5:5:5: XV. 2021.

Here we are again for the end of year 5:5:5: extravaganza, and firstly a massive

thank you to all 13 selectors below, who enthusiastically leaped

and painstakingly picked their 5-track, 2021 highlights.

A glorious parade of much-loved tracks,

65 in total, sourced far and wide,

format agnostic.

Please dig

In,

|| zillagramwiches | Clas Tuuth ||
|| Branner Griswell | Stephen Kin;aesthetic | Electric Ape ||
|| Kubla Khan | Readsy | Ring Modulator ||
 || Alphabets Heaven | Damian Evans | Aidan Maartens ||
|| Proprio | Scaramanga Silk ||

1.

Melos Han-Tani - Musty Attic Loneliness

[2019, Yetee]

This is one of my favourites from this OST. Anodyne 2 and the first in the game series are two of, what I would consider to be, the most mind bending games. Along with having such interesting gameplay ideas and philosophical concepts integrated into its storyline and challenges, it also has that intricacy reflected in its musical score and sound design.

The entire game was created by 2 people and it's a masterpiece if you are interested in unique and creative/artistic presentations of the video games medium. Hosts some very difficult puzzles so not for the faint of heart.

2.

Jaga Jazzist - Midget

[2002, Ninja Tune]

This artist is one I turn to many times when working and driving. The instrumentation of their music just inspires excitement for me every time. This particular track seemed quite different from their usual stuff, which I really liked about it too.


3.

FM Skyline - Harlequin

[2021, 100% Electronica]

This artist was recently shown to me by a friend and it really got me good in my gamey-retro-nerdy glands. So dope. All of their stuff, but I especially love this track.

4.

Toby Fox - It's Raining Somewhere Else

[2015, Toby Fox/Materia Collective]

Another amazing game OST here. And another amazing game. Undertale starts you off as a child wandering through the forest who accidentally trips and falls into an endlessly deep pit, and at the bottom lands on a bed of flowers in a world of monsters. The sound track is such an insanely well executed homage to retro game music whilst also being sprinkled with more modern sounding full songs. Even orchestral composition in retro game bit depth. So varied, eclectic and just an all out joy to listen to. Which is really something when you consider the entire huge game was created by one young man; soundtrack, story, artwork and gameplay mechanics all created by Toby Fox. Really inspiring. (not to mention kick started and not published by anyone but himself and making over a million sales which is really something)

This particular track is linked to a poetic moment in the game, whilst also being a really nice stand alone piece of music. It always brings to mind the words spoken and the visuals when you first arrive at that location. And every time it reminds me of how much I really was touched by that game.

5.

Young Thug - Contagious

[2021, 300 Entertainment/Atlantic]

This is just my favourite song from the most recent YT release. I feel like it's a slight departure from his normal stuff which I especially look for when I listen to Young Thug cause I know he can really push the vocal boundaries on weird beats. The drums really get me good.

1.

Dirty Merlin - Nothing Left To Give (Reality Got Me Shifted)

[2020, GRN+GLD]

I found that being stuck inside for most of the year meant that I was drawn towards downtempo instrumentals and beat tapes, as opposed to club bangers. This Dirty Merlin tape was one of the best I found, and the minimal and melancholy Nothing Left To Give is my favourite track on it.

2.

FloFilz Ft. Biig Piig - Inside Out

[2019, Melting Pot Music]

Although there was plenty of brand new material from Biig Piig this year, experimenting with different sounds as she does, when the sun started to come out in the summer I found myself on a hunt for something more like the lo-fi tracks of hers that I love so much from previous years. So, I was most pleased to discover this feature from 2019, which had eluded me completely until this year. For me it’s pretty much the perfect soundtrack for taking a break in the sunshine.

3.

