parent, Evelyn Evelyn, Tom Waits, TEKE::TEKE, Lee Majors, Otis Spann, The Only Ones, Don McLean, Weyes Blood, Norah Jones, Muni Lung, Muni Long, Vern Gosdin, The Alan Parsons Project, Alan Parsons, Fats Waller, Angelo Badalamenti, The Irwin Twins, Bob Wills & The Texas Playboys, Courtney Pine, Sun Ra, Henry Krieger, Alice Ripley, Emily Skinner, Echo and the Bunnymen, Parliament, Roy Burns & The Dick Grove Big Band, The Stranglers, Dawn of Midi, Workfriends, Nyboma, Los Dos Hermanos, Stan Kenton, Pat Benatar, Ella Andell, Jimmy Heath, Anri, Jean-Philippe Rameau, Everything But The Girl, Neil Finn, Ora The Molecule, Eleni Mandell, Clem Snide, Mike Myers, Marco den Ouden
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Playlists: songs with double entendres

April 30, 2025 Peter Kimpton

The great Dinah Washington enjoyed slipping one in

Various professions, food and all seemingly innocent activities get the full suggestive double meaning dose this week in a splendidly entertaining set of lists picked by Marco den Ouden from last week’s hot topic

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In African, avant-garde, blues, calypso, classical, comedy, country, dance, disco, drone, dub, easy listening, electronica, exotica, experimental, folk, funk, hip hop, indie, instrumentals, jazz, krautrock, lounge, metal, music, musical hall, musicals, playlists, pop, postpunk, prog, psychedelia, punk, reggae, RnB, rock, rocksteady, showtime, ska, songs, soul, soundtracks, traditional, trip hop Tags double entendres, euphemisms, innuendo, songs, playlists, Cyril Tawney, Eddi Reader, Alberta Hunter, Lord Kitchener, Billy Cotton and His Band, Lord Creator, Ebisu Muscats, Richard Thompson, Linda Thompson, Honky Tonk Highway, Camille, Sheena Easton, Connie Vannett, Dinah Washington, Jacques Brel, Marlene Dietrich, Britney Spears, Kenneth Williams, The Cramps, Alison Moyet, The Who, Chuck Berry, Bellamy Brothers, Tell Tale Tusk, ZZ Top, Judge Dread, Terry Jacks, Rick James, Charles Mingus, Harry Roy and His Orchestra, Piano Red, Anita Ward, Not The Nine O'Clock News, Mery Wilson, Ted Nugent, April Wine, Brendan Grace, Jake Thackray, Fleetwood Mac, Maria Muldaur, Van Halen, Mighty Duke, Memphis Minnie, John Martyn, Blue Lu Barker, Bull Moose Jackson, Slim Harpo, Wynonie Harris, Lightnin' Hopkins, Julia Lee, Lee Dorsey, Lil Johnson, Clarence Carter, John C Reilly, Angela Correa, Big and Rich, Bette Midler, Manhattan Transfer, Roy Brown, Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears, Marco den Ouden
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Playlists: songs about trucks and trucking

March 26, 2025 Peter Kimpton

The art of trucking …

It’s a subject dominated by the country & western style, but this nomadic road freight culture is also soundtracked by other styles. Inspired by last week’s topic, Big Wheeled Marco den Ouden takes us on an international truck trip

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In blues, comedy, country, dance, drone, dub, easy listening, electronica, experimental, folk, funk, indie, instrumentals, jazz, krautrock, metal, music, musicals, playlists, pop, postpunk, prog, psychedelia, punk, reggae, rock, ska, songs, soul, soundtracks, traditional Tags songs, trucks, trucking, motor vehciles, film soundtrack, CW McCall, Dave Dudley, The Dandy Warhols, Hoodoo Gurus, George Thorogood & The Destroyers, George Thorogood, Henry Allen, Linda Ronstadt, Junior Brown, Ned & Chris LeDoux, Taj Mahal, Black Uhuru, Not The Nine O'Clock News, Rowan Atkinson, The Wurzels, Denim, Mark Knopfler, Kohei Otomo, Lucky Star, Slim Dusty, Cold Chisel, The Black Sorrows, Slim Newton, Henk Wijngaard, Fred Eaglesmith, Pharis, Jason Romero, Corb Lund, Jonathan Byrd, Commander Cody, The Byrds, Johnny Cash, Mary Gauthier, bread, Blind Boy Fuller, Tom Waits, Jerry Reed, Lil Johnson, Alabama, Red Simpson, Sammy Johns, Merle Haggard, Kathy Mattea, Kip Moore, Hank Snow, The Little Willies, Stompin' Tom Connors, Blondie, Red Sorvine, Marco den Ouden
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Playlists: songs about the Roman Empire

