Wanderlist 340

Vinyl Stories & Sonic Journeys: An Evening at Wintercircus

There's something about the gentle crackle of vinyl that brings music to life in ways digital streams simply cannot. Perhaps it's the tactile relationship between needle and groove, the ritual of carefully sliding a record from its sleeve, or the commitment required to listen to an album from start to finish. These thoughts occupied my mind as I unpacked my record collection at Wintercircus Gent a few weeks ago, preparing for what would become one of those special evenings where music finds its most receptive audience.

The show opens with Lady Blackbird's hauntingly powerful rendition of "Blackbird." When I first encountered her voice, it stopped me mid-stride in a record shop in Brussels. Her album "Black Acid Soul" reveals an artist who understands that sometimes the most profound statements are made not through technical pyrotechnics, but through restraint and emotional truth. There's something in her delivery that recalls Nina Simone at her most introspective – a comparison I don't make lightly.

From there, we drift into the gentle wisdom of Roberta Flack's "Tryin' Times." Released over five decades ago, the song speaks to our current moment with uncomfortable precision. "These are trying times" – indeed they are, and Flack's voice carries both the weight of struggle and the possibility of transcendence. The song reminds us that great music isn't time-bound; it simply waits for the world to catch up to its truth.

As the needle finds Cleo Sol's "Self," we encounter one of contemporary soul music's most compelling voices. Her 2021 album "Mother" represents a remarkable artistic statement – intimate, vulnerable, and possessed of a quiet confidence that draws you closer with each listen. Soul music has always been about emotional honesty, and Sol continues this tradition with a distinctly modern sensibility..

When Soul Meets Storytelling

Erykah Badu's "On & On" arrives like an old friend with new stories to tell. First released in 1997, the song remains a cornerstone of neo-soul, but what strikes me now is how it continues to reveal new dimensions with each listening. Badu created a sonic language that allowed soul music to evolve without losing its essential character – spiritual, grounded, and unapologetically Black.

D'Angelo's "Spanish Joint" follows with its intricate rhythms and harmonies that seem to fold in on themselves like a musical Möbius strip. The track exemplifies what made "Voodoo" such a revolutionary album – its ability to be simultaneously complex and accessible, cerebral and deeply physical. The warm vinyl pressing brings out the organic nature of the recording, highlighting the interplay between bass and percussion that forms the song's foundation.

As we transition into Michael Kiwanuka's "The Rest Of Me," I'm reminded of how certain artists serve as bridges between musical traditions. Kiwanuka's work connects the soul music of the 1970s with contemporary sensibilities in ways that feel both reverent and forward-looking. His voice carries echoes of Bill Withers and Terry Callier, yet remains distinctly his own.

Eddie Chacon's "Lay Low" represents one of the most remarkable comeback stories in recent memory. After decades away from the music industry, the former Charles & Eddie vocalist returned with "Pleasure, Joy and Happiness" in 2020, followed by this year's exceptional "Sundown" – an album of rare sophistication and emotional depth. "Lay Low" exemplifies Chacon's minimalist approach, where every element serves the song's emotional core. His collaboration with producer John Carroll Kirby has yielded music that feels both timeless and thoroughly contemporary.

The Beauty in Musical Conversations

SAULT's "Wildfires" stands as one of the most powerful protest songs of recent years. The collective's commitment to anonymity allows the music to speak for itself, free from the distractions of personality and promotion. Their prolific output across multiple albums has consistently addressed themes of Black identity, struggle, and resilience with remarkable musical dexterity. The vinyl edition of "Untitled (Black Is)" captures the warmth and immediacy of their sound, bringing new dimensions to their meticulous productions.

As Feist's delicate "One Evening" fills the room, the shift in mood is palpable. Her ability to create intimate spaces within songs makes her work particularly well-suited to vinyl, where the physical limitations of the medium encourage attentive listening. The song's deceptive simplicity belies the careful arrangement and production choices that make her work so enduring.

The inclusion of Moondog Jr.'s "T.V. Song" might surprise those unfamiliar with Louis Hardin's early work under this moniker, before he fully embraced his Moondog persona. The track's playful experimentation serves as a reminder that the boundaries between musical genres have always been more permeable than purists might suggest.

Zach Bryan's "28" brings us into more contemporary territory, showcasing his gift for narrative songwriting that places him in a lineage extending from Townes Van Zandt to Jason Isbell. Bryan's rapid rise to prominence speaks to a hunger for authenticity in music – something that vinyl enthusiasts have long valued.

The Road Less Traveled

Bruce Springsteen's "Racing in the Street" represents a high point in the playlist – a masterclass in narrative songwriting that unfolds with cinematic precision. From the opening piano notes to the extended instrumental conclusion, the song creates a complete world in just under seven minutes. On vinyl, the dynamic range of the recording comes alive, allowing the quietest moments to carry as much weight as the crescendos. The story of lives constrained by circumstance but seeking meaning through small rebellions remains as powerful today as when it was released on "Darkness on the Edge of Town" in 1978.

The Walkabouts' "The Light Will Stay On" might be the playlist's most unexpected treasure – a band that never achieved the recognition they deserved but whose music continues to resonate with those fortunate enough to discover it. Their blend of Americana, post-punk, and European sensibilities created something genuinely unique, and this track exemplifies their gift for creating atmospheric narratives that linger in the mind.

Giant Sand's "Stranded Pearl" brings Howe Gelb's desert-weathered voice and singular songwriting approach into the mix. The band's fluid membership and stylistic shifts across dozens of albums make them difficult to categorize, but this track showcases their ability to create moments of stark beauty amid the experimental tendencies.

Nina Simone's rendition of Randy Newman's "Baltimore" stands as another highlight of the playlist. Her interpretation transforms the song into a powerful social commentary, her voice conveying both righteous anger and profound empathy. The vinyl pressing captures the raw emotion in her delivery, allowing listeners to experience the full impact of her performance. Simone's ability to inhabit a song so completely that she makes it entirely her own remains unmatched.

Bon Iver's "Holocene" creates a moment of contemplative beauty in the playlist. Justin Vernon's falsetto floating above the delicate instrumentation creates a sense of space that vinyl reproduces with remarkable fidelity. The physical act of placing the needle on this track feels appropriate for music that rewards close, undistracted listening.

The evening at Wintercircus Gent represented everything I value about sharing music: the communal experience of discovery, the conversations sparked by unexpected selections, and the unique quality of attention that vinyl demands and rewards. This week's radio show attempts to recreate that experience, inviting listeners into a carefully curated space where musical connections can be forged across genres and generations.

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