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Playlists: striking acoustic song versions

June 24, 2025 Peter Kimpton

Simmering power? That’s Cat Power

Renewed, re-imagined, whether by the same artist or covered by another, with a stripped back, unplugged sound, a song can be opened up anew in emotions and lyrics. Guest Loud Atlas artfully explores the magic of the acoustic, inspired by last week’s topic

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In African, blues, calypso, classical, comedy, country, drone, dub, easy listening, experimental, folk, indie, instrumentals, jazz, lounge, music, playlists, pop, postpunk, prog, psychedelia, songs, soul, traditional, soundtracks, showtime, rock, punk, reggae Tags acoustic, covers, songs, playlists, Richard Thompson, The Ukelele Orchestra of Great Britain, Scala & Kolacny Brothers, Scala and Kolacny Brothers, The Bad Shepherds, Béla Fleck, Cat Power, Kuricorder Quartet, Seu Jorge, Sekar Melati, Bruce Springsteen, Alzheimer, José González, Charan Po Rantan, Frente!, Joe Collier, Björk, Bjork, Depeche Mode, Big Special, The Carolina Chocolate Drops, Sinead O'Connor, Leo Kottke, Luvcat, Crosby Stills & Nash, Williams-Fairey Engineering Band, Manic Street Preachers, Gary Jules, Joan Armatrading, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Bernard Sumner, The Beatles, Foo Fighters, Damon Albarn, Loud Atlas, Britney Spears, Nirvana (UK), Radiohead, Buzzcocks, The Grateful Dead, The Rolling Stones, John Williams, David Bowie, Gang of Four, Kylie Minogue, Simon & Garfunkel, New Order, Jacob Collier
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Less becomes new: striking acoustic song versions

June 19, 2025 Peter Kimpton

Time to grab a different instrument …

Revamped and newly performed by the original artists or as covers by others, the unplugged, undistorted and stripped back acoustic version can bring new feeling, meaning, audible lyrics and sometimes a sense of a whole new song

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In African, avant-garde, blues, calypso, classical, comedy, country, dance, disco, drone, dub, easy listening, electronica, exotica, experimental, folk, gospel, 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 songs, playlists, acoustic, Richard Thompson, Graham Nash, Chris Cornell, John Waite, Martin Gore, Depeche Mode, Buzz Osborne, Christopher Cross, Prince, Elliott Smith, Jerry Leiber, Ben Howard, Graham Coxon, Lindsey Buckingham, Fleetwood Mac, Oneohtrix Point Never, Dweezil Zappa, Tom Petty, Peter Frampton, Joe Bonamassa, Mark Knopfler
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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 the colour grey

March 5, 2025 Peter Kimpton

Assorted greys

Darker or lighter, a broad wave of moods, emotions, contexts, and objects come into focus with this insiightful selections as guest of the week ajostu examines this colour in lyrics, from a slate of suggestions in last week’s topic

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In African, avant-garde, blues, calypso, comedy, colours, country, dance, disco, drone, dub, easy listening, electronica, exotica, experimental, folk, funk, gospel, hip hop, indie, instrumentals, jazz, krautrock, lounge, metal, music, playlists, pop, postpunk, prog, psychedelia, punk, reggae, rock, rocksteady, showtime, ska, songs, soul, soundtracks, traditional, trip hop Tags songs, playlists, colours, grey, Tomas Tranströmer, Rufus Wainwright, Leadbelly, Paranoid Visions, Kathryn Williams, Neill MacColl, Saint Etienne, New Young Pony Club, Felt, Stella Donnelly, Lior, U2, Soccer Mommy, Richard Thompson, XTC, Charlotte Hatherlay, Moderate Rebels, YMO, Abyssanctum, VNV Nation, LCD Soundsystem, When, Spirit, Tokiko Kato, Kiyoshi Hasegawa, Kenshi Yonezu, Masaki Suda, Ichiko Aoba, Jan Garbarek, ajostu
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Playlists: songs about makeup and cosmetics

September 10, 2024 Peter Kimpton

Siouxsie Sioux

Lipstick, eyeliner, powder and more, it's all going in these beautifully made-up lists by guest of the week Suzi capturing all the looks, identities and the emotions and dreams behind the creams, inspired by last week's nominations

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In avant-garde, blues, country, disco, drone, easy listening, electronica, experimental, folk, funk, indie, jazz, lounge, music, musicals, playlists, pop, postpunk, prog, punk, psychedelia, reggae, rock, traditional, soul, songs Tags makeup, Big Joe Turner, Prince, Chai, X-Ray Spex, Soft Cell, No Doubt, REM, Lou Reed, Caro Emerald, Suzi Quatro, Siouxsie and the Banshees, The Replacements, Black Box Recorder, Joe Ely, Dolly Parton, Jazmine Sullivan, TLC, The Exciters, Richard Thompson, Mecano, Cornershop, Abbey Lincoln, Ralph Myerz, Jack Herren Band, Jonathan Richman, Glen Lewis, Carla Bruni, WB Yeats, Dixie Chicks, Suzi
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Playlists: songs about or featuring national anthems

