Advertise on podcast: The Current State of Music

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? F**k 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. x Tracklist: The Cinematic Orchestra - The Workers of Art (Kelly Moran Remix) Radiohead - Glass Eyes Shida Shahabi - Dawning and Wind La Roux - In for the Kill (Skream’s Lets get Ravey Remix) Goldie - Angel LTJ Bukem - Music Doves - Firesuite Dmitry Evgrafov - Humble In Heart Oliver Alary and Johannes Malfatti - Drifting Gorillaz - Opium feat EARTHGANG Kamasutra - Kamasutra Express Avalon Emerson - The Frontier Simian Mobile Disco - Staring At All This Handle 808 State - Pacific State Rakim - It’s Been A Long Time Pretty Lights - Around The Block feat Talib Kweli Ishmael Ensemble - Search for Peace RJD2 - Smoke and Mirrors Gang Starr - Full Clip London Posse and Rodney P - Future No. 1 De La Soul - The People feat Chuck D Sun Ra Arkestra - Unmask The Batman Freddie Hubbard - The 7th Day Matthew Halsall and The Gondwana Orchestra - Only a Woman feat Josephine Oniyama Moses Boyd - City Nocturne feat Zara McFarlane Sault - 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 Nation Ebo Taylor and the Pelikans - Enye Nyame Nko Count Ossie and the Mystic Revelation of Rastafari - Mabrat Moses Boyd - Rye Lane Shuffle (played at wrong speed!) Robert Pete Williams - So Much Is Happening in the News Public Enemy - You’re Gonna Get Yours DJ Punk Roc - Roc-in-It Leo Kottke - Cripple Creek Eric B and Rakim - Know the Ledge DJ Spinna - Rock Ahmed Jamal - Misdemeanor Foster Sylvers - Misdemeanor Marc Mac - Come and Play in the Milky Night Air - Modular Mix Grey Reverend - Regen Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds - Distant Sky feat Else Torp Nils Frahm - Nue James Blake - Radio Silence Bonobo - Kerala Radiohead - Everything In Its Right Place Chicago - Surfjan Stevens Kate Simko and The London Electric Orchestra - Schubert:Schwanengesang London 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. Cx Tracklist: Lemon Jelly - Soft St Etienne - Only Love Will Break Your Heart (Richard X Remix) Sebastian Tellier - La Riournelle Moses Boyd - Sirens DJ Shadow - Ashes to Ashes feat Matthew Halsall Stefano Torossi - Loving Tenderly The Free Design - Nobody (Mars Volta Remix) Nils Frahm - Colliderscope Calibre - Samurai Ben Lucas Boysen - Golden Times 1 (Max Cooper Remix) Cotton - Dreaming of Another Place Anouar Brahem - La Nuit Bill Evans - Skating in Central Park Joe Harriott and Amancio D’Silva Quartet - Stephano’s Dance Marcel Louis Joseph - Priere au Soleil Bossa Trio - Tema Em Do Barbosa - Seara De Oxala Wan Trio - Selvagem Fruko y Sus Tesos - No Estas en Nada Juan Pablo Torres y Algo Nuevo - Pastel en Descarga Luiz Henrique - Mas Que Nada Khruangbin - Lady and Man Dorothy Ashby - Heaven and Hell Rodrigo 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. X Tracklist Mark Fry - Mandolin Man The Incredible String Band - Little Girl Nick Drake - Poor Boy Anne Briggs - Sing a Song For You The Beacon Sound Choir - Elongated Easter Egg/Fortunate Ones/Watermelon Sugar The Cinematic Orchestra - To Build a Home Emil Freis - As Sun I Meet You Now Jon Hopkins - Open Eye Signal Bonobo - Fire on the Water The Mighty Bop - Life is a Gamble Black Star - Deep Note feat Talib Kweli Nina Maia - Kaô Maria Rita - Cantico Brasileiro No3 Maalem Mahmoud Guinia, Floating Points, James Holden - Marhaba Alfa Mist - In My Defence Joe Harriott, Amancio D’Silva Quartet - Jaipur Maki Asakawa - Boro Tu Furutetsu Dexys 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 f*****g 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 x Tracklist: Dave Wallace - Expressions Pt 2 LTJ Bukem - Music Vince Guaraldi - Linus and Lucy Matthew Halsall and the Gondwana Orchestra - A Far Away Place Super Furry Animals - Hello Sunshine Radiohead - Burn the Witch M83 - Wait Floating Points - Kuiper Afrika Bambataa and Time Zone - Zulu War Chant Tribe Called Quest - Award Tour Spooks - Things I’ve Seen Dangerdoom - Space Ho’s Public Enemy - Don’t Believe The Hype Bomb The Bass - Bug Powder Dust (La Funk Mob Remix) DJ Moy - Love To Fly DJ Shadow - Six Days (Soulwax Remix) Breakplus - Silver Bangle Trinidad Tripoli Steel Band - Cissy Strut Sylvia Vartan and Axelle Red - Son of a Preacher Man Hot 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 Spirit Sixto Rodriguez — Sugarman Johnny