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Man Ray’s Le Violon d'Ingres (1924)
Human or animal, literal or metaphorical, spines slender, broad, sexy, defined, fat, muscular, hairy, strong, weak, in pain, broken, bent, tough, rough, rippling or tingling, in any context, it’s time to put our backs into this song subject
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Gang of Four peer closely at the small print ….
Reggae to punk contracts and beyond, it’s time to sign on the dotted line, but only when you’ve read all the small print. With no obligation to express your reaction until you’ve heard it all, come and check out these fabulous playlists picked by guest Tatanka Yotanka from last week’s theme and nominations
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Signs of their times
Contracts, bonds, anything to employment to marriage to loans, record deals and other business, putting our signatures to things governs personal and public lives. But how do any formal agreements get referenced in song?
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Mahalia Jackson at the New Orleans Jazz Festival, 1970
Where might you find some of the best music from NOLA and beyond? The streets are alive with it at every corner. After last week’s big blast of nominations, guest magicman takes us on a fantastic tour of some of the area’s finest artists. Oh what a night!
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He’s got this all sown up: Mardi Gras Indian costume
This week it’s time to take a full taste of unique blend of music by exclusively musicians from the southern half of Louisiana – not merely New Orleans, but also Baton Rouge and all around this coastal region where tragedy and vitality, and creativity co-exist
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Esperanza Spalding
Supportive thrum, steady walking or free-flowing virtuosity, smooth or thumping, bowed or plucked, this big daddy of the stringed instruments is a beautiful beast, especially in these playlist plucked out by Loud Atlas from last week’s topic
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It’s all about the bass
Bowed or plucked, played gently or violently, this versatile instrument is the big daddy elephant of the orchestra, the tall, elegant 6-footer in the jazz bar, but is also in many other genres. Where does it featuring prominently and give a vital texture or solo?
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Al Green: an irresistible opener
Whether it’s in bars, stores, or even takeaway restaurants, these songs include opening gambits might get a quick date or even lead to marriage. Guest playlister tincanman picks a seductive set of songs to attract your ears
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Of all the bars ….
What’s your line, from chat-ups to marriage proposals that appear in the lyrics or tenets of songs? This is not just love songs in general, but must contain lines with some ice-breaking approach, declaring attraction or more, with the most immediate short- or longer-term intentions
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Let’s dance through some 19th century history ….
It brought enduring global change, from the Industrial Revolution to the American Civil War and abolition of slavery. Inspired by last week’s song nominations, guest Shiv SideCar captures the century in a series of historic playlists
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Early music recording attempts at the end of the 19th century
This global history topic takes in many events, inventions, people and social trends, but beyond dates and facts, it is particularly about life of the times, habits, attitudes and values, and can also include fictional and other artistic styles
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Mahlathini & The Mahotella Queens: undeniably beneficial
Some music feels so good you can just eat it. With a whole shopping spree of tasty ingredients and treats about the nutritious benefits of song, guest of the week ParaMhor prepares a three-course meal that’s bound to boost your health
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Musical minerals?
Music is indisputably good for you, but how is this expressed in song, for improvement of mood, brain and body? Firstly this might come up lyrics, but also this topic can get more subjective and more impressionist with songs that really hit the spot
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The eyes have it, but what songs will this week’s keen ears pick up?
Haunting, beautiful, otherworldly, very much coming alive at night – and that’s just the music. Inspired by these mesmeric birds, guest of the week Maki creates two gorgeous and entrancing playlists picked from last week’s nominations
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The eyes have it: Great horned owl
Nocturnal, silent, spooky and mysterious, or curious, wise and cute? Owls represent richly contrasting associations in culture, but how are they used and portrayed in song, whether in lyrics or in sampled calls. Let’s explore and have a hoot
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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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Lost Horizon (1937), based on James Hilton’s 1933 novel
Heaven can wait, so they say, but there’s no longer a need, but a musical utopia is here in a fabulous collection of playlists picked by guest of the week Nicko, taking us to a better place and inspired by last week’s topic
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One man’s personal paradise … what is yours?
What is yours? From Arcadia to Utopia, how can we create or find it? Where is it, and what does it look like? This week, after previously doing the impossible, we find the unfindable in the form of song, inspired my many books, art and films …
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Evel Knievel attempts to jump 13 buses in London, 1975. What could possibly go wrong?
Love, death, survival, creativity – at times they all seem impossible or insurmountable. After a seemingly inconceivable recent world history, it’s time to play with the idea of impossible in song, and work out what really is from what isn’t. Is it all down to perception?
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What time will love flower? The Foundations 1968
Something changed around the Enlightenment, with the advent of universal timepieces, but how did that affect human relationships? Inspired by last week’s nominations, Marco den Ouden clocks in with perfectly timely playlists
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