Archives – 2023 – May – 23  

Modern Qualifier 41 – Little Simz, Kero Kero Bonito, SAULT, Sleaford Mods
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— 23 May 2023 Tom
  1. From the Mercury Prize winner’s 2019 LP Grey Area. Nominated by Arron W.
  2. 2014 single by the cult London indiepop group, first appeared on the compilation shh#ffb6c1. Nominated by Ed S.
  3. From the mysterious collective’s 2020 LP Untitled (Rise). Nominated by Steve M.
  4. From the self-released 2007 LP The Mekon. Later re-recorded for (I assume) sample clearance reasons. A Bracket Balancer.
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Qualifier M41: VENOM FLAMINGO FEARLESS JOBSEEKER

LITTLE SIMZ - "Venom" (YouTube)

KERO KERO BONITO - "Flamingo" (YouTube)

SAULT - "Fearless" (YouTube)

SLEAFORD MODS - "Jobseeker (2007 version)" (YouTube)

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Latest comments (of 11)

aldo   13 months ago

Spent a few nights in cartel territory in Chiapas, found a Mexican narco rap bar that was pretty welcoming and got chatting after time. Tried to get them to break up the drogas y putas sounds with […]

Edward Still   13 months ago

But not as confusing as all the Death Grips comments!

Ed Still   13 months ago

There's a catchy/annoying line which a lot of people may think KKB are on the wrong side of. I can happily stomach a lot of them, but trampoline has always been a bounce too far for me. Flamingo on […]

TheHarderLine   13 months ago

I know about them because Saint Etienne like them and I can hear it!

Modern Qualifier 42 – Mapara A Jazz, Starboy ft Wizkid, Masaki Suda, Duda Beat
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— 23 May 2023 Tom

GLOBAL GROUP TIME!

  1. The Pretoria group’s 2020 viral hit which inspired a YouTube challenge (apparently). Nominated by Joseph K.
  2. Collaboration which appeared on Wizkid’s 2014 LP Ayo. Nominated by lokpolokpo.
  3. Single from the Japanese actor-singer’s 2018 debut LP Play. Nominated by Isabel E.
  4. A 2020 remix of the Brazilian singer’s 2018 debut single. Nominated by magnets321.
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Qualifier M42: GATE CARO ELEGY BIXINHO

MAPARA A JAZZ - "John Vuli Gate" (YouTube)

STARBOY ft LAX & WIZKID - "Caro" (YouTube)

MASAKI SUDA - "Sayonara Elegy" (YouTube)

DUDA BEAT - "Bixinho (Lux & Troia Remix)" (YouTube)

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Latest comments (of 7)

rabbitfun   13 months ago

So yeah, I nominated “Caro”. Simple, Wizkid is my favourite artist of the past ten-odd years, and while 2017-2018 is his best period for me and he made his best album in 2020, if asked (whether at […]

Matt   13 months ago

These are all good, but John Vuli Gate is the shiniest Golden Beat of the tournament for me so far.

Edward Still   13 months ago

I've not had a great day but this group has been some kind of balm. Gonna default to Brazilian but it's all worthy.

j_e_l   13 months ago

A very good set of songs! Always enjoy the B-Sides a bit more - more variety! I liked Mapara A Jazz, but Masaki gets the vote here

Modern Qualifier 43 – Magdalena Bay, Nilufer Yanya, Ethel Cain, Alvvays
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— 23 May 2023 Tom
  1. From the synthpop duo (and B Side winners!) 2021 LP Mercurial World. Nominated by Steve M.
  2. From the 2020 Feeling Lucky EP. Nominated by isaiahtwofour.
  3. From the Florida songwriter’s 2022 debut Preacher’s Daughter. Nominated by Jonathan.
  4. From the Toronto indiepoppers’ 2022 LP Blue Rev. Nominated by Josh B.
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Qualifier M43: SECRETS CRASH TEENAGER EASY

MAGDALENA BAY - "Secrets (Your Fire)" (YouTube)

NILUFER YANYA - "Crash" (YouTube)

ETHEL CAIN - "American Teenager" (YouTube)

ALVVAYS - "Easy On Your Own?" (YouTube)

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Latest comments (of 7)

jonathanb   13 months ago

I nominated Ethel Cain's "American Teenager" because we reached the end of the 2022 poll and its absence seemed glaringly apparent. It was one of my favs from last year, a hazy smear of an indie […]

