"To be loved like that makes all the difference. It does not lessen the terror of the fall, but it gives a new perspective on what that terror means. I had jumped off the edge, and then, at the very last moment, something reached out and caught me in midair. That something is what I define as love. It is the one thing that can stop a man from falling, the one thing powerful enough to negate the laws of gravity." Paul Auster (Moon Palace)

Sunday, May 10, 2026

Pink Floyd - young lust, 1979

"a blues-inflected hard rock number in E minor, approximately 3 minutes, 25 seconds in length. The song was composed by David Gilmour, who also provided lead vocals with backing vocals from Roger Waters during the chorus, who wrote the lyrics."

A-ha - velvet, 2000

"Originally, "The Sun Never Shone That Day" was to be released in Norway instead of "Velvet", but it was later decided that "Velvet" would also be released in Norway."

Pet Shop Boys - the squadron, 2005

"After the crew members debate their next steps ("Stormy Meetings"), they settle in for the night ("Night Falls"). As they sleep, however, a squadron of intercepting battleships approaches. Alerted to this, the crew prepares to defend themselves ("Full Steam Ahead") — a battle they know they are doomed to lose unless they can persuade the crews of the approaching ships to join them in revolution. As the squadron bears down on the Potemkin ("The Squadron"), its crew members signal, "Join us!" After a few tense moments in which it appears a battle is inevitable, the other crews stand down, agreeing to join the revolution ("For Freedom"). The Potemkin — and the revolution — is saved."

Thursday, May 7, 2026

The Beatles - drive my car, 1965

"Drive My Car" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles, written primarily by Paul McCartney, with lyrical contributions from John Lennon. It was first released on the band's 1965 album Rubber Soul as the opening track. The song later appeared in North America on the Yesterday and Today collection, again to open the record, as the track had been dropped from the American version of Rubber Soul."

Sintra, Praia do Magoito, hoje, 7 de Maio de 2026, ao fim da tarde

The Broken Radios - living life like a fever dream, 2026

"a melodic Britpop/alternative rock cut with groove-driven energy, fitting the band's Oasis and Stone Roses-inspired sound-think jangly guitars, driving rhythms, and introspective yet anthemic vibes."

The Embassy - related artist, 2013

"In the small but massively influential so-called Swedish Balearic scene that emerged at the start of the last decade, Gothenburg duo the Embassy – Fredrik Lindson and Torbjörn Håkansson – were unwittingly cast as pioneers."

Wednesday, May 6, 2026

Genesis - stagnation, 1970

"Stagnation" and "Dusk" showed Phillips and Rutherford's combined twelve-string sound, along with Banks taking leads on piano, organ and Mellotron. The organ lead uses a surreal descending note which Banks produced by turning the organ off and then turning it back on. Rutherford later recalled there were around ten acoustic guitars on part of "Stagnation", but they cancelled each other out in the final mix. Gabriel described the track as a "journey song" with its lack of a more typical verse/chorus structure and the variety of mood changes it presents. Sections were removed or altered, but the introduction remained unchanged. The vocal effect on the section referencing "bitter minnows amongst the weeds and slimy water" was created by having Gabriel sing into a narrow tube with the intent of making it sound like he was underwater."

Tegan And Sara - where does the good go, 2004

"a Canadian indie pop duo formed in 1998 in Calgary, Alberta. The band is led by identical twin sisters, Tegan Rain Quin and Sara Keirsten Quin (born September 19, 1980). Both musicians are songwriters and multi-instrumentalists. After releasing a number of demos on cassette tape, the duo released their debut album in 1999, after which they were signed by Neil Young's Vapor Records. They have released ten studio albums, most recently Crybaby in 2022."

Friday, May 1, 2026

Fleet Foxes - sun giant, 2008

"The Sun Giant EP introduces the band to the world with a just plain pretty a cappella harmony passage that lays their pastoral tendencies bare, while later on the disc "Mykonos" and "English House" show us their muscle and easy way with loose song structures. The lyrics are non-narrative but vivid nonetheless. See the way the Fleet Foxes refrain "and Michael you would fall and turn the white snow red as strawberries in summertime" plunges you into the stunning guitar-and-voice counterpoint that blows "White Winter Hymnal" wide open. Lead singer Robin Pecknold has a strong, clear voice and knows when to let fly with a drawn-out, impassioned bellow and when to withdraw into the shelter of his bandmates' harmonies. The group shares his sense of dynamics, and Fleet Foxes flows like a river, wild and free but logical, filling what needs to be filled and moving on."

Kneecap - liars tale, 2026

"lurking beneath the headline-grabbing stuff – largely crowded together at the start – there’s another side to Fenian. As it progresses, a different mood takes hold: less swagger, more disquiet. Big Bad Mo’s braggadocio is set to fidgety, chattering acid house that noticeably changes in tone: as the track progresses, it becomes darker and less celebratory, more anxious and intense."

Saint Etienne - paper, 1992

"Sarah Cracknell, Bob Stanley and Pete Wiggs are obviously fanatical about music and that’s part of what makes their music so special. The heart of the band is how they convey that love and obsession with music for people just like them. When they invited us to, join their club in 1992 they meant it and it was an honour to go along with them for the ride. A ride which has lasted 35 glorious years."

