Dear friend,
I hope you're doing well and enjoying the warmer temperatures. Life got in the way, I am a couple of weeks behind, but as usual, here's a roundup of the music I was feeling last month.
With a focus on rock, the March mixtape honors big names from the past who revolutionized the genre, and inspired so many generations to create, innovate and push in the same direction.
From Mark Knopfler's magnificent guitar work to Shuggie Otis's funky grooves, passing by an epic long piece by The Doors and some dark rock and roll by The Rolling Stones, the first part takes us back to the 70s, a decade of great experimentation, and as far as rock music was concerned, a golden age that gave us some of the most iconic and influential bands of all time.
We then move to more psychedelic and krautrock arrangements. Featuring dreamy voices, heavy riffs, stoned melodies, motorik beats and spacey guitar solos, the middle section balances out old time classics (CAN, Greatful Dead, The Brian Jonestown Massacre) with fresh jams by more contemporary names (Allah-Las, The Black Angels, Menk).
The expansive and uplifting 'Space to Bakersfield' marks a shift to slower sounds; from here onwards, the pace decelerates and we swing into a melancholic mood. With Lou Reed's nostalgic tribute to Coney Island, Paul McCartney's incredible vocal performance on 'Wild Life', Mark Lanegan's heartfelt baritone and Bob Dylan's soul-stirring desolation on 'Love Sick', the last stretch is a reminder of the embrace that music offers when it comes to connecting with our true selves, and the solace it provides in moments of pain and sorrow.
Imagined setting: you're driving the Arizona stretch of Route 66, heading into the sun, windows down, road wide open, heat haze waving on the horizon.
Have a great start of your week and happy listening 🏜️
