Songs You Should Know: Dappled Cities

The Aquarium, Dappled Cities' 6th studio album, has hit the world and in support they are about to embark on a short Australian tour. Written in the wake of the birth of their many daughters, and in light of a world seemingly descending to new lows, the album is a departure for the band; while the maximalist tendencies of their early work remain, space has opened up to highlight the lyrical intensity and melodic quality of Rennick and Derricourt's songwriting. Hitting the road in April in support, the band have come back with their strongest work to date "record that feels deeply considered but never overworked, intimate yet expansive. A late-career highlight that proves evolution is still their greatest strength" (The Music Files). 

See www.dappledcities.com 

Hot Chocolate - Every 1's a Winner

This is an absolute gem - everyone knows it of course, but if you haven't sat down and cranked it up recently, you should. A miraculous production, every element dripping with vibe, big and crunchy in every dimension. 

Eddie Kendricks - Trust Your Heart 

Take a nice deep bath in this one, soul music at its finest. I can listen to this any time, it's always just right. 

Nina Simone - I Think It's Gonna Rain Today

From one of my favourite albums, Nina Simone And Piano, which sees her in her element solo at the piano, and at her absolute best. The whole album is just incredible, do yourself a favour if you haven't heard it. 

Dennis Wilson - Love Surrounds Me 

This last year I have been on a bit of a Beach Boys journey, thanks to the Jokermen podcast, where a couple of guys painstakingly discuss the entire catalogue of the artists that dads enjoy. I was going to put a BB track here, but this Dennis solo track is just massive and cool, so here you go. 

The Walker Brothers - Nite Flights 

Walker Brothers final album, and the first taste of where Scott was headed next. You can hear the cross-pollination with Bowie, who later covered this song. Scott's first four tracks on this record are outrageously good, I can't quite get into the rest. This one is gothy, poppy, and epic, soaring along with pitch-dark violence. 

Tommy Mandel - Allow Me (to Destroy You) 

I was gratefully served this track by the algorithm some time ago. Tommy played keyboard for Bryan Adams through the 80s and 90s, and I guess he channelled something extra on this one. The intense sentiment, the synth choir, the tom tom, the pitch bends - a dank concoction indeed. 

Peter Gordon & Love of Life Orchestra - Beginning of the Heartbreak / Don't Don't 

A ripper from this 70s New York underground collective/super group. Big city. 

Brian Eno, John Cale - Spinning Away 

Balearic gold from an unlikely source. This song sounds like it has existed forever, in some form or another - enjoy! 

Like a Ship - Pastor T.L. Barrett and the Youth for Christ Choir 

Inspirational gospel piece here from the Chicago pastor. Powerful tambourine, and young people singing. Life affirming. 

Gloria Ann Taylor - Love is a Hurtin' Thing (12" Version) 

I love the scale and ambition here, a slinky extended intro with the band putting it down, and then after 3 minutes, sweeping off into a wall of sound disco version of this soul standard. Some mad production choices all around on this, the cotton-wool sound, buried vocals, rough first-take energy, chaotic bursts of tambourine, and paradoxically full string and horn arrangement. The band are just going for it and the track ends about 20bpm faster than it started.