Every week Signal Committee present an Eclectic Picks playlist. All tracks are selected from the full inbox of 200 tracks that are submitted each week to Fresh On The Net.

WHAT DO WE LOOK FOR?

Our playlists are orientated to the alternative music fan. Lyrics are not essential, abstract ideas are embraced and the fusing of different genres is encouraged. If you used to write band names on your pencil case at school, you’ll probably like our playlists.

INTRODUCING WILL FARR

To celebrate the anniversary of Will Farr’s Eclectic Picks we bring you… Will Farr’s Eclectic Picks!

A FEW WORDS FROM WILL FARR

Oh. It’s you.

I have returned almost exactly one year after choosing the Eclectic Picks for batch 470, my first time doing so. I have learned a lot and suffered much since then, the two clearly linked. I feel closer than ever to being able to explain why I immediately connect with some art, people, music, animals, sensations, emotions etc. and feel myself galvanised by their very existence, whilst other examples fail to register the slightest reaction in me. However, I am still so far away from being able to explain it that I might as well have not brought it up at all. The fact that it feels like an important thing to understand, is probably why I am here doing this now.

Thank you Signal Committee for having me back. I am Will, and this music pleased me this week:

Trevas – Birds

I love birdsong, and this contains birdsong. It’s pleasantly unassuming and still managed to be the first track on the inbox to catch my attention. It’s also really quiet. Every time I tried to sequence this playlist, the following track made me jump due to the volume change. I’ve tried to mitigate this, maybe I can urge Trevas to up the levels on the master. If you think it sounds loud enough, then perhaps I already succeeded. How will you ever tell? Contains the kind of simple percussion I love.

FLVZ – Aberration III (Radio Edit)

Labelling this as Dance & EDM is underselling it somewhat. Belongs in a museum of contemporary art in a location yet to be gentrified. Beautifully odd, and sonically replete. Gold star for artwork.

Strange Flesh – Single / No Return

Full disclosure: I am already a big fan of Strange Flesh. I chose Croydon Fox in my eclectic picks last year (go and listen), bought it, played it on a radio show, and have DJed with it a few times. They are proper artists, and deserve your attention. I might start a Strange Flesh tribute act. Single/ No Return is a little more understated, but perfectly combines a hopeless misanthropy with a bowel churning baseline in a way that will elevate any family gathering.

CCTemple – HomeSeq

My favourite of the week. “Is this one of yours?”, I was asked. If I made a film with a love scene, this would be the perfect soundtrack. Chillingly powerful.

Lost Signal – Belong

So cool, and such a weird structure. I like anyone who chooses to do things their own way. So many interesting touches and melodic changes in a short space of time, I daren’t start trying to pick it apart for fear I’d never get it back together again.

Lilac Angel – Matte Black Batman

Yeah! Not enough music like this made it to the inbox this week.. Frantic, energetic, and unapologetic without sounding like a mess. I’d love to see them live. Shall we all go?

berbere – 23

Sounds from the next room,
a party with no invite.
I can still enjoy.

BIG big SKY – Sadist

A big OH YEAH when this track came on. A simple combination of unusual and well crafted noises which I wasn’t expecting to hear. I’d love to dance to this with all of my friends on New Years Eve, and I intend to make that happen.

R.J. Phillips Band – Stagecoach Mary

There was no way that I was going to leave this out of the Eclectic Picks! I wish Stagecoach Mary was my delivery driver, she’d leave it in my safe place without fuss, no doubt in my mind. It’s a lovely song and makes me happy, and I wish to express my sincere gratitude to whoever submitted it to Fresh on the Net this week.

Inochi – The Cat

Nice sloppy lazy breakbeat electro. No mention of cats, which is a relief. Inochi and I do not share an understanding of ‘cat like’. Really love the percussion changes in the final third, which is why it is next to..

