Experimental electronica band, Psapp, have been widely credited with inventing toytronica, ‘a form of electronica made with toys and toy instruments’. They have four albums out — including their latest release, The Camel’s Back — along with the songwriting credits for the main theme — Cosy in the Rocket — on Grey’s Anatomy. Galia Durant has compiled the first four songs of this Playlist, and Carim Clasmann the second.
Lizzy Mercier Descloux / Wawa
Edgy discordant chords, minimalist one note guitar riffs, and far too straight drum grooves. But somehow this is irresistible. Whenever I travel around with a box full of records, this one will be surely be in there. Wawawa.
Family Fodder / Savoir Faire
Oh, how I admire the compositions of John ‘The Sock’ Pearce, who left his footprint on a lot of bands in the early 80s. Cerf Volant is the perfect mixture of a pop song, eastern rhythms in 11/8, and more, which sound as smooth as any 4/4 time. And, of course, there’s the lovely French voice of Dominique on top. There’s something to be said about only half understanding lyrics: it gives your imagination more room to fill the gaps with your own stories.
Valley Of The Rocks / Voice Of The Seven Woods
It’s true. Rick Tomlinson has got fourteen fingers and that is why his guitar playing sounds so different. Also my secret passion for oriental scales finds fulfillment here. This is just one song from a great album.
John Baker / Electro-Twist MQ Lp1/1
The BBC Radiophonic Workshop not only produced innovative sound effects for its TV and radio programs, but also featured two composers, John Baker and Delia Derbyshire, who were far ahead of their time and, in a way, were a continuation of Paris-based Musique Concrete pioneers. Working only with reel-to-reel tape machines and basic effects, John Baker created this piece of music which you would rather expect to be a late 90s Electro classic rather than from the 60s.
Aksak Maboul / Milano Per Caso
Beautiful melodies for a French 60s drama in which all characters are mice. There is always the feeling that another surprise is lurking behind the next bar, or that the next drum roll could open a secret hatch to a new song. Although the record is from 1981, it reminds me of the 60s. Consistency? Who cares after this odd bit of music.
Wildbirds and Peacedrums / Doubt-Hope
Although this song is incredible on record, it’s even more amazing live. Definitive proof that less can sometimes be more and that just drums and voice can make a perfect sound just on their own.
Karen Dalton / Same Old Man
The sort of scratchy, itchy voice should have you clearing your throat and dreaming of Lemsip, but somehow it manages to transport you into another more magical world instead. Some of her stuff is a bit hit and miss production-wise, but this is a perfectly sparse piece of music that showcases her amazing voice.
Jimmy Castor Bunch / King Kong
Woooohooo. A bit late for Halloween but I discovered this track on an amazing crate digger’s blog and there’s plenty more corkers on there. Please check it out!
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