I'm so happy that it hurts deep through my sides
2023 Mix 6 [Originally published Feb 24, 2023]
Each week I skim through about 2,000 songs from Spotify's company-curated New Music Friday playlists. Whenever I find 80 minutes worth of music I like, I make a CD-length mix and write a newsletter about it.
This week I'm reflecting on how obnoxious is too obnoxious -- Icona Pop going back to the shout-pop well with worse hooks? Obnoxious. Riton sampling 50 Cent with worse candy innuendo? Very obnoxious. Already obnoxious British rapper slowthai singing an even more obnoxious song on purpose? Extremely obnoxious.
And yet, I don't find these songs too, er, noxious.
Speaking of noxious, last week I wrote about a fake funk track from Portugal I disliked. I dislike it less now, but I forgot to link it. Judge for yourself: "Solteira" by MC DY and MC Bin Laden.
Not speaking of noxious (or is it?): my youngest has taken to yelling "DADDY, YOU ARE CANCELLED!" when he is mad at me, like today when I told him he had to finish his homework. I don't know where he got this phrase from. Should I be concerned?
Here's the whole playlist on Spotify.
MIX 5: I'M SO HAPPY THAT IT HURTS DEEP THROUGH MY SIDES
1. Icona Pop & Galantis: I Want You
I! Kind! Of! Like! It! When! They! Shout! (But. This. Time. They. Sound. More. Like. This.)
2. Busy Signal: Lets Go
Am I contractually obligated to put Busy Signal on every mix? No. But I am ready to sell out.
3. Optimist Music ZA x Musa Keys x MDU aka TRP f. House of TAYO: Ice Cream
Upbeat amapiano featuring one of the titular "2 peers" on my favorite amapiano album of 2021, Semi Tee & MDU aka TRP's Tales of the 2 Peers.
4. Bibio, Oliver St. Louis, & Alan Braxe: S.O.L. (Alan Braxe edit)
Alan Braxe seems to be making a comeback (or crossover) with indie artists, most notably his quasi-rework of his song "In Love with You" with Panda Bear on "Step by Step" from last year. This is a step up.
5. Orbital f. Penelope Isles: Are You Alive?
Checked in with Orbital last year with their anniversary remix album 30 Something, which I liked, and they've followed it up with lots of ethereal-sounding guest vocalists doomsaying about pandemics and death (fair enough!) amidst less gloomy techno. I like this one better than the one where a medieval choral group sings a portentous rendition of "Ring Around the Rosie."
6. Weval: Everything Went Well
Surprised to learn this band is on a Ninja Tune imprint and is apparently considered kind of a big deal as far as electronic backdrop for indie songwriting goes, but apparently Pitchfork gave their first album an 8.0. If you'd asked me which of the Dutch artists on this week's mix has no-foolin' internet credibility, I could have just flipped a coin and picked The Hengles on track 9 ( who have 1,377 monthly Spotify listeners).
7. The Free Music f. Najib Alhoush: Ana Qalbi Ehtar
Another selection from the Habibi Funk label, which is either good at getting its stuff on Spotify New Music Fridays lists or has lodged itself into my algorithm. Either way, keep it coming! This one is by the rock group of Libyan composer Najib Alhoush, who made a good cover of "Stayin' Alive" in the 70s, featured on one of the label's previous compilations.
8. Marjo Leinonen & BubliCans: Loose Hat
Fun organ-driven retro-pop by a Finnish singer and actress -- known for movies like Zombie and the Ghost Train, which I now want to see -- and her light rockabilly backing band.
9. The Hengles: Flashes of Green
The aforementioned Dutch group that is decidedly less popular than Weval. Appealing 60s bubblegum rock with a mild glam gloss and a few CSNY harmonies thrown in.
10. L-Gante | Gusty dj: Session en el Barrio #8
Everyone is getting in on the BZRP session game -- Chilean Gusty dj, featuring Argentine reggaeton artist L-Gante, has a ways to go before he reaches Bizarrap's 53 (L-Gante was previously featured in BZRP session #38).
11. KOVALEVA: Фастфуд [fastfood]
I enjoy sounding out Cyrillic while skimming through the Russian entries on the New Music Friday lists even though I almost never understand it (four years of high school Russian, woohoo). Got this one, though -- it says "FASTFOOD," which reminds me of the stories my dad, a Russian translator, told me about Russian technical manuals: he would often come across awkwardly transliterated words, and his favorite was "Паркинлоте" (park-een-lot-ye -- parking lot). A place where, it should be noted, you might have occasion to eat some фастфуд.
12. MC Yallah & Debmaster: Sikwebela
Lightning-speed rapping from Nyege Nyege Tapes artist (on subsidiary Hakuna Kulala) MC Yallah and French producer Debmaster. Nyege Nyege Tapes is a subject for future research for me -- have heard a few things when pointed toward their roster but not as much as I probably should. There are several albums from the label on Chuck Eddy's 120 albums of 2022 list.
13. PEDRO SAMPAIO x Thaysa Maravilha: Ensaio das Maravilhas
Good Brazilian funk track whose Google-translated title "Essays of Wonder" does, in fact, make me wonder about a few things (mostly having to do with the accuracy of the translation).
14. Rauw Alejandro & Angel Dior: Tamo en Nota
The first new Angel Dior track I've heard since putting one of his songs on a previous mix. Continue to be impressed with his melodic rapid-fire dembow, though Rauw Alejandro has more of a pop singing voice and isn't trying to keep pace, making it a nice counterbalance.
15. Andrekza: Inoxente
Venezuelan reggaeton artist signed to a Steve Aoki Latin label. Second appearance of Spring Breakers pink ski masks this year -- did Spring Breakers have an enormous global influence? I was disappointed by the movie, but maybe I should see it again.
16. gothique & blessbaby: дам по шиї [Dam po shyyi]
Weirdo rap from Russia, apparently the same duo responsible for a more popular track from last year that sounds like children are rapping on it. Not going to research it further.
17. slowthai: Feel Good
Rapper goes pop-punk to mixed results, per yoozhe for this sort of move. Took me two weeks to decide that this song is on the good side of annoying. I may regret this decision, but alas it is too late.
18. Riton f. Soaky Siren: Sugar
Only took me one week to decide this was on the good side of annoying. I definitely regret the decision already.
19. Kid Koala f. Lealani: Things Are Gonna Change
Oh hey, Kid Koala! Sounds like the Go! Team but with requisite gobs of scratching.
20. Café Quijano f. Andrés Calamaro: No me reproches
Mm, smooth. 90s Argentine rock star joins a pop group for a bolero.
21. Orquestra Afrosinfônica f. Urbiratan Marques: Branco
Different smooth -- orchestral Brazilian choral pop.
22. Feist: In Lightning
Feist's back! Shifts into tune-yards territory, an interesting sound for her. Every Feist album is better than I expect it to be, so I guess I should listen to it.
23. Daniel Johnston: Mountain Top (BBC Session)
An old Daniel Johnston song from a previously unreleased set of BBC sessions. Sounds good, I like him with a live band.
Until next time, don't cancel people just because they made you finish your homework, and don't eat too much фастфуд in the Паркинлоте.
—Dave Moore (the other one)
Title poorly transcribed from slowthai's "Feel Good"