February 11, 2025 Peter Kimpton

A few members of Rome’s classic band lineup

Empires rise and crumble, but few on a scale as that of Ancient Rome. Following last week’s topic, guest playlister Marco den Ouden is inspired to create a musical arc to match Gibbon’s famous historical magnus opus

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In avant-garde, blues, calypso, classical, comedy, country, dance, disco, drone, dub, easy listening, electronica, exotica, experimental, folk, funk, gospel, hip hop, indie, instrumentals, jazz, krautrock, lounge, music, musical hall, musicals, playlists, pop, postpunk, prog, psychedelia, punk, reggae, rock, rocksteady, showtime, ska, soul, soundtracks, songs, traditional, trip hop Tags songs, playlists, Ancient Rome, emperors, Marco den Ouden, Caligula, Claudius, Momus, Angela & Jeff Van Dyck, Miles Davis, Triumvirat, Bob Dylan, spin doctors, The Last Dinner Party, Frances Barber, Groundation, Theatre of Hate, Bastille, Goldblade, Christopher Purves, Monty Python, Eric Idle, Bulat Okudsava, Saul Williams, Zack de la Rocha, Morcheeba, Nova Mob, The Stranglers, Soft Cell, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Inner Circle, Oli Julian, Sam Cooke, Frankie Howerd, Lloyd Jones, Perry Keyes, Terry Callier, Sugar Minott, Current 93, Molly Nilsson, James Reynes, Lisa Gerrard, Hans Zimmer, Matt Pless, Mark Knopfler, The Divine Comedy, Olivia Chaney, Wilfred Joseph, Julius Fucik, Colosseum, Nero & The Gladiators, Jo Jo Bennett, Chris Potter, Bud Powell, The Fleshtones, Land Observations
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Playlists: songs about detectives and private investigators

December 11, 2024 Peter Kimpton

They call him Mr Tibbs: Sidney Poitier shows Rod Steiger how real detective work is done - In The Heat of The Night (1967)

There’s a body, but what’s the motive, and whodunnit? Gathering a cast of famous detectives and a pile of tracks about them to spin in the Bar, Chief Inspector Marco den Ouden solves the case with musical cues and keys, inspired by last week’s topic

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In African, avant-garde, blues, calypso, classical, comedy, country, dance, disco, easy listening, electronica, exotica, experimental, folk, funk, gospel, hip hop, indie, instrumentals, jazz, krautrock, lounge, music, musicals, playlists, pop, postpunk, prog, psychedelia, punk, reggae, rock, rocksteady, showtime, ska, songs, soul, soundtracks, traditional, trip hop Tags songs, playlists, detectives, private investigators, Sidney Poitier, Film, film soundtrack, drama, television themes, Robb Johnson, Laurie Johnson, Sailor, The Regals, Yello, Joaquin Sabina, Steely Dan, They Might Be Giants, Stanley Brinks, Freschard, Jackie Leven, Bill Lloyd, DIre Straits, Thompson Twins, The Nipple Erectors, The New York Dolls, JJ Burnel, Dave Greenfield, Hall & Oates, Jon & Vangelis, Jon and Vangelis, Jon Anderson, Vangelis, Reverend & The Makers, Sparks, Tavares, Phish, Detective, Church, Weddings Parties Anything, Sammy Davis Jr, Johnny Moore's Three Blazers, Art of Noise, The Art of Noise, Chosen Few, The Four Tops, Travelling Wilburys, UK Subs, Jamo Thomas, Tommy Flanders, Poster Children, The Rolling Stones, Leon Nightingale, Nicoll Brothers Band, Gordon Giltrap, Rupert Holmes, James Taylor, James Taylor Quartet, Lalo Schifrin, Alan Tew, Max Harris & His Novelty Trio, Trevor Jones, Juji Ohno, Norrie Paramor, Enoch Light & The Light Brigade, Tom Beckham, Sean Callery, Alison Brown, Mark Snow, Madonna, Warren Beatty, Marco den Ouden
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Playlists: songs about castles and palaces

October 29, 2024 Peter Kimpton

Palace of Versailles courtyard

Real, fictional or metaphorical, these grand buildings have found inspiration across musical genres, opening the drawbridge to many fabulous narratives and sounds. Inspired by last week’s topic, guest Marco den Ouden takes us on a grand tour

