Fred again…and Brian Eno, Youth Lagoon, dodie, plus: All Songs Considered: NPR

Top row, left to right: Youth Lagoon, African Head Charge, Fred Again..; Bottom row, left to right: This Is The Kit, dodie performing at Tiny Desk

Courtesy of the artists

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Courtesy of the artists

I start this week All songs considered with an austere piano ballad from Youth Lagoon. “The Sling” is taken from their first album in eight years, titled Heaven is a dump. This Is The Kit is the project of Kate Stables and her friends. I play the song “More Change”, which reflects time and the evolution of friendships. It comes from their sixth album, Watch out for your guardianswhich comes out June 9th.

When British singer dodie played a Tiny Desk gig in 2022, she pulled out all the stops to make it special. She brought in backing vocalists from Los Angeles, a bass fan from Canada and Orla Gartland from Dublin, while she and her band flew in from England and rearranged her music just for this performance. dodie released her Tiny Desk performance as an EP. From this Tiny Desk concert, we hear “Special Girl”.

African Head Charge has been making psychedelic dubbed beats since the early 1980s. Two of the main driving forces behind African Head Charge are Bonjo Iyabinghi Noah and dub master Adrian Sherwood. The music is steeped in the resonant sounds of Jamaican and Ghanaian rhythms. Their first new album in 12 years is called A Travel to Bolgatanga, and from there I play the song “Microdosing”. Brian Eno and producer Fred again… just made a record together. They have known each other since Fred was a teenager. On their album secret lifethere’s a magical rendition of “Summer’s End” by John Prine, which they call “Come On Home”.

Our latest song is from German-Swiss duo Grandbrothers. They make music that channels both classical, EDM and ambient sounds. Their new album was recorded in the iconic Cologne Cathedral in Germany. From the album Late ThoughtsI take us on a more ambient track, “Adrift”.

Featured songs and artists:

1. Lagoon of Youth: “La sling”, from Heaven is a dump

2. This is the kit: “No more change”, from Watch out for your guardians

3. dodie: “A special girl”, by dodie (Live at NPR’s Tiny Desk) – EP

4. African Head Charge: “Microdosing”, from A trip to Bolgatanga

5. Brian Eno and Fred again…: “Come On Home”, by secret life

6. Big Brothers: “Adrift”, from Late Thoughts