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

He makes weird music. He likes weird music. And so…. Will Farr shall once again curate the Eclectic Picks.

ARTISTS SELECTED THIS WEEK

1. YELLOW BELLY – Other Half
2. PULSES – Hammer Swing
3. GHOSTFIELD – Flight ft. Silly Peach
4. NANO TONE- Automann
5. SARYA – I don’t know where i’m going but that’s okay
6. PLAY MISTY – All the Pain, All the Joy
7. PHYTOPHONICS – Make Yourself At Home
8. SHREDDFLANDERS – Cry in the Bathroom
9. THE SILENT ERA – Bela Lugosi’s Dead (Live at Brighton Electric)
10. VOID VAMPIRES – Breathe In Breathe Out
11. ECHO MACHINE – Anticipation
12. GDANSK_81 – IV Thing
13. AUSTIN V – Crabcakes

A FEW WORDS FROM WILL

Thank you for having me back, Signal Committee.

I always like to add a little context for my Eclectic Picks. Perhaps a machine will one day be able to triangulate my changing tastes based on environmental factors based on my limited internet typings, and create a more authentic Will Farr plug-in for Ableton Life 2041. For now, you can at least work out if I’ve listened to the entire inbox whilst jet-washing the patio (I have neither a jet-washer nor a patio) or if I have a dedicated Fresh on the Net listening booth in my recording studio (it’s not really a booth, just a cupboard with a beanbag dedicated to general procrastination).

Batch 528 has been experienced whilst running around for fitness, but this has not created an exercise playlist. On Sunday, I will be taking part in the Great Bristol Run to raise money for Bristol Mind. I’m only mentioning this in case anyone feels compelled to donate to the cause, as this stuff is way more important than being a cool music organism. If any of you spend days sitting in a booth focussed on modifying a tiny noise (I salute you), I recommend getting out and stretching your legs with a run once in a while. Apparently it is quite good for your general health, and gives you a great opportunity to listen to new music without distraction. This probably also applies if you do any other sitting down things, but I can’t imagine what they would be. Spinning yarn?

Playlist curators always say: “wow what an incredible week, so much to choose from!”. This is actually the first week that I’ve had this problem, and the first time that I am going to say it. Sentiment supporting data: my initial shortlist was 27 songs from a batch of 168, so I liked 16% of the inbox. Usually my initial shortlist is 15 from 200, or I like 7.5% of the inbox. It wasn’t fun trimming the shortlist, and many worthy tracks are not on here for various reasons.

Great, let’s hear some music.

1. Yellow Belly – Other Half: Beautifully soft arrangement with meticulous production and mastering. Everything sits perfectly and I’m particularly jealous of the quality of percussion. Could have been released at any time in the last 30 years and I’d describe it to someone as ‘Air meets Kosheen’.

2. Pulses – Hammer Swing: I’m picturing the end credits for a particularly high fidelity video game where your character has saved the world, but at what cost? Great collection of noises put together in a way that I wouldn’t think of, and that seems to be the recipe for what I like to listen to! Swooping.

3. Ghostfield – Flight ft. Silly Peach: I’ve listened to this a lot, and the first bar always makes me think “this is my favourite track this week”. I could probably listen to that reverby string noise on loop quite happily (send me a stem?). Something very Orbital sounding about the mixing of the vocal effects, and the whole track is really well constructed. Right in the middle of the song I hear the last minute of Miike Snow’s Genghis Khan, anyone else?

4. Nano Tone – Automann: This is so me. I’m a sucker for anything that starts off with just snare, and I think I do it a lot. I also love vocoders and making ridiculous loud noises in cars. Reminds me of a lot of the sounds that got me interested in electronic music in the first place, and I love every bit of this track. “Automann is very silly”, a quote from a trusted analyst. In order to settle an argument, please can you include lyrics in your description?

5. sarya – i don’t know where i’m going but that’s okay: The lowercase titling and vocal delivery are totally in keeping with the mood of the song. I like the added reverb to the percussion as the vocals swell. The whole piece chimes with the hopeful nihilist in me.