Wednesday, April 29, 2026

Club 8 - don't cry baby it's only a film, 2026

"For Swedish indie duo Club 8 every day seems to be the first day of summer, with freshly-minted guitar pop playing sweetly in the background."

The Beatles - words of love cover, 1964

"The Beatles recorded a cover version of the song on October 18, 1964, for the UK album Beatles for Sale. It first appeared in the US on the album Beatles VI. It was also on a 7-inch extended play, Beatles for Sale No. 2, released by Parlophone/EMI in 1965. John Lennon and Paul McCartney, who were fans of Holly, sang in harmony with George Harrison, holding to the vocal and instrumental sound of Holly's original as well as they could. Before their big break, the group had performed the song live between 1958 and 1962, with Lennon and Harrison singing. For the official release, though, Lennon and McCartney shared vocal duties. The song only took two takes, along with a vocal overdub."

A-ha - train of thought remix, 1991

“In the ‘80s it was like we were run over by this massive train. We were not there to be pin-up idols. We knew that was part of it, but it was not the reason for doing what we were doing. The media was crazy, and that was one of the main reasons why we quit for some years, because we just had enough of it. We just wanted to make music.”

Friday, April 24, 2026

Damien Jurado - leaving my keys in kennewick, 2026

"Leaving My Keys in Kennewick" is a recently released Damien Jurado track. It's part of a split single with Lilly Miller titled I Was Always Leaving, featuring "Leaving My Keys in Kennewick" and "It Will Come Back." The single came out on April 13, 2026. Interestingly, the song has been in Jurado's orbit for a while — it appeared in a 2020 private concert setlist as a "new song," during a period when he was writing prolifically during quarantine. A full collaborative LP with Lilly Miller, Did Something in me Break?, is also on the way, set for release on May 1, 2026 through Jurado's own Maraqopa Records."

Green Day - burnout, 1994

"After several years of grunge's dominance in popular music, Dookie brought a livelier, more melodic rock sound to the mainstream and propelled Green Day to worldwide fame. Considered one of the defining albums of the 1990s and of punk rock in general, it was also pivotal in solidifying the genre's mainstream popularity. Its influence continued into the new millennium and beyond, being cited as an inspiration by many punk rock and pop-punk bands, as well as artists from other genres."

Pink Floyd - the happiest days of our lives, 1979

"The song is approximately one minute, 46 seconds in length, beginning with 24 seconds of a helicopter sound effect, followed by the schoolmaster shouting, "You! Yes, you! Stand still, laddie!" performed by Roger Waters. Waters's lead vocal is treated with a reverse echo. The song features an electric guitar with an added delay effect and an electric bass guitar playing staccato punctuations of the chordal root notes."

The Love Variants - golden age, 2025

"Austin quartet The Love Variants emerge onto the underground indie pop scene as subtle as their music. Their eight-song debut cassette, Life of Riley (released by Keeper Records), is one of those records where one spin in, you already know they are not your average jangle dream pop band. Take Golden Age, where it becomes clear how much this band values letting melodies linger and shimmer rather than rush past you. The vocals match that mood, romantic and dreamy, but with enough melancholy underneath to keep things grounded."

Sunday, March 29, 2026

Pink Floyd - the thin ice, 1979

"The song, which is two minutes and 30 seconds in length, begins with the sound of an infant crying. The main body of the song is a '50s progression, with time signature in 6/8, commonly heard in doo-wop songs such as Ben E. King's "Stand by Me", progressing from C Major to A minor, then F Major to G Major, played softly on piano and synthesiser. The first half of the lyrics are sung by David Gilmour in a gentle tone, beginning with "Mama loves her baby", and a refrain of "Ooh babe, ooh, baby blue". A bass guitar creates a dissonant effect mid-song, when it plays an F♯ against an A minor, the major sixth of the chord, and the augmented fourth of the key. Then Roger Waters takes over the lead vocal. The piano becomes staccato, as the lyric takes on a warning tone, with Waters singing "If you should go skating/On the thin ice of modern life...."

A Weather - pinky toe, 2008

"turning something as mundane and painful as stubbing your pinky toe into a meditation on vulnerability, everyday hurts, and emotional resilience."

Marillion - just for the record, 1987

"This is quite different to the stuff before, it's a real contrast."

Saturday, March 14, 2026

Club 8 - travel back in time, 2026

"Indie with a presence of 60s French and British girl pop, it combines that with witty lyrics containing more than a hint of a darker theme. Karolina Komstedt and Johan Angergård’s Belle and Sebastian meets Saint Etienne sad bop sound comes through best in these slower numbers, and we love them for that."

