Beirut - scenic world live, 2015

"When Beirut released Gulag Orkestar in 2006, its swaying horns and eclectic percussion treated music lovers to a sound that was relatively foreign to American music made west of the Atlantic Ocean. The record’s inventive use of Balkan melodies and triumphant brass garnered near-immediate critical praise. The feat was especially impressive, considering that—for the most part—one man is behind Beirut: Zach Condon. Born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Condon's debut at just 19 years old was a shock to anyone who thought they were listening to Brandenburg’s preeminent elder sing to the neighborhood as the children skipped stones in the street. But Condon never lived that life. He was a teenager so obsessed with rare instruments, world history, and Middle Eastern architecture that he could fabricate deep nostalgia in his music for a beautiful, European paradise that never existed."

The Digital Age - symphony of grace, 2013

"The album opens on a more-or-less unexpected note with the lead single "Captured." Unlike any of the Rehearsals songs, this song is poppier than pretty much anything the DC*B made. But as poppy as it is, it is so bright, deliciously joyful and irresistibly catchy (not dissimilar to Rend Collective Experiment) that I have no doubt it will win over even the biggest skeptics. "Symphony of Grace" follows the same vein as its predecessor, just as bright, joyful and poppy."

Low - always trying to work it out, 2018

"The band’s latest record on Sub Pop, Double Negative, only confuses the narrative more. Double Negative is Low’s noisiest and harshest album yet, but also one of their most undeniably beautiful works. For a group that’s always experimented with their sound, it’s still astonishing to see how far they’ve been able to push their dynamics a quarter century into their career."

Sparks - when do i get to sing my way, 1994

"When Do I Get to Sing 'My Way'" is a song by American band Sparks, released on 17 October 1994 by Logic Records as the first single from their sixteenth album, Gratuitous Sax & Senseless Violins (1994). Written and produced by brothers Russell and Ron Mael of Sparks, the song references Frank Sinatra's signature song "My Way" and was a number seven hit in Germany. In the United States, it reached number nine on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart, and it was also a top 40 hit in the United Kingdom."

Jon Fosse

“God is so far away that no one can say anything about him and that’s why all ideas about God are wrong, and at the same time he is so close that we almost can’t notice him, because he is the foundation in a person, or the abyss, you can call it whatever you want.”

Jon Fosse, "A New Name: Septology VI-VII"

Electronic - feel every beat, 1991

"Feel Every Beat" was the third single by the English band Electronic. (...). The A-side is a combination of rock and house music, and is a favourite of both the two members Johnny Marr and Bernard Sumner. Marr began an early version of "Feel Every Beat" with the intention of releasing it on a solo album. Sumner's lyrics are about the criminalisation of rave culture in Britain."

The Smashing Pumpkins - the tale of dusty and pistol pete, 1998

"The Smashing Pumpkins have been regarded as a cultural touchstone of Generation X and contributed greatly to the rise of the generation's prevalence in Western popular culture."

Mark Knopfler - the ceilidh louis favourite billys tune, 1983

"Mark Freuder Knopfler OBE (born 12 August 1949) is a British guitarist, singer, songwriter, and record producer. He was the lead guitarist, singer and songwriter of the rock band Dire Straits from 1977 to 1988, and from 1990 to 1995."

Thom Yorke - unmade, 2018

"Thomas Edward Yorke (born 7 October 1968) is an English musician who is the main vocalist and songwriter of the rock band Radiohead. A multi-instrumentalist, he mainly plays guitar and keyboards and is noted for his falsetto. He has been described by Rolling Stone as one of the greatest and most influential singers of his generation."

The Goon Sax - make time four love, 2018

"Forster is the son of Robert Forster, co-founder of indie rock band the Go-Betweens. The band released their debut studio album, Up to Anything, in 2016 on the Chapter Music label. This was followed by We're Not Talking in 2018, and Mirror II in 2021. They have performed with Twerps, Blank Realm, U.S. Girls, and Crayon Fields, among other artists."

