#bbradio liner notes
One of my coworkers started a collaborative “community radio” project while we’re all working remotely. Folks sign up to share music they like to listen to, while working (“flow state”) or not (“after hours”). I’ve included the Spotify embeds for mine below, as well as some more detailed notes and fun bonuses.
flow state 🔗
Things I seem to like in my work music: repeated patterns, off-kilter rhythms, weird vocal noises. I’ve tried to give this list a bit of a cadence if you listen to it in order, but I’ve also spent hours listening to many of these songs on repeat individually! Note: this probably involves a lot more vocals and beats than many “while working” playlists.
- Self-Help Tape [Moses Sumney] — if your workspace allows, I highly recommend singing along. Very freeing.
- I giorni (Arr. For Violin, Piano And String Orchestra) [composed by Ludovico Einaudi, soloist Daniel Hope] — this whole album is lovely, both because Daniel Hope plays beautifully and because his selections for the album are very cohesive (and chill).
- Barcarolle [Saloli]
- Hot Knife [Fiona Apple]
- Drawn to the Blood (Sufjan Stevens Remix) [Sufjan Stevens]
- ただのともだち [salyu × salyu] — the recorded version is “fine”, but this live version has an energy that blows my mind
- Morning Sun [Holly Herndon]
- Runnin’ [Wajatta] — surprise! It’s Reggie Watts.
- Pale Green Ghosts [John Grant] — John Grant is a clever, poignant lyricist, plus this track quotes Rachmaninoff
- 1,618 [Charlotte Adigéry]
- Frontier [Holly Herndon] — definitely read the artist’s note on this one. Shape note / Sacred Harp singing is one of my favorite kinds of vocal music, and you know I can’t resist a good dance (?) remix.
- Mediational Field [Susumu Hirasawa]
- Alfonso Muskedunder [Todd Terje] — yes, this made both lists.
- Quoi! (Original Mix) [Avalon Emerson]
- Escalator [Remute]
- Motormouth [Audion]
- Control [VNV Nation]
- Space & Time [VNV Nation]
- Lovers (Mylo Edit) [Mylo]
- Shope Shope [Bulgarian State Television Female Choir] — there’s an article I can’t find at the moment, about how this style of singing (and/or klapa, a Croatian a capella style) gets used as “the other” throughout Western media — from Xena: Warrior Princess to Disney’s Brother Bear. But until I can find that one, here’s a fascinating look into the group’s history. Highly recommend listening to more than this one song.
- Birdland [Weather Report]
- PVC IV [Blue Man Group]
- A E I O U [composed by Judd Greenstein; performed by Roomful of Teeth] — “extremely challenging and could only be performed by the singers of this incredible ensemble”
- Four Organs [Steve Reich] — not for everyone, as the Wikipedia article will attest. (See also: List of classical music concerts with an unruly audience response (!))
- Forever Dilating Eye [Sinoia Caves] — Beyond the Black Rainbow is the slowest “escape” film I’ve ever seen; a highly stylistic retro-sci-fi horror(?) story. Seeing it at midnight at the Brattle only made it stick in my mind more persistently.
after hours 🔗
This one is much less cohesive, and certainly doesn’t have a prescribed order. Shuffle away!
- Alfonso Muskedunder [Todd Terje]
- Bip Burger [BIP LING]
- MY ONLY STAR (EXTENDED MIX) [Susan Bell]
- Big Time Sensuality [Björk]
- Cccan’t You See [Vicious Pink]
- If I Had You [Carpenters]
- The Pop Kids [Pet Shop Boys]
- Tambulaya [Pongo]
- Y Yo Sigo Aqui [Paulina Rubio]
- Jolene (Dumplin’ Remix) [Dolly Parton]
- Panama [the bird and the bee] — see also this whole album
- I Want To Be Evil (7 inch) [Giant Jr vs Eartha Kitt]
- Bajo El Arcoiris [Fey]
- JUST LIKE WE NEVER SAID GOODBYE [SOPHIE]
- Say My Name (feat. Alexandra Prince) (Edit) [Ben Delay]
- I’m Coming Out / Upside Down (Eric Kupper Remix) [Diana Ross]
- Absolutely Fabulous (Single Version; 2018 Remaster) [Absolutely Fabulous] — secretly the Pet Shop Boys
- 1UL [Danny L Harle]
- Jeannette [The English Beat]
- Lovers [Louis La Roche]
- Don’t Stop [DJ D-Sol]
- The Knife: Heartbeats (Rex The Dog Remix) [Rex The Dog]
- Trampoline [Kero Kero Bonito]
- Underground [David Bowie]
- The Visitors [ABBA] — heavier subject matter than your average ABBA song!
- Hearts On Fire (Calvin Harris Remix) [Cut Copy]
- Face the Fire [Poom]
- You Know Me Better [Róisín Murphy]
- Pata Pata (Mono Version) [Miriam Makeba]
- The Numbers Song (Jokers Of The Scene Remix) [Acid Girls]