Every week we 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 the Eclectic Picks .

INTRODUCING WILL FARR

This week’s curator is one of our regular curators, Will Farr. Will’s sound isn’t easy to pigeon hole but it can be abstract, minimalist, kinda-techno, tongue in cheek, some of those things, none of those things. Will is another prime example of some of the great underground acts lurking in the shadows of the Falmouth, Bristol SSW Coast music scene. Turns out he has a good ear for scouting for talent in the inbox too.

If you made the cut this week, don’t just thank Will with words, check out some of his tracks here instead. It’ll mean a lot more to you if you got the nod of approval from someone on your wavelength.

A FEW WORDS FROM WILL FARR

Thank you for having me back so soon, and so unexpectedly.

I was already a third of the way through the entire inbox when I was asked to create the Eclectic Picks playlist for a second week in a row. I love picking music and telling people how much I appreciate them for their creation, and hearing how happy it has made them to be understood as an artist.

To compliment the fine work of everyone at Fresh on the Net, I am working on a project to turn the new music I find into eclectic DJ sets, and play this wonderful sound offline, in the real world. The focus will be on playing underrepresented music through quality sound systems in new-music friendly venues, with displays and links to the artists so that they can be studied, followed, enjoyed, and hopefully contributed to financially by the music-curious public. I love challenges.

I’m also going to have to start using social media in order to promote everyone’s music, and these DJ sets. I don’t want to think about that heinous step right now.

Reach out if you would like to know more, or would like to hear a person like me playing all new music in your ears.

If you like this playlist, you’ll also like my previous ones. You can hear those via my Soundcloud page.

As usual, please share and comment on this work and any music you enjoy. Creating and releasing music to silence is a bit like saying “I love you” for the first time and not being sure if the other person heard what you said over the sound of the band saw, and not being able to look Mrs Keggs in the eye again before you had to change schools for a reason that was never made entirely clear.

I usually write more about each track. This week I am doing someone else’s homework and only have time to write a (shit) haiku for each, though I could write forever. Clearly.

The playlist:

1 J.G.W.Parker – In the Mountains and the Valleys and Nowhere Else

You did dreamy right
Enjoyed this as the sun rose
waking my lover
2 Little Juke – Down The Rabbit Hole

I really like that
Sounding a lot like Thom Yorke
she said with a wow

3 Marble Stars – Wood Pigeons Coo

Man speaks. Impartial,
but still the words bring feeling.
Beats summon the birds

4 Solessence – Corduroy

I don’t have a lounge.
So this must be the soundtrack
of relaxed pretence

5 The Gamels – 02 The Gamels – Bittersweet

Effortless audio.
Despite being so damn cool,
makes my tummy melt

6 boycalledcrow – magic medicine

Stuttering glory
generates sonic landscape
at home to corvids

7 DAVID STANLEY – Don’t You Ever Stop

I’d love to drop this
in a heavy techno set.
Sunglasses at night

8 the march afternoons – if you find please KILL KILL KILL

Your composition
inspires admiration in
those who understand

9 Negative Response – Alienation

strip away human
analyse the raw data
a system you trust

10 pecq – stronger

Perfect party track
with an unholy bassline.
Wish it was longer.

11 Benjamin Mace-Crossley – We Have Ghosts – Red Wall Colliers

Two-person mosh pit
broke out in our studio
Must see in person.

12 The Glitterbombs – LGB (with The TNB)

Making your statement
with passion and energy
motivates others

13 Eeade – Sally the Monster Slayer

eclectic playlist
uncovering your treasure
for all to enjoy

14 The B – Roads – Upper Street

Everyone here
welcomes everyone else,
your music tells me

15 Fluid Armstrong – Mirage

dripping musical honey
onto a midnight ice cream
thats a nice image

16 Graham Graham Beck – A Spatial Oddity

My captured spirit,
calling out from your music.
Looks better on you.

17 Anna Skoyles – Baking Cookies Song

Mad ingredients
mixed together with magic.
Conjured many smiles.

That’s it, I hope you loved it too. Please go out and see music and talk to people and remember that the world on the screen isn’t the actual world.

Will x

ARTISTS SELECTED THIS WEEK

1. J.G.W.Parker – In the Mountains and the Valleys and Nowhere Else
2. Little Juke – Down The Rabbit Hole
3. Marble Stars – Wood Pigeons Coo
4. Solessence – Corduroy
5. The Gamels – 02 The Gamels – Bittersweet
6. boycalledcrow – magic medicine
7. DAVID STANLEY – Don’t You Ever Stop
8. the march afternoons – if you find please KILL KILL KILL
9. Negative Response – Alienation
10. pecq – stronger
11. Benjamin Mace-Crossley – We Have Ghosts – Red Wall Colliers
12. The Glitterbombs – LGB (with The TNB)
13. Eeade – Sally the Monster Slayer
14. The B – Roads – Upper Street
15. Fluid Armstrong – Mirage
16. Graham Graham Beck – A Spatial Oddity
17. Anna Skoyles – Baking Cookies Song

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. If your video made the list above, post a youtube link to it below 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:

• 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!