July 31, 2024 Peter Kimpton

Music in the air …

Take a world trip from standup straight to unusual traditionals, or distorted version radicals, alternative interpretations to parodies, as well as new lyrical angles, guest Severin creates a truly global selection from last week’s Olympic-inspired topic

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In African, calypso, classical, comedy, country, dance, easy listening, exotica, experimental, folk, gospel, indie, instrumentals, jazz, krautrock, metal, music, musicals, playlists, pop, prog, postpunk, psychedelia, punk, reggae, rock, rocksteady, showtime, ska, songs, soul, soundtracks, traditional Tags national anthems, playlists, songs, Jimi Hendrix, Kou Kakinohara, Richie Stephens, Jean Jacques Burnel, Beethoven, Tom Waits, Serge Gainsbourg, Laibach, The Rankin Family, George Fenton, Radiohead, Johnny Griffin Quartet, Neil Young & Crazy Horse, Neil Young, Tanzania, Africa, Hawaii, Arrogant Worms, Marvin Gaye, Kiyoshiro Imawano, Gabry Ponte, Julia & Ayla Rodriguez, Juliette Greco, Мен, The Grateful Dead, Roy Ayers, Franz Liszt, Able Tasmans, Bro Gozh ma Zadou, Nitin Sawhney, The Voices of St Paul, Randy Newman, Richard Thompson, The Seekers, Nico, June Tabor, severin, Severin
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Playlists: songs about physical gestures

March 27, 2024 Peter Kimpton

Sound waves and beyond …

Pointing, clapping, nodding, waving, thumbs up, thumbs down, high fives and much more, there’s no end to the lyrical gesticulation on offer signalled from last week’s topic by guest playlister Loud Atlas, whose presentation and choices should attract a salute and long applause

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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, trip hop Tags gestures, psychology, human behaviour, AC/DC, Marvin Gaye, Little Simz, Obongjayar, Brenton Wood, Alanis Morissette, Jake Bugg, Sufjan Stevens, Loyle Carner, Stevie Smith, The Bevis Frond, Richard Thompson, The Meters, Alfred Apaka, The Chiffons, Little Eva, Neil Diamond, Henry Hall, BBC Concert Orchestra, Dan Donovan, Soft Cell, The Lowest Pair, Was (Not Was), Herbie Hancock, The Fairfield Four, Mama Cass Elliot, Vanity Fare, The Guess Who, Slobberbone, Beck, Don McLean, Wreckless Eric, The Ramones, United Bottles, Tom Lehrer, Kismet Original Broadway Cast, Alfred Drake, Dropkick Murphys, Ludovico Bource, The Black Crowes, Ben Platt, Loud Atlas
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Playlists: songs about jumping

March 6, 2024 Peter Kimpton

This joint is jumping …

There are many reasons to leave the ground spontaneously, such as for dancing, sex and relationships, but also more darkly - suicide. But inspired by the many leap of musical imagination from last week’s topic, guest pejepeine’s playlists will have you jumping for joy

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In African, blues, calypso, comedy, country, dance, disco, drone, dub, electronica, experimental, funk, folk, gospel, hip hop, indie, instrumentals, jazz, music, musical hall, musicals, playlists, pop, postpunk, prog, psychedelia, punk, reggae, rock, rocksteady, showtime, ska, soul, traditional Tags songs, playlists, jumping, leap years, The Undertones, Marcia Griffiths, Cab Calloway, Roy Milton & His Solid Soldiers, Little Walter, Gene Vincent, Bentley Rhythm Ace, Los Bengala, The Cure, The Associates, The Pointer Sisters, Destiny's Child, Eddie the Eagle, Amigo The Devil, Richard Thompson, Linda Thompson, Pentangle, The Dukes, Derrick Morgan, Byron Lee and the Dragonaires, Ernest Ranglin, The Carnaby, Psymon Spine, Basement Jaxx, Slarta John, Erykah Badu, Lil Wayne, Bilal, System Of A Down, House of Pain, King Africa, pejepeine
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Playlists: songs about treasure

February 14, 2024 Peter Kimpton

Fatoumata Diawara

It could be pilfered by pirates or dug up by explorers, but treasure comes in many forms. In Song Bar’s Eighth Birthday week, guest ajostu finds many sorts of pieces of eight from around the globe in a truly celebratory set of lists inspired by a topic to treasure

