The Current State of Music

I should rename this newletter, or radio show ‘Apologies, by Chris Cracknell’ because whenever I say I’m gonna do something, I inevitably forget. Or not forget, life conspires to put many obstacles in my way.You’ll be pleased to know that sending you this show this morning wasn’t the only thing I didn’t get done today. But, here we are, together again. I’ll make a promise not to raise your expectations and you can promise to lower yours, hopefully we’ll meet somewhere in the middle and life will be as it should be, we can hope.So, going back to 2017, which is possibly the year I spent the most money on records. They say make hay whilst the sun shines, and the sun shone in 2017 and a lot of good music was about. As I listen along with you to a show from 1 Brighton FM (so cute to have an FM moniker) I’m already bouyed by Kamasi and The Rhythm Changes.I’m allowed to drop his surname, as we have met a few times, the most notable was hanging with him and his band of glorious humans on Brighton beach getting slowly baked and nearly abducted to go on tour with them. This track also had me in tears whilst watching them at Glastonbury, this, and the remnants of what was left of my brain after four days of being ‘on it’. I told Patrice (the vocalist on this track) about this, much to her amusement. It’s funny hearing me talking about my kids growing up, given they are nearly taller than me now. Time moves fast and slow, I wonder what 2017 Chris would have thought about his life as we head towards 2027. I’m not one t do much looking back, but a lot has happened in the last 10 years, even though it feels like nothing much has happened too. Certainly 2017 Chris hasn’t got much energy for a four day Glastonbury like that one, maybe it would be fun to try though? If I suggest this idea again, would one of you perform an intervention?Listening back to this is bringing up some styles of music I don’t play much and my brain is yelling that I should do a proper mix tape, like I used to do. Well. like loads of people used to, mixes that span genres and are full of tunes you’ve never heard before, mixed and cut together. Hmmmm, I like this idea. How do I carve out some time? Anyone out there designing a time carving machine? If so, get in touch, I’ll be your test human.In case anyone was wondering where my boundaries lie in relation to Balaeric music, then this tune by Smith and Mudd is it. I’d go as far as say this is the US side of Donald Trumps awful wall. Brighton is awash with DJ’s and radio shows that feature the word Balaeric and I want nothing to do with it. You can put that on my headstone if you will. This tune is a beauty though.The Stone Roses - Waterfall. What do you want me to say? If you want to hear more of Sarathy Korwar (and you do) then I had a great chat with him a few years ago which you can find in my archive on Substack. I’ve got some truly incredible music, some of these tracks are blowing my mind. I don’t mean that in a dick swinging sense, just in a I need to listen to my records more, kinda way. This track by Ndihko Xaba is a belter. Creative cogs are telling me to do an edit of this… time machine time again…Loving this latin selection too, the great thing about three hour shows is that one has time to really stretch out, I feel like I’m good when I stretch.The show definitely finishes on an upbeat groove, so I hope that stays with you a while amongst all the chaos, I’ll be back soon with a brace of live shows and I’m gonna channel some of these into those. I’m also playing Ronnie Scotts on the warm up for Chip Wickham on the 14th November. If you have a ticket, come and say hi.CxTracklist:Kamasi Washington - The Rythm ChangesA Tribe Called Quest - Electric Relaxation7 Samurai - BahiaS’Express - Funky KillerBreakplus - Silver BangleCornershop - Topknot feat MIABoards of Canada - Telephasic WorkshopSmith and Mudd - ShulmeThe Stone Roses - WaterfallBarney Wilen - Gardenia DevilJames Tatum Trio Plus - Holy HolyWojteck Mazolewski Quintet - GdanskSarathy Korwar - Indefinite Leave to RemainAhmed Abdul Malik - SummertimeNdikho Xaba - MakhosiMax Cilla - Crepiscule TropicalLorez Alexandria - MorningThe Cinematic Orchestra - Evolution IIMoses Boyd - Square UpBinary Brothers and Clarity - Thinking LouderDrumagick - Easy BoomElza Soares - Take it Easy My Brother CharlieQuarteto de Bruno Solis - Upa NeguinhoLuiz Bonfa - Suadade Vem CorrendoDominic Martin - AutumnNils Frahm - Do (Databoy 78 Rework)Ben Lucas Boysen - Golden Times 1Olafur Arnaulds and Nils Frahm - 00.26 (Ryan Davis Rethink)Prince - Controversy (Mighty Mouse Re-edit)Dan Le Sac Vs Scoobius Pip - Cauliflower (SB Remix)Meeka Kates - Fault Line (Ambassadeurs Remix)Radiohead - Everything in it’s Right PlaceM83 - ReunionGorillaz - Busted and BlueLondon Grammar - Hey Now (Bonobo Remix)Caribou - I Can’t Do Without You Get full access to Chris Cracknell Music Producer at chriscracknelldj.substack.com/subscribe

