Tracks Of The Day: Japan & Ryuichi Sakamoto - Ghosts & Cantonese Boy

 

I was never a Japan fan, but they intrigued me. I remember the first time I saw them on Top Of The Pops and the first thing that jumped out at me was David Sylvian’s very obvious Brian Ferry vocal style. This didn’t go down well in initially. No big deal though. They still held my attention and what I found just as fascinating was Sylvian’s seamless transition from awkward pop star to relatively obscure arty purveyor of sonics. This film from The Old Grey Whistle Test is a goodie because it shows all of these aspects and puts across their positive incongruence.

Track Of The Day: DJ Shadow - What Does Your Soul Look Like? (Mo' Wax)

 

‘In Flux’ by DJ Shadow back in the first half of the nineties was probably the record to get the trip hop thing off the ground, even though there had been tracks before coming out of Bristol, courtesy of Massive Attack and The Wild Bunch. I can’t remember exactly when the Mixmag article appeared which coined the genre, but it was 1994 maybe? Anyway, DJ Shadow and his cross-pollinated approach was pretty much out there as much as anything else ever. And when this appeared it was a ridiculously influential record. Nowhere mores than in Paris, where I was living at the time. This is another record I bought at the Bastille branch of Rough Trade where, as well as aficionados of house and techno hanging out, you also had the beat scientists like DJ Cam, etc. Anyways, I just thought of this track and I’m glad I did. Strap yourself in and put the headphones on.

Track Of The Day: The Beloved - Sweet Harmony (EastWest)

After yesterday’s foray into indie rave pop with St.Etienne (note: they are playing Cambridge the same weekend as Convenanza, unfortunately), here come the combo who perhaps typify blissed out melodies more than most at the beginning of the nineties. The Beloved were embraced by ravers, maybe as part of a comedown ritual. No one’s going to be freaking out to this track, but it would definitely have an effect in the chill out room, and its obvious manifesto of loveliness took the hippy stuff one stage further than most. Anyway, this, and ‘The Sun Rising’ are the two go to Beloved tracks, and still do the business today and every day.

Voyage de Lux w/ Alex Downey B2B Andy Mac - 25.02.26

1BTN · Voyage de Lux w/ Alex Downey B2B Andy Mac - 25.02.26

Voyage de Lux w/ Alex Downey - 22.04.26

 

1BTN · Voyage de Lux w/ Alex Downey - 22.04.26

Heads Up w/ Dea @ Kiosk Radio 04.04.2026

 

Track Of The Day: St. Etienne - Nothing Can Stop Us (Heavenly Records)

The third single from their debut album ‘Foxbase Alpha’ way back in 1991, and it’s difficult to imagine a more perfect piece of sun-kissed pop. The genius of this is that it’s all totally about mood. Lyrics are minimal and the melody combines the feel of the first and second summers of love. St. Etienne are finally hanging up their various bits and pieces this year, and are touring to commemorate themselves. I was at Harry Enfield at the Cambridge Corn Exchange last night and happened to notice that they are playing there in August. That should be perfect.

XDB & PLO Man at Waking Life 2025

 

Waking Life · XDB & PLO Man at Waking Life 2025

Track Of The Day: MPEG - Bite The Bullet (Threads)

 

One of those tracks that’s currently blending a groove with trance. The overtones are obvious, but that doesn’t detract from this tune’s richness. Definitely one to elevate the mix to unscaled height. The only downside is that it’s not available as a digital file. Of course it’s the choice of the label to remain vinyl only, but all that does is limit the horizons of the music. Only a few people can own it and Discogs sharks eventually profit from it. I mean I love vinyl, but I’ve never known a scene to innovate whilst being wilfully stuck in the past.

Track Of The Day: Brooks Mosher - Entrenched (Dolly)

 

Nice track from Brooks Mosher from Dolly’s relatively early days. I used to buy all of the releases, but now I’m satisfied with the digital files, in much the same way as I am to buy 95% of my stuff that way. This track has a nice dissonant energy, underpinned by a propellant beat. E erything is going off in all directions. It’s ace, but really needs to be cranked up.

XDB ‪@TheLotRadio‬ 04-18-2026

 

Track Of The Day: Crackazat - Shine (Club Mix) (Freerange Records)

This track opens Colin Dale’s most recent Abstract Dance show, which I posted two days ago. And it grabbed me right away. Great jazzy feel, vocals work well and wonderful summer energy. I’m all for escapism these days. Living in the present is it. And although there are certain elements of this track which I could possibly do without, they coalesce brilliantly. Dropped at the right time this will slay the floor.