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In African, avant-garde, blues, calypso, classical, colours, comedy, country, dance, disco, drone, dub, electronica, experimental, folk, funk, gospel, hip hop, indie, instrumentals, krautrock, jazz, metal, playlists, pop, postpunk, prog, psychedelia, punk, reggae, rock, rocksteady, showtime, ska, songs, soul, soundtracks, traditional Tags John Williams, Troy Banarzi, The Full English, The Church, XTC, Richard Thompson, 17 Hippies, Astrud Gilberto, The Black Sorrows, The Pilgram Brothers, Johnny Flynn, Fatoumata Diawara, Cowboy Junkies, Joni Mitchell, Sade, Chris Squire, Our Last Night, Howling Bells, Culture, The Maytals, Pat Thomas, Linda Lewis, Traffic, Gwenno, Peter Hammill, Alan Parsons, Todd Sickafoose, Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra, ajostu
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Playlists: songs about butterflies and moths

March 15, 2023 Peter Kimpton

This week’s topic attracted a rainbow range of music and lyrics

Multi-coloured and international, from caterpillars to these winged insects in their full glory and the beauty, tragedy and majesty that they represent, all are captured in beautiful playlists gathered by guest Severin from last week’s topic

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In African, avant-garde, blues, calypso, classical, country, comedy, dance, disco, drone, dub, electronica, experimental, folk, funk, gospel, hip hop, indie, jazz, instrumentals, music, musical hall, musicals, playlists, pop, postpunk, prog, psychedelia, punk, rock, reggae, songs, soul, soundtracks, traditional Tags songs, playlists, butterflies, moths, insects, Leyanis Lopez, Screaming Trees, Sarah Vaughan, Hal Mooney, Cocteau Twins, Fiona Burnett, Deniece Williams, The Verve, Dolly Parton, Tio, Free Design, The Cure, Terry Callier, Talvin Singh, Wagakki Band, Sandrine Piau, George Brassens, Charlie Gracie, Za Pinattsu / The Peanuts, The Cinnamon Ship, Pink Martini, Hitsujibungaku, Lole y Manuel, Mercury Rev, Aimee Mann, Gal Costa, Chaka Kahn, Mallrat, Procol Harum, Giacomo Puccini, Ying Huang, Lana Del Rey, Caroline Polachek, Audioslave, Blonde Redhead, The Incredible String Band, Lucinda Williams, Great Lake Swimmers, Kevin Ayers, Richard Thompson, severin, Severin
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Playlists: songs about memorabilia and souvenirs

January 24, 2023 Peter Kimpton

Visited any of these? Take it to the fridge …

Memories fond to tragic, travel to mementos of lost lovers, all kinds of objects and emotions are on display this week as guest Loud Atlas picks out a colourful and poignant range of objects and songs to spark stories and feelings

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In African, blues, country, comedy, dance, disco, drone, dub, electronica, experimental, folk, funk, hip hop, indie, instrumentals, jazz, metal, music, playlists, pop, postpunk, prog, psychedelia, punk, reggae, rock, songs, soul, traditional Tags songs, playlists, souvenirs, memorabilia, travel, merchandise, DIre Straits, Connie Francis, Los Jaivas, Freda Payne, Looking Glass, Charles Mingus, Bryan Ferry, Marianne Faithfull, Procol Harum, Maggie Bell, Jellyfish, Tom Waits, Tommy Collins, George Formby, Martha Reeves & The Vandellas, Jean-Michel Jarre, Richard Thompson, Django Reinhardt, Donald Fagen, Bob Dylan, The Stylistics, Matt Nathanson, Sam Mangwana, Joyce Grenfell, Johnny Cash, Mischief Brew, Ben Sollee, MC Solaar, Penthouse, Omega One, Barbara Evans, Billy Joel, Loud Atlas
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Playlists: songs about wastelands

September 21, 2022 Peter Kimpton

Woody Guthrie …

They tell stories of decay and often a trail of human destruction, but out of the infertile soil also also grows vivid, moving, and often profound songwriting. Picking from the ground of last week’s topic, guest George Boyland sees portents in the past and future

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In African, avant-garde, blues, country, drone, dub, folk, indie, music, playlists, pop, postpunk, psychedelia, prog, punk, reggae, rock, rocksteady, ska, songs, soul, traditional Tags songs, playlists, wastelands, environment, human behaviour, fossil fuels, The Troggs, Old Crow Medicine Show, JJ Cale, The Congos, Richard Thompson, Husker Du, PJ Harvey, David Rovics, Snog, Samantha Crain, The Doors, Ian Noe, Bryan Ferry, James, Misty in Roots, The Jesus and Mary Chain, The Band of Holy Joy, And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Deadead, Van Der Graaf Generator, Songs: Ohia, Kevin Coyne, Seth Lakeman, Bert Jansch, The Atrix, Bob Dylan, George Boyland
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Playlists: songs about eyewear

July 19, 2022 Peter Kimpton

Musical vision: double-bass player Charlie Haden and friends gets eyes and ears firmly on the topic

Protective sunglasses to corrected vision, what songs are in the frame? They are often about what is hidden, but also what is revealed, especially in love, and guest Marco den Ouden brings everything into focus with fabulous playlists inspired by last week’s topic.

