In August 2021, I debuted djSwade Radio on Pandora. Because I enjoyed the songs and artists so much, I decided to pick three that I really dug and describe what spoke to me about them. I had a blast doing it, so I'm making it a monthly thing. My only criteria for picking these songs is that I really enjoy them. It doesn't matter to me whether they're old or new as long as they groove. So, in no particular order, here are my picks for November 2021.
Airiness | Lemongrass | Touch
The title of the song says it all. The song has a calming feel, light and airy. I love the piano motif, a simple yet effective riff, backed by a quietly insistent rhythm section and disembodied guitar. I can really lock in my concentration when I listen to this song. I also love the name of the group. The artist behind Lemongrass is Roland Voss and has been creating in this genre since the late '90s. Interesting fact from Lemongrass' biography is that Voss founded a punk group name Klappstuhl. Lemongrass has a number of other works that you can check out as well.
Tycho is one of my all-time favorite groups, particularly in this genre. I first started listening to them several years ago when my personal trainer turned me on to them. This song has a very intriguing title. For those of us who don't know, a dictaphone was an old-time machine used to dictate letters and other communications. Of course, we no longer need them with the advent of digital recorders and cell phones. After listening to this song, I still don't have a clue what the dictaphone's lament is, although I there are a number of clues offered from the voices present throughout the song (I often hear the word "fifteen" and the phrase "eleven years later". Unfortunately, I never quite solved the riddle. I just know I really like the song. It has a low key rhythm section, great keys and guitar riffing along with everything else. Excellent work by Tycho on this!
The Egg is a fabulous name for a group and a great start to any music they create. The Egg has a sound all its own. Venice Beach is one of its more stellar efforts. The song starts with a series of sounds like radio frequencies. Then, the beat kicks in, nice and reassuring. The sounds become more definite, keyboards, with slide guitar(s) interweaving. I even hear a harmonica near the end of the song. The overall effect is a merging of sounds into a very pleasant, relaxing whole. This one is perfect for dropping the blood pressure a few points. When I listen to it, I imagine I'm traveling in style to a posh destination where everything is cool and alright.
All these songs are highly recommended. You can hear them on djSwade Radio. You can also click the direct link to each song, artist or album provided above. If you like what you hear on djSwade Radio, you can listen to my album Audiostrata (available on Pandora, Spotify, Amazon Music and YouTube Music), as well as my new single "Lemon Cello" (currently being featured on Pandora, and also available on Spotify, Amazon Music and YouTube Music).
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