6. Play Misty – All the Pain, All the Joy: I particularly enjoyed this song and thought it would have been included in the fresh faves. Made me think (whilst running in Reading, of all places) of how human personalities are the result of responses to sequences of joyful and painful stimuli. It’s obviously less robotic than my interpretation, but I’m just the result of a different sequence of stimuli so please treat me accordingly. It’s clearly excellent music and it makes me long to be surrounded by a nice band of lovely talented musicians.

7. Phytophonics – Make Yourself At Home: At first, my 27 track eclectic picks playlist was mostly electronic music. This was a certainty throughout the process as I love it. What can I say about it? Nothing, I’m not too proud to admit that I’m out of my depth. It’s born out of love, and that always shines through with music. All I can say: release date is 20th June 2024, and I wish I heard more music like this when I am out and about in the world. Thank you very much for creating it.

8. shredddflanders – Cry in the Bathroom: Ummm… Who approaches music like this? Who? What is it? Who are you? I haven’t had time to go through your entire collection, but I am going to. I can’t tell you why, but it is excellent and unpredictable and makes my head say YES. If shredddflanders is taking things seriously, then it is definitely the correct things that they are taking seriously, based on this evidence.

9. The Silent Era – Bela Lugosi’s Dead (Live at Brighton Electric): Such an awesome cover of a song I already adore. Tightly and lovingly performed, magnificent mood and delivery all round and I/we don’t regret any of the many times it has been played over the last week at home and beyond. Bravo.

10. Void Vampires – Breathe In Breathe Out: I think this is in the listening post, but I am including it regardless of how it fares. I’ve been running around raising money for a mental health charity, and this has been a perfect accompaniment. Echoes my general sense of disinterest with the digital realm, and has a sound of engaged apathy that makes me take notice. Deserves to do very well, so please support them and buy this record.

11. Echo Machine – Anticipation: Described by the band as “A song about feeling like you are being followed. All the time. By some unnamed presence. Some kind of 21st century fog, making everyone on edge.” This is a sensation that I am constantly moving away from (I’ve narrowed it down to corporate overreach), so I can empathise. Just love the energy and honesty of the band, and it cuts right through the music. Has been great to run to, which is probably not one of the things they wrote on the ‘Dreams’ whiteboard during the first Anticipation focus group.

12. Gdansk_81 – IV Thing: High energy post-punk like this is definitely nestled into my soft spot. Suitably mad enough to be a welcome addition to my eclectic picks, and was an instant yes when I heard IV Thing. I’ve enjoyed running along with headphones in and shouting things that sound vaguely like they could be the actual lyrics, and that’s why I’m not allowed back to Reading. Win win.

13. Austin V – Crabcakes: Yeah, Crabcakes. It makes no sense musically and none of the samples or melodies come in when I would expect. Anyone paying attention to my previous playlists will know that this is my achilles heel. Clearly the work of an electro Damien Hirst, Crabcakes has laid bare all of our fragilities as audio artists entombed in societal expectation and a cloak of corporate-etched norms. Just think how long you’ve spent trying to do that with painstaking attention to detail and music theory, and it turns out the answer was Crabcakes all along. Crab.

Thanks for reading and listening. Please support all of the artists and tell them what you think. I have only recently realised that anyone listening without a Soundcloud subscription has to listen to adverts, so please remember that normal everyday people are also suffering to enjoy our art.

I’m in the mood for a party, let me know if you’d like to throw one before the festival season kicks off! And get in touch if you feel compelled to donate some money to Bristol Mind. I like hearing from people. Probably why I’m wittering away on here. 

Will x

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 playlist 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 annual playlists below:

2024 Playlist: Soundcloud

2023 Playlist: Soundcloud | Spotify

2022 Playlist: Soundcloud | Spotify

2021 Playlis: 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 trustthedoc@demerararecords.com

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