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In African, avant-garde, blues, calypso, comedy, country, dance, disco, electronica, experimental, folk, funk, gospel, hip hop, indie, instrumentals, jazz, music, musical hall, musicals, playlists, pop, postpunk, prog, psychedelia, reggae, rock, rocksteady, songs, ska, soul, soundtracks, traditional Tags songs, playlists, Film, film soundtrack, She Na Na, 40meter-P, GUMI, Charlie Haden, The Human Hearts, Millie Jackson, Johnny Cash, James McMurtry, Nik Kershaw, BOB, Lupe Fiasco, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, My Morning Jacket, Pedro Guerra, Iggy Pop, The Divine Comedy, Dwight 'Whitey' Pullen, Tracey Ullman, Corey Hart, Run DMC, Estopa, Keen, Neal McCoy, The Vamps, Nick Lucas, Arrogant Worms, Kate Nash, Betty Wright, Mark Lindsay, Frank Sinatra, Count Basie, Courtney Barnett, Laurie Anderson, Animal Logic, Split Level, Will Smith, The Shadows, Tom Waits, Khruangbin, I Marc 4, Michel Mage, Dave Brubeck, Terry Robb, Richard Thompson, John Carpenter, Alan Howarth, Marco den Ouden
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Playlists: songs about tradition

December 21, 2021 Peter Kimpton

British and German troops buck tradition, but also honour it, during the Christmas Day truce of 1914, to play football instead of war

Ancient religions to strange festivals, drinking rituals to counting sheep to chasing cheeses, small slices of history to long formed social behaviour, enjoy wonderful stories and playlists picked by guest Marco den Ouden from last week’s topic

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In blues, comedy, country, experimental, folk, instrumentals, jazz, music, musical hall, musicals, playlists, pop, postpunk, rock, songs, soul, soundtracks, traditional Tags songs, playlists, tradition, Topol, Fiddler On The Roof, musicals, Steeleye Span, Jake Thackray, Giorgio Moroder, The Maccabees, Die 3 Besoffskis, Takashi Hirayaus, Bob Brozman, Les Innocents, Shikata Akiko, Lila Downs, Mike Harding, Tim Minchin, Nat King Cole, Hen Ogledd, Samingad, Dadawa, The Saw Doctors, Show Of Hands, Sea Power, B Movie, Billy Idol, The Fantastics, Richard Thompson, Linda Thompson, Joni Mitchell, NIck Lowe, Careg Lafar, Heilung, Peter Gabriel, Waylon Napadogan, John McCutcheon, Sonny Boy Williamson II, Chloe Adams, The Kickstands, Stan Getz, Stanley Clarke, Jon Simon, Bruce Springsteen, Sufjan Stevens, John Coltrane, Alex Khaskin, Swing Out Sister, Peter Green, Simani, Big Crosby, The Irish Rovers, National Lampoon, Marco den Ouden
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Playlists: songs from and about North East England

December 14, 2021 Peter Kimpton

The Unthanks

Canny! Champion! Famous sons and daughters of Newcastle, Northumbria, Sunderland, Middlesbrough and beyond bring a beautiful, humorous and moving portrait of this charismatic region, picked with a huge write-up, rich in historical and musical reference, by guest playlister Alaricmc

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In blues, classical, country, folk, indie, instrumentals, music, playlists, pop, postpunk, punk, rock, reggae, songs, traditional, metal Tags songs, playlists, North East England, Mark Knopfler, Richard Thompson, Sting, The Unthanks, Elvis Costello, Toy Dolls, Roger Whittaker, Prefab Sprout, Martin Carthy, Dave Swarbrick, Painted Places, The Strawbs, Bob Fox, Stu Luckley, Lindisfarne, Alan Price, Pet Shop Boys, Angelic Upstarts, Jack Elliott, Tom Robinson, Richard Dawson, Jez Lowe, Lanterns On The Lake, Owen Brannigan, Dick Gaughan, The Young 'Uns, Highly Likely, Bridie Jackson and The Anchor, Bridie Jackson and the Arbour, The Shadows, Rachel Unthank and the Winterset, Rachel Unthank, Kane Gang, Megson, Alex Glasgow, Blyth Power, The Kathryn Tickell Band, Vin Garbutt, Jimmy Nail, The Mitford Family, Jaz Lowe, Enslaved, Alaricmc
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Playlists: songs about wings