Jones and the King Casuals - Purple Haze Ray Bryant - Up Above the Rock Valentin Mehler’s - Herbstplatte ’69’ Ananda Shankar - Jumpin’ Jack FLash Dave Pike Set - Mathar Soyuz feat Asha Puthli and Sven Wunder - Spring Has Sprung Asha Puthli - I”m Gonna Dance Mac Mathunjwa - Give Us More Love Barney Wilen - Zombizar John Tchicai and Strange Brothers - I En Kaelder Chris McGregors Brotherhood of Breath - MRA Malcolm McLaren - Buffalo Girls Propaganda - The 13th Life (12” Mix) Burial - Dreamfear Bonobo - Drift Scott Grooves - Mothership Reconnection (Daft Punk Remix) Daft Punk - Alive The Chemical Brothers - Leave Home (Sabres of Paradise Remix) Andrea Parker - Some Other Level The Avalanches vs Andy Votel - Thank You Caroline The 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

Finally! I hear you all shout, a new live show from Chris… Yep, I’m pretty much over whatever bug decided to kick my ass a couple of weeks ago, loaded with some new vinyl and some brand new music. If you’ve been paying attention, you’ll know about my love for Lemon Jelly, how I worked with Nick Franglen for a couple of years. I’ve interviewed Fred for this podcast (you’ll find it if you go back far enough) and I generally love everything they have done, either separately or as Lemon Jelly. So, a reissue of a coveted and highly sought-after album, .KY, is no small news in my world. Of course I own an original copy, and I’m not one for collection for completeness sake, except in this case. The reissue has been lovingly repressed on beautiful coloured vinyl and it might be the only time I play it, but all records in my collection are there to be played, so I’ve started the show with the classic The Staunton Lick and Come. I’ve been listening to a lot of acoustic music recently, as I’ve been actively looking for new artists to work with in my role as producer and mixing engineer, so, inspired by the new track by Jim, on my friend Damians’ recrd label, I went down a bit of a, rather pleasing, acoustic hole. However, there has been a few good new releases since we last spoke, so I couldn’t stay in acoustic world too long, so I put the guitars away and headed off into some unknown territory. firstly with Momoko Gill who had a live session with Gilles Peterson recently, the first track from the new Bonobo album, and some more head nodders which all seemed to fit together, although my mixing wasn’t great, apologies… I stumbled upon a version of Massive Attacks Teardrop I produced for a play a few years ago, so I thought I would give that an airing to see if that has aged, I talk about why I made it, and in classic me style, I totally over delivered on the project. In the reviews it didn’t even get mentioned… Toward the end we headed into some cuts from the new Mr Bongo Record Club Vol 8, which is an example of a series that didn’t get shit (unlike the Police Academy films) I think that comes from how far the guys and girls at Bongos are willing to dig to find amazing music you’ve never heard before and this album doesn’t disappoint, which led me to finish the show with a recommendation from Lady Jane Bongo, Musclecars remix of Kokoros’ I Just Can’t Wait, which is a fine way to sign off. I hope you enjoy this one, I’ll be back soon. Cx Tracklist Lemon Jelly - The Staunton Lick Lemon Jelly - Come Jim - Keeps Me Warm Blacklands - The Wytchwood Leo Kottke - Cripple Creek Simone Tang - Hey Little Love The White Stripes - We’re Gonna Be Friends Jim Noir - Eenie Meenie Meredith Adelaide - What Do I Know Nick Drake - Road Herbert and Momoko - Calm Water Herbert and Momoko - Need To Run (K-Lone Remix) Bonobo - Me and You Birthday in Texas - Kneedeep Marla Kether, Mez - Blessing Kerrier Collective, Polly Meyrick - Pray For Rain (Winter Sun Remix) Sault - Don’t Worry About What You Can’t Control Chris Cracknell - Teardrop (Refrain) Flash Atkins - Love Is a Cosmic Phenomenon (Dawn at Oak Farm) The Spellbinder Project - Dark is the Light The Spellbinder Project - Soul Shot The Heliocentrics, Marshall Allen - Angels and Demons at Play Sexwitch - Ha Howa Ha Howa Urias - Vontade De Voar As Ganheaseiras De Itapua - Mare Mansa The Sylvers - Wish That I Could Talk To You (Kenny Dope Edit) Kokoro - I Just Can’t Wait (Musclecars Remix) Get full access to Chris Cracknell Music Producer at chriscracknelldj.substack.com/subscribe