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Tags songs, playlists, castles, palaces, Marco den Ouden, Thylacine, Medina Azahara, Mighty Sparrow, John Gorka, Grover Washington, The Four Tops, Styx, Stevie Nicks, Stonemans, Rokia Traoré, Richard Shindell, Suzanne Vega, Tammy Wynette, Violent Femmes, Don McLean, New Model Army, Funkadelic, Estrella Morente, Father John Misty, The C33s, Jorge Ben, Hoodoo Gurus, Freddie King, Rufus Wainwright, Dennis Brown, Elvis Presley, The Wake, John Cale, Terry Riley, `Blue Rodeo, Dillinger, Loreena McKennitt, Tommy Dorsey, Sy Oliver, Nena, Paul Weller, Adam Green, Blackmore's Night, Kris Kristofferson, Jon Hopkins, Los Pekenikes, Ron Godwin, Joe Hisaishi, David Arkenstone, Andrew White, Carbon Leaf, Chris De Burgh, Eric Burdon & The Animals
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Playlists: songs about the frozen north

October 1, 2024 Peter Kimpton

Mush! The team all pulled together, leading to these splendid songs …

Stunning sights and sounds that will melt your heart, but hopefully not too much of the ice. From Siberia to Alaska, the Inuit to the Laps and beyond, Marco den Ouden takes us on a fabulous journey across the frozen north inspired by last week's topic

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In blues, classical, comedy, country, dance, disco, easy listening, electronica, exotica, experimental, folk, funk, indie, instrumentals, jazz, krautrock, lounge, music, musical hall, musicals, playlists, pop, postpunk, prog, psychedelia, punk, rock, reggae, ska, songs, soul, soundtracks, traditional Tags songs, playlists, Arctic regions, Siberia, Alaska, Lapland, Finland, Johnny Horton, Hobo Jim, Show Of Hands, Momus, Torgeir Vassvik, Sverre Kjellsberg, Mattis Hætta, Tanya Tagaq, The Trews, Techno Sound Group, Jenny Räisänen, Redgum, Wire, Ludovico Einaudi, Lucinda Belle Orchestra, British Sea Power, Sea Power, Alan Parsons, Stompin' Tom Connors, The Pogues, Sólstöður, Kornet, Billy Bragg, Veda Hille, Bill Staines, Martin Carthy, John Denver, Neil Young, Shocking Blue, Lucy J Dalton, The Church, Mari Boine, Kardemimmit, Camel, Matt Elliott, Jet Blacks, Alestorm, Gladys Knight, Al Stewart, Jocelyn Dorian, Pamyua, Adam Bird’s Bowl of Fire, Jean Sibelius, Al di Meola, Oregon, Geir Bøhren, Bent Åserud, Woody Herman, Boreal Taiga, Alexander Dargomyzhsky, Australian Allstars, Finn Eriksen, Sun Ra, Charles Verstraete Et Son Orchestre, Terje Isungset, Hank Snow, Seth Boyer, Marco den Ouden
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Playlists: songs featuring finger-clicking, toe-tapping and foot-stomping

June 26, 2024 Peter Kimpton

The fabulous Nicholas Brothers

Foot stomping and clogging to the click of fingers, flamenco and castanets, these playlists, picked by guest Marco den Ouden from last week’s topic, take a tour of the world from Canada to Mexico, Spain to Japan, with music that’s right on tap

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In African, avant-garde, blues, calypso, classical, comedy, country, dance, disco, dub, experimental, folk, funk, gospel, hip hop, indie, instrumentals, jazz, music, musical hall, musicals, playlists, pop, rock, showtime, songs, soul, soundtracks, traditional Tags songs, playlists, dance, Billy Joel, Bonnie Milsap, Sudan Archives, The Dead South, Home Free, Embrujo Mestizo, Carmina Quartet, The Carolina Chocolate Drops, Hello, The STRiPES, La Bottine Souriante, TEKEYÉ, Sofia Rei, Geri Allen, Timeline, Glenn Miller, Dorothy Dandridge, The Nicholas Brothers, Farru, Tennessee Ernie Ford, The Flares, Dave Clark Five, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Bonnie St Clair, Marvin Gaye, Tammi Terrell, The Honeycombs, Fred Astaire, Paulette Goddard, Diana Ross, Beyonce, Jay-Z, Kak Channthy, Cambodian Space Project, Joe Henderson, John Lee Hooker, Rocio Molina, La Tremendita, Ibeyi, Clyde McPhatter, Lalela Cape Town Choir, Body Avlaia Group, Frederick Ashton, The Royal Ballet, Rosalia, Lancashire Wallopers, James Blunt, Duke Ellington, Don Dixon, Babukisi Arts Group, The Dovells, Wanda Richert, Herb Albert, The Tijuana Brass, Logreybeam, The Tymes, Doug and the Slugs, Selena Ryder, Riverdance, Marco den Ouden
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Playlists: songs about legs, trousers, pants and other coverings