The Beatles - getting better, 1967

"One of the recording sessions for "Getting Better" is infamous for an incident involving Lennon. During the 21 March 1967 session in which producer George Martin added a piano solo to "Lovely Rita", Lennon complained that he did not feel well and could not focus. He had accidentally taken LSD when he meant to take an upper. Unaware of the mistake, Martin took him up to the roof of EMI Studios for some fresh air, and returned to Studio Two where McCartney and Harrison were waiting. They knew why Lennon was not well, and upon hearing where Lennon was, rushed to the roof to retrieve him and prevent a possible accident."

Easterhouse - whistling in the dark, 1986

"Ruminations on the contradictions inherent in a revolutionary communist band’s affiliation with a multinational entertainment megalith were put on hold when Easterhouse’s initial lineup fell apart not long after Contender‘s US release. Ivor Perry and drummer Gary Rostock briefly (one single on UK Rough Trade) reemerged in a new band called the Cradle, with ex-Aztec Camera/Smiths guitarist Craig Gannon."

The Digital Age - glow, 2013

"With such an atmosphere that brings together lovers of music from all sides of the musical genre spectrum, there is something for everyone, from songs with reflective worship, to others melodies that include sections of screamo and others that offer up great and powerful ballads."

The Innocence Mission - god is love, 2010

"Sufjan Stevens calls The Innocence Mission "moving and profound", adding, “What makes Karen Peris’ lyrics so remarkable is the economy of words, sensory language, concrete nouns – everyday objects take on tremendous meaning.”

U2 - you’re the best thing about me, 2017

"Lead vocalist Bono referred to the song as "defiant joy", something that he and the Edge said was more important than ever in the "difficult times" in which they were living."

The Smiths - panic, 1987

"The song begins with Morrissey mentioning chaos unravelling throughout Britain and Ireland (specifically mentioning London, Birmingham, Leeds, Grasmere, Carlisle, Dublin, Dundee, and Humberside). In the second part of the song, he reveals that the source of this chaos is pop music, which "says nothing to [him] about [his] life".

Dido - see the sun live, 2015

"Life for Rent is the second studio album by English singer Dido, released by Arista Records on 29 September 2003. The album was produced by her brother Rollo Armstrong and American songwriter Rick Nowels. Work on the album began in mid-2002. It was certified 9× Platinum by the BPI, and sold over 12 million copies worldwide, making it the fourth best-selling album worldwide of 2003. The album became the seventh best-selling album of the 2000s in the United Kingdom, making Dido the only singer to have two albums in the top 10 list."

Guillemots - we're here, 2006

"We're Here' is special, majestic even, but also oddly provisional on first listens. As if, in an effort to push for the biggest possible dose yet of their customary last-day-on-earth mood, they somehow forgot to finish writing the song."

Fleet Foxes - he doesn't know why, 2008

"He Doesn’t Know Why is a beautiful single from Fleet Foxes’ self-titled album. On this track, lead singer Robin Pecknold delivers very intimate, poetic lyrics about feeling confused and hopeless when seeing the sad state of a family member’s life (most likely his brother). The song is not confirmed to be based in truth, but nonetheless Robin’s passionate singing sure makes it feel deeply personal. The song has a powerful, catchy melody backed by a great folky instrumental. I saw Fleet Foxes live last week and was blown away by the whole set. Admittedly, before that point I was much more familiar with Helplessness Blues and Crack-Up than their previous projects. However, the instant I heard this song I fell in love and I’ve constantly had the self-titled album on repeat since then."

Beirut - no no no, 2015

"Despite rhythmic vitality and the addition of optimistic trumpet and trombone, Condon's lyrics reveal a man still suffering from loss and longing. Although none of the nine songs exceed the four-minute mark, the lyrics for each are even shorter by comparison, and are often repeated for emphasis. Repetition as a rhetorical device is perhaps most evident on "Fener," on which Condon sings, "I had to know, I had to know, where you had gone," or the title track, when Condon repeats the same stanza twice over. Condon is at the heart of each song, so while a hopeful tone is central to both the music and lyrics, No No No is a portrait of a man putting on a brave face while piecing his life back together, and it's all the more engaging for it."