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
Baba: The Cold Manitoba Project, “Cold Manitoba”
“Moved by Downie’s final request, Michael Boguski, from Blue Rodeo, launched a grassroots charity project, with like-minded artists including Chris Mason and Lucas Goetz, formerly of Deep Dark Woods, Jim Bowskill, from The Sheepdogs and Blue Rodeo, Chris Sleightholm and Dustin Bentall.”
Orest Soltykevych: Bill Douglas, “Deep Peace”
Bill Douglas is a London, Ontario-born pianist and composer who received an “Associate of the Royal Conservatory of Toronto” diploma in classical piano at age seventeen.About his song “Deep Peace”, Douglas wrote, “I wanted to write the most beautiful melodies that I could, so for inspiration I went to one of the great melodic traditions in the world, the British Isles folk music tradition.”
David Ward: Ann Vriend, “It’s Happening”
Ann’s collaboration with a diverse group of young students involved with the Sifton Elementary School’s choir is an insistent, upbeat, and positive message emphasizing the action being taken to establish an inclusive society. That’s right — it’s already happening!
Lisa Wilton: Kaia Kater, “Canyonland”
This beautiful track from Kaia Kater’s latest album, Grenades, is poetic, poignant and sophisticated. There is a lot to chew on in this song. In fact, the more you listen to it, the more you get out of it. “Canyonland” begins with her lovely, understated banjo playing, working its way up to an earworm chorus.
Meg Wilcox: Robyn featuring Zhala, “Human Being”
It’s been eight years since Robyn’s last album — and it delivers! I particularly love this song as it’s the perfect mix of her trademark smart lyrics and dance-worthy beats.
Kodi Hutchinson: Barbra Lica, “So in Love”
Music from rising Canadian vocal jazz star, Barbra Lica, who effortlessly fuses her jazz and pop sensibilities. She is playing the Canadian Jazz Festivals in Edmonton on November 10 and Calgary on November 11.
Tony King: Thought Gang, “A Real Indication”
November 2nd marked the release of a remastered recording that David Lynch and his music soul mate, Angelo Badalamenti, set in motion in the 1990s. “A Real Indication” which first appeared on the soundtrack of Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me, has now found new life thanks to Lynch diving back into the archive, giving a proverbial facelift, and adding a few personal touches, including some slithering fuzzy guitar licks, to the master tapes. For fun, check out the video for the song starring Badalementi, shot on Hi 8 by David Lynch in 1992.
Grant Stovel: Edie Brickell & the New Bohemians, “What Makes You Happy”
“Kick it to the curb if it doesn’t serve you/ If it only hurts you, it don’t deserve you.” It was 30 years ago this month that this Texas group rocketed to the top of the charts by channeling a Popeye-esque zen with their beguilingly simple message, “What I am/ Is what I am”. Well, after a dozen years between records, Edie and her new New Bohemians sound fresher than ever, full of self-affirmation, positive vibes and slinky funk grooves.
Roy Forbes: Grandpa Jones, “Daylight Savings Time”
With the recent time-change, I thought it would be fun to hear how Grandpa Jones felt about the situation. Here’s “Daylight Savings Time” from my original 1958 Decca 78.
Hayley Muir: Uta Bella, “Enyin”
Well, I love a good compilation and I love some vintage afro-funk. The Africa Seven label out of the UK released Mothers Garden: The Funky Sounds Of Female Africa 1975 – 1984 a couple of months back. HELLO! I think Dusted Magazine summed it up best in their review: “Where are the women in vintage African funk? … there may not have been a lot of women making music in public in Africa 40 years ago, but there were some — and some good ones.” Here, here! This track from Uta Bella is afro-funk at its best, with a good dose of disco thrown in for good measure.
Dianne Donovan: David Bowie, “Alladin Sane”
The title track from the album of the same name and one of his best with a hypnotic groove. Check out Mike Garson’s piano solo, etc. I wore out my big sister’s record, not just checking out the song but going over and over the piano part — definitely, led me to jazz and my never-ending love for Bowie.
Amy van Keeken: Joni Mitchell, “Urge For Going”
Joni Mitchell will celebrate her 75th birthday this November 7th. “Urge For Going” is the perfect late fall song and showcases all the best of Mitchell’s writing: poetic lyrics with vivid imagery, nature and seasonal references, interesting guitar work and a beautiful, spare and haunting melody.