May 22, 2024 Peter Kimpton

Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band

Trousers, pants, hotpants and other leggings, not to mention even a couple of legless numbers, from the beautiful to the bawdy, this week’s music definitely doing the talking and walking is picked by guest Marco den Ouden from last week’s topic

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In blues, calypso, classical, comedy, country, dance, disco, dub, drone, electronica, experimental, folk, funk, gospel, hip hop, indie, instrumentals, jazz, krautrock, metal, music, musical hall, musicals, playlists, pop, prog, postpunk, psychedelia, punk, reggae, rock, rocksteady, showtime, ska, songs, soul, soundtracks, traditional Tags songs, playlists, music, Captain Beefheart, ZZ Top, Freddie King, Willie King, Jeff Healey, Dr Hook, Bull Moose Jackson & His Buffalo Bearcats, Beyonce, Post Malone, Jeffrey Foucault, Luiz Marenco, Sophie Les Bas Bleus, Katzenjammer, Kenny, Omar and the Howlers, The Cheers, David Dundas, The Magic Numbers, AOA, Gene Vincent, Johnny Clegg, Joe Tex, Hot Tuna, Blue Lu Barker, Danny Barker, Suzanne Vega, Clarence Williams, Icky Renrut, Eddie Cochran, Bloodhound Gang, Les Azteks, B-52s, The Four Blazes, Shirley Brown, Chris McDermott, Conway Twitty, Peaches, Boiled In Lead, Skyhooks, First Choice, Chocolate Milk, Will Franklin, John Mayall, Mel McDaniel, Fishbone, Jodi Benson, The Little Mermaid, Marco den Ouden
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Playlists: Gaelic songs

March 20, 2024 Peter Kimpton

Evergreen accompanists: The Chieftains

What’s the craic? Our recent St Patrick’s Day special was focused on songs in the Irish language, but with a generous distillation process, brought forth also some good cheer in other Gaelic identities, all served up with great taste by guest Marco den Ouden

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In classical, country, drone, experimental, folk, instrumentals, indie, music, playlists, pop, postpunk, punk, rock, songs, soundtracks, traditional, hip hop Tags songs, playlists, Gaelic, Ireland, Celtic language, Scotland, Wales, Breton, Damien Dempsey, Maurice Dickson, The Chieftains, Sting, The Corrs, The Rankin Family, The Fontaines, Sinead O'Connor, Lisa Hannigan, Róisín White, Julie Fowlis, Aoife Ní Fhearraigh, Clannad, Kokia, Afro Celt Sound System, The Cranberries, Runrig, Bryn Terfel, Gwenno, Alan Stivell, The Pogues, The Saw Doctors, Paranoid Visions, Jackie Leven, Van Morrison, Mary Black, Kate Bush, Kneecap, The Bothy Band, Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin, Iarla Ó Lionáird, Connie Dover, Lankum, Brenda Wootton, Brenda Wooton, Robert Barton, Super Furry Animals, Julie Murphy, Dylan Fowler, Sound of Mull, Solas, Roaring Jack, Allison Russell, Mairi Morrison, Alasdair Roberts, Christine Primrose, The Gloaming, Michael Brecker, Lunasa, Emyryld Ryders, Sharon Shannon, Buddy Emmons, Planxty, Flook, Mary Bergin, Seán Ó Riada, Seán Ó Se, Ceoltóirí Chualann, Vinnie Kilduff, Liam O’Flynn, Dafydd Iwan, Marco den Ouden, Fontaines D.C.
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Playlists: songs about tyranny and dictatorship

January 24, 2024 Peter Kimpton

Revolutionary warnings: Crass

Coercion, violence and suppression, it’s a recurring cycle through history. Spanning the globe with philosophy and genre, guest playlister Marco den Ouden examines the big questions about autocracy and anarchy, picked from last week’s topic nominations