Good Monday morning, apologies for not sending this out over the weekend, but maybe Monday mornings are in need of some good music, a place to calm the impending storm. It’s certainly nice to go back in time, even if it is just 2022, because 26 is shaping up to be a weird one.Lets not dwell on that though, there is enough stress every time you look into your phone without me diving into your inbox with it too.Kicking this show off. back when I was on Soho Radio is The Kings of Convenience, which is a track and album I think about all the time when I’m working with clients in my studio, it is one of the finest examples of quirky guitar based songs, and it holds a place in my heart. They also put a remix album out so I thought it would be cute to play the remix of the same track. Is it cute, or rubbish? It does remind of the fact that I didn’t buy a copy of Royksopps’ album with the Banksy sleeve, damn, I wish I had.I find it fascinating listening back to old shows, there are songs I play that Shazaam isn’t finding, and although I may have some faint recognition, I’m not entirely sure I’ve heard them before. As I listen, I’m already at two tracks I can’t place, which for the completist in me, is unsettling.Life is short though, and it can go on the pile of things I apologise for.Which might be quite a considerable pile this week. I’ve got a lot going on and I’m definitely going to be letting someone, probably mostly myself, down. Life is tricky and I think, as a freelancer, life has never been more tricky. For the first time ever, I’ve wondered what it might be like having a regular job, where someone else takes care of your salary. It feels like putting on a shirt and tie, for someone (me) who has major sensory issues. I’m guessing if you are reading this then you are probably in the creative industries, or at least adjacent to them and I’d be interested to hear how your landscape is looking…If I’m honest, I haven’t got much else to say this morning, so I think it’s best to leave you with the music of this show, which is far more interesting than anything I’ve got to say right now, from the trench I’m in. Hope you enjoy it, I’ll be back with another ray of sunshine next week. CxTracklist:Kings of Convenience - I Don’t Know What I Can Save You FromKings of Convenience - I Don’t Know What I Can Save You From (Royksopp Remix)Anoushka - 4am feat Wolfgang FleurJamie XX - Loud Places feat RomyMr Scruff - CrispsJoe - Thinkin’ AboutDuplo Sentido - Tetê da BahiaLuli Lucinha e o Bando - Flor Lilás (Kenny Dope Remix)MAWtilus - Nuyorican SoulPortishead - Sour TimesNas and Bravehearts - Oochie WallyNightmares on Wax - Nights IntroludeFour Tet - WingdingsUNKLE - Do Yourself Some Good (Diplo Remix)Bicep - AuraRadiohead - Eveeything in it’s Right PlaceKae Tempest - Don’t You EverNils Frahm - Sol (Ruhe Rework)Amanda Whiting - Where Would We BeNana Simopoulos - Pulcies DanceThe Cinematic Orchestra - Wait for Now/Leave the World feat TawiahThe Cinematic Orchestra - Wait for Now (Mary Lattimore Rework) Get full access to Chris Cracknell Music Producer at chriscracknelldj.substack.com/subscribe

So, I am back on a local (to me) radio station. It is where I cut my teeth in broadcasting and I very much enjoy doing my show live. For clarity, my shows for Totally Wired are live in the sense that I record it as it is. I start as if I’m doing it live, usually with some sort of jump off point, but I have the luxury of, if something doesn’t work out, I can pause and find the solution.However, with shows on 1BTN, I go to their studio, armed with what I hope will create some sort of cohesive 2 hours, and once the minute hand hits the hour, we are off! Any mistakes are there for all to hear, and it is what it is. I’m quite fortunate that my brain works quite well in joining the random dots of music that I have thrown into a record bag, usually in a hurry, shortly before hot footing it down to the studio.It’s been a hot minute since I