Golden Hour

Hi Friends, 

I hope you are able to find some moments of joy this summer as much as that is possible in our world right now. I have been finding my joy spending time with family and friends, in nature, in art and of course, in music.  

Instead of a summer banger playlist, this one is on the chill side. I picture myself listening to this on my imaginary deck watching the sun dip below the horizon, not the sweaty rush to the subway. Let’s call this playlist Golden Hour and let the fantasy live on. 

A couple of my longtime favorites released excellent albums this year.  British band Pulp returned in June with More and British-French avant-pop band Stereolab released Instant Holograms on Metal Film in May. Both albums from these hugely influential artists are well worth your time. I think Laetitia Sadier’s vocals got me in a Fench mood because I couldn’t stop thinking about Sylvie Vartan so I had to include “Baby c’est vous.”

In addition to being a conservatory-trained classical French horn player, SASAMI is also a fearless indie pop artist. Her third album Blood On the Silver Screen is her most emotionally expansive yet and the track “In Love With A Memory” that features indie singer-songwriter Clairo is a highlight. 

Shockingly, I realized that I have never included New Order on a playlist before? I debated which track to use and somehow landed on the 8-minute version of “The Perfect Kiss.” So it goes… 

Jamaican reggae duo Althea & Donna’s 1977 single “Uptown Top Ranking” just sounds like summer. They recorded the song when they were just teenagers and it was released as a joke but thanks to legendary DJ John Peel, it became a number one hit in the UK. 

“Sweet Danger” by Nigerian-born, London-based Afrobeat artist Obongjayar released his sophomore album Paradise Now in May.  

Regulars to my playlists, The Reds, Pinks and Purples are back again!  Glenn Donaldson’s project continues to deliver shimmering, melodic pop. No One Absolves Us in the End is from the just-released new album "The Past Is a Garden I Never Fed.”

I have also been wanting to include Tanya Donnelly on a playlist for ages. I went back and forth between her work with Throwing Muses and Belly but in the end, Throwing Muses “Not Too Soon” won out. It is just so good. 

I am really enjoying British indie-folk artist Billie Marten’s lovely new album Dog-Eared. The new-to-me singer-songwriter has been making music since she was a tween and now in her mid-20’s she has just released her fifth album. 

Finally, a little more moodiness to close things out: Charli XCX declared that it was a “These New Puritans Summer,” and honestly, that is the only endorsement that I need. “Industrial Love Song” featuring Caroline Polachek’s otherworldly vocals is stunning. A beautifully somber end to Golden Hour. 

Pulp - Spike Island 

Sylvie Vartan - Baby c’est vous 

Stereolab - Aerial Troubles 

SASAMI - In Love With A Memory (featuring Clairo) 

New Order - The Perfect Kiss

Althea And Donna - Uptown Top Ranking 

Obongjayar - Sweet Danger 

The Reds, Pinks and Purples - No One Absolves Us the End

Throwing Muses - Not Too Soon 

Billie Marten - Goodnight Moon  

These New Puritans - Industrial Love Song (featuring Caroline Polachek) 

xo,

Julie