L’orange - Delonte Needed Help

[2021, Mello Music]

Marlowe was my soundtrack to 2020, and stayed on heavy rotation throughout 2021. There was no official new material from the duo, but there was a solo release from each (I suppose the one track on Solemn’s album produced by L’Orange could count as an unofficial Marlowe song, but you know what I mean). Of the two releases, it was l’Orange’s beat tape that made the biggest impression on me. This track is a highlight, but the whole thing is a head-nodding delight, and I’d recommend checking it out even if it’s just to hear Nish Kumar making his hip-hop debut.

4.

Ross From Friends - Burner

[2021, Scarlet Tiger]

I kept seeing a poster for this single around Brick Lane in London and I realised that I’d been avoiding checking out anything by Ross From Friends because I thought it was a silly name. What a fool I’d been.

5.

For Those I Love - I Have a Love (Overmono Remix)

[2020, Poly Kicks]

This was released in 2020, but I didn’t clock it even existing until I heard it on the Overmono fabric mix from July this year. My instinct would have told me that the spoken word/poetry aspect isn’t for me, but I find myself repeating the “I have a love, and it never fades” refrain with great pleasure. It’s so easy these days to give in to the temptation to give songs less than a 30sec chance before just skipping to the next if it doesn’t immediately click. So I’m very happy that it was in the context of a mix that I discovered this track, as that meant I allowed it to play long enough to appreciate it!

1.

The Bulgarian Voices Angelite Ft. Huun-Huur-Tu, Sergey Starostin & Mikhail Alperin – Legend

[1996, Jaro Medien]

The earth shaking peanut butter throat singing of Huun-Huur-Tu mixed with the chocolate of the Angelite Choir…

This is what I want playing when I transition into the afterlife… otherwise I will be very disappointed.

2.

Robert Takahashi Crouch - Reconciliation

[2021, Room40]

This is a really dense and beautiful ambient drone recording… with a great forward from a poem by NYC poet Ted Berrigan. Let it wash wash wash it all away as it dissolves into low and high frequencies.

 3.

Mdou Moctar - Anar

[2013, Sahel Sounds]

Gathered by a small label from Portland Oregon claiming to do “amateur ethnography” this lovely auto-tuned tune comes from Mdou Moctar who is carrying the Tuareg tradition of nomadic desert musicians like Tinariwen and Etran Finatiwa.

4.

Mike Cooper - Paumalu

[2019 Re, Room40]

I picked up the 15th anniversary edition of Rayon Hula… stellar experimental fare from guitarist Mike Cooper. This is some island vibe transportation right here… its a very rare breed for Tiki style experimental hula music but Cooper seems to release it in spades.

 5.

Various: Good Morning Vietnam (Recorded by Claude Johner) - Fire!

[1972, Smithsonian Folkways]

Rare field recording album from Smithsonian Folkways - the whole album is a sonic exploration of the American involvement in the Vietnam War. It is not for the faint of heart and does not shy away from capturing tragedy.

It is a stellar work of documentary style montage and composition. I have been looking for more information on its creation but alas the artists remain a mystery to me.

1.

Yishak Banjaw - Engudaye Nesh

[2016, Teranga Beat]

Minimal, synthesised folk instrumental, replenishing the intoxicating Ethiopian folk sound, Yishak Banjaw's creatively rich home-recording, on a simple Casio keyboard, saved to tape and passionately re-issued by the wide-eared and excellent, Teranga Beat imprint.

2.

Elsa Hewitt - Lavender

[2021, ERH/Bandcamp]

Taken from Elsa's 2021 self-released tape [a few left if you hurry], home-spun at it's most beguiling. Glimpsed translucent layers, rippling tidal harmonies and exquisitely delicate atmospherics; Lavender eminates Elsa's instant, ultra-intimate otherwhere state and perfectly wedded to the embracing lo-hum of her self-released cassette tapes, a headphone essential, given that sympathetic magic finesse by Berlin's Dubplate & Mastering.

3.

