October gets a bad rap. Like the least popular kid in class, it’s often misunderstood and disliked, in this case for being dull and grey. People expect it be depressing and dank. Being sandwiched between the last warm days and the proper winter season does not it help either. For an avid music listener like myself it’s not that hard to find something exciting and positive even during this dreary period. To contradict to the usual expectations, I have put together a list of 10 things I liked about this October:
1) Nick Cave’s surprise album release.
The last weekend of September brought a very surprising news. Nick Cave had announced his 17thstudio album with The Bad Seeds. Fans including myself welcomed the news with open arms and squeal of excitement online. “Ghosteen” had been released digitally the following week and instantly became a fan favourite. Often described as “an ambient album”, it consists solely of slow-moving ballads and one spoken word piece. Musically, the album is a quieter extension of the previous record and heavily influenced by Cave’s previous soundtrack works with his fellow bandmate, Warren Ellis. Inspired by the sudden death Cave’s son, Arthur 4 years ago, this ascetic album completes a trilogy of albums recorded around and after this tragic event. Dealing with loss, grieving “Ghosteen” is a thing of haunting beauty and pure artistry.
2) PJ Harvey’s “Red Right Hand” cover finally gets released;
PJ Harvey, sometime partner and artistic collaborator of Mr Cave, recorded a spooky version of The Bad Seeds’ cult classic, “Red Right Hand” for the 2 season of The Peaky Blinders. For some reason this brilliant rendition has missing from streaming services until now. Very timely. The song had been covered by many artists, including, most recently Snoop Doggy Dog, who gave it a surprising hip-hop makeover. Seek it out and give it a spin. It is certainly something.
3) The Return of Frank Ocean;
Frank Ocean, onetime whiz-kid of new r’n’b scene, has dropped with the first solo single since, “BLONDE”, his previous controversially released album. Although Ocean had broken the silence on few occasions since then, this signals something bigger. And from the reactions online, it’s safe to say that the world is ready to hear the results of Ocean regaining creative freedom in full. “DHL” is a druggy and slow-mo track filled with filtered vocals and raps by Ocean, still hiding in the dark somewhere. Hopefully this is his way of teasing a grand comeback. He surely knows how to create a buzz around himself.
Other notable comebacks this month included RUFUS WAINWRIGHT, BROKEN BELLS, AIR’s NICOLAS GODIN;
4) Caribou’s New Single;
Dan Snaith aka Caribou returned this summer with a 4 track EP, entitled “Sizzling”, under his other moniker, Daphni. The whole thing, and the title track especially, channelled strong love for the vintage soul and disco infused house music. Now, it seems like Dan’s personas are starting to merge as the funky, yet nostalgic, “Home” arrived under Caribou’s name. Less of a club track and more an actual song, the single sees Dan sharing vocal duties with a sample of 1970’s soul singer, Gloria Barnes. Sounds like another artistic step forward for Mr Snaith. And an exciting promise for the fans.
In other news: Caribou will play Iveagh Gardens next summer (11 July). But you will be able to catch Dan Snaith in Dublin very soon as Daphni will play back-2-back Dj set with his fellow electrician, Floating Points, at District 8, on November 9th.
5) Speaking of Floating Points…
…aka Sam Shepperd. His latest LP, “Crush”, is getting high praises all around. Musically the album resides somewhere on the intersection of classical and electronic music. It plays like a symphony recorded using synthesizers, modulators and computer software. Closer to Shepperd’s debut LP, the post-jazz “Elaenia”, then his previous record, the proggy “Reflections - Mojave Dessert”, “Crush” is a soundtrack to the club experience like other and one of the best albums of 2019.
6) The other albums that arrived in October;
Last time, I’ve mentioned the usual spike in the new releases around this time of the year, but this October certainly outgrown my wildest expectations. The list of the releases on my radar had gone into the area of three-digit number this month. While I have managed to go through all the major ones (including KIM GORDON, CHROMATICS, KIM VAGABOND, CIGARETTES AFTER SEX, ELBOW, KANYE WEST, AMON TOBIN, TEEBS, TELEFON TEL AVIV, NEIL YOUNG, JIM JAMES, LARRY GUS) there many more that will have to wait their turn. It is impossible not to mention one very important album on this occasion, the string-tacular “All Mirrors” by ANGEL OLSEN. Olsen’s departure from her usual austere, guitar sound has stunned her fans and critics alike and gained her legions of new followers. Another contestant for the album of the year right here.
7) The Good News aka October’s album announcements;
Good news! Robert Smith promised not one, but three new albums from The Cure in the near future, with the first one arriving before Christmas. The other artists with new records in the pipeline include: TAME IMPALA (“The Slow Rush” - 14.02.2010), BURIAL (“Tunes 2011-2019” - 0612.2019), LAPALUX (“Amnioverse” - 08.11.2019), BECK (“Hyperspace”, 22.11.2019), ALICE BOMAN (“Dream On”, 17.01.2020), DESTROYER (“Have We Met” - 31.01.2020), WIRE (“Mind Hive” – 24.01.2020), OMAR SOULEYMAN (“Shlon” - 22.11,2019), FEVER RAY (“Plunge Remix” - 22.11.2019), THE NATIONAL’s MATT BERNINGER (“Serpentine Prison” - TBA), ST. VINCENT (“MASSEDUCATION Rewired” - 13.12.2019), COLDPLAY (“Everyday Life” - 22.11.2019), MURA MASA (“R.Y.C.” - 17.01.2019), THE FLAMING LIPS (“The Soft Bulletin (Live At Red Rocks) - 29.11.2019).
8) Video of the year 2019 arrives;
Peggy Gou’s fantastic club track, and one of this year’s best, “Starry Night” finally got an elegant visual treatment. It instantly has become my favourite music video of the 2019.
9) Favourite song;
Panda Bear – playing the long game
10) The Halloween season.
The end of October is the time when veil between the dimensions appears to be thinner. The supernatural intertwine with earthly, the paranormal with the mundane. Halloween might not be everyone’s cup of warm blood, but personally I find it exciting. It allows to showcase a little bit of creativity and adult silliness. Being a moderately geeky person, not quite there with Comicon folk, I look forward to displaying my love of the pop culture and scary themes this time of the year. And like elsewhere October has also added a dash of spookiness to this mixtape. Besides, Halloween parties require scary tunes. Few artists tried to induct some chills in their songs this season, whether it’s via lyrics (“Jekyll & Hide” by BISHOP BRIGGS, “It’s Dark” by BASS ASTRAL X IGO, “Wicked” by JUNGLE BROWN) or by creating eerie sonic experience (BENOIT PIOLARD, DOON KANDA, HERO, JUST MUSTARD, KEELEY FORSYTH). Even the ghosts of Leonard Cohen and Prince spoke from beyond the grave. Boo!
Time for November. Although, just between us, he can be a real bully.
Stay warm, stay positive.
Love,
Piotrek
