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John Schroeder and Sounds Orchestral – Money Runner / Blowin' Your Mind / Cast Your Fate to the Wind

October 9, 2018 Peter Kimpton
John Schroeder

John Schroeder

Song of the Day: After three belters from Quincy Jones, today let’s move on to full fat funk TV and movie orchestra sounds from the 60s and early 70s, with tracks rarely recognised, but whose still hits home instantly

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In 1971, 1965, funk, classical, jazz Tags song of the day, songs, instrumentals, funk, television, film, film soundtrack, John Schroeder, Sound Orchestral, Quincy Jones, Zack Laurence, Gordon Parks, Helen Shapiro, Johnny Pearson, Vince Guaraldi
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Isaac Hayes - Theme from Shaft

October 2, 2018 Peter Kimpton
Shaft (1971) with the lead role played by Richard Roundtree, but perhaps best known for Isaac Hayes’s music

Shaft (1971) with the lead role played by Richard Roundtree, but perhaps best known for Isaac Hayes’s music

Song of the Day: Who is the man? Isaac Hayes - that is. Damn right! Today’s choice of orchestral funk, and another film theme, comes from the great Stax songwriter and singer from Tennessee, king of the deep voice

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In 1971, funk, soul Tags songs, song of the day, film soundtrack, funk, Isaac Hayes, Shaft, Stax Records, South Park, Memphis Horns, Memphis Strings, Willie Hall, Otis Redding, Charles Pitts, Bill Withers, Steve Cropper, John Fogerty
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Frankie Smith – Double Dutch Bus

July 24, 2018 Peter Kimpton
Frankie Smith and friends twirl the rope

Frankie Smith and friends twirl the rope

Song of the Day: After Malcolm McLaren and echoes of The Boyoyo Boys, another skipping-related number, a 1981 funk hit less about the music, more notable about the first use of "izzle" hip hop stylings

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In funk, hip hop Tags songs, song of the day, Frankie Smith, funk, The O'Jays, The Spinners, Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube, Tone Loc
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William Onyeabor – Fantastic Man

July 20, 2018 Peter Kimpton
A Nigerian billboard of the last William Onyeabor release

A Nigerian billboard of the last William Onyeabor release

Song of the Day: From one fantastic man – Nelson Mandela – to another, this time from Nigeria, the enigmatic 1970s and 80s electro-funk maestro who was a true original, spreading joy and positive politics in his music

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In 2013, funk, electronica, dance, 1979 Tags songs, song of the day, William Onyeabor, funk, dance, David Byrne, Damon Albarn, Tune-Yards, Nigeria, Luaka Bop
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Janelle Monáe – Make Me Feel

March 10, 2018 Peter Kimpton
Janelle Monáe

Janelle Monáe

Song of the Day: It's Saturday, time to get a little bit sexy, and  bang up to date with a brand new number that might remind you of someone? Yes Prince did indeed help US singer and rapper Monáe with this before he left us.

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In 2018, funk, pop Tags songs, song of the day, Janelle Monáe, Prince, pop, funk, sexuality
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J Dilla – Two Can Win / The Sylvers – Only One Can Win

February 3, 2018 Peter Kimpton
Maybe nine can win? Fabulous family band The Sylvers

Maybe nine can win? Fabulous family band The Sylvers

Song of the Day: After yesterday's Ty Segall/Hot Chocolate cover comparison, more material playing on the topic of who or may not be the winner in a relationship from the brilliant hip hop and jazz producer and the 70s funk and soul family group

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In 1972, 2006, funk, hip hop, pop, soul Tags songs, song of the day, J Dilla, The Sylvers, soul, funk, pop, jazz, hip hop, Ty Segall, Hot Chocolate, Leon Sylvers III, Edmund Sylvers
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Weather Report – Birdland

