This morning, we’re delighted to welcome Baby Chuck to MailTape for an eclectic Sunday selection. Based in Los Angeles, Baby Chuck (Matt O’Keefe) joins us a month after releasing his most recent album, Warm Infinity. The release explores and examines the essence of memories and the varied nostalgia that they bring.
The album’s songs feature four other musicians, with all tracks produced by Ryan Pollie. Several of the numbers are shrouded in a 70’s AM Radio effect, placed wonderfully for the subject matter of increasingly hazy memories. Consequently, listening through the album feels like getting lost in a dream, suspended in time. As Baby Chuck explains, the album’s deliberate delving into reverie feels necessary, not only to purge any lingering thorns, but to ground our perspective for the days ahead.
Baby Chuck’s selection
Ryan Sambol - You’re Still Lovable to Someone
Baby Chuck: ” Ryan Sambol’s music means a lot to me, and this record he put out last year, Gestalt, is really as good as it often gets. I’ve been listening to his work all the way back to The Strange Boys LP …And Girls Club, when I was a wee lad of fourteen (ahh, the benefit of having older siblings). So I guess that means I’ve been listening to Ryan Sambol’s music for half my life. Well, time well spent. “
Yves Tumor - Secrecy is Incredibly Important to the Both of Them
Baby Chuck: ” Really great song. Rips. It reminds me of the music from Jet Moto. “
MJ Lederman & Wednesday - Phish Pepsi (feat Advance Base)
Baby Chuck: ” I love Wednesday and MJ Lenderman’s music so much. Advance Base I don’t know much about, YET. This song—from the words to just the sluggardly feel of the music—holds a real unindulgent/not-embarrassingly-gushy sentimentality I’d say I searched for writing my own record. There’s a random line in here: “I don’t sleep in that room anymooooooore,” for a while I thought that’s what I’d call Warm Infinity. There’s another line: “We smoked weed out of a Pepsi can / lying around under a Christmas tree.” You see what I mean? “
MailTape’s selection
Baby Chuck - October, 500 B.C.
Sarah: ” My favorite track off of Baby Chuck’s album, Warm Infinity, though it was very difficult to choose (especially with tracks like Treeshadows, Leavespeak and Surrender Anyhow in the mix). Love the horn section and piano backings here, they add such a timeless quality to the already nostalgic lyrics. Talking to Matt, he notes the strange process of reaching the essence of this memory, how so much time had passed and the edges of it softened, even becoming saturated (hence the cover art). He described how leaving the recording process felt like shedding an older skin, like the buckets of rainwater weighing down his memories were emptied and put back. Such a liberating way to finish an album. “
Nice Biscuit - Round and Round
Sarah: ” Really enjoying the releases from this Brisbane-based psychedelic rock/folk band, this one comes off their 2021 album Passing Over. The effect of this track is dizzying, love the intermeshed vocals and these the balance of rock and acoustic elements. “
Sofie Royer - Schweden Espresso
Sarah: ” The opening track of Sofie Royer’s latest album, Harlequin. Loved her club releases (Leave, Melody, Cheerleader) and her recent feature on Toro y Moi’s MAHAL. This album and the last present a completely different side of Royer, with old boogie grooves and silky vocals to match. Harlequin is worth a listen through this week, be sure to look out for tracks Ballad of Bobby Beausoleil and Someone is smoking (my favorites). “
JayWood - Shine (feat Mckinley Dixon)
Sarah: ” The bass and 80’s synths — not sure if it gets better than this? JayWood’s album Slingshot is such an energizing listen, with tracks like Pray, Move On, Just Sayin, and [God is a Reptile](JayWood - God Is A Reptile (Official Video) - YouTube) joining some of the week’s essential playlist additions. Basically all of them, the whole album, just listen to it the whole way through and bring your week from a 7/10 to a 10/10 guaranteed. Love the momentum in this track in particular, Jaywood is doing striking work in the music video, bringing an artistic perspective to police violence and activism; highlighting such power in his lyrics. Looking forward to what’s next from him! ”
That wraps up this morning’s selection, it’s good to be back! As always, thank you for joining us. Our love to Baby Chuck for his delightful Sunday discoveries, and our thanks to Meriam Kharbat for this episode’s fantastic illustration!