did live ‘live’ shows, since 2020 actually. I was a bit overwhelmed and needed to shed some responsibilities, like a lot of people in 2020. So my weekly six year residency at 1BTN came to an end. Whilst listening through archive shows to send out to you lot, I’ve enjoyed hearing shows that are a bit random, a bit rough round the edges. But there is a quality to them that I love, and I’ve missed, so I’m now on 1BTN with a monthly show, every second Friday of the month, at 10am, which feels like a good space to occupy.My other shows I tend to record quite late at night (late for me when I adore being in bed by 9pm!) so hopefully the energy is a little different, although I was definitely to close to the mic, do excuse my rustiness…I hope you enjoy this one, a little bit of jeopardy brings out good things I think. I guess you can be the judge… x Tracklist:Zara Mcfarlane - In Between WorldsSarathy Korwar and Noni Mouse - MitraZara Macfarlane - FishermanTamar Osborne - HeartbeatMoses Boyd - No Love LostChip Wickham - Astral TravellingBrooklyn Funk Essentials - The Creator Has a MasterplanJimpster - Bad Hair BluesSault - Acts of FaithJhelisa - Purpose LoveWojtek Mazolewski Quintet - New EnergySnowboy and the Latin Section - Wild SpiritElis - Nada Sera Como AntesAsha Puthli - Space Talk (Dimitri from Paris mix)Kokoroko— I Just Can’t Wait (Musclecars Remix)Fujiya and Myagi - No Green LightKieran Hebdon and William Tyler - Spider BalladEa Akilat - LifepathsFour Tet - WingdingsNils Frahm - MonumentsBonobo - Fire on the Water Get full access to Chris Cracknell Music Producer at chriscracknelldj.substack.com/subscribe

Whilst i appreciate all you Substack people who are into my radio shows and the very little I am posting at the moment, I seem to be losing subscribers.Either, I am not very interesting or the casual listener isn’t into the radio shows I put out, which is fair enough. Or, I am so offensive in what little I offer, that they actively unsubscribe.Well, whatever the reason, I believe I offer something rather unique to the universe. I believe that there isn’t quite like me, or has my taste in music, or has the skill to put together 2 hours of music in the way that I do, and has the skill to offer it out, for free, to anyone interested.This show could be confirmation of that. I really thought about what might be useful to a label, what is new, what might get some traction, and I still ended up playing absolute weird shit from all over. Some weird shit I’ve never even listened to before.So what is that? I’m very good at having ideas, but once I’ve proved I can do something, then I’m onto the next, which isn’t very useful in a world where being known for doing one thing is everything. In this context, it means I play music that is challenging, rewarding, new, old but new, and is somehow the best thing in that moment. I’m probably not fit for social media, so that is probably why a few people like me, then not like me.Ah well. My benchmark of whether it is good is whether I create something I’d listen to, and I’d check out this show. It goes from modal jazz, to drum and bass, to the White Stripes and even includes some yodelling. I mean, hate all you like, but it ain’t Craig Charles on 6 Music.Enjoy this one, I really enjoyed recording it, and made me remember that these shows are the backbone of my creative life, and what I can share easily with the world. xTracklistNoni Mouse and Swarthy Korwar - MitraSarathy Korwar and the Upaj Collective - The Creator has a MasterplanRavi Shankar - KarnatakiAsha Puthli - Space Talk (Dimitri from Paris Spacer Remix) Sheherazaad - PakeezahDj Sotofett and Osaruxo - HebiGilles Torrent - Chants Des AlpsErykah Badu - On and On (Blu Mar Ten Remix)Suburban Architecture - PurposeDeadhead - DriftaBasement Jazz - DalumaKokoroko - I Just Can’t Wait (Musclecars Remix)Elis - Nada Sera Como AntesSnowboy and the Latin Section feat Flaco Jimenez - Wild SpiritJim - Chalet Cafe feat Jason WilliamsonMike D - Secrets Pt1Simone Tang - Someone I BecameBethia Beadman - Woman of DayWhite Stripes - Icky ThumpNeil Young - Old Man Get full access to Chris Cracknell Music Producer at chriscracknelldj.substack.com/subscribe

