time travel : august
Time travel is a monthly newsletter where we listen to one song from each decade (60s to 020s) picked by me, that U2 album that magically appeared in your iTunes library in 2014.
Good morning!
Why is it so damn hot outside?! I can’t seem to stop thinking about my hate towards this year’s heat, but I know I'm not the only one, so in hopes of making all of our melted brains feel better I’ve been making a mental list of scenarios that would feel even hotter, this is what I have so far:
Falling inside a volcano
Licking the sun
Opening the literal gates of hell.
Did it work?
Lucky for all of us, when I wasn’t busy complaining about factors outside my control, I also did my second favorite hobby: putting together a new selection of interesting genre-mixing songs for this month’s newsletter! Now let’s distract ourselves by diving into each one of them.
60s: I Don’t Know Where I Stand - Fairport Convention (1968)
Okay so I'm not actually a Fairport Convention fan. Years ago I gave some of their songs a try but tbh british folk is just not one of my favorite genres, so when I recently found this cover of Joni Mitchell’s song I was surprised to see that it was by them and how much I liked it. Apparently their first album has some interesting covers of some famous songs like this one and is way more influenced by american psychedelic bands of the decade than the next ones.
Funny day, looking for laughter and finding it there
Sunny day, braiding wild flowers and leaves in my hair
Picked up a pencil and wrote, "I love you, " in my finest hand
Wanted to send it, but I don't know where I stand
70s: Losalamitoslatinfunklovesong - Gene Harris (1974)
The groove this instrumental will put you in is just what you need, trust me. It has that soul-jazzy funk that makes you wish it was at least two minutes longer. I don’t usually add instrumentals in these newsletters because I don’t know if you dig it but if you like finding new instrumental tracks I also have an infinitely-updated playlist you can check out here.
80s: Bye Bye Bad Man - The Stone Roses (1989)
The Stone Roses has been one of my favorite albums for a while now, but for some reason I recently came back to it and I seriously can’t stop listening to it on loop. There’s something about it that it’s timeless yet really representative of its decade and I will probably write more in depth about the album in the future. For now let’s listen to this track which blends psych rock with catchy pop hooks and some perfectly angsty lyrics.
I'm throwing stones at you man
I want you black and blue and
I'm gonna make you bleed
Gonna bring you down to your knees
Bye bye badman bye bye
90s: Passin’ Me By - The Pharcyde (1992)
Nothing like some 90’s alt hip hop to get you through. This super hit by The Pharcyde manages to have a layered mix of samples that go from Quincy Jones to Jimi Hendrix while still achieving their own iconic sound.
When I dream of fairytales I think of me and Shelly
See she's my type of hype and I can't stand when brothers tell me
That I should quit chasin' and look for something better
But the smile that she shows makes me a go-getter
00s: Life Is Better - Q-Tip ft. Norah Jones (2008)
Speaking of hip hop pioneers we now have this smooth track from Q-Tip’s second album The Renaissance. If the name doesn’t ring a bell, A Tribe Called Quest, in which he is MC and main producer, probably will. The truth is that his solo work surely deserves the same recognition, and this flow paired with Norah’s vocals is great proof.
And when you look into my eyes, It makes all these feelings rise
Makes for a better place, can’t u see you’re in my face?Life is, better
Now that, now that I’ve found you
10s: Petty - Melanie Charles (2017)
I can’t believe it took me so long to discover Melanie and yet so little to fall in love with her. This album was tape recorded live and there’s this soul and rawness that she brings to every arrangement that makes her sound unique. She has also collaborated with artists as big as SZA and Gorillaz, and I know you know where that sample is from.
020s: Elektro - Petit amie (2021)
I recently found this band from CDMX and I couldn’t believe it was my first time listening to them. They have this psychedelic synth pop sound that reminds me of bands like Unknown Mortal Orchestra or L’imperatrice, and this song is from their first and only album so far.
J’attendais le soir
Je cherchais une histoire
J’avais choisi la rue
Où nos rêves se sont battu
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