Bertrand Belin - Camarade

[2019, Cinq 7/Wagram]

I remember being charmed by Belin's delicate 'Hypernuit' (quite possibly through the excellent French FIP station, something of a cult FM broadcast in Brighton), but it was only this year that I delightfully stumbled across another track and then explored the LPs he's released since - here 2019's Camarade persuades with intimacy, subtlety and a quiet confidence, as if singing next to you, everything close quarters set. Sparse drums, warm synths, under-stated guitars, Bertrand’s pin-point delivery, sublime. I find myself imagining an intoxicating collaboration with Baxter Dury!

4.

R.AGGS - Speeding

[2020, R.AGGS]

Discovered this gloriously DIY, pleasingly naive pop bubble after enjoying Rachel Aggs’ equally personal and restrained release for the Lost Map label. Here taken from Rachel’s self-recorded/released //Tape 1//, Speeding, is a total gem from this wonderful album; fulsome, coasting close-up bass guitar, heart-melting synth lines, and those divine circling refrains from Rachel, ‘They told you jump, you said how high’… Here’s hoping for a //Tape 2//!

5.

Manfred Mann - You’re My Girl

[1970 RE, Philips]

My vague obsession with Manfred Mann continues, picking up anything I stumble across, I found this cheap 1970’s comp which features the 1966 Hugg/Mann/Thomas penned track, You’re My Girl. Totally remarkable, kinda swaggering jazz-psych with a sinister edge, off-kilter and laden with dark undertones, lyrically and musically, it feels like a slasher movie soundtrack that never was - descending vibraphone (?) lines, distant drums, guitar wails and disarming harmonies, all delivered with such impressive style.

1.

Moondog - All Is Loneliness

[2009 Re, Honest Jon’s]

The saddest track in the world. A tape recording of voices from the distant past by a fascinating character: self-taught, blind from the age of 16, built his own instruments, highly prolific for 60 years. He later went on to influence the minimalists (Reich, Glass, etc) amongst others (Janis Joplin, and later Antony and The Johnsons.) This piece is performed in a round with voices, the first of several of his compositions to do so, augmented by bassoon and homemade percussion. (The percussion style was later emulated by Mark Pritchard on ‘Beautiful People’.) Slightly over one minute of utter despair. Lovely.

2.

Nina Simone - Sinnerman

[1965, Philips]

How have I never heard this track before?! It’s a one-take stunner, banging along at a tremendous pace. A ten-minute journey covering all manner of breakdowns, build-ups, call-and-response, driven along by a hypnotic piano groove and some stunning percussion. Wow! You’ll need a sit-down after this one.

3.

Sébastien Tellier - Le démon Pupkin

[2007, Record Makers]

I was delving through La Tellier’s back catalogue and was recommended this album by Stephen Kin;Aesthetic. This track not only demonstrates Tellier’s knack for great orchestration and a strong theme but also some awesome synth soloing: love how he works his way down the keyboard to a grungy bottom end rather than a shrill prog rock style warble.

4.

Laurie Spiegel - Drums

[2012 Re, Unseen Worlds]

A relatively unknown female pioneer of electronic music. All tracks on the album were made in a similar manner: by programming on a mainframe computer using bespoke software to generate control voltages to feed specially developed oscillators and filters. ‘Drums’, as its name implies, is a percussive workout with a very techno sensibility, recorded in 1975! The synthesizer modules are played like marimbas and the whole piece is rhythmic with various interlocking and polymetric patterns. Astounding. [Ben UFO also did the decent thing and got this track repressed on a 12 this year.]

5.

Pye Corner Audio - Growth Potential

[2021, Ghost Box]

On his latest and my favourite of his releases, Martin Jenkins really shows how to produce synths and their heavy raw bass. Melodic, driving, cinematic, inspiring. I heart Ghost Box.

1.

Hany Mehanna - Baya

[2021 Re, Souma]

Bought towards the end of this year and redolent of my tireless affection for Egyptian music, Mehanna’s closing shot on this excellent comp is intoxicatingly wondrous. Multi instrumentalist, Mehanna, recorded oriental jazz and Egyptian library music, the latter being the focus of this particular release. Recorded around 1974 and used for a radio show with no proper release, this is only a minute and a half but leaves me wanting oh so much more.



