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: Anchorsong, “Correlate”
Anchorsong, aka Masaaki Yoshida, expresses a mathematical joy in his music, using a sampler and other simple accessories. “Correlate” is both meditational and danceable — an invitation to ‘move it’.
Orest Soltykevych: Simon Leach and John Turner, “Diptych” by Naji Hakim
Naji Hakim is a Beirut-born composer who has written instrumental and symphonic music, including five organ concertos and vocal music including an oratorio and four masses. This work is from 2015 and is in two movements: the first is based on a popular melody from the 18th century and the second movement uses tonalities of a Basque flute known as a txitsu, which has only three holes.
David Ward: Charlie Haden & Pat Metheny, “Precious Jewel”
A series of duets for guitar and double bass by two jazz masters exploring some of the folk and country songs that inspired them when they were growing up. A late night, Sunday morning, rainy afternoon record suitable for chilling out. “Precious Jewel” is the most upbeat song on the album, Beyond The Missouri Sky.
Meg Wilcox: Courtney Barnett, “Small Talk”
If you’ve ever heard Australian singer-songwriter Courtney Barnett, you’ll know she has a way with words — always delivering witty one-liners in her songs. But as we hear in her latest single, she isn’t much of a fan of small talk. Take a listen and relive those cringe-worthy conversations you just don’t know how to get out of gracefully.
Kodi Hutchinson: David Sanborn, “Chicago Song”
David Sanborn is an iconic saxophonist who has shaped the sound of thousands of players around the globe. “Chicago Song” is one of his classic hits. Sanborn will be playing the Arts Commons in Calgary on October 18th.
Cathy Ennis: Madeleine Peyroux, “Honey Party”
I’ve always loved Madeleine Peyroux’s music. Anthem, her ninth album in 22 years, is her largest project yet, working with a top-notch team including Larry Klein and David Baerwald. “Honey Party”, is a lighthearted song about nature, inspired when Peyroux “literally saw a bee dancing.” Ahhh, inspiration! It’s everywhere!
Amy van Keeken: Bedouine, “Come Down in Time”
Last week on October 5th, Bedouine released two covers of songs she loves. “Hey, Who Really Cares?” by Linda Perhacs and “Come Down in Time” by Elton John. Of the latter she writes: “”Come Down in Time” is a beautifully-bizarre song. The instrumentation is incredible. It sounds like they’re all courting each other, so interwoven but everything perfectly in its nook. The lyrics are special, too, especially the ending, the way it hangs in the air. It’s just an amazing song. ”
Tony King: Joey Pecoraro , “Hug”
This is the latest piece from Detroit upstart Joey Pecoraro, a guy who seemingly blends together the naive wit of Jonathan Richman, injected with the sublimity of a starry night. Like Dr. Jekyll concocting his potions in secret, Pecoraro takes cover in his bedroom studio to create engaging and sweet little stories through his music. “Hug” is just what we need in these cynical times,
Darcy Whiteside: New Riders of the Purple Sage, “Panama Red”
Bluegass singer/songwriter Peter Rowan wrote the song, “Panama Red”, for country-rock band New Riders of the Purple Sage. The song refers to a strain of marijuana popular in the ’60s and ’70s, known for its reddish hue and potency — in honour of cannabis being legalized in Canada on October 17, 2018.
Grant Stovel: Otis Redding, “Trick or Treat”
Hallowe’en is close at hand — and even closer is CKUA’s Fall Fundraiser! This track is the perfect compliment to that sense of pitched excitement, full of exuberance and anticipation. Bring on the good times!
Lionel Rault: White Denim, “It Might Get Dark”
James Petralli and his Austin-based White Denim hit the nail right on the head with a hard-rocking, catchy number from their latest project, an album called Performance.
Mark Antonelli: Dave Pell, “Like Young “
An example of ’60s cool for you this week: some cool jazz with voices. I can’t get the song out of my head — it’s both a toe-tapper and a finger-snapper. I’d even consider making an MP3 of the voices to use as some kind of vocal punctuation. Amazing what you can find at Good Will!
Lark Clark: Ray Charles, “Let’s Go Get Stoned”
Suggesting an anthem for the enactment of The Cannabis Act in Canada on October 17, 2018.
Roy Forbes: Roy Milton & His Solid Senders, “Keep A Dollar In Your Pocket”
Blues drummer/singer/bandleader Roy Milton made many excellent rockin’ blues 78s for Specialty in the late ’40s through the early ’50s. “Keep A Dollar In Your Pocket” is one of my faves. I’ll probably play this one during the upcoming two-hour RRR fundraising extravaganza on Sunday, October 28th.
Dianne Donovan: Conspirare, “Meet Me Here” from Considering Matthew Shepard
I’ve been listening to this work of late, given the 20th anniversary of the killing of Matthew Shepard. This is just one piece from the epilogue of a large oratorio, Considering Matthew Shepard, by Austinite, Craig Hella Johnson, performed by his magnificent choral group, Conspirare. It’s a very moving, important piece.
Hayley Muir: Molly Burch, “The Boys”
I just cannot get enough of Molly Burch’s latest record, First Flower. Her smoky voice is perfectly matched with the warm, tropical feel of the music. On “To The Boys”, her strength is in her gentleness. She doesn’t need to scream to get her point across and she knows exactly what she’s doing. A burgeoning artist sitting comfortably at the head of the table.
Elliott Garnier: Tom Scott with The California Dreamers, “Today”
With the recent passing of Jefferson Airplane’s Marty Balin, I was prompted to turn back to one of his greatest tracks: “Today” from 1967’s Surrealistic Pillow. This Tom Scott cover of the track features a brilliant saxophone riff that was famously sampled in Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth’s “They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)”.