Hey! I always seem to open these missives with an apology, and yes, I usually drop one of these on a Friday or Saturday, so the apology is sorry f you were left adrift without my dolcet tones, or, more like, some wonderful tunes over the weekend. If you were in the UK last week, you’ll know all plans, work and sanity were off the table as we were gripped by an epic heatwave. Schools were closing early, or not opening at all. Chillers in supermarkets were breaking down, and all anyone could say was ‘I’m so hot’ But, the world didn’t end, although we maybe moving toward that at an increasing rate, so lets jump back to 2018 and a show from 1BTN, which, NEWS FLASH, I am going back to with a monthly show, broadcast live from the bunker and I’m very excited to be doing a ‘live’ show rather than a live prerecord. There is an element of jeopardy involved and also, having a limited selection of tunes, really sharpens the mind and forces me to think ahead of the overall curve of the show, which I enjoy. Back to this show, a 4hr dive into all sorts, lets go… Tracklist: Kamasi Washington - Leroy and Lenesha The Sons and Daughters of Light - Let The Sun Shine In Lorez Alexandria - Morning Copeland Davis - Morning Spring Gloria Ann Taylor - Love is a Hurtin’ Thing Visioneers - Ikes Mood I DJ Shadow - Bergshrund Radiohead - Present Tense Rival Consoles - Be Kind Nils Frahm - Tristana Rooting For You (Accapella) - London Grammar Rodney P - Untitles feat Lanre Sulola Khalab - Chitita Shabaka Hutchings - Black Skin, Black Masks Koichi Matsukaze - Under Construction Clifford Brown, Jeen Bassa and Ella Mae Sueref - Magpie Khalab and Baba Sissoko - Ko Djodo Moses Boyd - Ancestors feat Kevin Haynes Grupo Eleggua Barney Wilen - Zombizar Pablo Beltran Ruiz y Su Orquesta - Linda Sergio Mendes - The Fool on the Hill Ahmed Jamaal - Poinciana Luiz Arruda Paes - Upa Negrinho Sergio Mendes and Brasil 66 - Mas Que Nada Brother Jack McDuff - Let My People Go Ruth Price - Shadrack Moses Boyd - Rye Lane Shuffle Jennifer - Park Nature Zone - Porcupine Bulljun - Daddys Sex Beat DJ Shadow - The Number Song (Cut Chemist Remix) Beastie Boys - Hey Ladies Gang Starr - Just To Get A Rep The Meters - Same Old Thing Young Disciples - Apparently Nothin’ Ashley Beedle, Gang Nairobi an Ross Allen - Murderer Style Mr Scruff - Spandex Man Wareika Hilll Sounds - No More War The Orb - Little Fluffy Clouds Four Tet - Evening Side Gold Panda - Autumn Fall Kiasmos - Looped The XX - A Violent Noise Olafur Arnalds and Nils Frahm - 00.26 Michael Price - The Attachment Masayoshi Fujita - Moonlight Nouvelle Vague - Love Will Tear Us Apart Again Lou Donaldson - Pot Belly Cutee B - Jazz Ob Piano Chaka Khan and De La Soul - All Good? Get full access to Chris Cracknell Music Producer at chriscracknelldj.substack.com/subscribe

Hey, how are you doing? I apologise firstly, for no new show this week. I’ve been knocked flat out by gastric flu and I’m still in a bit of a fever and have to be within running distance of a toilet, but I’m getting better, alas, I didn’t feel up to a show, , maybe I’ll do you lovely subscribers and special one just for you next week… So, here’s a show from a few years ago, opening with the incredible Melanie De Biasio, whom, when I ordered the album, a few days later she sent me a postcard to say thanks for the support over the years. I don’t have big expensive hobbies (my wife would say my record collection is big and expensive)and I’m not one for trinkets, but little things like this are my treasured possessions. It’s quite a thoughtful start to the show, I’m guessing it was recorded late and I was recalibrating my brain from the day, regular listeners will know that I usually record my shows quite late at night and you can tell what sort of day I’ve had by how space I need at the start, to gather my thoughts and energy. Must have been a tough day… As usual, music does it’s thing and will return me to an inspired state, reading to share music with you. Starting with the prolific Sault, whose output is quite astounding, with a new album just recently. Asha Puthli is an amazing human being, I was lucky to grab a few words with her at We Out Here a couple of years ago, and she will be in Brighton next Friday at Mr Bongos, which will be epic, it will be great to say hi to her. If you missed DJ Formats’ The Devils Workshop from a few years ago, I’d say you missed his masterpiece. Another