2.

Piero Umiliani - Canoe

[2021 Re, Omicron/Dialogo/Space Echo]

I’m a relatively recent, in the last 3 years, convert to the creative genius of the maestro Umiliani. This number was found on one of his ersatz ‘exotica’ records from the mid 70’s, this time attempting to imagine the sounds from Oceanic islands. Tenacious, beguiling and ominous, this for me, is library at its finest.



3.

Claude Debussy: Pascal Rogé - Reverie

[1978, Decca]

I spent a long time trying to source this particular rendering of Reverie on wax, with Roge’s interpretation, for me, being most attractive in its especially beatific simplicity. Apparently, the boy Claude hated it for its naivety but it’s one of my favourites of his.



4.

Wizkid Ft. Drake - Come Closer

[2017, Starboy/RCA]

"Come Closer" is by Nigerian singer Wizkid, featuring vocals from Canadian rapper Drake. This year I listened to a lot of Drake and A LOT of pop music in general, exemplified further by my engagement with Justin Bieber, Rihanna, Mura masa, Dua lipa and TXT and BTS.

I think, due to the, ‘rubbish for everyone circumstances’ in the world right now, I needed the inherent seductive and appealing joy found in pop music, the ever-persuasive call to disassociate and distract via melody, simplicity and movement. Not that listening to pop music ever needs defending of course. Come closer is catchy dancehall that reminds me of Grace Jones’s early 80’s Bahamas based productions.



5.

Anz - Inna Circle

[2021, Ninja Tune]

YES. After a release on Ben UFO’s Hessle Audio, Manchester based producer Anz’s ‘All hours’ 12” is a total BANGER from start to finish. ‘Pure energy’, the sampled vocal line throughout is appropriate and insistent. Contextually, this release probably reflects a need to negate lock down dynamics, but Anz’s production is on point (celebrating the past with authenticity and skill) and, I reckon, will serve dance floors for years to come.

1.

Double exposure - Ten Per Cent (Walter Gibbons 12” Disco Mix)

[1976, Salsoul]

Ok so I always assumed The first ever remix commercially released was Donna Summer- I feel love (Patrick Cowley)…nope apparently it was this lovely Salsoul nugget from 1976 courtesy of DJ Walter Gibbons who also lays claim for the First DJ with production duties on a record and this track is also one of the first tracks to be marketed as a 12” single. It also still happens to be a staple for Disco/Club music, so it certainly served a purpose and then some.

2.

Pharcyde - Runnin’ (Rae & Christian Remix)

[1995, Grand Central]

Slept on, until a friend recently reminded me of this. R&C remixes always delivered, even though most of the time they would actually completely reinvent the instrumentation, with the vocal being the only recognisable element usually. Brave move considering the original Dilla instrumental is pure gold perfection. So years down the line I revisit this remix and find myself appreciative of the difficult task and see it as a successful timeless, soulful, warming chilled alternative that actually sits nicely along with the sounds of today.

3.

Annie Lennox - Little Bird (N-Joi Remix)

[1992, BMG]

So I’m sure we all have those B-side remixes on a 12inch that upon purchase and taking home we would hastily skip through and then would neglect, then forget about them! This is one of those I recently rediscovered and in all fairness it’s held up rather well. With the formula of using less obvious parts of the vocal & tasty 92 stabs & breakbeats, a different experience prevails. Classic early 90s Hardcore done proper.

4.

Basement Jaxx - Where’s Your Head At (1991 Remix)

[2021, XL/AEI Group]

Jeez! Rooty their second album has turned 20! With its Ragga jump-up carnival spirit this track was always a surefire catalyst for the dancefloor. However I always imagined it as an actual DnB track and surprisingly there wasn’t a remix to quench that desire. Two decades on & finally there is such a thing and Drum & Bass producer 1991 (I know right, artists seem to be calling themselves the year they were born, feeling old?) handles business respectively retaining all the elements we adore from the OG, then to twist it into a beast of a dirty Jungle/DNB track. Boom!