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In African, avant-garde, blues, calypso, classical, comedy, country, dance, disco, drone, dub, electronica, experimental, folk, funk, gospel, hip hop, indie, instrumentals, jazz, krautrock, metal, music, musical hall, musicals, playlists, pop, postpunk, prog, psychedelia, punk, reggae, rock, rocksteady, showtime, ska, songs, soul, soundtracks, traditional Tags tyranny, dictators, dictatorship, democracy, politics, history, Eek-a-Mouse, Lousiana Red, Steppenwolf, Archie Roach, Smith & Mighty, Andy Scholes, Cult With No Name, Dub Syndicate, Tom Robinson, Negativland, Todd Rundgren, Donald Fagen, Crass, Chico Buarque, Milton Nascimento, Hozier, Mavis Staples, The Beatles, The Winans, Robb Johnson, Catherine Graindorge, Iggy Pop, The Melodians, The Golden Gate Quartet, Rich Kids, Elektrisk Regn, Mercedes Sosa, Mark Knopfler, Emmylou Harris, Scraping Foetus Off the Wheel, The Pogues, Mark Stewart & the Maffia, Mark Lambert, Midnight Oil, Woody Guthrie, Sting, David Bowie, Randy Newman, Pop Will Eat Itself, Bob Marley, Bob Marley & The Wailers, Crystal Axis, Bruce Cockburn, Janis Ian, Nicko, Peter Tosh, Lucky Dube, Lord Invader, Arcade Fire, Curtis Mayfield, Raimon, Manhattan Transfer, Sweet Honey In the Rock, Nordic Giants, Marco den Ouden, Marconius, Isaiah Berlin
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Playlists: songs about legacy

August 23, 2023 Peter Kimpton

Stevie Wonder has a strong connection with the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr …

It runs within us all, but how is it expressed in song? From major moments and figures in history to personal stories, and even the legacy in our genes, guest Marco den Ouden covers a brought range in fine detail with playlists picked from last week’s topic

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In African, avant-garde, blues, country, dance, disco, dub, electronica, experimental, folk, funk, gospel, hip hop, indie, instrumentals, jazz, krautrock, metal, music, musicals, playlists, pop, postpunk, prog, psychedelia, punk, reggae, rock, rocksteady, showtime, ska, songs, soul, soundtracks, traditional Tags songs, playlists, legacy, inheritance, Christopher Jackson, Hamilton (musical), Josh Groban, George Washington, British Sea Power, First World War, Hitsujibungaku, Stevie Wonder, Martin Luther King, Jay-Z, Errol Walker, The Streets, Mike and the Mechanics, Melissa Etheridge, Linkin Park, Tim Buckley, Carole King, Bob Marley & The Wailers, Bob Marley, Oysterband, Belle & Sebastian, Patio, Carmen Twillie, Lebo M, Sheryl Crow, Elton John, Eminem, Polina, Christy Moore, Keith LeBlanc, Sarah McLachlan, Martyn Joseph, Martin Simpson, Sammy Hagar, The Corrs, Leslie Odam Jr, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Pulp, Arrested Development, Pierce Pettis, Fefe Dobson, Cindy Bullens, Beth Nielsen Chapman, Seth Lakeman, Fairport Convention, Fanny, Brooke Fraser, Olivia Newton-John, Lowen & Navarro, Andre Williams, The Rankin Family, Marco den Ouden
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Playlists: songs about the stomach and guts

June 21, 2023 Peter Kimpton

Got a gut feeling for what will come up in the latest lists?

Hungry to fill your musical belly with music? Need to digest, and relieve pain? After readers spilled their music guts in response to last week’s topic, guest song doctor Marco Den Ouden explores and prescribes a full menu of tasteful and entertaining ingredients

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In African, avant-garde, blues, calypso, comedy, country, dance, disco, dub, electronica, experimental, folk, funk, gospel, instrumentals, jazz, music, musical hall, musicals, playlists, pop, postpunk, prog, psychedelia, punk, reggae, rock, rocksteady, ska, showtime, songs, soul, soundtracks, traditional Tags stomach, digestion, Gertrude Lawrence, Cole Porter, Weird Al Jankovic, The Cowmen, Junior Wells, Ka'au Crater Boys, Sammy Davis Jr, The T-Bones, Lisa Germano, Patti Smith, Hugh Laurie, Lucky Dube, The Middle East, Bowser and Blue, Carter The Unstoppable Sex Machine, Peter and the Test Tube Babies, Meg Washington, Larry Marshall, Kacey Musgraves, Bruce Springsteen, Barenaked Ladies, Ciara, Herbert, DJ Kool, Biz Markie, Doug E. Fresh, Michael Franti, Spearhead, Pluto Shervington, Lou Donaldson, Bastannak, Jeff Beck, Willie Bobo, Booker T and the MGs, Future Sound of London, Rusty Bryant, Screamin' Jay Hawkins, Eddie Harris, Donovan, Ken Nordine, The Fred Katz Group, Brabbins & Fyffe, Jimmy Buffett, Buck-O-Nine, Marco den Ouden
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Sing out, act on CLIMATE CHANGE

