Playlist 23.11.09

Judee Sill released her first album in 1971 and her second in 1973. She died in 1979, possibly a suicide, most likely a drug mishap. She'd become so withdrawn that friends didn't know about her passing for years. But those two records are as intense and as magical as any troubadour or word-slinger has ever been.

She was in thrall to Bach and had learnt to play the organ in a reform school - the result of a youthful delinquency that had found her robbing stores at gunpoint and dosing up on heroin. She'd come from a pleasant Californian home, but issues had gotten complicated and she never got over the broken home and the lost idyll. She took consolation in creating swoonsome, exultant music, loading the words with allusions to esoteric spirituality (she was a big fan of Madame Blavatsky) and unusual ideas of salvation. That would tend to make her unique.

Her song 'The Kiss' is from 'Heart Food', the second album. Andy Partridge from XTC calls it "the most beautiful song ever recorded", and he's not just saying that for effect. Go listen.

BBC Radio Ulster, 92-95 FM

Online: www.bbc.co.uk/radioulster

Mondays, ten - midnight

Badly Drawn Boy - Donna And Blitzen (Twisted Nerve)

Cortney Tidwell - So We Sing (City Slang)

The Len Price 3 - After You're Gone (Wicked Cool)

The Specials - Do Nothing (Two Tone)

The Hussies - Greatest Living Actress (Cheerleader)

Lucinda Williams - Jug Band Music (Retroworld)

Shrag - Rabbit Kids (WIAIWYA)

Judee Sill - The Kiss (Water)

Ash - True Love 1980 (Atomic Heart)

No Comebacks - Corina Corina (Ocean)

Joe and Rose Lee Maphis - Country Girl Courtship (Righteous)

Bill Coleman Welcome To The Breakdown (downloadmusic.ie)

Graham Parker - Don't Ask Me Questions (Mercury)

Arctic Monkeys - Cornerstone (Domino)

Nitin Sawhney - Distant Dreams (cv)

Van Morrison - Eternal Kansas City (Polydor)

Charlie Parker Billlies Bounce (Savoy)

Devendra Banhart 16 & Valencia Roxy Music (Warner)

Bob Dylan - The Christmas Blues (Columbia)

Laura Viers - Life Is Good Blues (Bella Union)

Richard Hawley As The Dawn Breaks (Mute)

Nitin Sawhney - October Daze (cv)

Prince - I Wanna Be Your Lover (Warner)

Simian Mobile Disco - Cruel Intentions (Wichita)

James Blackshaw - Cross (Young God)