Live concerts, gigs and festivals are of course to be embraced once more – the need to feel transported to somewhere more beautiful via melodies, lyrics and rhythms has rarely been felt more keenly following a challenging 20-odd months.
That said, maybe you're after a selection of sounds to help you get a good night's sleep, tunes to entertain children at home or a collection of inspiring albums written in self-isolation. Heading down to your local record shop is always one of our top recommendations, but perhaps you got hit with a positive Covid test, or maybe you're just being cautious with social interaction right now. This is where streaming services such as Spotify, Tidal, Qobuz, Deezer and Apple Music can help. These offer a socially distant lifeline at the click of a button – a chance to test-drive new tracks before you buy.
Spotify isn't our reigning champion when it comes to value, variety and audio quality, but its popularity and accessibility is undeniable. And the platform is always trying to offer something new, whether it be artist-led algorithms to better personalise your music recommendations, ‘Only You’ and ‘Blend’ features, or giving Spotify account-holders a chance to 'tip' acts while listening – acts who clearly lost a lot of gig revenue over the past two years.
If you've ever used Spotify, you'll know that typing 'new music' into the search bar will yield a selection of curated mainstream newness from the likes of Lady Gaga, Ella Eyre, Jake Bugg and Stormzy, (and New Music Friday UK is always a good playlist shout here) but what if you're looking for something a bit different? That's where we come in. Why not lend your and ear to a few of these slightly more niche curated playlists? It'll make a change from the hi-res files stored on your laptop, whatever's on the Astell & Kern, the playlist someone shared with you at the start of the first lockdown or the CDs you retrieved from your car glove box, at any rate...
The Pop Stream: Fresh! 50
What if you want new and popular music, including R'n'B, rock, indie and folk, but you want different new? As the name suggests, this is a 50-strong curation of newness that's well worth a spin – especially if 2022 finds sinking into something of a music rut. It's essentially a condensed version of LA outfit The POP Stream's offering and it has been going strong since 2019.
Want to hear the best current underground indie, folk, rock, disco, R'n'B, soul and of course pop tunes, as chosen by DJs across the pond? Have at this.
Crate Diggers Anonymous
Imagine a record store in Las Vegas. Now imagine one in east London. Now think about popping into one in Bilbao for a crate rummage. What new and old LPs might you unearth? You could soon be spinning John Mayall, Led Zep, Kool and the Gang, Barry White or Weather Report, it depends. There's no specific genre here. Click play. Let's see.
Anti Pop
Think beat-driven spitting segued with melodic, softly-sung but often edgy vocals – forget commercial pop music, there's a message here if we'll only listen. Expect new tracks from Curtis Waters (pictured) and ballads from Joji interspersed with hard rap from Kenny Mason and everything in between. If OutKast, Wu Tang Clan, Dave, Dungeon Family or Bel Biv DeVoe have ever featured in your heavy rotation, give this a spin. You'll almost certainly learn something.
Defected Records (Deep House)
There's a time and a place for house music, and that time is right now, in your house. Defected Records is a British independent record label specialising in deep house music and recordings, founded in 1998 and based in London. This playlist does exactly what it says on the tin, with over 25 hours of head-nodding tracks from the likes of FISHER, Gorgon City, Ferreck Dawn and Jack Back.
Social Distancing Distortion
American singer-songwriter Matt Berninger (frontman of indie rock band The National) curates and updates this playlist on a weekly basis. You might get Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Leonard Cohen or Interpol. And you might get Marilyn Monroe, Whitney Houston or even John Prine singing about a happy enchilada.
"Playlist themes subject to change according to moods and events," is the cover description. We say, if you want someone to serve up the collective mood through the medium of music, subscribe.
Most Necessary
It's like the ultimate new rap music label. Spotify describes this playlist as "the official voice of generation next". If you're looking for a soundtrack for your next virtual house party, Most Necessary gets it done. With one eye on the next huge hit-single and another on capturing a snapshot of the current vernacular, you'll rarely hear a track that misses the mark. Expect new offerings from CJ, DaBaby, Lil Tecca, BRS Kash (pictured) and Toosii, for starters.
Phonica Recommends (Home)
Independent UK record store Phonica only opened in London's Soho in 2003, but it quickly became one of the capital's most-loved vinyl specialists. Basically, if Phonica recommends it, that's more than good enough for us.
Phonica's Spotify page reads: "So much great music out there that we've decided to split up our recommended playlists into two: one for the club and one for home listening".
So now you've got two extra playlists to add to your list, spanning everything from dub, reggae, nu jazz, soul and funk to broken beat and techno. Click the link below to access Phonica's recommended 'home' playlist, or turn your abode into a particularly exclusive club for the night, with the Phonica Recommends (Club) selection.
Gold School
Vintage throwback hip-hop that strays from the well-explored coastal tracks and celebrates lesser-known heroes of the genre. Think Camp Lo, Big L and Mac Miller alongside Drake, Ghostface Killah, Eminem, 50 Cent (pictured) and Nas.
Got a pressing meeting, booster jab or big grocery shop ahead? Get the cans on and stream this. You're going to ace it.
Acoustic Covers
Discover Hozier's laid-back cover of the Destiny's Child classic Say My Name, John Mayer's take on Tom Petty's Free Fallin' using just a mic and two guitars, or Teenage Dirtbag as you've never heard it before; sung not by Wheatus but by Ruston Kelly.
The moments of surprise, recognition and ultimately approval come thick and fast here. A staple go-to for when you just can't decide what to listen to.
R&S – Office Favourites
R&S Records is an independent record label founded in 1984 in Ghent, Belgium. R&S represents the initials of Renaat Vandepapeliere and Sabine Maes, the couple responsible for creating the label.
Expect heavier electronica, house and trance offerings from Richard Fearless or V interspersed with expansive soundscapes from Darkstar, Nautic or Axel Boman, alongside the occasional grime track from Novelist. It'll easily double as your running playlist too, if you're pushing your time.
Late Night Lofi
Think laid-back chill-hop, juicy lo-fi beats, layered synthy vocals, classical and jazz-infused piano chords with crisp textures; ice clinking in a glass, rain on a window, crunchy leaves and even the brushing of teeth. It's perfect for playing through the cans and relaxing, zoning out, getting ready to sleep or seeing you through a bout of insomnia 'til sunrise.
At 4am in New York, when (if?) Birdland calls time at the bar, you'll finish your drink and talk about the price of a subway ticket versus a yellow taxi home to this playlist, one day...
The What Hi-Fi? Playlist
Shameless self-promotion aside, this surely beats another Brian Eno album. What you'll get is a regularly updated What Hi-Fi? playlist featuring tunes we've been using over the past month for testing and reviewing purposes.
Like what you hear? If you're feeling nostalgic, you could also treat yourself to our one-off Lockdown Playlist on Spotify and Tidal. Think Lost In The Supermarket by The Clash, Outkast's So Fresh, So Clean, Iggy Pop's I'm Bored and Music For A Nurse by Oceansize, for starters.
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