August 3, 2021 Peter Kimpton
Crane at sunset

Crane at sunset

Music on the magic of flight to the feathery movement of mythology and morality tales, beautiful murmurations to deadly war munitions, guest playlister Marco den Ouden marvellously spreads his wings from a vast array of song nominations

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In African, avant-garde, blues, calypso, classical, country, dance, disco, dub, electronica, experimental, folk, funk, gospel, hip hop, indie, instrumentals, jazz, music, musical hall, musicals, playlists, pop, postpunk, prog, punk, reggae, rock, rocksteady, showtime, ska, songs, soul, soundtracks, traditional Tags songs, playlists, Katrin Finch, Sekou Keita, Ziggy Marley, Elizabeth Mitchell, Hans Theesink, The Decemberists, Alan Parsons, Elton John, The D-Day Darlings, Cheap Trick, Joni Mitchell, Edgar Broughton Band, Morphine, Jimmy Buffett, Little Mix, Reverand Utah Smith, Everly Brothers, The Beatles, Barclay James Harvest, The Bells, Abba, Mr. Mister, Marlene Dietrich, Willie Nelson, Matt Anderson, Leon Russell, Malú, Julien Clerc, Peter Hammill, Anne Murray, BYU Women's Chorus, Eric Wiseacre, Nina Simone, Billie Eilish, Van Dyke Parks, Billie Jo Spears, Loretta Lynn, Anastacia, Tom Russell, Ruby and the Romantics, Patti Austin, Little Simz, Paul Robeson, Richard Thompson, Kiri Te Kanawa, Johnny Wiggs, Nils Frahm, Jean Luc Ponty, Mesa Music Consort, Johnny Hodges, Wild Bill Davis, Kitaro, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Socrates, Plato, Mohammed Ali, Salvador Dali, Marco den Ouden, Muhammad Ali
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Playlists: songs about knots, ties and untying

December 22, 2020 Peter Kimpton
Lacy days … a band of knots

Lacy days … a band of knots

Tied up, tied down, in difficulty, for practicality or pleasure, dreadlocks to complex knots, this week’s guest Marco den Ouden has untangled nominations to knit together two tremendous playlists to which any listener will feel attached

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In African, blues, classical, country, dance, disco, dub, electronica, experimental, folk, funk, gospel, indie, instrumentals, jazz, music, playlists, pop, postpunk, prog, punk, reggae, rock, ska, rocksteady, songs, soul, traditional Tags songs, playlists, knots, Ylvis, Lisa Harrigan, Yello, 1 Giant Leap, Speech, Neneh Cherry, Shack, The Proclaimers, Harry Chapin, Lissie, Everything But The Girl, Tony Orlando, Shari Elf, Kacey Musgraves, Leon Bridges, Julie Carrick, Bjork, Hex, Kate Bush, Bob Kayli, Cornershop, Bubbley Kaur, Bongwater, Leon Russell, Bruce Springsteen, Jacob Miller, I Roy, Snow Patrol, Bing Crosby, Richard Thompson, Dolly Parton, Jon English, Slim Whitman, Barzin, Tindersticks, Almer, Radwimps, Rusty Draper, The Go-Go's, Oyvind Holm, Vibe 18, The Gladiators, Steeleye Span, Julie Andrews, Foxes, Marco den Ouden, Huey Lewis and the News, Roy Orbison
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Dynamic duos: songs with just two performers

November 12, 2020 Peter Kimpton
Fragile, insecure synchronicity. Simon & Garfunkel.

Fragile, insecure synchronicity. Simon & Garfunkel.

What makes for a great duo and how does is that dynamic expressed? Perfect balance of sound? Unspoken understanding and harmony? Symbiosis of roles? Contrast in character? Fragility, insecurity and tension? It’s time for two’s company …

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In African, avant-garde, blues, calypso, classical, country, dance, disco, dub, electronica, experimental, folk, funk, hip hop, indie, instrumentals, jazz, music, musicals, playlists, pop, prog, punk, reggae, rock, songs, ska, soul, soundtracks, traditional Tags songs, playlists, duos, duets, Simon & Garfunkel, paul simon, Art Garfunkel, Carl Jung, Dolly Parton, film soundtrack, Film, John Boorman, Eric Weissberg, Steve Mandell, Arthur "Guitar Boogie" Smith, Everly Brothers, The White Stripes, Jack White, Sleaford Mods, Pet Shop Boys, Daft Punk, Eric B & Rakim, Thelonius Monk, John Coltrane, Richard Thompson, Linda Thompson, The Black Keys, Suicide, Sparks, First Aid Kit
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Playlists: songs with insults and sentiments that may offend

October 7, 2020 Peter Kimpton
Frank Zappa and the body beautiful

Frank Zappa and the body beautiful

Men, women, babies, society, people of statue, stardom or otherwise, this week no one escapes this week’s scattergun of superbly insulting songs inspired by last week’s topic, chosen with expert evil hilarity by guest Olive Butler