Hey yo! I hope you are doing well, this week we are heading back to November 2020, which, I guess, was after the first lockdown, but with the impending second lockdown on the horizon. What an unusual time and I’m still speaking to people whose businesses, or lives for that matter, changed irrevocably at. that time.My life feels like it has been in flux since about 2016, when I had a fairly certain idea of what was going to happen, or at least a plan. Since then I’ve been chasing avenues, trying to find my place in an increasingly unstable world. I’ve definitely had some wins, some real big ones and, if 30 year old me had looked at those wins, he’d be blown away. But, I don’t know, it feels like its getting harder and harder to chase those wins. Maybe it’s the mood of the world right now, maybe it’s a stage in life. Is it a kind of caterpillar/butterfly metamorphosis thing? Where everything must die to be reborn?Fuck knows.What I do know is that music remains the constant and the gentle shoulder on which to lean, whether that is time in a quiet place listening to something like The Cinematic Orchestra, or singing along to Wet Leg in the car with my daughter, it is still the thing that can give me peace in the maelstrom of life and the world.Making new, and revisiting old radio shows is something I am enjoying increasingly, although, as a DJ, and I was explaining this to Mr Scruff back in March, I’m playing less and less music to dance to, and more weaving different things together to create a place to rest a tired brain. Again, an unusual place to be, but unsurprisingly where my brain is taking me. It does mean that my record collection is getting increasingly odd. And you’ll have to end up listening to that. I’m sorry in advance in case its rubbish, but I don’t think it will be. I hope you think so too. xTracklist:The Cinematic Orchestra - The Workers of Art (Kelly Moran Remix)Radiohead - Glass EyesShida Shahabi - Dawning and WindLa Roux - In for the Kill (Skream’s Lets get Ravey Remix)Goldie - AngelLTJ Bukem - MusicDoves - FiresuiteDmitry Evgrafov - Humble In HeartOliver Alary and Johannes Malfatti - DriftingGorillaz - Opium feat EARTHGANGKamasutra - Kamasutra ExpressAvalon Emerson - The FrontierSimian Mobile Disco - Staring At All This Handle808 State - Pacific StateRakim - It’s Been A Long TimePretty Lights - Around The Block feat Talib KweliIshmael Ensemble - Search for PeaceRJD2 - Smoke and MirrorsGang Starr - Full ClipLondon Posse and Rodney P - Future No. 1De La Soul - The People feat Chuck DSun Ra Arkestra - Unmask The BatmanFreddie Hubbard - The 7th DayMatthew Halsall and The Gondwana Orchestra - Only a Woman feat Josephine OniyamaMoses Boyd - City Nocturne feat Zara McFarlaneSault - Free Get full access to Chris Cracknell Music Producer at chriscracknelldj.substack.com/subscribe

Hey! I hope you are doing ok this week, more heatwaves, which I think, most of the UK is done with. I’ve been trying to make the most of it by getting in the sea as much as possible, and it has been beautiful.So, an eventful week in radio show land, I didn’t record a live show for TWR this week because I was gonna be live on 1BTN in my new monthly slot, which we broadcast live yesterday. It was a lot of fun, if a little rusty, getting used to doing it live outside of my studio set up. I had my eldest son in tow, and he took over the last half an hour, it was great to see him step up and quite naturally take to radio, given that he has never really listened to any radio, because of course not, he’s 15 and the channels for entertainment are so plentiful, listening to the radio must seem so old fashioned.Well, even if it does sound old fashioned, I love live radio and I think it’s as important as ever.If you want to listen back, you’ll have to go to 1BTN’s Mixcloud page. I know it would be easier for me to send it to your inbox, but they are bit controlling over their archive.https://www.mixcloud.com/1btn/the-current-state-of-music-w-chris-cracknell-140826/I thought it might be nice to go back to one of my earliest shows, so here we are in November 2016, man, the world felt like a different place then, I guess it was. Soe cracking music though… just check the tracklist:The Disposable Heros or Hiphoprisy - Television, the Drug of the NationEbo Taylor and the Pelikans - Enye Nyame NkoCount Ossie and the Mystic Revelation of Rastafari - MabratMoses Boyd - Rye Lane Shuffle (played at wrong speed!)Robert Pete Williams - So Much Is Happening in the NewsPublic Enemy - You’re Gonna Get YoursDJ Punk Roc - Roc-in-ItLeo Kottke - Cripple CreekEric B and Rakim - Know the LedgeDJ Spinna - RockAhmed Jamal - MisdemeanorFoster Sylvers - MisdemeanorMarc Mac - Come and Play in the Milky NightAir - Modular MixGrey Reverend - RegenNick Cave and The Bad Seeds - Distant Sky feat Else TorpNils Frahm - NueJames Blake - Radio SilenceBonobo - KeralaRadiohead - Everything In Its Right PlaceChicago - Surfjan StevensKate Simko and The London Electric Orchestra - Schubert:SchwanengesangLondon Grammar - Hey Now (Bonobo Remix)Tune Yards - Hey Life Get full access to Chris Cracknell Music Producer at chriscracknelldj.substack.com/subscribe