lovely soul who makes the world a better place. If you see him DJ live, you are in for a lesson. Its funny that Cut Chemist pops up in this show too, there was a podcast out this week where Cut Chemist was shouting out DJ Format… I quite enjoyed listening to the hip hop in this show, I don’t go back to hip hop very often these days and it’s a treat when I do. Well, I haven’t got much chat in the back and am having a full on hot flush, so I need to bail and get some water. I hope you enjoy this one, and I’ll see you next week, fighting fit with some new/old music for you. x Tracklist: Melanie De Biasio - We Never Kneel to Pray Nils Frahm - Harmonium in the Well Sault - Still Waters Chene Noir - Musique De La Nuit Chene Noir - Chemin d’ou l’on ne revient pas Asha Puthli and the Surfers - Sound of Silence Madlib - Road of the Lonely Ones DJ Format - Strange Sensations The Gaslamp Killer - Seven Years of Bad Luck Amon Tobin - At The End of the Day Joana Queiroz - Dois Litorais Servica - Sistema en Tick Tack Caballo - Hilo Del Destino Fybe:one and Katey Brooks - Sensetory Space Scrimshire - Eyes Shut Dangermouse and Murs - To a Black Boy Khalab and Baba Sissoko - Nana DJ Shadow and Danny Brown - Horror Show Palm Skin Productions - We Stand, Divided Pretty Lights - Vibe Vendetta Roots Manuva - The Lynch Soul Position - Run The Pharcyde - Yo Mama Black Sheep - Similak Child Cut Chemist - A Peak in Time Gawd Status - Destroyed J Dilla - NO One Knows RJD2 - 2 More Dead Swollen Members - Lady Venom Get full access to Chris Cracknell Music Producer at chriscracknelldj.substack.com/subscribe

Hey, how are you doing? Another week has flown by, I’m not sure I’ve achieved anything this week, apart from staying alive, and for some, that is enough. This archive show is from 1BTN and I must have been standing in for someone as it was broadcast live on a Sunday evening, so it will be interesting to see how the vibe of this one plays out. I was standing in for a reggae/roots show, I wonder if I venture down that way? I mean, I don’t really play that sort of thing, so it was probably a disappointment to anyone tuning in to hear that genre. Kicking off with Alice Coltrane would certainly send the message that it’s probably not going to be what they wanted to hear, ah well, hopefully I bought a few new listeners over my way. What I love about doing shows live, is the commitment, you have a limited selection of music, and you have to make sense of it, and make it work. I miss that. To blow my own trumpet, I think I am pretty good at that aspect in particular, building a narrative with what I have to hand and committing to tunes even though they might be a stretch for the casual listener, but by committing, you lead the listener to believe in the tune and to find something in it too. With that in mind, this track by Moses Boyd is hard, but totally brilliant. I should play this more. I’d like a regular night where I can play this stuff out to a crowd… I’m really enjoying the jazz selection here, in particular The Madison Time, a track I first heard on on of Lemon Jelly’s Breezeblock mixes for Mary Anne Hobbs on Radio 1 (at the time) which are some of the most mental dj mixes you’ll ever hear, once you’re done here, then go check at least one out here: Lemon Jelly Breezeblock May 2000 This track by Khalab is an all time favourite and what led me to getting Tenesha The Wordsmith on an, as yet, unreleased track with Chip Wickham. I hope that sees the light of day some time, its rather great. What is interesting (I’ll be the judge of that) is that I’ve been playing new releases by a few of the artists I’ve played on this show, so either something is happening in cycles, or I’m slowly drifting into nostalgia and not doing enough work to find new artists. Or maybe both things are true? Roots Manuva is still, in my opnion, the best MC of all time, and this track Crying from the album Bleeds is as heavy as it comes, definitely Grime inspired. Which leads me to a great doc on Grime on the iplayer, which is worth a watch It’s also worth noting how I”m taking the chance to play some hip hop, because the show went out after 9pm so swearing is OK. My usual show used to go out on a Tuesday morning, so I either edited out swearing, or I didn’t bother playing any. You’ll recognise the drums from the Skull Snaps track, which has been sampled hundreds of