5.

OutKast - B.O.B (Bombs Over Baghdad) (Zach de la Rocha Remix)

[2020, RCA]

Ok so this has been in existence for over a decade! Huh?! How have I only just discovered this raucous monster reworking? It’s apparently only recently been officially released and offers an alternative take on the untouchable original. So rather than taking it towards a more Hip-Hop vibe, Zack hurls it straight into the middle off the RAGE mosh pit with no remorse! A heavy assault of distorted guitar and chunky drums take it to a place where Oukast are reinstated as outlandish rock rebels. Then again considering their Funkadelic roots, it shouldn’t be surprising and sounds like a natural progression that suits them perfectly. Call the fire brigade! This is the Bomb!

1.

The Emperor Machine & Séverine Mouletin - Dance Par Amour (Extended Vocal)

[2021, Leng]

If you follow my mixes, then you’ll know that Andy Meecham is a constant. 21 was quiet release-wise for him, being support for A Certain Ratio on their UK Tour, (what a gig….two of my favourite bands) but just before he embarked on that tour, this slipped out on Leng….."putain du merde"……this is so Emperor Machine, so addictive and so International Club Pop.. Cute French Female vocodered vox start and then you know you should be in a disco, beautiful analogue synth pads with delay….just the right amount of delay…..oh yeah  yeah….oh yeah yeah…that bassline….oh that bassline, all the Emperor Machine tricks, subtle Freq/Res adjustments and additions to basslines and that detuned dual oscillated chord almost like a reproduced Travelogue for the dancefloor…..bliss..addictive as fuck....no, really......

2.

Near Jazz Experience - Spirit of INDO

[2021, Sartorial]

Imagine a swagger, a gated delay sequence addictive as any swagger can be, soon followed by bassline and drums. That bassline gets better whilst keeping the same vibe…now you got a sax and trumpet to keep you company for a full on, just over 10 minutes, there’s a few breakdowns and straight back in putting a smile on your face. This just makes you want to move, and hey!! it was a Record Store Day release, not something I tend to get involved in as I perceive it to be pure hype.  But if you want hype….here it is on the Nought to 60 EP by this UK trio…..such an addictive groove, that you just put it back on and start again and again……..  and endless walk with a swagger to who knows where..........

3.

Dlina Volny - Redrum

[2021, Italians Do It Better]

Red wine….too much red wine and spurned relationships and a sound straight out of Eastern Europe full of that Italians Do It Better sheen of synthetic post punk dark- disco sexiness…what a voice, what a sound..... what an album, check out the videos to back this up….open a bottle of Red Wine ………see you on the floor, standing or lying ….bleeding or breathing...I'm in love.....

4.

Simonetti-Pignatelli-Morante - Tenebre

[1982, Cinevox]

I was watching one of those French Extreme Horror films from the early naughties (can’t remember the name) and at the end credits this started playing. I immediately knew it was Goblin/Simonetti, but struggled to place it. It was those Vocoders and that catchy riff I couldn’t get out my head. Ear worm Alert!!!! Avviso Di Tarlo!!!!!! So yes, it’s the main theme from Dario Argento’s Tenebre….an Italian Slasher Thriller…so I got the soundtrack and developed an ear worm……minor key drops with vocoder…it’s a killer (bad pun), it’s a pretty good film too in an early 80’s Giallo sort of way…..the theme grabs you….what the hell is this…you know what it is …you know it’s Italian, you know it’s Claudio Simonetti.

5.

Gemma Cullingford - Ode To Billie Joe

[2021, Outré Disque]

Let me Speak is a great album…perfectly put together, but Ode To Billie Joe is the most visually engaging from an aural POV…tragic, a story of our times…yet a Bobbie Gentry cover…sit down listen, imagine….where the hell???… obviously far too relevant in these Pandemic Post Brexit destructive times......such an evocative album and so well put together....can you see my thoughts??