Holla! I hope this finds you all well and surviving life (and the kids holidays) I enjoyed last weeks live show, even though I was properly knackered, it seems I always record them at my lowest ebb with the battery light flashing, maybe that’s where I have to go to find the best music, who knows?So, it’s quite a contrast listening back to this show, which it seems I recorded live at 1BTN, a mere 12 hours after being in the studio recording another show the night before. I think I generally had more energy 8 years ago, I think that’s something we can all recognise? It could also be the fun of doing live shows, which I am going back to this week. On Friday I’ll be live on 1BTN in a new monthly slot, 10am to Midday and I’m very excited about what that is gonna look and feel like. For those of you who don’t know, I did a weekly show on 1BTN for about 6 years, and I very much enjoyed it. I kinda let internal politics ruin it for me and I eventually moved to Soho Radio and Totally Wired, both stations I love, but I would record shows remotely from the comfort (and isolation) of my own studio, which has it’s many pluses, not least being I have access to 3000 records at any time, but there is something in packing a bag with some tunes, and making a 2 hr show from those limitations. Something I very much enjoy.Of course I’ll post that show on here too, if you can’t tune in live, but 1BTN has a shoutbox/forum you can find here: https://www.1btn.fm/#You need to create an account (of course) but being able to chat with the listeners during a live show definitely has an impact on the direction and the vibe, so if you can tune in and message in, please do!I’ll also be continuing my show for Totally Wired for now, there will probably some cross pollination along the way, but I’m really looking forward to doing something in my hometown, I’ll probably also use the opportunity to promote my work as a producer and mixing engineer, I mean, why wouldn’t I? I’m pretty rubbish at self promo, something I need to work on.I find it fascinating listening back to my old shows, they come and go so frequently and I forget what music I have and how I put it together. It feels like familiar territory, so maybe I’ve got stuck in a rut, or shall we call it a style? More recently I’m trying to evolve that style though, I guess as I work more and more as a producer, I’m finding interest in more and more music of differing styles, and I find that exciting. I also think my kids are having an influence on my musical taste, which is fascinating, how they listen to and absorb what they are finding. I guess I;ve tried to teach the to keep as open a mind with music as possible, because connections and emotions are everywhere, sometimes when you least expect it.Speaking of which, I found I got quite emtional and Abba Voyage in London last weekend. I took my daughter and it was simply the best thing ever, both of us singing and dancing and smiling. But revisiting (or really visiting for the first time( those songs live, and, in effect, performed by the original members, with their thoughts looking back, hosted by younger, holographic, version of themselves, was both quite weird and quite wonderful.Even if you aren’t a fan of Abba, you need to see this. The whole thing is insane, and then add the original music, the songwriting, the production, the arrangements, the engineering, the mixing and mastering, there have never been many bands with the legacy that Abba have. Essential.Back to this show, I’m really enjoying how deep I went, there are some tracks I can’t find or remember, which is always a good thing, and I think that speaks again to having to throw some records in a bag and hot foot it to the studio, something I’m very much looking forward to doing again.So, please join me on Friday 10am UK time, and I’ll send you another show next week.CxTracklist:Lemon Jelly - SoftSt Etienne - Only Love Will Break Your Heart (Richard X Remix)Sebastian Tellier - La RiournelleMoses Boyd - SirensDJ Shadow - Ashes to