This week’s album-length playlist with music from artists including Talking Heads, The Blue Nile, NATURE, and more
The Gems album-length playlist of new and classic tracks, compiled by Ian Sharp of LP.
Welcome to Gems, my weekly playlist of classic tracks and new releases. In keeping with the ethos of LP, each playlist is 40–45 minutes long, sequenced as ‘Side 1’ and ‘Side 2’. Editing is a discipline.
Gems #30:
Side 1: Talking Heads / David Bowie, Brian Eno & NATURE / A Certain Ratio / The Blue Nile / Pearl Jam
Side 2: Tanita Tikaram / Leonard Cohen / case/lang/viers / James McCartney / Cassandra Jenkins / Belle & Sebastian
Side 1
I’m reading David Byrne’s book ‘How Music Works’ (Bookshop.org aff.) and the chapter on his collaborations with Brian Eno sent me to the Talking Heads album Remain in Light. The story of the writing and recording techniques he used then is well worth reading about. Coincidentally, there’s an Eno remix of David Bowie just released, featuring NATURE. Who are NATURE? Not a new band or DJ collective, but the sounds of nature. Nature is now recognised as a recording artist in its own right, so when birdsong or assorted animal noises feature in a track they can be credited and paid, with the proceeds going to “environmental causes”. This initiative has been launched to coincide with Earth Day on 22 April. Then, via a great new track by A Certain Ratio, to The Blue Nile, and a track from Hats, an astoundingly great album. Why The Blue Nile, now? Well, they’re name-checked on the new Taylor Swift album, that’s all. The side closes with one of the quieter new Pearl Jam tracks, in keeping with the mood.
Side 2
The early Tanita Tikaram albums are about to be reissued in a boxed set, so here’s a beautiful track from her second album. Leonard Cohen influences her - I find his music uplifting rather than depressing. After including Judee Sill last week @mark nash recommended the album by Neko Case, kd lang and Laura Veirs - what a find. James McCartney’s new single was written with Sean Ono Lennon; I listened out of curiosity and it is excellent. Here comes the new Lennon/McCartney writing credit, although perhaps it will be McCartney/Lennon for this version, if they become an established team? Cassandra Jenkins welcomes late spring with some floaty folk/jazz, and finally, Belle & Sebastian retains the refreshing inspirational mood.
If you make music as well as read and write about it, I’d love to consider one of your tracks for inclusion here. Your links are welcome.
Video Gem of the Week
Another NATURE/Earth Day track. In case you missed the link above, find out more at
https://www.soundsright.earth/
. Then listen to this wonderful track by Aurora.
Live Gem of the Week
Tanita Tikaram: Ancient Heart Concert
What’s next? A Glimpse of The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars by David Bowie, early next week.
Another wonderful playlist, Ian. Back in the '90s, I interviewed The Blue Nile in their native Scotland. Love that band and their music.
Some great tracks on this one Ian! I didn't realize that A Certain Ratio had a new album out and look forward to checking that out. I'm intrigued by the new Pearl Jam record - I haven't listened to them in years but what I've heard of this new release sounds interesting. Happy to see a new song from Cassandra Jenkins as her 2021 album was on my AOTY list. Glad you enjoyed the case/lang/veirs track enough to include it here - the album is top notch for me.
Last but not least, as I listened to the playlist on Sunday evening, one of this week's songs affected me deeply. At the beginning of 2023 I lost a close friend from my school days and although we hadn't been in touch as regularly as I would have liked, the loss hit me hard. Hearing the Blue Nile song took me straight back to 1988 and my good friend Fraser's avowed love for this album. He just couldn't stop singing its praises. And I just couldn't "get it". I was a party animal of a 17 year old with musical tastes nowhere near as diverse or refined as they are today and no matter how hard I tried I couldn't connect with the band or the album. On Sunday evening I stepped out of your playlist and listened to the album in its entirety and it brought me to tears. It's breathtakingly beautiful and I can see why Fraser loved it so much. Thanks for helping to bring me closer to my old friend who would have turned 53 this coming Saturday.