times, but this is the OG track. Do you want to smash shit up every time you listen to Sabotage by the Beastie Boys? Me too… I have no idea how I got from Nightmares on Wax to Blondie , but fair play to me for trying, if I was out at a bar and the DJ pulled this I would have bought him/her a pint, then ending with Superkat, well, thats a show. I hope you’ve enjoyed this one. See you soon. Love x Tracklist: Alice Coltrane - Improvisation Elysian Quartet and Kae Tempest - Where The Heart Is Moses Boyd - After Tomorrow Luke Vibert - Doozit Gogo Penguin - Ocean in a Drop Adele Sebastian - Day Dream Ray Bryant Combo - The Madison Time Pt1 Khalab - Blacknoise 2084 feat Tenesha the Wordsmith Radiohead - Daydreaming Rival Consoles - Be Kind Four Tet - You are Loved Melanie De Biasio - Your Freedom is the End of Me Roots Manuva - Crying DJ Shadow - Systematic feat Nas Audio Two - Top Billin (Dangermouse re-edit) Rube - Another Gone Record Gang Starr - The Militia Skull Snaps - Its a New Day Visioneers - Ike Mood I Helmet - Biscuits for Smut (Mutts Mix) Beastie Boys - Sabotage NWA - Express Yourself Mark B and Blade - The Unknown Nuts One - Disgrace Nightmares on Wax - Les Nuits Blondie - The Tide is High Cutty Ranks - Wede Man Kenny Dope - Superkat Get full access to Chris Cracknell Music Producer at chriscracknelldj.substack.com/subscribe

Hey. how are you doing? I’m OK thanks for asking, well, I’m a bit frazzled. I think the whole world is right now. I look at my records and I don’t know where to start, or what direction to go in. Luckily, I have built up some muscle memory (and an awesome record collection) and I really leaned on that whilst recording this one. To start with, Fred Deakin of Lemon Jelly fame dropped me a message to let me know that my prediction of LJ never reissuing any of their vinyl was wrong and that Rough Trade were putting out a new coloured vinyl version of their first album .KY. Now I have an original copy, and they go for an eye watering amount on Discogs, but that didn’t stop me from ordering the new version. Its an investment right? Or so I tell my wife… So that inspired me to play ‘Page One’. I almost can’t listen to those albums, I worked with Nick Franglen in his studio for a couple of years and I don’t think I was ever happier. Although I wasn’t there when those records were made, I can hear Nicks workflow and studio in them, plus the songs remind me of a more carefree time, which is great, but also sad in a way. I guess that’s nostalgia for you. The rest of the show is a bit of a wander round various places, a little homage to Mike D of Beastie Boys fame, not playing his new release, but playing a couple of things he has done, an edit of a track that came out on Mr Bongo, and a Beasties classic, with him on drums. Speaking of Mr Bongo, a few tracks off their Cuban box set in collab with DJ Koco are in the mix, a lesser known track by Massive Attack featuring Roots Manuva, the greatest MC of all time (in my opinion, but I’m willing to fight anyone who disagrees) which took me to some Cinematic Orchestra, then to a great track by Tawiah. So, the muscle memory served me well, this show ended up being. a little less influenced by my life over the last few weeks and more instinctual, very much led by the music, which I hope you enjoy. x Tracklist: Lemon Jelly - Page One Kiasmos - Told Massive Attack - Protection Massive Attack - Dead Editors feat Roots Manuva Dizzy K - Konga Mama The Cinematic Orchestra - Wait for Now feat Tawiah (Mary Lattimore Remix) Tawiah - Borders Sault - Love Does Not Equal Pain Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell - You’re All I Need To Get By The New Seekers - Dance Dance/I’d Like To Teach The World To Sing Willis Jackson - Headed and Gutted The Menahan Street Band - The Starchaser Cees Slinger - Waltonia Ricardo Martinez Y Expreso Ritmico - LA 132 Grupo Los Yoyi - Paco La Calle Farah Maria - Amame Y No Pienses Mas Khalab and Baba Sissoku - Hame Nissodia - Mike D Edit Beastie Boys - Futtermans Rule Gil Scott Heron x Jamie XX - We’re New Here Meredith Adelaide - Guard Dog London Grammar - Hey Now (Bonobo Remix) KH - Only Human (MPH Remix) Floating Points - Vocoder (Club Mix) Get full access to Chris Cracknell Music Producer at chriscracknelldj.substack.com/subscribe

