Every week, CKUA’s hosts submit their songs for our weekly House Blend playlist: an exciting new release, a beloved classic or just an old personal favourite. We mix it all together to create a sonic concoction that’ll help kick off your week. Check out what’s on this week’s playlist.
The Playlist
The Picks
Matt Masters: Ayla Brook and the Soundmen, “On Your Right Side”
It’s a classic feel good rocker. Catchy, easy to sing along to and a lot of fun. Out for a walk, plug this into your headphones!
Baba: Thom Yorke, “Suspirium”
Among the artists taking the Pink Floydian realm a bit further, Radiohead has been at the forefront. Thom York as a solo artist carries on the noble work of a passionate artist, with profound lyrics and subtleties in his music. “Mother wants us. Back beside her. No tomorrows”. And, “At peace”.
Orest Soltykevych: Vienna Boys Choir, “Joy to the World”
Probably the best known boys’ choir in the world is the Vienna Boys’ Choir. And since 2001, the artistic director of the choir has been Gerald Wirth. He was artistic director of the Calgary Boys’ Choir from 1991-98. And during that time, he was also the musical director of the Calgary Civic Symphony. He arranged this well-known carol for the Vienna Boys Choir.
Cathy Ennis: Yellow Days, “How Can I Love You?”
Citing an array of influences, from Mac DeMarco to Ray Charles to Thundercat, Yellow Days is 19-year-old singer/songwriter/producer George van de Broek, from Haslemere, England. In “How Can I Love You?” he offers us a gentle fuse of R&B and vintage jazz wrapped in a distinctive raspy croon.
Hayley Muir: Jackie Shane, “Any Other Way”
It’s Grammy season! Not a thing I give much weight to in general, but this year’s nominee list is dominated by women (finally!) and includes a nod to Jackie Shane for Best Historical Album. Shane was a trailblazer from the mid-’60s to early ’70s, an African-American transgender woman who studied under Little Richard and has all the passion and bravado of James Brown. This recently unearthed collection of her music is a treasure and is right at home on the Grammy nomination list.
Grant Stovel: Ryan Timoffee, “Super Tren”
After decades on the scene, Edmonton pianist/composer Ryan Timoffee has finally released his first solo album, Cuban Safari. His description of the Havana recording sessions reads like the opening paragraph of a noir-ish pulp fiction novel: “The band recorded at an unknown studio in the Castro compound. Police pay-offs, a jam-packed vehicle full of musicians, 14-hour sessions, a missing sound engineer and detours around the hurricane-flooded streets of Old Havana brought the world this hard-fought victory for music.” The music is just as pulse-pounding. Give it a whirl.