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In African, avant-garde, blues, comedy, country, dance, disco, electronica, experimental, folk, hip hop, indie, instrumentals, jazz, music, playlists, musicals, pop, postpunk, prog, punk, reggae, rock, songs, soul, traditional, soundtracks, showtime Tags songs, playlists, insults, offensive material, Betty Davis, Fela Kuti, The Rolling Stones, Ceelo Green, Lana Del Rey, Ben Folds, Frank Zappa, Robyn Hitchcock, Morrissey, The Fall, Terminal Heads, Half Man Half Biscuit, John Cooper Clarke, Braindance, Chumbawamba, Ian Dury, Loretta Lynn, Conway Twitty, Mojo Nixon, NIck Lowe, The Jam, Richard Thompson, Steeleye Span, Randy Newman, They Might Be Giants, Adam Green, Machine Gun Fellatio, The Tiger Lillies, Olive Butler
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Playlists: songs where old and new eras combine

July 8, 2020 Peter Kimpton
Spread of styles? Swan Lake Madness …

Spread of styles? Swan Lake Madness …

Intercutting genres with anything from musical saws to theremins, from electric to acoustic, jazz to hip hop, this week’s playlists, picked by guest Nilpferd, inspired by last week’s topic, truly traverse the ages

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In African, avant-garde, blues, calypso, classical, comedy, country, dance, disco, dub, electronica, experimental, folk, funk, gospel, hip hop, indie, instrumentals, jazz, music, metal, musical hall, musicals, playlists, pop, postpunk, prog, punk, reggae, rock, rocksteady, showtime, ska, songs, soul, traditional Tags songs, playlists, Orkestra Obsolete, Slowhawk Duo, Angelique Kidjo, Jimi Hendrix, GoGo Penguin, Richard Cheese, The Rolling Stones, Queen, Madness, Swan Lake, Anais Mitchell, Richard Thompson, St Germain, Ernest Ranglin, Portishead, Ibrahim Ferrer, Omara Portumondo, Nico, The Allman Brothers Band, Dick Dale, Miles Davis, The Ukelele Orchestra, Herb Albert, Vintage Postmodern Jukebox, Haley Reinhart, Mulatu Astatke, The Auteurs, Run DMC, Brian Eno, Jake Blount, Esperanza Spalding, Wayne Shorter, Sun Ra, Nilpferd
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New Albums …

Featured
The Sophs - Goldstar.jpeg
Mar 17, 2026
The Sophs: Goldstar
Mar 17, 2026

New album: A fairytale story of a debut for the Los Angeles six-piece fronted by Ethan Ramon, who cold-emailed demos to Rough Trade Records before even playing a live gig and were signed – that instinctive leap of faith rewarded by this stylish, bold, mercurial, confident, darkly humorous, eclectic debut leaping between rock, indie, pop, hoedown country, delta blues and beyond

Mar 17, 2026
Kim Gordon - Play Me album.jpeg
Mar 13, 2026
Kim Gordon: Play Me
Mar 13, 2026

New album: Following 2024’s The Collective, the former Sonic Youth frontwoman’s fourth solo LP continues her extraordinary experimental, innovative journey, moving to more melodic beats and shorter tracks with a motorik krautrock-style driven coloured by strange sounds, intense emotions and sharply angled, dark, droll social commentary

Mar 13, 2026
ELIZA - The Darkening Green.jpeg
Mar 11, 2026
ELIZA: The Darkening Green
Mar 11, 2026

New album: The London artist Eliza Caird (formerly under the mainstream pop moniker Eliza Doolittle) returns with more of the cool, slow, sensual, gentle, sophisticated experimental soul-funk style evolving from her 2022 album A Sky Without Stars, here with particularly polished, silky, stripped back grooves and vocals

Mar 11, 2026
Irreparable Parables by Andrew Wasylyk.jpeg
Mar 11, 2026
Andrew Wasylyk: Irreparable Parables
Mar 11, 2026

New album: The Scottish multi-instrumentalist and composer returns with a new selection of soothing, meditative mix of experimental classical and jazz, but this time joined with six different singers represented by the birds on the album artwork

Mar 11, 2026
waterbaby - Memory Be A Blade.jpeg
Mar 10, 2026
waterbaby: Memory Be A Blade
Mar 10, 2026

New album: A delicate, experimental, understated soulful chamber pop debut by the pure-voiced Stockholm-born singer-songwriter (aka Kendra Egerbladh) in 25-minute, eight-track release of lo-fi, lyrically semi-improvised numbers about heartbreak and self-renewal in a world of gorgeous musical sensations