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CONDEMN RACISM, EMBRACE EQUALITY

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DRINK OF THE WEEK

Galaxy Lemonade


SNACK OF THE WEEK

Orange twiglets from Jupiter


New Albums …

Featured
Tori Amos - In Times of Dragons.jpg
May 6, 2026
Tori Amos: In Times of Dragons
May 6, 2026

New album: The acclaimed American singer-songwriter and pianist’s 18th album in a 35-year career is a grandiose, powerful 17-track album of odyssey and allegory around politics, power and feminist resistance, fuelled by the current state of her nation, set from the view of fictionalised marriage to a dangerous billionaire and an escape across the country with a narrative twist

May 6, 2026
Kacey Musgraves - Middle of Nowhere.jpeg
May 6, 2026
Kacey Musgraves: Middle of Nowhere
May 6, 2026

New album: Moving away from the pop-folk direction of 2021’s Star-Crossed and 2024’s Deeper Well, the Nashville singer-songwriter returns with this seventh LP back to her country roots with gently trotting, stripped-back finely crafted collection of witty, catchy, candid numbers covering a spectrum of moods

May 6, 2026
OUTTANATIONAL by Pigeon.jpeg
May 5, 2026
Pigeon: OUTTANATIONAL
May 5, 2026

New album: Hugely enjoyable, stylish, playfully eclectic debut LP of indie, electronica and Afro-disco and krautrock grooves by the Margate band fronted by the multi-lingual artist Falle Nioke from Guinea Conakry, West Africa, with songs about identity and ancestry, and a sound somewhere between New Order and William Onyeabor

May 5, 2026
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May 3, 2026
KNEECAP: FENIAN
May 3, 2026

New album: Still the scourge of the establishment after 2024’s debut LP Fine Art, a hugely entertaining second LP of punchy, slick, defiant Irish Gaelic rap by Belfast’s Mo Chara and Móglaí Bap, and beatmaker DJ Próvaí, with an expanded sound aided by innovative producer Dan Carey and an appearance by Kae Tempest

May 3, 2026
Long Wave Home by Jesca Hoop.jpeg
May 2, 2026
Jesca Hoop: Long Wave Home
May 2, 2026

New album: Brilliantly inventive, eclectic, poetic, experimental folk and art-pop by the acclaimed Manchester-based Californian singer-songwriter and guitarist in her first self-produced album, variously about the end of relationships, life changes, technology’s social effects, Gaza victims and other contemporary issues with perhaps her finest yet

May 2, 2026
Sam Grassie - Where Two Hawks Fly.jpeg
Apr 29, 2026
Sam Grassie: Where Two Hawks Fly
Apr 29, 2026

New album: Beautiful debut LP by the London-based Glaswegian fingerstyle folk guitarist and singer-songwriter, with added saxophone, double bass, flute, clairsach and clarinet in a release of mostly the traditional, covers, sung or instrumental, and supported by the Bert Jansch Foundation

Apr 29, 2026
Irmin Schmidt - Requiem.jpeg
Apr 29, 2026
Irmin Schmidt: Requiem
Apr 29, 2026

New album: A strangely mesmeric, avant-garde and analogue-ambient, field recording-based experimental release by the last surviving founding member of experimental ‘krautrock’ band CAN, who, approaching the age of 89, has also written over 40 TV and film scores

Apr 29, 2026
Gia Margaret - Singing.jpeg
Apr 28, 2026
Gia Margaret: Singing
Apr 28, 2026

New album: Gently profound, and full of wondrous, mesmeric, slow, delicate experimental songs, this simple title has a powerful resonance – it is the Chicago artist’s first vocal album since 2018’s There’s Always Glimmer (there have been two instrumental LPs since), having suffered and recovered from a severe vocal injury, she returns with a delicate, candid, whispery but hauntingly beautiful delivery

Apr 28, 2026
Angel In Plainclothes by Angelo De Augustine.jpeg
Apr 28, 2026
Angelo De Augustine: Angel in Plainclothes
Apr 28, 2026

New album: A beautiful, delicate fifth LP from the Los Angeles singer-songwriter, friend and collaborator with Sufjan Stevens with whom he shares a stylistic resemblance, here with themes on life's fragility, second chances, and picking up the pieces after an undiagnosed illness forced him to re-learn basic abilities

Apr 28, 2026
Carla dal Forno - Confession.jpeg
Apr 28, 2026
Carla dal Forno: Confession
Apr 28, 2026

New album: This lo-fi, darkly minimalist but also oddly candid fourth LP by the Australian, Castlemaine-based singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist centres on the conflicted, obsessive feelings about “a friendship that became emotionally charged in an unexpected way”, and “an album about closeness that arrives late and unexpectedly. About stability rubbing up against desire.”

