May 27 Playlist

I’ve seen plenty of music workshops and panel discussions and almost all of them stress the importance of being on the case, upfront, full-on, tuned in. In the old days, you were allowed to simply be an artist and to let the record company do the rest, but now the understanding is that every music maker has to be savvy in PR, major in marketing and to have the nous for a network. Indeed, there’s not much glory in being slack and ill-informed. But neither do you want everybody to be Frank Turner.

The old system offered a deal of intrigue. Your musician of choice didn’t spatter you with Tweets, blog banter and navel-snapping fissures of Facebook. There were songs were to be learnt, decoded or simply pondered over for years. Bob Dylan never told you who “Napoleon in rags” really was. Guessing and adding to the song was part of the trip, man.

Anyway, here’s Unknown. Male or female, we’re not sure. Possibly a combo. But likely an artist, with some connection to these parts. Unknown has been presented by stealth via YouTube, with evocative tunes that bear mere numerals. Great tracks, it must be said. Electronic music, reverie-inducing, shrouded in gloom.Thus the internet has been massively receptive, spurred on by Ellie Goulding, an early fan. So is it Skrillex? Or Burial? Or some other notable? The guessing is surely fun.

Now there’s an EP, called ‘I Cry’. Blimey, even a few song titles. And a name vocalist, Gemma Dunleavy. The hardcore followers are perhaps fearing a sell-out. But for the rest of us, it’s opening up like a peculiar blossom.

The Supremes – LoveIsLikeAnItchingInMyHeart (Motown)

Edwyn Collins – Too Bad (That’s Sad) (AED)

Editors – A Ton Of Love (PIAS)

Laura Marling – Where Can I Go (Virgin)

Charles Bradley – Love Bug Blues (Daptone)

James Skelly – Do It Again (cv)

Pogues – Do You Believe In Magic (Rhino)

The National – I Should Live In Salt (4ad)

Unknown – I Cry (Champion Sound)

Guided By Voices – Flunky Minnows (Fire)

Laura Marling –Love Be Brave (Virgin)

The Pastels – Summer Rain (Domino)

Tunng – So Far From Here (Full Time Hobby)

Soweto Kinch – Better Off Alone (SKR)

Van Morrison – Kingdom Hall (Polydor)

Vampire Weekend – Don't Lie (XL)

Irma Thomas – In Between Tears (Soul Jazz)

Robyn G Shiels – Upon Such Things (No Dancing)

Diana Jones – Oh Sinner (Proper)

Deadstring Brothers – Talking With A Man In Montana (Bloodshot)

Chris Keys – Under The Street Light (white)

Ed Harcourt – The Pretty Girls (CCCLX)

David Bowie – Rock And Roll With Me (EMI)

Paul Benjamin Band – Them Tulsa Boys (Horton)

The XX - Fiction (Young Turks)

Diana Jones – Tennessee (Proper)

Stranded Horse – Transmission (Talitres)