Alex Hitchcock – 1B.3 CAKEISM feat. Alexandra Ridout, Ant Law, Kit Downes, Orlando Le Fleming, James Maddren

I’m out of my depth here. These are proper musicians. What happens if one of them asks me a question? This is clearly excellent, which is why people applaud at the end.

Particle Drift – Casimir Fields

I love a bit of dub techno, as some of you might know. Although I just call it techno. Proper length track, thank you for not making a radio edit. Excellent sounds, well put together and a really good progression. I particularly like the stereo flappy reverb percussion in the first third, I expect that’s how you labelled the channel.

Aurora Engine – Miniature Self

I’m amazed this didn’t make the Fresh Faves, but I am glad it didn’t because it means I can include it in the Eclectic Picks. It’s a really beautiful piece of whimsical music. We’ve been lovingly referring to it as cheap Kate Bush, but that is definitely intended as high praise. I really enjoy the lyrics, and I don’t intend to influence you with my interpretations.

That’s it from me. Go and make some beautiful memories for yourself and try to improve the lives of the people around you.

PS Please don’t give your money to billionaires, even if you think it will save you money. A false economy is a false economy

ARTISTS SELECTED THIS WEEK

1. TREVAS – Birds
2. FLVZ – Aberration III (Radio Edit)
3. STRANGE FLESH – Single / No Return
4. CCTEMPLE – HomeSeq
5. LOST SIGNAL – Belong
6. LILAC ANGEL – Matte Black Batman
7. BERBERE – 23
8. BIG BIG SKY – Sadist
9. R.J. PHILLIPS BAND – Stagecoach Mary
10. INOCHI – The Cat
11. ALEX HITCHCOCK – 1B.3 CAKEISM [feat. Alexandra Ridout, Ant Law, Kit Downes, Orlando Le Fleming, James Maddren]
12. PARTICLE DRIFT – Casimir Fields
13. AURORA ENGINE – Miniature Self

STEP 1 – LISTEN

Listen to this weeks Eclectic Picks playlist on Soundcloud here.

After 7 days, the playlist will be updated with the next batch, and this week’s picks will be added to the 2023 playlists below.

STEP 2 – SPREAD THE WORD

Do you ever think, or hear people say, “there’s no good music any more”? Maybe they aren’t looking in the right places. Prove them wrong:

• Subscribe to the playlist
• Listen in each week
• Tell your friends
• Shout on social media

The more people listen to this playlist, the more exposure unsigned artists receive. So spread the word!

STEP 3 – MUSIC VIDEOS?

Music is great. Music videos are better. Keep the momentum going, send any music videos our way and, if we’re in a good mood, we’ll add the best ones to our music video playlist here.

ARCHIVE PLAYLISTS

The playlists above are updated weekly, then added to the playlists below:

2023 Playlist: Soundcloud | Spotify

2022 Playlist – Soundcloud | Spotify

2021 Playlist – Soundcloud | Spotify

2020 Playlist – Soundcloud | Spotify

RADIO OPPORTUNITIES

We all have ambitions to get on national radio, but in the meantime there are loads of great, independent radio stations that are always looking for new music of the alternative variety. They offer no promises, but the following hosts tell me they that, if you made this list, they’d like you to get in touch to be considered for their show:

• AsonicA Radio, send an MP3 to hello@asonica.co.uk, or via their website
• Joe Figueira of North Manchester FM, apply with MP3, short bio & twitter handle by e-mail to joefigueira@yahoo.co.uk)
• Del Osei-Owusu, aka Platinum Mind and fellow FOTN moderator, is happy to consider submissions for the Songbird Sessions, a 1 hour show for The Songbird HQ on Islington Radio. Just email Del with a bio and MP3 to del.owusu@gmail.com
• Neil March, Trust The Doc Radio Show (5PM BST, Exile FM). Submissions to dptmusicdigital@gmail.com.

If you are are radio presenter/DJ and want to be added to the list above, just give Signal Committee a shout!