January 6, 2018 Peter Kimpton
Funk-jazz fusion kings Weather Report

Funk-jazz fusion kings Weather Report

Song of the Day: The opening track to the jazz-funk fusion band's 1977 album Heavy Weather is not only a tribute to the legendary New York jazz club inspired by Charlie Parker, but a wonderfully evocative instrumental conjuring up sights and sounds of the city streets

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Tags songs, song of the day, instrumentals, jazz, fusion, funk, Weather Report, New York, Joe Zawinul, Wayne Shorter, Louie Armstrong, Charlie Parker, Duke Ellington, Miles Davis, Count Basie, Jaco Pastorius, Alex Acuna, Manolo Badrena
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Sly and the Family Stone – Everyday People / Dance To The Music / If You Want Me To Stay

November 21, 2017 Peter Kimpton
The ever stylish Sly and co, who together made a very special musical family

The ever stylish Sly and co, who together made a very special musical family

Song of the Day: Following yesterday's We The People by A Tribe Called Quest, an earlier, and even more influential message of racial unity from the funk pioneers of the late 60s and early 70s

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In funk, 1973, 1968, 1969 Tags songs, song of the day, Sly and the Family Stone, funk, Sly Stone, Larry Graham, Prince, Michael Jackson, The Jacksons
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Beyoncé - Crazy In Love / The Chi-Lites – Are You My Woman?

November 14, 2017 Peter Kimpton
Beyoncé's Crazy In Love, but where does the inspiration come from, other than Jay-Z?

Beyoncé's Crazy In Love, but where does the inspiration come from, other than Jay-Z?

Song of the Day: You ready? Uh oh, uh oh, uh oh, oh, no, no. An uncharacteristically commercial behemoth to be appearing on SOTD, and while it's hard to resist a song that is so undeniably catchy and brilliant, passionate pop, where does the inspiration, and indeed music, come from?

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In 2003, 1970, funk, pop, soul Tags songs, song of the day, Beyoncé, Jay-Z, hip-hop, soul, R&B, funk, The Chi-Lites, Rich Harrison, Eugene Record
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Shuggie Otis / The Brothers Johnson – Strawberry Letter 23

November 11, 2017 Peter Kimpton
Shuggie Otis in his days as teenage prodigy. He is now 63 and still going strong

Shuggie Otis in his days as teenage prodigy. He is now 63 and still going strong

Song of the Day: A psychedelic soul classic from Shuggie, aka Johnny Alexander Veliotes Jr, the California singer-songwriter from his 1971 album Freedom Flight, which 1977 became a funk hit produced by Quincy Jones

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In 1971, 1977, soul, psychedelia, funk Tags songs, song of the day, Shuggie Otis, The Brothers Johnson, Quincy Jones, love songs, psychedelia, funk, soul, Frank Zappa, Johnny Otis, Quentin Tarantino, OutKast, Beyoncé, J Dilla, RJD2, Digable Planets
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RJD2 – A Beautiful Mine (Mad Men theme) / 1976 / Let There Be Horns

November 8, 2017 Peter Kimpton
From the video for Let There Be Horns

From the video for Let There Be Horns

Song of the Day: Echoing yesterday's great drum break, let's now celebrate the work of the Ohio multi-instrumentalist and hip-hop artist, who is behind the theme tune to Mad Men, and so much more

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In jazz, funk, electronica, hip hop, 2004, 2006, 2010 Tags songs, song of the day, instrumentals, TV theme, funk, jazz, Mad Men, MHz Legacy, Icebird, Aceyalone, Pigeon John, RJD2
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Allen Toussaint – Last Train

May 30, 2017 Peter Kimpton
Allen Toussaint

Allen Toussaint

Song of the Day: Continuing our train theme from Gladys Knight yesterday, we hop on to a seminal work by the New Orleans genius, establishing a new sound on his 1975 album Southern Nights 

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Tags song of the day, songs, Allen Toussaint, New Orleans, funk, soul, blues, trains
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The Bamboos – You Ain’t No Good

May 15, 2017 Peter Kimpton
Melbourne's The Bamboos

Melbourne's The Bamboos

Song of the Day: A supremely, catchy, if cynical song from the Melbourne eight-piece funk and soul outfit bringing a new sound to their genre