Climate change is very real then? I’ve been toiling under the heat this week, and trying not to think too much about the fact that we seem to not be dealing with the incoming climate crisis (or any other f*****g crisis for that matter) So this show starts off with what I feel is a fairly futuristic and slightly claustraphobic track by Dizraeli, fully dystopian-ed up by Danalogue (whom you might now from the Comet is Coming) it makes a change to start with a banger, rather than a more slower introspective start, so lets see where this goes… Oooo, this track by Bonobo and TEEDS is a heater, its good to hear this. I need some big outdoor gig this summer to flex some of this stuff, if anyone is tuned in. I will apologise for some wonky mixing at this point, I rarely practice mixing any of these tunes, and a rarely plan what I’m gonna play, so its all mixes I’ve never done before and some sound better in my head than in reality, but I don’t go back and fix anything either, so if it’s shit, well, that’s what happened, like life right? One of the sections of my records that is the biggest by a single artist, is Mr Scruff, whom I’m lucky to consider a friend. As well as being musically across so much stuff, creates (not often enough) bangers like this, he’s an awesomely nice person and a joy to hang out with. I had the honour of warming up for him on my 50th birthday, not something I took lightly, and I hope I have earned that spot again sometime. I hope you enjoy this one, I finish off with some jazz, before going big with Ezra Collective, JME and Swindle… Tracklist: Dizraeli - Ketamine Honey (Danalogue Remix) TEEDS and Bonobo - Heartbreak Nikitch and Kuna Maze - The Leak (Domu Remix) 187 Lockdown - Gunman Zed Bias - Neighbourhood Magic Drum Orchestra - Original Nutter (DJ Madd Remix) Wheel Up - Sun Up Mr Scruff - Sweetsmoke DJ Spoony - Gabrielle Goldie - Inner City Life (Baby Boy Mix) Her Space Holiday - Keystroke Deadly Avenger - In Search of the Pimpmobile Jorja Smith - Rose Rouge Sault - Strong Shirley Scott - Keep On Movin’ On Petter Eldh and Koma Saxo - Koma Mate Ajate - Sowah Roland Hayes - Africa the Beautiful Morton and the Uptights - Montego Paradise Cinema - Possible Futures Gorillaz - Désolé feat Fatoumata Diawara Ezra Collective, JME and Swindle - Quest for Coin II Get full access to Chris Cracknell Music Producer at chriscracknelldj.substack.com/subscribe

Hey! Hope you are enjoying this bank holiday weekend (if you are in the UK) which, if you aren’t from the UK is a strange holiday every so often where you get a Monday off work, unless of course you are freelance, or a parent, or work in hospitality. If that is case, it isn’t so much of a day off, just an inconvenience and a reason to be annoyed by all the people who do get the day off. Tyically in the UK, it meant you had three nights to get f*****g wasted, with the Monday to recover or face your demons. Blur did a song called Bank Holiday, which sums it up. I’ve randomly picked a show from September 22 for this weeks archive show, starting with pretty mellow vibes from Annabel Lee and Nils Frahm. I think I used to give my Soho Radio shows a little more seriousness, and would typically start with some mellow, left field stuff, a nod to my friend from Fat Cat Records, Alex, who did the same and I always liked that start. I would normally take a little longer to build some pace, and possibly digging a little deeper that I do normally. I’m not sure that last statement is true, but I kind of assumed the audience could handle less music that they might have encountered before. Whether I was right or not, I never found out. Listening back to this show, I think I may have been a little too challenging and not rewarding enough. But again, maybe thats b******t. Maybe the audience likes the journeys into the unknown? I mean, listening back, this is a lot of music I probably hadn’t heard before, or have listened to since, guessing that it dropped into my inbox as digital promos’ as oppposed to on vinyl. Vinyl still gets a play, gets an association with the cover art and all the usual cues one mentions when talking about vinyl, but there is a lot here I don’t have a connecting with, so it must have been digital. But saying that, building a flow with music you haven’t heard before is a fairly unique skill, so I’m pleased with how this show is moving along, especially into this track by Soyuz, a great soundtrack to a beautiful sunny day, like it