Spotify Monthly Selections September

A synthwav-y themed selection to start this month's playlist off with. As much as I like the genre every now and then, I do loathe how formulaic the track titles for anything with that sort of sound have become, the spotify recommended additions served up cliché after cliché. Things quickly take a turn into more electropoppy territory though, first teasing it with a little bit from Kleerup's debut album before sliding full on into the gorgeous synth noodling of Games' (now known as Ford & Lopatin) Midi Drift. My favourite track from La Roux's sophomore album after that, hard to believe it's been four years since it came out. A different Au Reviour Simone tune this time too, taking a break from Somebody Who, my usual go-to electropop example of theirs, instead opting for the much more uptempo sounds of Crazy from the same album (Move In Spectrums).

A slightly indie-tinged remix of HEALTH, definitely a far cry from the all out-abrasiveness of the album the original comes from, DEATH MAGIC, I assure you its sound earned it the place in the playlist. Get a load of that deliciously retro house breakdown around 3 mins in. My long-time favourite tune from Ladytron's 604 after that; the backbone of my "their debut album is electroclash and I don't care what the band says" argument, Playgirl certainly fits the bill with its moody monotone delivery and simple electronics. To be fair that's true for a lot of the album, but Playgirl is definitely Exhibit A in that regard.



The new Gorillaz single next as their barrage of new singles from The Now Now continues. I'm not sure what Damon's planning to do here with so many singles, Plastic Beach was full of good tunes and didn't get this much treatment. Though I suppose a lot has changed in regards to music streaming and the like since 2010 and all. One of the instrumentals from Ford & Lopatin's Channel Pressure to round out the retro aesthetic running throughout the playlist and a bit of an abrupt turn into ambient territory to play us out just because that's what I was feeling at the time. A delicate piece from Tim Hecker's An Imaginary Country brings us to a rather sleepy end to this month's playlist.

Me and Adam should be back this Wednesday with another installment of the Podcast, I hope that my month's listening rundown tides you over until then. I know I'm a day late on this instalment of the monthly playlist but they're all archived over on the left side so you can relive each month's going back to the first (or second?) from November last year! As always stay safe and enjoy the music all.

-Claude Van Foxbat