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Tags song of the day, songs, The Bamboos, Australia, funk, soul, James Brown, Grant Green, The Meters, Lyrics Born, Lance Ferguson, Kylie Auldist
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Razzy – I Hate Hate

April 22, 2017 Peter Kimpton
Razzy Bailey, a soulful country singer

Razzy Bailey, a soulful country singer

Song of the Day: On the eve of the French presidential elections, and a world divided by politics and racial tension, what better way to address this than by this supremely effective message from 1974

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Tags song of the day, songs, Razzy, Razzy Bailey, soul, funk, Alabama, racism, politics, Brexit, French elections
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Prince – Sometimes It Snows In April / Sign O’ The Times / Kiss / Purple Rain

April 21, 2017 Peter Kimpton
Prince reigning purple in 2007

Prince reigning purple in 2007

Songs of the Day: A special tribute selection of four songs to mark exactly a year since the Purple One suddenly passed away – variously sad, political, funky, and triumphantly emotional

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Tags song of the day, songs, Prince, funk, pop, rock, AIDS, drugs, gang violence, environment, poverty, nuclear war, Paisley Park, Mazarati, Wendy & Lisa, Superbowl
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De La Soul – The Magic Number

March 23, 2017 Peter Kimpton
De La Soul back in the day. They are still touring.

De La Soul back in the day. They are still touring.

Song of the Day: The eclectic hip-hop connection continues with an upbeat look back to 1989, where the trio, who were high school friends, introduced their philosophy with quirky lyrics and samples

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Tags songs, song of the day, De La Soul, hip-hop, sampling, numbers, three, Bob Dorough, Johnny Cash, children's television, Syl Johnson, The Fatback Band, Double Dee & Steinski, James Brown, funk, Eddie Murphy, Run-DMC
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Jane’s Addiction – No One's Leaving

March 7, 2017 Peter Kimpton
Jane's Addiction

Jane's Addiction

Song of the Day: Leaving yesterday's gentle song we take a different departure, with the LA punk-funk-rock-metal band's number about a family row over a mixed-race relationship

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Tags song of the day, songs, Jane's Addiction, Ritual de lo habitua, racism, family, relationships, Los Angeles, rock, metal, funk, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Perry Farrell, RIck Avery, Dave Navarro, Flea, Lollapalooza festival, Nine Inch Nails, The Butthole Surfers, Rollins Band, The VIolent Femmes
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Bobbie Gentry/George Jackson - Find 'em, Fool 'em, Forget 'em

February 25, 2017 Peter Kimpton
Bobbie Gentry spins a disc or two

Bobbie Gentry spins a disc or two

Song of the Day: Best known for the gentler Ode to Billie Joe, this dark, funky number from Gentry came out in 1970 a year after Jackson's original. Let's hear both to hear from two gender perspectives

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Tags song of the day, songs, Bobbie Gentry, George Jackson, soul, funk, relationships
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Sing out, act on CLIMATE CHANGE

Black Lives Matter.jpg

CONDEMN RACISM, EMBRACE EQUALITY


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DRINK OF THE WEEK

Constant comment tea


SNACK OF THE WEEK

black-eyed peas


New Albums …

Featured
Lucinda Williams - World's Gone Wrong.jpeg
Jan 28, 2026
Lucinda Williams: World's Gone Wrong
Jan 28, 2026

New album: The acclaimed veteran country, rock and Americana singer-songwriter and multi-Grammy winner’s latest LP has a title that speaks for itself, but is powerful, angry, defiant and uplifting, and, recorded in Nashville, features guest vocals from Norah Jones, Mavis Staples and Brittney Spencer

Jan 28, 2026
Clotheline From Hell.jpeg
Jan 27, 2026
Clothesline From Hell: Slather On The Honey
Jan 27, 2026

New album: His moniker mischievously named after a wrestling move, a highly impressive, independently-created experimental, psychedelic rock debut the the Toronto-based multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter Adam LaFramboise

Jan 27, 2026
Dead Dads Club.jpeg
Jan 27, 2026
Dead Dads Club: Dead Dads Club
Jan 27, 2026

New album: Dynamic, passionate, heart-stirring indie rock in this project fronted by Chilli Jesson (formerly bassist of Palma Violets) with songs spurred by the trauma of losing his father 20 years ago, retelling a defiant and difficult aftermath, with sound boosted by producer Carlos O’Connell of Fontaines D.C.

