This morning, it’s finally time to slow down, stay awake for eternity in bed before enjoying a hot coffee contemplating the sky behind your window. Prepare for an exploratory musical morning journey with An Explore.
To record “One”, his five-track album released under the name of An Explore, Rob Macdonald has teamed with long time collaborator Lucy Wilkins to add violins and occasional vocal on his mix of piano and guitar melodies, electronic experimentations and field recordings. This collaboration creates an infinite and peaceful space conducive to escape and daydreaming, a perfect trip to take stock of the past year, to think of the day that is coming as well as of future excursions in distant lands.
An Explore’s selection
Booker T & the MGs – Soul Dressing
Rob: ” It’s a super slinky bossa nova slide-out-from-duvet-to-make-tea with this as your soundtrack… An amazing organ-led four piece band working in effortless groove. After listening to this I could go straight back to bed knowing the day had been well spent already. “
Steve Reich – Electric Counterpoint 1.2.3
Rob: ” Refreshing, cleansing, clearing any hangover from the night before. Prepares the mind for newness of thought and action. The musical detox. Green Tea, Apple and Carrot Juice – things that are good for you…. Reset reset reset. Actually ups your IQ 10 points. Let it float around you and lift you to a higher plane…… “
Quincy Jones – Walking In Space LP
Rob: ” Everything as it should be. Beautifully played, beautifully recorded. Swinging, sassy, funky. Lots of gospel overtones to bring that Sunday feeling. It will have you skipping around in your dressing gown and if it has to be one track, it’s “Killer Joe”. But really this is an album to be played from start to finish… “
MailTape’s selection
An Explore - Small Drop (Suikinkutsu)
Jules: ” This song is referring to ‘Suikinkutsu’, a Japanese garden water musical device where water dripping into a large earthenware jar onto water, creates sounds. Macdonald explains he created a version of Suikinkutsu by purchasing a large pot and tray from a garden centre and recorded the water as it dripped into the reservoir, selecting parts where the melody of the water splashing spoke loudest. I’ve never been to Japan, but this song almost takes me there. “
Slow Meadow - Artificial Algorithm
Jules: ” Taken from ‘Happy Occident’, Slow Meadow’s third full-length album, this song is one of those we like to listen to alone, taking our time and letting our thoughts travel. With his collection of textured ambient melodies, multi-instrumentalist Matt Kidd is creating a warm place for reflection and offering us time to cure the anxiety derivative of modern life and always more present technology. “
Manitoba - Brandon
Jules: ” Manitoba was Dan Snaith’s original stage name, before he was forced to change it to Caribou (and his house music alter-ego Daphni). Manitoba is also the name of a province at the centre of Canada. Taken from Snaith’s first album “Start Breaking My heart” released in 2001, to me this track evokes both the vast plains of Canada where the wind rushes in without any noise and the sadness of abandoned urban landscapes. “
Maksim - Untitled (A2)
Jules: ” A damn fine coffee served with a slice of cherry pie at the same table as Dale Cooper. In the background, the silhouette of Bill Murray wandering in a Japanese hotel. In the distance, the enchanting voices of Scarlett Johansson and Julee Cruise. Everything you could dream of on a Sunday morning is in this untitled track from Maksim, one of the DJs revealed by the NY-based vinyl only label ALINE Brooklyn. ”
That’s it for this morning and MailTape’s last episode of the year! As always thank you so much for listening, we can’t wait to see you again in 2020. Much love and respect to An Explore for his Sunday selections, and to Julie Wojtczak for her brilliant illustration.