is today in Brighton. So, I hope the sun is shining on you wherever you are in the world, and that life is smiling on you. Feel free to share my shows, new and old, with anyone you might think will dig them See you soon. Love Cx Tracklist: Annabel Lee - My Homeland Nils Frahm - Lemon Day Clarice Jensen - Sadness Rival Consoles - Echoes Linda Frederickson - Clea Dorian Concept - Let It All Go UNKLE - The Way Back Home (Ronin/Original) Zero DB - Sunshine Lazy (Raphael Sebbag Remix) Kyle Lovett - Secret Place Hatis Noit - Thor Matthias Lindermayr & Masako Ohta - Trudelutt Soyuz & Kate NV - I Knew It Sven Wunder - Sun Kissed Sly5thAve - Watching Me Sharky - Sad Songs Karoline - Ready for Juju Crafty 893 - Easy Nuh Beth Orton - Friday Night WheelUp and Kaidi Taitham - More Love (feat Brint Story) Carl Stone - Coraloense Rival Consoles - Now Is Nils Frahm - Briefly Get full access to Chris Cracknell Music Producer at chriscracknelldj.substack.com/subscribe

Here is a new live show for you, I do apologise for the lack of regular live shows recently. Life really does serve up some curveballs sometimes and its been either untimely or just impossible to get some space behind the decks and organise my thoughts into a show. In the meantime, I hope you’ve been enjoying the archive shows. However, I did carve some space this week, and this show will be broadcast on Totally Wired Radio at 2pm this Saturday, right up against Jamz Supernova and Gilles Peterson, so I guess I’m aiming at the listen again crew. Shout out to you guys listening again, love ya x I’ve been sat surrounded my music making equipment in my studio, but recently I’ve been mostly working for clients, mixing their tracks, which I love BTW, helping other realise the music in their heads is what drives me forward and is so rewarding, but I do occasionallly like to indulge myself in some of my own self initiated creativity. Its almost impossible at the moment to find the space to do so, so I thought I’d start this show with a piece of my own, to remind me (and maybe you) that I do create music myself. Its a track called Exhale, and I hope it acts as a sort of auditory ‘amuse bouche’ before we head off on musical adventures. I kick off with some new music, my inbox has been lsowly filling up with new music, so I thought it mught be nice to get into some of that, Alina and Tulsi getting a remix of their latest work, then the Heliocentrics and Marshall Allen bringing some heat with Nuclear War. I feel confident to get into places that are maybe outside where many dj’s go, and I sometimes wonder what all this music means. I’ve done a bit of DJing out and about, at sea level and above 3000m, and I can’t quite balance all this different music I am into, but I think I’m getting there, knowing when to lean into the fringes and when to go all in on some bangers. The set I did for Chip Wickhams warm up that I put out a few weeks ago felt like a good example of that. So we go some places, Ganavya, Anoushka (whom I love) Dorothy Ashby and into some DJ Khalab, both new and old sitting together nicely. I upped the energy with some D’n’B and then a couple of stompers, which I’ll be taking in my bag for any gigs this summer, but then I fancied heading to the fringes again, new music from Sault, Mr Bongos incoming Record Club Vol 8 and Momoko Gill. I”ve been thinking about doing a Nick Drake and related music show for a while, I’m still not sure if I”m going to do it, but I wanted to play a few bits from vinyl I”ve bought over the last few months, so there is a track by his mother, Molly, some of his own rare home recordings and a version of a Burt Jansch track. Black Eyed Dog is a powerfully sad track that appeared toward the end of his recording career and, in retrospect, could be seen as a sign he was struggling. Then I found a version of that by Self Esteem, whom I just listened to on the Adam Buxton podcast and really rate. Before a version of Pink Moon and then Andy Beys’ seminal version of Riverman, which I might like even more than the orginal. I’ve been listening to a lot of artists work recently as I’m actively looking for more artists to mix tracks for, and came across this song by Simone Tang which stopped me in my tracks. Its an unusual album which is a little eccentric and sweet and this track does it for me, hoping you dig it too… Finishing with a little Fairport