Jan 27, 2026
The Paper Kites - IF YOU GO THERE, I HOPE YOU FIND IT.png
Jan 25, 2026
The Paper Kites: If You Go There, I Hope You Find It
Jan 25, 2026

New album: Warm, tender, gently-paced, calmly reflective, beautifully soothing, poetic, melancholic alternative folk and Americana by the band from Melbourne in their seventh LP in 15 years

Jan 25, 2026
PVA - No More Like This.jpeg
Jan 24, 2026
PVA: No More Like This
Jan 24, 2026

New album: Inventive, alluring, sensual, mysterious, minimalistic electronica, trip-hop and experimental pop by the London trio of Ella Harris, Joshua Baxter and Louis Satchell, in this second album following 2022’s Blush, boosted by the creativity of producer and instrumentalist Kwake Bass

Jan 24, 2026
Imarhan - Essam.jpeg
Jan 20, 2026
Imarhan: Essam
Jan 20, 2026

New album: A mesmeric fourth LP in a decade by the band from Tamanrasset, Algeria, whose name means ‘the ones I care about’, their Tuareg music mixing guitar riffs, pop melodies and African rhythms, but this time also evolves slightly away from the desert blues rocky, bluesy influence of contemporaries Tinariwen with electronic elements

Jan 20, 2026
Courtney Marie Andrews - Valentine.jpeg
Jan 20, 2026
Courtney Marie Andrews: Valentine
Jan 20, 2026

New album: Emotional, beautiful, stirring, Americana, folk and indie-pop by singer-songwriter from Phoenix, Arizona, in this latest studio LP in of soaring voice, strong melodies, love, vulnerability and heartbreak, longing and bravery

Jan 20, 2026
Julianna Barwick & Mary Lattimore - Tragic Magic.jpeg
Jan 18, 2026
Julianna Barwick & Mary Lattimore: Tragic Magic
Jan 18, 2026

New album: Delicate, beautiful, ethereal, meditative new work by the two American experimental composers in their first collaborative LP, with gentle understated vocals, classic synth sounds, and rare harps chosen from from the Paris Musée de la Musique Collection

Jan 18, 2026
Sleaford Mods- The Demise of Planet X.jpeg
Jan 16, 2026
Sleaford Mods: The Demise of Planet X
Jan 16, 2026

New album: The caustic wit of Nottingham’s Jason Williamson and Andrew Fearn return with a 13th LP of brilliantly abrasive, dark humoured hip-hop and catchy beats, addressing the rubbish state of the world, as well as local, personal and social irritations through slick nostalgic cultural reference, some expanded sounds, and an eclectic set of guests

Jan 16, 2026
Sault - Chapter 1.jpeg
Jan 14, 2026
SAULT: Chapter 1
Jan 14, 2026

New album: As ever, released suddenly without fanfare or any publicity, the prolific experimental soul, jazz, gospel, funk, psychedelia and disco collective of Cleo Sol, Info (aka Dean Josiah Cover) and co return with a stylish, mysterious LP

Jan 14, 2026
The Cribs - Selling A Vibe.jpeg
Jan 14, 2026
The Cribs: Selling A Vibe
Jan 14, 2026

New album: A first LP in five years by the likeable and solid guitar indie-rock Jarman brothers trio from Wakefield, now with their ninth - a catchy, but at times with rueful, bittersweet perspectives on their times in the music business