Ashes feat Matthew HalsallStefano Torossi - Loving TenderlyThe Free Design - Nobody (Mars Volta Remix)Nils Frahm - ColliderscopeCalibre - SamuraiBen Lucas Boysen - Golden Times 1 (Max Cooper Remix)Cotton - Dreaming of Another PlaceAnouar Brahem - La NuitBill Evans - Skating in Central ParkJoe Harriott and Amancio D’Silva Quartet - Stephano’s DanceMarcel Louis Joseph - Priere au SoleilBossa Trio - Tema Em DoBarbosa - Seara De OxalaWan Trio - SelvagemFruko y Sus Tesos - No Estas en NadaJuan Pablo Torres y Algo Nuevo - Pastel en DescargaLuiz Henrique - Mas Que NadaKhruangbin - Lady and ManDorothy Ashby - Heaven and HellRodrigo Tavares - Yangon Get full access to Chris Cracknell Music Producer at chriscracknelldj.substack.com/subscribe

Man, this one was a struggle. Too many things to juggle so ended up recording quite late on a hot evening in a hotter studio.I can’t wait for these heatwaves to subside, I love the sunshine, but it’s another thing sapping my energy, alongside the kids holidays, work, family life etc…However, due to the lack of new releases coming over the summer, I decided just to comb my vinyl and pull out things that don’t get much airtime but are pretty interesting.The first salvo hang together quite nicely, sharing the same DNA from the early 70’s, inspired by a record that had disappeared from my collection and I had bought again recently, Mandolin Man is delightfully wigged out and quite unlike anything else I’ve ever heard. The Incredible String Band into Nick Drake seems like an obvious connection, and it is, but the Anne Briggs track isn’t my go to on the album, but I’m glad I swerved my usual move, its quite a thing and I love her voice.Its hard to give any meaning to the rest of the show, as most things were pulled quite randomly, but I did try to follow some sort of thread, but here are some highlights.Bonobo has a new album incoming and this is a brand new track from it, so obviously I’m gonna play that. I haven’t played The Might Bop for years, and I love this track, there is an African sung sample in it which I think is so beautiful, it feels like somewhere I’d like to live, if you know what I mean?Nina Maia is coming to Brighton this autumn, so thats a good reason to revisit this great album I’m only really getting to know.I remember hearing a Thom Yorke mix on 6Music and he played this track ‘Marhaba’ which I had had on vinyl for some years and thinking how I might be as cool as Thom. I mean, clearly not, but I was hip to this track so that’s a start at least, right?I really enjoy digging into my collection, I’m lucky to have been at this for such a long time that I have amassed a collection that gives to me as much as I have given to it. I worked out that I’ve had to buy 100 records a year for 30 years to get me where I am, that seems a lot, I guess it is. It holds many secrets which I don’t always know about and I’m looking forward, via this show, to finding more and sharing with you.XTracklistMark Fry - Mandolin ManThe Incredible String Band - Little GirlNick Drake - Poor BoyAnne Briggs - Sing a Song For YouThe Beacon Sound Choir - Elongated Easter Egg/Fortunate Ones/Watermelon SugarThe Cinematic Orchestra - To Build a HomeEmil Freis - As Sun I Meet You NowJon Hopkins - Open Eye SignalBonobo - Fire on the WaterThe Mighty Bop - Life is a GambleBlack Star - Deep Note feat Talib KweliNina Maia - KaôMaria Rita - Cantico Brasileiro No3Maalem Mahmoud Guinia, Floating Points, James Holden - MarhabaAlfa Mist - In My DefenceJoe Harriott, Amancio D’Silva Quartet - JaipurMaki Asakawa - Boro Tu FurutetsuDexys Midnight Runners - You’ve Got the Love (David Holmes Remix)Soul II Soul - Back 2 Life (Masters at Work Remix)Gabrielle - Forget About the World (Daft Punk Remix)Cassius - Cassius 99 (A Skillz Remix) Get full access to Chris Cracknell Music Producer at chriscracknelldj.substack.com/subscribe