Mar 10, 2026
Joshua Idehen - I Know You're Hurting ....jpeg
Mar 10, 2026
Joshua Idehen: I know you're hurting, everyone is hurting, everyone is trying, you have got to try
Mar 10, 2026

New album: With a strikingly long title, a euphoric and honest full debut LP by the British-born Nigerian poet, spoken word artist and musician based in Sweden, working with his musical partner Ludvig Parment’s sonic layers, packed pacy dance and hip-hop grooves, clever sampling, slower reflections, and articulate expressions of positivity through the ups and downs of grief and hope

Mar 10, 2026
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Mar 10, 2026
Gnarls Barkley: Atlanta
Mar 10, 2026

New album: Finally, after an 18-year gap since their last collaboration in the heady days of the hit Crazy, with the St Elsewhere and The Odd Couple LPs a third and supposedly final album from fabulous singer CeeLo Green and producer and musician aka Brian Burton with a mix of soaring soul, hip-hop, pop and RnB with songs filled with vivid lyrical memories and strong, emotive melodies

Mar 10, 2026
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Mar 9, 2026
Various: HELP(2) - War Child Records
Mar 9, 2026

New album: Not only a timely and topical milestone charity record following the first in 1995 to help bring aid and wide variety of support to children in war zones around he world, but an impressive double-LP array of stellar British and international talent and powerful, poignant 23 songs from Arctic Monkeys to Young Fathers

Mar 9, 2026
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Mar 9, 2026
Bonnie “Prince” Billy: We Are Together Again
Mar 9, 2026

New album: Just over a year after 2025’s The Purple Bird, but from parallel recording sessions and familiar co-musicians, the veteran Louisville-Kentucky singer-songwriter Will Oldham returns with another collection of exquisite, intimate, gently defiant lo-fi folk to troubled times, an ode to community with a beautiful array of acoustic instruments and his poignant, insightful lyrics and delivery

Mar 9, 2026
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Mar 5, 2026
DEADLETTER: Existence Is Bliss
Mar 5, 2026

New album: This second LP by the South Yorkshire/London six-piece expands their post-punk sound palette with a collection of arresting, thrumming songs, often dark and challenging, with richly exploratory lyrics across dystopian and existential questions, yet despite a climate of difficult, shows how gasping for life’s oxygen is essential

Mar 5, 2026
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Mar 5, 2026
Lala Lala: Heaven 2
Mar 5, 2026

New album: Moving from Chicago to New Mexico, Reykjavík, then London and now Los Angeles, the UK-born artist Lillie West’s experimental indie dream pop is a fascinating release about restless escapism while trying to stay where she is

Mar 5, 2026
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Mar 3, 2026
Iron & Wine: Hen's Teeth
Mar 3, 2026

New album: Timeless, poetic, gentle folk-rock in this eighth solo album by the North Carolina multi-instrumentalist and producer Sam Beam, in warm, tender album with a title that suggests the idea of the impossible yet real, and an earthier, darker, more more tactile companion to his Grammy-nominated 2024 album Light Verse

Mar 3, 2026
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Mar 3, 2026
Buck Meek: The Mirror
Mar 3, 2026

New album: The Brooklyn-based Texan guitarist of Big Thief returns with his fourth solo LP filled with tender, thoughtful, beautiful folk-country-rock, a tiny splash of analogue synths, joined by bandmate James Krivchenia as producer, Adrianne Lenker on backing vocals, plus guitarist Adam Brisbin and harp player Mary Lattimore

Mar 3, 2026
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Mar 1, 2026
Mitski: Nothing’s About To Happen To Me
Mar 1, 2026

New album: Following 2023’s acclaimed The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We, now an eighth LP of sublime beauty, wit and melancholy and silken vocal tones from the American singer-songwriter, mixing pop, rock, echoes of Laurel Canyon era, and stories and metaphors of love and loss, insecurity, independence and solitude all set at home – and no shortage of cats

Mar 1, 2026

new songs …

Featured
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Mar 16, 2026
Song of the Day: Jaakko Eino Kalevi - Black Diamond
Mar 16, 2026

Song of the Day: A splendidly rousing eight-minute retro-style electro-pop baroque melodrama by the Finnish artist with the deep, rich voice, one that stylistically and in his own fashion, draws a pentagram between Goblin, Rondo Veneziano, Cerrone, Doris Norton and Lindstrom, out on Domino Records

Mar 16, 2026
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Mar 15, 2026
Song of the Day: Hannah Lew - Sunday
Mar 15, 2026

Song of the Day: An appropriate day to highlight this classy latest single of shimmering 80s-style synth-pop with echoes of OMD, with themes about pain, love and grief from the upcoming debut album by the Richmond, California artist, out on 10 April via Night School Records

