Wanderlist 335
Vinyl Time Machine: From Quadraphonic Dreams to Township Grooves
Sometimes the best musical discoveries happen when you least expect them. While reorganizing my record shelves this week, dust dancing in the afternoon sunlight, I stumbled upon forgotten gems that demanded to be shared. This week's Wanderlist is a testament to those serendipitous moments when vinyl speaks to you.
Let's start with Marvin Pontiac's "Runnin' Round," a raw, bluesy number that hits you right in the gut. What makes this track particularly intriguing is that Marvin Pontiac never actually existed - he's the musical alter ego of John Lurie, the multi-talented director and producer. The authenticity in his fictional blues persona is both brilliant and slightly mischievous, exactly the kind of musical storytelling that makes crate-digging so rewarding.
Speaking of stories, Gibson Kente's "Saduva" emerges from the remarkable Chakalaka Jazz compilation, a treasure trove of South African jazz and funk. Kente's composition exemplifies the vibrant spirit of South African township music, where jazz meets traditional rhythms in a celebration of life and resilience. This track and Bobby Charles' "Small Town Talk," create an unexpected dialogue between two distinct musical traditions.
One of the most fascinating pieces in this week's selection is Ash Ra Tempel's "Day-Dream." Recorded in 1973, this track was ahead of its time, utilizing quadraphonic sound - an early form of surround sound that predated modern immersive audio. When you close your eyes and listen, you can almost feel the music moving around you, a sonic experiment that still feels revolutionary nearly fifty years later.
Among the new releases, The Sorcerers' "Beneath The Dunes" stands out with its desert-inspired soundscapes. The Leeds-based ensemble continues to push the boundaries of instrumental music, creating atmospheric journeys that transport listeners to distant landscapes. Similarly fresh is Löwenzahnhonig's "Skylinekiss," a dreamy composition that perfectly bridges the gap between vintage psychedelia and contemporary ambient music.
This playlist weaves together various threads - from vintage folk (Bobby Charles, Ted Lucas) to contemporary songcraft (Sabine McCalla, Alabaster DePlume) - creating a tapestry of sounds that spans decades and continents. The transition from Snooks Eaglin's soulful "By the Water" to the cosmic exploration of Quiet World's "Sam" might seem unlikely on paper, but in practice, it's these unexpected connections that make music such an endless source of wonder.
As I return these records to their newly organized shelves, I'm reminded that every piece of vinyl carries not just music, but stories, histories, and possibilities. Each week's Wanderlist is an invitation to explore these narratives together, to let the music guide us to unexpected places.
After all, isn't that what collecting records is all about? Not just accumulating pieces of vinyl, but gathering stories, building bridges between different times and places, and sharing those discoveries with others who might find something meaningful in them too.
Ever wonder what treasures lie forgotten in the depths of your record collection? While reorganizing my vinyl shelves this week, I uncovered a musical constellation that spans from South African township jazz to quadraphonic rock experiments, from fictional blues personas to contemporary desert soundscapes. Join me on a journey through these dusty grooves and discover how sometimes the best music is hidden in plain sight.
Catch The Wanderlist every Friday from 18:00 to 20:00 on Urgent.fm (105.3), where we'll continue our endless exploration of music's vast territories. Until then, keep wandering, keep discovering, and most importantly, keep listening.
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