Apr 28, 2026
Friko - Something Worth Waiting For album.jpeg
Apr 26, 2026
Friko: Something Worth Waiting For
Apr 26, 2026

New album: Passionate, powerful, dynamic indie rock in this sophomore LP by the Chicago-based quartet that gallops forwards with a driving momentum, some elements of early PJ Harvey and Radiohead, and is produced by John Congleton

Apr 26, 2026
White Denim - 13.jpeg
Apr 26, 2026
White Denim: 13
Apr 26, 2026

New album: This 13th LP in two decades by the Austin, Texas rock band fronted by James Petralli has a particularly mischievous experimentalism, spreading styles far beyond breathlessly paced prog rock, with wrily humorous, surreal, personal and passionate numbers across heavy funk, dub, soul, psyche, country, dirty blues and more, joined by host of outstanding extra musicians

Apr 26, 2026
Asili ya Mama by Hukwe Zawose Foundation.jpeg
Apr 24, 2026
Hukwe Zawose Foundation: Asili ya Mama
Apr 24, 2026

New album: Wonderfully evocative field recordings release of Wagogo, Waluguru and Wasambaa Tanzanian women singing traditional songs in their villages, rarely heard outside of their own circles, the title is translated as The Origin of Mother, rich in stories and capturing the place where song is first learned, first felt, first shared

Apr 24, 2026
They Might Be Giants - The World Is To Dig.jpeg
Apr 23, 2026
They Might Be Giants - The World Is To Dig
Apr 23, 2026

New album: Four decades since their self-titled debut, Brooklyn alternative rockers John Flansburgh and John Linnell return with their 24th LP, packed with of punchy, pacy, wistful, whimsical, clever wordplay and indie rock-pop, buoyantly satirical and also a little world weary at times, they remain oddball, lively commentators on the ongoing absurdity of life

Apr 23, 2026

new songs …

Featured
Zoh Amba - Eyes Full.jpeg
May 6, 2026
Song of the Day: Zoh Amba - Eyes Full
May 6, 2026

Song of the Day: An impassioned, stirring, dark and driving country/indie-rock number about what makes someone’s heart full and questioning why by the NY-based band with Kingsport, Tennessee roots, with this title track of the forthcoming debut LP Eyes Full, out on 5 June via Matador Records

May 6, 2026
Cowboy Mouth by Sophie Royer.jpeg
May 5, 2026
Song of the Day: Sofie Royer - Cowboy Mouth
May 5, 2026

Song of the Day: A catchy, cool, stylish fusion of indie and electro-pop by the classically trained, California-born, Vienna-based Iranian-Austrian artist, inspired by reading Patti Smith and Sam Shepard’s play of the same title, reimagining the play’s characters as Angel and Cowboy, and out now on Stones Throw Records

May 5, 2026
Hodge - Wiggler.jpeg
May 4, 2026
Song of the Day: Hodge - Wiggler
May 4, 2026

Song of the Day: A hugely fun, energising, infectious, effervescent, repetitive electronic dance track by the Bristol-based DJ/producer (aka Jake Martin) featuring a 3D pipe bassline by Memotone, and released alongside another track,Trust, out on Local Action

May 4, 2026
Return to Sender by Ibibio Sound Machine.jpeg
May 3, 2026
Song of the Day: Ibibio Sound Machine - Return To Sender
May 3, 2026

Song of the Day: Fizzing with vibrant energy and intricate rhythms, a fabulous new single with a personal accidental backstory by the London electronic afro-funk band out of London fronted by vocalist Eno Williams, out Merge Record

May 3, 2026
The Puppini Sisters - The Birthday Party.jpeg
May 2, 2026
Song of the Day: The Puppini Sisters - Total Eclipse of the Heart
May 2, 2026

Song of the Day: A fabulous new version of the Jim Steinman-penned 1983 Bonnie Tyler power pop hit, arranged by Marcello Puppini in an entirely different style for her swing-jazz trio and band, part of their 20th anniversary celebrations and album, The Birthday Party, out now on Millionaire Records

May 2, 2026
Bleachers - Everyone For Ten Minutes.jpeg
May 1, 2026
Song of the Day: Bleachers - I'm Not Joking
May 1, 2026