Jeff Worrell   13 months ago

My personal loyalty extends to buying the album. However I am following Golden Beat rules in this poll (unless I hate the ones I didn’t know before), so Ethel gets the vote.

j_e_l   13 months ago

I enjoyed this group! Overwhelming safe and pleasant, indie easy listening maybe? It’s between MB and EC, Alvvays have done well before…

j_e_l   13 months ago

Is she related to Michael Bay? :)

Modern Qualifier 44 – Anna Meredith, Mica Levi, The Kronos Quartet, Gwenifer Raymond
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— 23 May 2023 Tom
  1. From the Scottish composer/songwriter’s debut EP, 2012’s Black Prince Fury. A Bracket Balancer.
  2. From the soundtrack to 2013’s Under The Skin. Nominated by machotrouts.
  3. From 2009’s concept LP Floodplain, written for the long-running quartet by Azerbaijani composer Said Rustamov. Nominated by Martijn tH.
  4. A 2018 single by the Welsh multi-instrumentalist. Nominated by Matt.
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Qualifier M44: NAUTILUS LOVE GETME DEATHS

ANNA MEREDITH - "Nautilus" (YouTube)

MICA LEVI - "Love" (YouTube)

KRONOS QUARTET - "Getme Getme" (YouTube)

GWENIFER RAYMOND - "The Three Deaths Of Red Spectre" (YouTube)

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Latest comments (of 22)

machotrouts   13 months ago

'Love' nominator here. Because I struggle to relate to lyrics, most of the music I emotionally imprint on is instrumental, with its "meaning" being entirely projected by me. However, because the […]

Jeff Worrell   13 months ago

Already knew AM and ML. But it’s more than just that which has driven me towards Kronos and Said Rustamov. Loved the pacing on their track. Was impressed by Gwenifer’s playing too but not enough to […]

Matt   13 months ago

It's a belting group (is Nautilus really from 2012? It doesn't seem nearly that long, still as fresh and odd as it ever was, and Getme Getme is absolutely beguiling), but I'm sticking with my nom, […]

j_e_l   13 months ago

I was expecting Aphex Twin style squelchy noises

Modern Qualifier 45 – Alela Diane, Scott And Charlene’s Wedding, Karine Polwart, Darren Criss
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— 23 May 2023 Tom
  1. From the indie folk songwriter’s 2009 LP To Be Still. Nominated by Julia H.
  2. From the Melbourne indie rockers’ 2016 LP Mid Thirties Single Scene. Nominated by William A.
  3. From the Scottish folk singer’s 2018 LP of the same name. Nominated by Liam D.
  4. An unreleased song by the former Glee actor. Nominated by grapefruitzzz.
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Qualifier M45: GRASS YEARS MOTION WORDS

ALELA DIANE - "Dry Grass And Shadows" (YouTube)

SCOTT AND CHARLENE'S WEDDING - "Hardest Years" (YouTube)

KARINE POLWART - "Laws Of Motion" (YouTube)

DARREN CRISS - "Words" (YouTube)

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Latest comments (of 4)

SmoothBrain   13 months ago

I nominated SACW, I like their brand of shaggy rock. Hardest Years is not perhaps thier most innovative track but it's a personal favourite and I love the vocalist's line delivery, particularly […]

j_e_l   13 months ago

Think this bunch of qualifiers has been the best so far - lots of enjoyable music in Modern Day 9. I enjoyed the familiarity of Scott and Charlene’s Wedding, raggedy indie anthem! Darren Criss […]

TheHarderLine   13 months ago

I liked “Dry Grass and Shadows” but “Laws of Motion” made me think of Fairport Convention and got my vote.

Leo Breebaart   13 months ago

I really liked the Karine Polwart song; definitely one of the few GBs I've managed to find amongst the Modern tracks. I liked it enough to quickly check out the entire album, but none of the other […]

Modern Playlists Day 9
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— 23 May 2023 Tom

I’m nervous about today cos I think it’s overall the day with the least well-known tracks so it could really struggle for votes. Fame is no reflection of quality though – I hope you take these lovely groups to your heart!

A single comment

j_e_l   13 months ago

Yeah, thought this was the best play-list so far

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