1.

Foodman - Hoshikuzu Tenboudai

[2021, Hyperdub]

Foodman’s Yasuragi Land is an astounding piece of work, sitting somewhere in between DJ Rashad’s Double Cup, Steve Reich’s Music For 18 Musicians, and scrolling through a N64 sound FX library. It’s ambitious, colourful, and such an original take on footwork.

2.

Time Wharp - Ingenue

[2021, Leaving Records]

Leaving Records never seem to get the credit they deserve. They have released so much sublime music over the last 10 years, from Ras G to Julia Holter to Gendel & Wilkes. I really enjoyed this release from Time Wharp. It’s light, uplifting, and basically everything I needed in 2021. I’m really looking forward to the full length release in 2022.

3.

Cleo Sol - Promises

[2021, Forever Living Originals]

Inflo has pretty much won 2020 and 2021, raising the bar for both mainstream and independent music with production credits for Adele, Michael Kiwanuka and (I think) spearheading the incredible Sault. I really enjoyed Cleo Sol’s Mother, where everything feels very stripped back and airy, the song structures are often flowing and dynamic. you feel like you are drifting along the with the psyche of Cleo Sol.

4.

Hiatus Kaiyote - And We Go Gentle

[2021, Brainfeeder]

I don’t know what I was expecting with Hiatus Kaiyote’s third album, but it was not this. Any overt jazz references are gone, and I’m not really sure what they’ve been replaced by. It’s so confusing. My favourite pieces are the ones with hypnotic looping vocals. They’re so effective, and remind me of clear summer nights and possibilities.

5.

Bobbie Gentry - Courtyard

[1969, Capitol]

Tyler Mahan Coe’s Cocaine & Rhinestones podcast has been such a rewarding gateway into country music for me. Particularly when it intersects with the 60s California psychedelic scene. I really enjoyed the poetry and languid demeanour of The Delta Sweete.

1.

The Mysterines - Hung Up

[2021, UMG]

No, not a Madonna cover, but a blistering slice of Rock n' Roll whose chorus will stay with you for hours afterwards.


2.

GOAT - Union Of Mind And Soul

[2016, Rocket]

The Swedish innovators blend a wide array of styles and instrumentation on this infectious slab of Go-Team style pop perfection.

3.

Obongjayar - Message In A Hammer

[2021, Obongjayar/September Recordings]

Incredible fusion of Afrobeat, Electro and Soul from the multi-talented London-based Nigerian musician. He also featured on Little Simz's excellent Point And Kill.


4.

Bad Nerves - Baby Drummer

[2020, Killing Moon]

Multiple repeat plays in store as the Essex 5-piece go full pelt on one of the most adrenaline fuelled two minutes of catchy garage rock you are likely to hear.



5.

Mica Levi - One Tear

[2020, Mica Levi]

A wonderful slice of dreamy lo-fi that wouldn't sound out of place on a My Bloody Valentine album or on Low's masterpiece from earlier this year, Hey What.

1.

Goat Girl - P.T.S.Tea

[2021, Rough Trade]

The whole album is packed with lively just-off-kilter songs with killer hooks, so it was hard to pick one…but God, this chorus, it’s lived in my head since I first heard it. ‘PTSD from a hot cup of tea’ is also a very very good line.

2.

Porridge Radio - Circling

[2020, Secretly Canadian]

From another amazing album to sing along to in the car, Dana Margolin is a brilliant vocalist and lyricist. This track is my top choice for the circus-y 3/4 instrumental bit after the chorus, but also for the self-betrayingly persistent everything’s alright message – seems apt for 2021.

3.

Not Waving ft. Mark Lanegan - Last Time Leaving Home Part 2

[2021, Ecstatic]

A slow and beautiful song I came on by chance somewhere on the internet, grumbly voice on a bed of lush strings and synths, but quite hopeful in the end – daylight is going it is coming… The whole album is great.

4.