Jan 14, 2026
Dry Cleaning - Secret Love.jpeg
Jan 9, 2026
Dry Cleaning: Secret Love
Jan 9, 2026

New album: This third LP by the London experimental post-punk quartet with the distinctive, spoken, droll delivery of Florence Shaw, is packed with striking, vivid, often non seqitur lyrics capturing life’s surreal mundanities and neuroses with a sound coloured and polished by Cate Le Bon as producer

Jan 9, 2026
Various - Icelock Continuum.jpeg
Dec 31, 2025
Various Artists: ICELOCK CONTINUUM
Dec 31, 2025

New album: An inspiring, evocative, sensual and sonically tactile experimental compilation from the fabulously named underground French label Camembert Électrique, with range of international electronic artists capturing cold winter weather’s many textures - cracking, delicate crunchy ice, snow, electric fog, and frost in many fierce and fragile forms across 98 adventurous tracks

Dec 31, 2025
Favourite Albums of 2025 - Part 3.jpeg
Dec 18, 2025
Favourite albums of 2025 - Part Three
Dec 18, 2025

Welcome to the third and final part of Song Bar favourite albums of 2025. There is also Part One, and Part Two. There is no countdown nor describing these necessarily as “best” albums of the year, but they are chosen by their quality, originality and reader popularity

Dec 18, 2025

new songs …

Featured
Nathan Fake.jpeg
Jan 28, 2026
Song of the Day: Nathan Fake - Slow Yamaha
Jan 28, 2026

Song of the Day: Hypnotic electronica with woozy layers of smooth resonance and a lattice of shifting analogue patterns by the British artist from Norfolk, taken from his forthcoming album, Evaporator, out on InFiné Music

Jan 28, 2026
Charlotte Day Wilson - Lean.jpeg
Jan 27, 2026
Song of the Day: Charlotte Day Wilson - Lean (featuring Saya Gray)
Jan 27, 2026

Song of the Day: Stylish, striking, sensual experimental electro-pop and R&B in this fabulous collaboration between the two Canadian singer/ multi-instrumentalist from Toronto, out on Stone Woman Music/ XL Recordings

Jan 27, 2026
Lime Garden - 23.jpeg
Jan 26, 2026
Song of the Day: Lime Garden - 23
Jan 26, 2026

Song of the Day: Wonderfully catchy, witty, quirky indie pop about age and adjustment by the Brighton-formed quartet fronted by Chloe Howard, heralding their upcoming album Maybe Not Tonight, out on So Young Records on 10 April

Jan 26, 2026
Madra Salach - It's A Hell Of An Age - EP.jpeg
Jan 25, 2026
Song of the Day: Madra Salach - The Man Who Seeks Pleasure
Jan 25, 2026

Song of the Day: A powerful, slow-simmering and gradually intensifying, drone-based original folk number about the the flipsides of love and hedonism by the young Irish traditional and alternative folk band, with comparisons to Lankum, from the recently released EP It's a Hell of an Age, out on Canvas Music

Jan 25, 2026
Adult DVD band.jpeg
Jan 24, 2026
Song of the Day: Adult DVD - Real Tree Lee
Jan 24, 2026

Song of the Day: Catchy, witty, energised acid-dance-punk with echoes of Underworld and Snapped Ankles by the dynamic, innovative band from Leeds in a new number about a dodgy character of toxic masculinity and online ignorance, and their first release on signing to Fat Possum

Jan 24, 2026
Arctic Monkeys - Opening Night - War Child - HELP 2.jpeg
Jan 23, 2026
Song of the Day: Arctic Monkeys - Opening Night (for War Child HELP 2 charity album)
Jan 23, 2026

Song of the Day: A simmering, potent, contemplative new track by acclaimed Sheffield band, their first song since 2022’s album The Car, with proceeds benefiting the charity War Child, heralding the upcoming HELP (2) compilation out on 6 March with various contributors

Jan 23, 2026
White Denim - Lock and Key.jpg
Jan 22, 2026
Song of the Day: White Denim - (God Created) Lock and Key
Jan 22, 2026