Convention with their version of Chelsea Morning, which I hadn’t heard before, always going for the Joni or Jennifer versions, so it was a nice suprise to find this in a box set of Nick Drake adjacent (Joe Boyd worked with them too) music I picked up at King Bee in Manchester and couple of months ago. Making these shows is a lifeline for me at the moment and I hope you enjoy listening to them as much as I do sharing this music with you. Feel free to send to friends. See you soon Cx Tracklist: Chris Cracknell - Exhale Alina Bzhezhinska and Tulsi - Journey Home (Cosmic Analog Ensemble) The Heliocenrics and Marshall Allen - Nuclear War Ganavya and Jahnavi Harrison - The Bee Anoushka Shankar - In This Mouth Dorothy Ashby - For Some We Loved Khalab and Baba - Nana Khalab and Baba - Denifurula DJ Khalab - Yaka Muziek KH - Looking At Your Pager (Clipz Remix) Suburban Architecture - Focus Swell Sessions vs Seiji - Prepared To Go feat Ernesto Dizzy K - I’ll Never Love Again (M.A Dizzy Mix) Sault - Good Things Will Come After The Pressure The Sylvers - Wish I Could Talk To You Baby (Kenny Dope Remix) Momoko Gill - Ineffably (BBC Maida Vale Session) Jo Mango - The Windowpane Molly Drake - Poor Mum Nick Drake - Way To Blue Nick Drake - Strolling Down The Highway Molly Drake - Do You Remember? Nick Drake - Black Eyed Dog Craig Armstrong and Self Esteem - Black eyed Dog Aurora - Pink Moon Andy Bey - Riverman The Incredible String Band - Little Girl Simone Tang - Hey Little Love Fairport Convention - Chelsea Morning Get full access to Chris Cracknell Music Producer at chriscracknelldj.substack.com/subscribe

Happy Sunday (or whatever day you are on when you receive this) but for me its a Sunday. I’ve got a few jobs to do and I’m gonna cook a roast, it’s that sort of day. And this show has started very much in that vein with a track from Nils Frahm then into his old label mate, Ben Lucas Boysen. This start is very much in the tradition of how I used to start shows, easing slowly in, a reset if you will, before heading into musical adventures to who knows where. Quite the ethereal start, traversing many worlds, which I hope gave your brain a place to unwind, then into some Dee C Lee and Tara Lily and heading towards the mighty Ezra Collective and The Ballistic Brothers, tunes I’m gonna make a note of for any summer dancefloor action I might be in charge of… Its quite funny hearing Amanda Whiting’s ‘Nomad’ a tune (and album) I produced. I haven’t revisited this for a while for various reasons, but it still sounds epic and I’m very much not getting that thing that producers get a few years after working on something where you can kinda hear where you were and how far you’ve come since. So, either I did a good job, or I haven’t progressed, lets hope its the former. Whats quite mad about this show is how quickly digital promos come in and out of my conciousness. I’m listening back to this hearing music I can’t remember every hearing, but give me the vinyl and it sticks in my brain. So, it feels like some of this stuff is new, even though it’s now a few years old. Heading into Hip Hop world, coincidentally playing the A Side to the Q Tip track in last weeks archive show, Breathe and Stop, then heading homewards with some feel good funk, which I normally don’t go near because of Craig Charles, but every now and again, some slips out. I enjoyed hearing this show again, so hopefully you’ll like it. I’ll have some new music and a new show for you next week, keep it locked xxx Tracklist: Nils Frahm - ? Ben Lucas Boysen - Dance Kiasmos - Told Shards - Facta est Deserta Jon Hopkins - Falling into Place Amirtha Kidambi and Elder Ones - The Great Lie Nick Marks - Dedication Dee C Lee - Every Day Summer Tara Lily - No Way Out Ezra Collective - Life Goes On feat Sampa the Great Sly5thAve - Liberation The Ballistic Brothers - Come On Basil ‘Mennenberg’ Coetzee and Lionel Pillay - Plum Amanda Whiting - Nomad Goran Kajfes Tropiques - Unity in Diversity Chip Wickham - La Sombra Janek Van Laak - Here to Stay Ill Brothers - Funkneck Gang Starr - Check The Technique Tye Tribbett and GA - No Way Q Tip - Breathe and Stop ? - La Da Da The O’Jays - For The Love of Money James Last - Here Comes The Sun ? - Oh Happy Day The 5th Dimension - Aquarius/Let The Sunshine In Get full access to Chris Cracknell Music Producer at chriscracknelldj.substack.com/subscribe