Hey friends, here we are, its the summer holidays. For some its a great time to take the foot off the pedal a little, enjoy the sunshine and maybe get away. For others, it’s a time to juggle work and kids, feeling guilty about not doing enough and letting kids watch far too much TV. I hope you are leaning towards the former, I’m certainly leaning toward the latter, but being a freelancer doesn’t really come with holidays so much, so we’ll try and snatch some time and prise our kids off their various brain melting devices. To be fair, they aren’t keen on going on holiday. so who knows what’s best? Hopefully there will be some sort of medieval joust on, we all love that…Anyway, back to this archive show plucked entirely at random, from December 16, so pretty early in my broadcasting career, but sounding like I”m oversharing from the off.Kicking off with a favourite Drum and Bass roller, the excellent Expressions by Dave Wallace, taking me back to driving around in my Mums red Corsa with my brother, a nice way to start any show. Then some LTJ Bukem and is anyone mixing that into Linus and Lucy by Vince Guaraldi? No, I thought not.Interesting to hear some Matthew Halsall, if the version of me in 2016 would have known that I’d have worked on music that appeared on his label, I’m not sure I would have believed me. Sometimes it’s good to look back to see how far you have come.I struggle to listen to M83 these days, I absolutely love the album Hurry Up We’re Dreaming, but it was also playing the car the day I took my dog to be put to sleep, in 2020, and I’ve not been able to listen to it since. Sad times… Wow, Kuiper from Floating Points. How can it be 10 years old and how fucking epic is it? A masterpiece for sure… sit back and wrap your brain around this one.I really enjoyed listening to the mix that ends the show, some hip hop and then into the oddities. That is my kind of dancefloor, where you have no idea what’s coming next and the DJ has to be intentive, gaining your trust with every track and pushing it further into the corners. It’s getting harder and harder to find dancefloors that will let you do that, life has become so compartmentalised even though we access to more of everything of every genre. I’ll be waiting for my big comeback…I hope you are all doing well and I’ll be back with a new live show next week.Peace xTracklist:Dave Wallace - Expressions Pt 2LTJ Bukem - MusicVince Guaraldi - Linus and LucyMatthew Halsall and the Gondwana Orchestra - A Far Away PlaceSuper Furry Animals - Hello SunshineRadiohead - Burn the WitchM83 - WaitFloating Points - KuiperAfrika Bambataa and Time Zone - Zulu War ChantTribe Called Quest - Award TourSpooks - Things I’ve SeenDangerdoom - Space Ho’sPublic Enemy - Don’t Believe The HypeBomb The Bass - Bug Powder Dust (La Funk Mob Remix)DJ Moy - Love To FlyDJ Shadow - Six Days (Soulwax Remix)Breakplus - Silver BangleTrinidad Tripoli Steel Band - Cissy StrutSylvia Vartan and Axelle Red - Son of a Preacher ManHot 8 Brass Band - Whats My Name?Gorillaz - Do Ya Thing feat Andre 3000 and James Murphy Get full access to Chris Cracknell Music Producer at chriscracknelldj.substack.com/subscribe

Hey! Its like a furnace in my studio and I”m sure it has an effect on the show, but this one really travels some distance, digging into new (to me) vinyl, some new releases, well, actually only one (which incidentally is the only track not played off vinyl, for all you vinyl snobs out there) but I’m starting to realise I have so much music that I’ve not really dug into that I’m enjoying having an explore, and this show embodies that.When I started this Substack I promised myself that my shows would reflect my life a little more, and although I’ve been doing that, and enjoying that side of it, it’s maybe felt a little uptight at times, but this one just hit the spot for me. The right amount of ridiculously good music, finding connections but also not over thinking it (I could overthink for England if it was an Olympic discipline)So I hope you enjoy this one, as much as I did making it.Tracklist:Sault - Fulfil Your SpiritSixto Rodriguez — SugarmanJohnny Jones and the King Casuals - Purple HazeRay Bryant - Up Above the RockValentin Mehler’s - Herbstplatte ’69’Ananda Shankar - Jumpin’ Jack FLashDave Pike Set - MatharSoyuz feat Asha Puthli and Sven Wunder - Spring Has SprungAsha Puthli - I”m Gonna DanceMac Mathunjwa - Give Us More LoveBarney Wilen - ZombizarJohn Tchicai and Strange Brothers - I En KaelderChris McGregors Brotherhood of Breath - MRAMalcolm McLaren - Buffalo GirlsPropaganda - The 13th Life (12” Mix)Burial - DreamfearBonobo - DriftScott Grooves - Mothership Reconnection (Daft Punk Remix)Daft Punk - Alive The Chemical Brothers - Leave Home (Sabres of Paradise Remix)Andrea Parker - Some Other LevelThe Avalanches vs Andy Votel - Thank You CarolineThe Avalanches - Frontier Psychiatrist (Mario Caldato Mix)Beastie Boys - Intergalactic (Prisoners of Technology Remix) Get full access to Chris Cracknell Music Producer at chriscracknelldj.substack.com/subscribe