Song of the Day: Featuring harpsichord, Hammond organ, Dobro and more, producer Jack Antonoff and his New Jersey rock band return with a heartfelt love song single heralding the upcoming album, Everyone For Ten Minutes, out on 22 May via Dirty Hit

May 1, 2026
Alewya - Saleh.jpeg
Apr 30, 2026
Song of the Day: Alewya - Selah
Apr 30, 2026

Song of the Day: Striking, stylishly agile electronica and dance with a rich African and Arabian influence by the London-based British singer-songwriter, producer, multidisciplinary artist and model Alewya Demmisse, heralding her upcoming album, Zero, out on 26 June via LDN Records

Apr 30, 2026
metric romanticize-the-dive.jpeg
Apr 29, 2026
Song of the Day: Metric - Crush Forever
Apr 29, 2026

Song of the Day: Uplifting, effervescent electro-disco-pop by the Toronto indie rock band, with a song vocalist/keyboardist Emily Haines describes as “my love letter to strong girls in this world”, taken from their recently released 10th album, Romanticize the Dive, out on Metric Music via Thirty Tigers

Apr 29, 2026
Jim Ghedi - The Hungry Child single.jpeg
Apr 28, 2026
Song of the Day: Jim Ghedi - The Hungry Child
Apr 28, 2026

Song of the Day: Dark, gripping, visceral folk by the Sheffield singer-songwriter, with a striking number based on an early 19th-century German poem about the fatal story of a child pleading for food, and, following last year’s acclaimed album, Wasteland, also out on Basin Rock, it heralds his upcoming soundtrack for the Hugh Jackman film, The Death of Robin Hood.

Apr 28, 2026
holybones with Baxter Dury - SLUGBOY.jpg
Apr 27, 2026
Song of the Day: holybones (with Baxter Dury) - SLUGBOY
Apr 27, 2026

Song of the Day: Dark, unsettling, sleazy and strange, this is arrestingly vivid new collaborative single between the clandestine London electronic collective and the downbeat, deep-voiced poetic Londoner, out on Promised Land Recordings

Apr 27, 2026
Hand Habits - Good Person.jpeg
Apr 26, 2026
Song of the Day: Hand Habits - Good Person
Apr 26, 2026

Song of the Day: Gentle, droll, humorously self-deprecatingly, and also delicately beautiful, this new experimental folk single by the moniker of Los Angeles singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Meg Duffy addresses the love-hate relationship with making music, out on Fat Possum

Apr 26, 2026
Pigeon - Miami.jpeg
Apr 25, 2026
Song of the Day: Pigeon - Miami
Apr 25, 2026

Song of the Day: Catchy, sunny, upbeawt indie synth-pop with an African twist by the Margate band fronted by Falle Nioke, with flavours of William Onyeabor, Hot Chip and New York 70s disco, heralding their upcoming album OUTTANATIONAL, out on 1 May via Memphis Industries

Apr 25, 2026

Word of the week

Featured
Song thrush 2.jpeg
Apr 23, 2026
Word of the week: throstle
Apr 23, 2026

Word of the week: An archaic, evocative noun with two connected meanings, originally for the song thrush, then later a textiles industrial frame for spinning, twisting and winding machine for cotton, wool, and other fibres simultaneously

Apr 23, 2026
Undine - Novella.jpeg
Apr 9, 2026
Word of the week: undine
Apr 9, 2026

Word of the week: It might sound like the act of abstaining from food, but this noun from derived from undina (Latin unda) meaning wave, refers to mythical, elemental beings associated with water, such as mermaids, and stemming from the alchemical writings of the 16th-century Swiss physician, alchemist and philosopher Paracelsus

Apr 9, 2026
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Mar 27, 2026
Word of the week: veena
Mar 27, 2026

Word of the week: This ornate, curvaceous, south Indian classical instrument, the saraswati veena, is a special bowl lute with a rich, resonant tone, has 24 copper frets with four playing strings and three drone strings, and is used for Carnatic music

Mar 27, 2026
Snail on a wall.jpeg
Mar 12, 2026
Word of the week: wallfish
Mar 12, 2026

Word of the week: It sounds like the singing finned picture ornament Big Mouth Billy Bass that became popular in the late 1990s, but this is a much older noun, derived in Somerset, England, pertains to the climbing gastropod that can slowly climb up any surface

Mar 12, 2026
Swordfish.jpg
Feb 25, 2026
Word of the week: xiphias
Feb 25, 2026

Word of the week: Get the point? This is the scientific name for the swordfish, in full Xiphias gladius (from the Greek and Latin for sword), that extraordinary sea creature with the long, pointy bill. But what of it in song?

Feb 25, 2026

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