Truth be told, most of the rabbit holes I go into now are of my own making. Case in point: my latest LYL Radio mix. I say this because, for some reason, the track that inspired the whole shebang, Ichiro Nitto’s “浅い眠り” aka “Shallow Sleep”, captured a certain feeling or environ that I seemingly can build mountains out. YMO’s “Shadows On The Ground” pens those thoughts to lyrics but I had to suss out more music to match these ideas.
It’s the feelings one touches on when finding oneself caught swiftly/unexpectedly in between seasons. It’s of the lingering cold of winter swiftly being overcome by the sweltering heat of an “Indian summer”. In the sun, you feel your clothes are too warm for the day. In the shade, perhaps, you feel more layers were necessary (in hindsight). Somehow, anyone can be caught off-guard on days that seasons start to meld together.
As you hear the mix, can you sense forthcoming tropical vibrations setting in? Can you sense how it’s less easy-going and more uneasy? It’s as if as the sun lingers in the heavens far longer, clouds can easily build into a rainstorm, yet, they can easily part and reveal a richer, deeper, blue sky. It’s the mystery of our atmosphere trying to figure itself out (as we’re along for the ride trying to do the same). It begs the question: “Just what kind of summer are we in store for?”
It’s something that just hits you. It’s all this, hopefully, you can divine some kind of answer to the atmosphere I’m trying to convey, below…
Shadows On The Ground
Tracklist:
Ichiro Nitta (新田一郎): 浅い眠り
Rebecca (レベッカ): 真夏の雨
Artport (アートポート): ロシアンレゲエ (Russian Reggae)
Mu: Pradʒékt: Mu-Jo
Maki Asakawa (浅川マキ): アメリカの夜
Minako Yoshida (吉田美奈子): Tornado
Kengo Kurosumi (黒住憲伍): 日付変更線
Anthony Wong (黃耀明): 想入非非
Masataro Naoe (直枝政太郎): トロッコ
Mami Koyama (小山茉美): Love Song
Deanie Ip (葉德嫻): 不再分離
Yellow Magic Orchestra (イエロー・マジック・オーケストラ): Shadows On The Ground