FLASHLIGHTS AND EXPLOSIONS

Royksopp

What Else Is There? (Thin White Duke Remix)

Last year, I listened to "What Else Is There?" a lot. I first heard it on Zane Lowe's show, and he would always, always play it and never say the name, so it took me a while to find. But it was worth it. So, completely, worth it. I rarely listen to it: I save it for special occasions, keep it tucked away like a precious postcard. I don't think a dance track has ever moved me so much. Being that it's not my primary field, I know little of it, and I'm not the biggest fan in the first place, maybe (probably) it's my fault that I've never been properly moved before, or since. I mean, this song has brought tears to my eyes that can't be explained. While at work, putting the milk out, and forcing me to turn away, turn back, and smile. There's just something so innocent about it, I guess. The song is repetitive and simple and long. But every note seems so perfectly placed! It's repeated so much so you can grasp this! It's better than having to manually repeat the thing yourself. And you would.



Gui Boratto

Beautiful Life

This Gui Boratto song seems to fulfill a similar purpose for me this year. It's simple, repetitive, and long. But enjoyable! It's a driving song, for those long days when you turned left instead of right, and just kept going. It's a song for sitting outside with your best mate cooking the barbecue while you sit there drinking cider and soaking up the sun. The quiet days before the big nights. Oh it's a beautiful life, it's a beautiful life. [Buy]

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Thin White Duke also goes by the name of Jacques Lu Cont. And a few other monikers. His real name's Stuart Price. He produced Madonna's latest effort. He does other stuff. I think he's great. The new Gui Boratto album is pretty good with the occasional stroke of rare beauty.