Song of the Day: The Austin, Texas-formed LA-based rockers return with an infectiously catchy groove fusing rock, funk, dub, soul, and down-dirty blues with some playful self-mythologising and darker themes, heralding 13th album, 13, out on 24 April via Bella Union

Jan 22, 2026
Holy Fuck band.jpeg
Jan 21, 2026
Song of the Day: Holy Fuck - Evie
Jan 21, 2026

Song of the Day: The Canadian experimental indie rock and electronica quartet from Toronto return with a pulsating new track of thrumming bass and shimmering keyboards, heralding their forthcoming new album Event Beat, out on 27 March via Satellite Services

Jan 21, 2026
KAVARI.jpeg
Jan 20, 2026
Song of the Day: KAVARI - IRON VEINS
Jan 20, 2026

Song of the Day: Exciting, cutting-edge electronica and hardcore dance music by innovative the Birkenhead-born, Glasgow-based artist Cameron Winters (she), with a stylish, striking video, heralding the forthcoming EP, PLAGUE MUSIC, out digitally and on 12-inch vinyl on 6 February via XL Recordings

Jan 20, 2026
Asap Rocky - Punk Rocky.png
Jan 19, 2026
Song of the Day: A$AP Rocky - Punk Rocky
Jan 19, 2026

Song of the Day: The standout catchy hip-pop/soul/pop track from the New York rapper aka Rakim Athelston Mayers’ (also the husband of Rihanna) recently released album, Don’t Be Dumb, featuring also the voice of Cristoforo Donadi, and out on A$AP Rocky Recordings

Jan 19, 2026
Buck Meek - The Mirror.jpeg
Jan 18, 2026
Song of the Day: Buck Meek - Gasoline
Jan 18, 2026

Song of the Day: The Texas-born Big Thief guitarist returns with an beautifully stirring, evocative, poetic love-enthralled indie-folk single of free association made-up words and quantum leap feelings, rolling drums and strums, heralding his upcoming fourth solo album, The Mirror, out on 27 February via 4AD

Jan 18, 2026
Alexis Taylor - Paris In The Spring.jpeg
Jan 17, 2026
Song of the Day: Alexis Taylor - Out Of Phase (featuring Lola Kirke)
Jan 17, 2026

Song of the Day: A crisp, catchy fusion of synth-pop, cosmic country and some NYC-garage odyssey with references to two films by David Lynch from the Hot Chip frontman, heralding his upcoming sixth solo album, Paris In The Spring, out on 13 March via Night Time Stories

Jan 17, 2026

Word of the week

Featured
Zumbador dorado - mango bumblebee Puerto Rico.jpeg
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
Hamlet ad - Gregor Fisher.jpg
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
Kaufmann Trumpeter 1950.jpeg
Dec 24, 2025
Word of the week: bellonion (or belloneon)
Dec 24, 2025

Word of the week: It sounds like a bulbous, multi-layered peeling vegetable, but this obscure mechanical musical instrument invented in 1812 in Dresden consisted of 24 trumpets and two kettle drums and, designed to mimic the sound of a marching band, might also make your eyes water

Dec 24, 2025
Hangover.jpeg
Dec 4, 2025
Word of the week: crapulence
Dec 4, 2025

Word of the week: A term that may apply regularly during Xmas party season, from the from the Latin crapula, in turn from the Greek kraipálē meaning "drunkenness" or "headache" pertains to sickness symptoms caused by excess in eating or drinking, or general intemperance and overindulgence

Dec 4, 2025
Running shoes and barefoot.jpeg
Nov 20, 2025
Word of the week: discalceate
Nov 20, 2025

Word of the week: A rarely used, but often practised verb, especially when arriving home, it means to take off your shoes, but is also a slightly more common adjective meaning barefoot or unshod, particularly for certain religious orders that wear sandals instead of shoes. But in what context does this come up in song?

Nov 20, 2025

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