Low - just stand back, 2005

"Twenty years on, Low’s The Great Destroyer stands as a high-watermark in an truly impressive discography, but when it arrived in the early days of 2005, the reactions were mixed. People weren’t sure of this new loud Low, and there were those who felt it was the band abandoning their winning formula. Pitchfork even brutally gave it 5.5. Back in 2005, Low was a trio consisting of the married partners of Alan Sparhawk and Mimi Parker, along with bassist Zak Sally. Previously known for minimalism and restraint, The Great Destroyer showed how Low could go big without undoing the band’s slowcore concept. The album was both the culmination of their trajectory as a trio as well as an obliteration of all previously set constraints. Time, however, is a funny thing. With the benefit of hindsight, we can see that Low’s formula was always one of evolution, and The Great Destroyer is ripe for rediscovery as an essential stop on that transformative journey."

Tuesday, February 3, 2026

Bruce Springsteen - streets of minneapolis, 2026

"I wrote this song on Saturday, recorded it yesterday and released it to you today in response to the state terror being visited on the city of Minneapolis. It’s dedicated to the people of Minneapolis, our innocent immigrant neighbors and in memory of Alex Pretti and Renee Good. Stay free, Bruce Springsteen"

Neil Young - when you dance i can really love, 1970

"The official Neil Young website gives the title as "When You Dance I Can Really Love"; however, the CD release (US catalogue number 2283-2, Europe 7599-27243-2) has the title misprinted as "When You Dance You Can Really Love." The correct title appears on other albums, such as Live Rust. It also appears in Young's handwritten lyrics included with some copies of the album."

Sintra, dia 3 de Fevereiro de 2026, de manhã cedo, com arco-iris

Stars - the passenger, 2010

"The song has a dreamy, atmospheric electropop/baroque pop vibe typical of Stars' sound from that era—lush synths, evocative lyrics, and a sense of nocturnal wanderlust."

Saturday, January 24, 2026

Renaissance - love goes on, 1971

"The band recorded "Love Goes On", "Golden Thread", "Love Is All", and "Face of Yesterday" in between continued extensive touring in both the UK and mainland Europe, a schedule that was so physically taxing that McCarty became ill while on the road, leading him to announce in July 1970 that he was leaving Renaissance in order to focus exclusively on songwriting. Keith Relf was not immune to the stresses and personal conflicts of the band's nonstop schedule, and with McCarty gone, he shortly after announced that he was quitting Renaissance as well, though he continued to be present for the recording sessions in his capacity as producer. John Hawken recruited singer Terry Crowe and guitarist Michael Dunford (both from Hawken's previous band The Nashville Teens), as well as session drummer Terry Slade to replace Relf and McCarty. Louis Cennamo nonetheless was skeptical of the band's future in the light of the departure of both their primary songwriters, so when the band Colosseum contacted him with an invitation to become their new bassist, he accepted. Bassist Neil Korner, another former member of The Nashville Teens, replaced him."

Rilo Kiley - go ahead, 2001

"This song is ultimately kinder than I was 20ish years ago, and because we see things not for what they are but as we are, my 18-year-old self heard a much more sarcastic, sardonic intent underneath this track that pairs a breezy permissiveness with an absolutely astonishing willingness to accept whatever is best for the object of this song, even if that means losing them to distance, separate paths or the freedom to find somebody else that’s better."

Kitchens Of Distinction - oak tree, 2013

"Fitzgerald's impassioned, wordy, often bluntly personal vocals careened over what sounded like a mass of swirling guitars, though the band only had one guitarist."

Thursday, January 1, 2026

The Go-Betweens - that way, 1983

"The Go-Betweens' country of origin has been of crucial importance in forging their identity. Unlike many groups in this country, they still maintain an admirable idealism — an uncompromising belief in their music and a distaste for the manipulative moguls operating inside the major record corporations. They don't like Britain much, they're here briefly because their record company is Rough Trade. It has faults, but they feel it's been about the best option on offer."

Bom ano novo de 2026

Confio-Te, Senhor, o próximo ano.

Dá-nos sabedoria para apascentar os dias, paciência suficiente para suportar o que deve ser suportado, e um coração puro para acreditar.
Concede que saibamos colocar-nos em humilde relação com as grandes coisas de que a vida é feita.
Que nos sintamos como aprendizes e discípulos da revelação do teu amor que acontece no tempo.
Não nos deixes acomodar: que o conforto da estalagem nunca nos seduza mais do que a beleza da viagem; 
que o conhecimento acumulado de ontem não nos dissuada de sairmos para contemplar o novo orvalho que brilha, hoje, nos prados;
que o nosso olhar não esteja fixo no dedo que aponta, mas naquela flor silenciosa que é a lua.
Em cada estação ensina-nos a tomar, a decifrar a noite inteira, não a escuridão mas uma estrela.
Ensina-nos a considerar que não é o mal, mas um traço de bondade, que melhor reflete um coração.
Ensina-nos a prestar atenção ao rebanho de nuvens para compreender que sempre, acima de nós que pisamos o chão, os céus ficam extasiados.
Ensina-nos a não querer ser senhores de nada nem de ninguém, mas sim peregrinos conscientes de que a história a que atracam é uma terra sagrada.
Para quem o quer ouvir, o vento do teu Espírito passa como um assobio primaveril anunciando o degelo.

A nossa existência nunca é tão bela como quando nos olhas, Senhor! — Card. José Tolentino de Mendonça