Floating Points, Pharoah Sanders & The London Symphony Orchestra - Movement 1 (Promises)

[2021, Luaka Bop]


An album to sink deeply into – feels silly to pick one track as it’s really a full 40-minute immersive listen.

Music that breathes life.

5.

Giant Swan - Silkworm

[2021, Keck]


Finally, I should pick something from one of the live events I went to this year, if only to remind myself to see more music next year.

This track doesn’t quite do justice to the visceral experience of seeing Giant Swan live – it’s a real show, live techno-meets-screaming, two blokes jumping around, one shirtless.

1.

Yaeji & OHHYUK - 29

[2021, XL Recordings]

Shuffling percussion, straight heavy beat and the slo-mo chuggalicious guitar riff, intro’ing the deadpan mantra’d verse from Yaeji, and then the switch; positively exploding into that bitter-sweet chorus, sparkling guitar, lilting steel pan, summer-swung vibes. So good, I gotta go, gotta go on a quest to play it again.

2.

Bob Downes - Popular Cheam

[1970, MFP]

Heavy as, funky-psych sounds from Bob Downes, pounding drums and upfront bass, with Bob freaking out on vocals and flute, what a screamer - this a definite hidden nugget, surprisingly issued on the Music for Pleasure label.

3.

Mehnaz - Mahiya We Mahiya

(Prod. by Kamal Ahmed)

[1979, EMI]

Slow swaying, emotionally charged wonderment from Pakistani singer Mehnaz, backed by the brilliant Kamal Ahmed - drenched in percussion, with a distinctive staccato rhythm, fleeting strings and Rubab(?) serenade her vocal return, the whole track revolves around Mehnaz’s skyward vocal, defies words really, just incredibly beautiful.


4.

Cadenza Ft. M.I.A. & GuiltyBeatz - Up Inna (Aeva Remix)

[2020, Twenty8Twelve]

Glorious remix from Aeva, cutting and slicing the original vocals to the extreme, bringing something of a hyped BoC-Aphex-esque atmosphere, a heavy dose of bruk breakbeats, shimmering pads and warping filters, totally brilliant and on repeat!


5.

Asha Bhosle - Jene Do Auf Jiyo

(Prod. by SD Burman)

[1969, Angel]

Typically rich composition from the spectacular SD Burman, picked this 7” up and fell in love with this track in particular, slow waltz-like turns, leap into rattling train-paced rhythms, Asha’s unmistakable songbird voice floats and dances joyfully.

1.

Sam Interface - Going In

[2021, Future Bounce]

"When music is good and when music is powerful, you forget about the things that separate you and differentiate you. You don't think in a concert, 'This person's black, this person's white.' All you're thinking is, 'Rah, the drums going in...'"

2.

Molly Lewis - Balcony For Two

[2021, Jagjaguwar]

The amazing professional whistler, Molly Lewis, serves up delightful catchy exotica in the style of a Tarantino film score, set on a distant sandy beach.

3.

voljum - café mañana

[2021, Inspected]

Essential uplifting sunshine party vibes where the balance between musicianship, experimentalism and technicality is perfectly met. Imagine Basement Jaxx in the blender with Squarepusher...

4.

Botany - Snowbyrd

[2021, Western Vinyl]

Sublime wonky dreamlike bliss as Botany mangles soul in the sampler alongside cut-up beats, like a fusion of The Avalanches and Balam Acab.

5.

Ronnie & Clyde - The Last Retention

[2021, Faroe]

Get swept away in the cinematic strings, trip-hop beats and sultry vocal hook of this delightful gem. Timeless downtempo vibes for those chill out moments.

Once again this year, we’ve linked directly to bandcamp pages where artists and labels have made their music available to hear there, in the spirit of sharing the love, we hope some of the sounds above might inspire a purchase or two, provide some new musical avenues and above all, support for the artists and labels… hope you enjoy these 65 tracks as enthusiactically as we did!

Last years’ 2020 5:5:5: selections can be found over here: