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 APRAXIS

This week’s playlist has been curated by Arpaxis. Apraxis has certainly caught our attention as a producer operating in various underground genres including breaks, drum & bass and techno. It is therefore no surprise that Apraxis is a regular curator here at the Eclectic Picks. Be sure to check out his own music here, and his expertly chosen tracks from this week’s inbox below.

A FEW WORDS FROM APRAXIS

Hello everyone! I’m chuffed to be doing a more regular selection of Signal Committee’s Eclectic Picks – thank you so much! It’s been a sonic delight listening to all of these tracks and have managed to get the picks down to 15. The sheer variation, creativity and talent across all of the inbox is mind-blowing. I hope you enjoy the selection as much I have. Please do let the artists know you if you like their tracks, add them to your own playlists and give them a follow. Let’s get going.

Hipology Sounds The Escape Deep in my psyche resides a vault of 80s film scores that are forgotten, often however bubbling over into my consciousness. The alluring bass line, sax and overall hypnotism of this track is the key that unlocks the vault and sets free everything that only exceptional music can deliver. An absolutely electrifying eclectic sensation that surely must break through the barrier and be heard on the big screen and discerning radio stations. This is class. Plug in, no need to buckle up – embrace the destination you are heading towards. More more more.

LAMIA Fools Paradise After only just recovering from seeing LAMIA very recently live at Neil March’s ‘Linking Up’ gig, I was immediately drawn to this track. Dark…there’s no hiding from the onslaught of raw emotion exuding, relentlessly yet paradoxically soothing. Totally originally and captivating, LAMIA’s voice is the glue that locks together mystery and softly disturbing pulsating electronic richness. You may well need to listen to the over and over again and let your body lock in to the rhythm. Let you be the puppet and LAMIA the controller of movement and emotion. Jaw dropping-ly inspirational.

Damploft Living in Solitario Truly eclectic, truly out-there and utterly satisfying. Damploft’s vision caught me hook line and sinker. Beautifully in your face distorted vocal surprises spin you in the direction you need to go. The backing vocals and chime hits opens up a truly exciting listening experience…full of depth and journeys through the decades. Euphoric, psychedelic and tasty. A perfect journey. Check it out.

Hey Cazale Five Films Drenched in sublime nostalgia, Five Films picked me up and dropped me off happily at the end of the journey. Through increasing tension, ‘flanged’ heaven and 90s indie memories, I departed from this track a much happier person. Loved the way it carries me all the way through. Very clever and never stopping, its subtle genius is tremendous. Put this on your headphones on a grey morning and you see only blue skies.

La French Functional Frenzy Functionally wrapped in a softly swaying spider’s web, just being, is a wonderful place to be. A frenzy to behold. Beautifully charismatic and a track that will allow you to step off the busy wheel for 2 minutes to reflect and recalibrate. A reminder of all things beautiful. Put this in your chill out playlist and tap into its charm time and time again. Loving the SEPULTURA as well on the cover image!

Sparky Bosque About You The antidote to keeping things in the inside. ‘Living with you is like…’ – go and listen what it’s like in this track! I absolutely love the honest, warm and chilling messages in this song. Testament to the power of getting things off your chest. Such a balanced and flowing arrangement with beautiful production. An incredible example of opposites working together in harmony. Totally at home alongside the story-telling of The Beatles. We need more music like this to make us stop and just listen. Story-telling perfection. Looking forward to more.

Big Buddha Slow Death If there’s ever been a prophecy that’s unwittingly, slowly self-actualising…here it is. Powerfully blending its dystopian message with a sound stage to match, Big Buddha’s captivating vocals and message stay rock solid amidst stabbing organ hits, haunting strings, richly distorted guitars and drums that cut through like butter. ‘Coma-inducer’ ‘Passive-consumer’ Big Buddha clearly has his finger on the zeitgeist of evolution. Social commentary, tension and drama in abundance. Turn it up and ROCK out to this.

Tiger Mendoza vs Killer Kawolski Live Well for Less There’s a very special place in my heart for jungle, distorted guitars and all things wild. So, when I heard this…what could I do? Turn it up and put on a boogie. Driving beats, vocals slamming their message front and centre and haunting guitars all the way home. Its sophisticated attitude unashamedly tells you what’s what’s in the world of Tiger Mendoza. Got to love this. If you need something to clear your mind and put you back in the straight and narrow…look no further. Class, energy and attitude captured sublimely. Just the way we need it.

Skunkadelic Pressure Musically, 1990 was a turning point for me. Genre wasn’t so categorised. Pressure takes me back to that summer where A Tribe Called Quest, Alyson Limerick, De La Soul and KRS-One could be played alongside Hip House, Tony Scott and all sorts. Huge respect for nailing that ‘Hot’ production sound that oozes, well, heat and groove. Smooth as you like sound and an arrangement that makes your body sway. I’ve been totally locked on to this track. Bringing positive vibes all the way…much needed and much respected. Another one to turn up and let your self rock out.

Private Reg Knell Continue with a theme that takes me back in terms of sound design, Private Reg has me reaching for my TDK SA90 cassettes. Love how the sound palette twists and flanges. Another stark reminder that perfection is often not glossy and shiny. Enticingly full of allure, rhythm and harmony. This is a dancer…eyes closed – head raised to the sky and ROCKING out. Beautifully arranged and flows with perfection. Can see this track at home in so many places. Universal eclectic appeal. Add it to your playlist and lose yourself in the motion of time.

Brynovskiv Half the Dub in the World A musical journey of beauty. There’s so much being brought together…a total package of delight. Smooth as you like electric pianos, a beat and snare that punches through bright and warm and those dubbed-out delays tapping away giving your sense of well-being a full top up. I hear so many influences that I adore. Robbie Robertson’s Somewhere down that Crazy River and The Mad Professor Captures Pato Banton. A total stand out track that leaves me in total awe. My words can’t do this justice. Another one for your playlist.

A Knife Ballet (FKA The Holy Road Scattered Red, Blue and Black Mercy me…if Judgement Day is a thing…I think this is the soundtrack. Moody, dark and foreboding – there’s very little light here. A sheer dose of a raw emotion administered intravenously. Executed tremendously, this will have you on your seat’s edge. If there are any apocalyptic film makers, directors or BBC and Netflix sound-scouts…I think you’ve found what you’re looking for. Splendid in its darkness – but be warned! Wonderful.

Lost Signal Horus Continuing with that cinematic feel, Lost Signal’s Horus heralds a mediating force between light and dark…a harmonious equilibrium. Almost devious and mystical, it opens up your mind, trawls through, examines and moves on to find your next weakness or strength. An intriguing journey, thoroughly cinematic and visual. Really enjoyed once more the ‘scene’ it visualised for me. Check it out.

Debrison Dance It Instantly hooked on the electronic sounds on offer. Lots of influences for me of Detroit techno and maybe 90s underground dance. Loving how the tension builds and fades with the tribal rhythms staying solid. There’s something very emotional underpinning the whole concept, which kept me locked on. The pads towards the end are sublime with electric fizzles darting in the sound-sphere. Another track that gave me a visual blast while listening. A wonderful track. Add it to your playlist.

Jessie Reid Let your Love Run Cold To finish this week’s picks is an emotionally intense story that had me close to tears. Jessie’s lush vocals and the melodies physically put me in stasis but where it took me spiritually is undefined – which is an undeniable testament to the power of this song. Almost Western film sounds and splashes of Country is the backdrop to this heart-wrenching story. Sometimes you need an emotional check. Jessie Reid, thank you for such a beautiful song. It’s on repeat.

ARTISTS SELECTED THIS WEEK

1. HIPOLOGY SOUNDS – The Escape
2. LAMIA – Fool’s Paradise
3. DAMPLOFT- Living “Solitario”
4. HEY CAZALE – Five Films
5. LA FRENCH – Functional Frenzy
6. SPARKY BOSQUE – About You
7. SLOWDEATH- Big buddha
8. TIGER MENDOZA & Killer Kowalski – Live Well For Less
9. SKUNKADELIC – Pressure
10. PRIVATE REG – KNELL
11. BRYNOVSKY – Half the Dub in the World
12. A KNIFE BALLET- SCATTERED RED, BLUE & BLACK
13. LOST SIGNAL – Horus
14. DEBRISON – Dance It
15. JESSIE REID – Let Your Love Run Cold

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 2024 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!