This morning we wake up in a hazy mist. But are we truly awake? The night was restless, we’re still lulled by the unsettling atmosphere of the dream world. Was it joy or melancholy? Strange feeling. Today’s playlist sustains these contrasting sensations, like the March showers, a mix of rain, clouds, and sunshine.
This dreamlike trip is thanks to the band Ashinoa, who have delighted us with a selection of sublime tracks, perfect for those weirdest Sundays, when you’re not quite sure if everything is alright or if you just want to cry. Last November, the band released their fourth album, which could be the ideal soundtrack for a night full of sweet dreams. Give it a listen, it’s worth it. In the meantime, we’re diving into a playlist that sets the tone, featuring, as usual, carefully curated gems of which you’ll tell us news.
Ashinoa’s selection
Vanishing Twin - Age of Immunology
Ashinoa: ” This track immediately captivated me. The insistent drums and bass perfectly contrast with the sweetness of the vocals and the exploration of synthesizers. I really appreciate the care taken in choosing the sounds to accompany this elegant composition. A great piece of work! “
Ben Lamar Gay - Dress Me in New Love
Ashinoa: ” This project is a great inspiration for the freedom of both the musicians and the compositions. Superlative musicians and dreamlike ideas, a real feast for the mind. “
Ennio Morricone - Uno che grida amore (Main Titles)
Ashinoa: ” A legend of soundtracks across the decades, Ennio Morricone has always fascinated me with the elegance of his work, his calibrated yet natural arrangements, memorable melodies and rare communicativeness. And his productivity, given the vastness of his repertoire! “
Curator’s selection
Ashinoa - Un’altra Forma
Anto: ” This is the album’s title track. A song that reminds me of late summer on the beach, when the sun still caresses our skin but we know it’s time to go home. I don’t like melancholy in music, and yet, here I find that this feeling is sublimated. We question it, we accept it, and then we transcend it, because we know the best is yet to come. It’s a bit the promise of this track, which is at the beginning of the album, leading us towards the unknown and the wonderful surprises it holds. “
Taylor Mcferrin - Awake To You
Anto: ” This song has been with me for more than 10 years. It’s definitely the song most likely to inhabit my dreams. A lovely ballad with a gentle beatbox and a piano melody that seems to take us by the hand, guiding us through a wave and introducing us to some of its friends. We then encounter varied and delightful harmonies with which we take pleasure in chilling. “
Buttering Trio - I Cried For You
Anto: ” Another track I really enjoy, which explores unusual sounds with an irresistible groove. Beyond the wailing synths and swaying bass, there’s a smooth vocal performance that reflects on her troubles with a certain philosophical detachment. I really like when music allows for clear and cathartic intentions to be expressed. “
Tortoise - Vexations
Anto: ” We finish with a slightly rougher track, well-paced, yet capable of infinite gentleness at the end. Its smooth texture, its mystical guitar, the trotting beat, the keyboards that seem to descend from the heavens, and those little sounds that pop like bubbles… It has it all! This is the opening track of an excellent album released a few months ago on the equally excellent label “International Anthem”. Do me a favor and also go lend an ear to the songs “A Title Comes” and “Promenade à Deux,” dreamy little jewels that would have perfectly suited the theme of this episode. ”
That’s all folks.
Thanks to Matteo from Ashinoa for this selection and thanks to Antoine for the illustration.
Go see the artist on stage when you can :)
And see you soon for new adventures.