Mar 15, 2026
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Mar 14, 2026
Song of the Day: Mei Semones - Tooth Fairy (featuring John Roseboro)
Mar 14, 2026

Song of the Day: A charming cross-genre fusion of bossa nova, jazz, folk and chamber pop sung in English and Japanese by the Brooklyn-based American musician with a tale of losing a tooth on the subway and friendship, from the upcoming album Kurage, out 10 April on Bayonet Records

Mar 14, 2026
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Mar 13, 2026
Song of the Day: Robyn - Blow My Mind
Mar 13, 2026

Song of the Day: Quirky, sensual electro-pop with a dash of Kraftwerk by the acclaimed Swedish singer, songwriter and producer Robin Miriam Carlsson, in this latest from the upcoming album Sexistential out on 27 March via Konichiwa / Young Records

Mar 13, 2026
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Mar 12, 2026
Song of the Day: Lava La Rue - Scratches
Mar 12, 2026

Song of the Day: The latest single by the London singer-songwriter is punchy, powerful psychedelic rock number with tearing riffs and lyrics about damage from troubled relationship, abuse and self-harm, from the forthcoming EP Do You Know Everything?, out on BMG

Mar 12, 2026
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Mar 11, 2026
Song of the Day: Alewya - City of Symbols (featuring eejebee)
Mar 11, 2026

Song of the Day: A stylish fusion of electronica, soul, hip hop and Ethiopian rhythmic influences centring on themes of heritage, family by London singer, songwriter, producer and multidisciplinary artist, with drums from eejebee and guitar from Vraell, heralding from the forthcoming new debut Zero out 22 June via LDN Records / Because Music

Mar 11, 2026
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Mar 10, 2026
Song of the Day: Huarinami - Carried Away
Mar 10, 2026

Song of the Day: Explosive, stylish, gritty, restless indie-psychedelic punk with angular, angry guitars, driving bass and wonderfully arresting vocals by Pauline Janier (aka Cody Pepper) fronting the French London-based four-piece in this single fuelled by the frustration of big-city life, and heralding their sophomore EP Nothing Happens, due for release on 6 June

Mar 10, 2026
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Mar 9, 2026
Song of the Day: Avalon Emerson & The Charm - Written into Changes
Mar 9, 2026

Song of the Day: Following the singles Eden and Jupiter and Mars, another stylish, experimental indie synth-pop release by the New York artist with the title track of upcoming second Charm moniker album, out on 20 March via Dead Oceans

Mar 9, 2026
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Mar 8, 2026
Song of the Day: Aldous Harding - One Stop
Mar 8, 2026

Song of the Day: An enigmatic, oddly stylish, stripped back, piano-based new experimental folk single by the New Zealand singer-songwriter, namechecking John Cale, and from her upcoming album Train on the Island out May 8 via 4AD

Mar 8, 2026
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Mar 7, 2026
Song of the Day: Max Winter, Asha Lorenz & Rael - Candlelight
Mar 7, 2026

Song of the Day: A dark, stylish, striking fusion of hip-hop, trip-hop, spoken word, and jazz by the London-based rapper and friends, and the the first single from the collaborative mixtape Like the season!, out on Secret Friend

Mar 7, 2026
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Mar 6, 2026
Song of the Day: SPRINTS - Trickle Down
Mar 6, 2026

Song of the Day: The feisty, ferociously fun Dublin post-punk band return with a punchy, on-point angry new number about the flawed economic term, watching systems fail in slow motion, housing crisis, rising costs, culture wars, climate collapse, and frustratingly being told to stay patient while everything burns

Mar 6, 2026
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Mar 5, 2026
Song of the Day: Jordan Rakei & Tom McFarland - Easy to Love
Mar 5, 2026

Song of the Day: Elevating, soaring soul with the high vocals of the New Zealand-Australian singer and songwriter joined by one half the British band Jungle, heralding the collaborative EP Between Us, out on 24 April on Fontana Records / Universal Music

Mar 5, 2026

Word of the week

Featured
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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
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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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Feb 12, 2026
Word of the week: yanggeum
Feb 12, 2026

Word of the week: A form or hammered dulcimer, this traditional Korean instrument, with a flat and trapezoidal shape, has seven sets of four metal strings hit by thin bamboo stick

Feb 12, 2026
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Jan 22, 2026
Word of the week: zumbador
Jan 22, 2026

Word of the week: A wonderfully evocative noun from the Spanish for word buzz, and meaning both a South American hummingbird, a door buzzer, and symbolic of resurrection of the soul in ancient Mexican culture, while also serving as the logo for a tequila brand

Jan 22, 2026
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Jan 8, 2026
Word of the week: aspectabund
Jan 8, 2026

Word of the week: This rare adjective describes a highly expressive face or countenance, where emotions and reactions are readily shown through the eyes or mouth

Jan 8, 2026
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