Music Labyrinth Episode 056
Life’s What You Make It / Talk Talk
Hello Listener, and welcome to episode 56 of The Music Labyrinth. Fifty Six is a city in Stone County, Arkansas, which is sufficient for it to be included on a Wikipedia page of unusual place names. That list is just too good to bypass quickly. It includes the city of Batman in Turkey; Boring, Orgean; the village of Ugley in Essex; Hell, Michigan; Buttzville, New Jersey; and Shitterton in Dorset. The list also includes a bunch of place names perhaps a little too blue to be broadcast on this humble, family-oriented program. A social problem common to most of the towns we have mentioned (and you will be unsurprised to learn this) is the theft of public signage. Go figure! Anyway, most of that is completely unaffected by relevance to this episode of The Music Labyrinth, except maybe for the observation that you can never be sure where 56 may lead you, and I know that tonight it is leading us somewhere unexpected! More on that at the back end of the show. This episode has been lovingly (and mischievously) crafted for you by The Music Labyrinth Elves. The musical content and the facts linking tracks are entirely Elf-generated. I remain merely your humble presenter on this occasion. And so, onwards we go into Elf Territory! That laid back new wave groove which opened the show tonight was Life’s What You Make It by Talk Talk. Long-term Talk Talk collaborator Tim Friese-Greene describes the drum pattern in the song as being “loosely inspired by” the one in this next track from a fellow UK artist.
Running Up That Hill / Kate Bush
Welcome back to the entirely Elf-Driven Music Labyrinth, where we last listened to Kate Bush with her gorgeous song Running Up That Hill. Kate Bush is an artist whose influence (and I don’t think this is controversial to say) is both widespread and very welcome within the music scene. In a video interview for Pitchfork, the artist Big Boi - who you might know better as one half of the duo Outkast-- discusses his love for that song, discussing Kate Bush’s knack for theatricality and narrative in her music. It’s essentially just four minutes of him fangirling. Nonetheless, despite Big Boi working in the world of hiphop, I think there’s a definite nod to synth pop in this next track by him.
Shutterbug / Big Boi (feat. Cutty)
Welcome back to the Music Labyrinth where we just heard Shutterbug by Big Boi. Big Boi, apart from being a devoted Kate Bush fan, has also received quite a few accolades in his career as both a member of Outkast and for his work as a solo performer. The song we just heard was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best performance by a Duo or Group in 2011, which provides many an exciting direction to go in, but let’s hear from the 1999 winner of that same Grammy category.
Intergalactic / Beastie Boys
That was the Beastie Boys with their song Intergalactic, from the 1998 album Hello Nasty. Caroline Sullivan of The Guardian, named that album the "Pop CD of the Week", writing that it "fills a gap created by the current profusion of serious rock bands like Radiohead”. Well now, given that us here at the Music Labyrinth are very serious folk, let’s have a go at some serious music. This is Radiohead with Subterranean Homesick Alien.
Subterranean Homesick Alien / Radiohead
Welcome back listeners. Hopefully you’re not feeling too serious after that track from Radiohead. Subterranean Homesick Alien is the third track from their album OK Computer. As you may or may not know, three is also the number of sides, points, and -- funnily enough-- angles in a triangle. This next track has a mention or two of triangles, AND is also the third track on its respective album. Put that in your protractor and smoke it!
Tessellate / Alt-J
That was, of course, Alt-J with their song Tesselate. Hardcore geometry fans will be extra pleased with this episode, because not only does Tessalate feature triangles as a lyrical motif, but the band name Alt-J is actually a shortcut on Mac keyboards for the Greek letter delta, which is a triangle! I’ll admit it's a little bit hipster-y. However, some may recall the time when Prince changed his name to a ‘love symbol’ (which combined the signs for male and female) as an act of rebellion against his record label. I always found it amusing that, for a while after his change of appellation, that some people began to refer to him as Mr Squiggle. Propriety please people! Anyway, here is The Artist Formerly Known As Prince.
Cream / Prince (and The New Power Generation)
Here in The Music Labyrinth we were just grooving with Prince and his song, Cream. Those familiar with Prince might fondly recall his rockstar reputation, his genre-blending, his distinctive style which blended elements of both feminine and masculine, his song named Sign Of The Times… hang on a second. This all sounds awfully familiar. Here is Sign Of the Times, but by the artist currently known as Harry Styles.
Sign Of The Times / Harry Styles
On the Music Labyrinth you just heard Sign Of The Times by Harry Styles from his self-titled album. Jeff Bhasker is credited as one of the writers for the song, and has an arsenal of other songwriting credits to his name, in addition to some production credits on the album that features this next track:
No Church In The Wild / Jay-Z & Kanye West (feat. Frank Ocean & The-Dream)
That was Kanye West with No Church In The Wild from the 2011 album Watch The Throne. That song, and the album were actually a collaborative effort between West and his long term friend and fellow musician Jay-Z. So, let’s listen to some solo work from Jay-Z. This is 99 Problems.
99 Problems / Jay-Z
Welcome back to The Music Labyrinth where we last heard Jay-Z with 99 Problems. Now, if you’re in the know (and, lets face it - our listeners are as sharp as a B Flat played for A) you’ll see the obvious marital link from Jay-Z to Beyonce. I turn my nose up at the assumption that we would go such an obvious route. Beyonce’s sister, however, has a couple of Jay-Z related links. One is the infamous incident in which she punched him in an elevator at the 2014 Met Gala afterparty (I checked this on behalf of our listeners. Its fact.). Solange also wrote several songs for Beyonce, including many featuring Jay-Z. So, we appear entirely justified in proceeding from Jay-Z’s 99 Problems (and Solange is one) to Solange herself. From her solo 2016 album, here is Solange with Junie.
Junie / Solange
That was Junie by Solange. Among the beautiful and intricately layered vocals on that track was an uncredited feature from the other half of Outkast, Andre 3000. (Hey, we’ve accidentally circled back to Big Boi!) Now, because we’ve spent a loving, yet large, amount of time on hip hop this evening, let’s take a more tenuous leap over Andre and to some colleagues of his. In 2013, Andre 3000 teamed up with this following group in a campaign for Converse. This is Gorillaz
Doncamatic / Gorillaz (feat. Daley)
You’ve just listened to Gorillaz with their track Doncamatic, named for the Disc Rotary Electric Auto Rhythm Machine Donca Matic DA-20, the first instrument to be produced by tech company Korg. This next artist is somewhat of a niche instrument connoisseur, utilising rhythm machines, monophones, and even wire fences in his mixes. Here is Gotye with In Your Light.
In Your Light / Gotye
Welcome back to the Music Labyrinth. The previous track was the joyous In Your Light by Gotye. Another Gotye song which you will definitely be no stranger to is Somebody That I Used To Know, which took out the number one spot on the Triple J Hottest 100 countdown in 2011. But enough about that guy. Lets hear from the artist who was featured on Somebody That I Used To Know. This is Kimbra.
Settle Down / Kimbra
That was Kimbra with Settle Down. Kimbra is one of only three singers from New Zealand to have received a Grammy, hers being in both the Record of the Year and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance categories. Let’s hear from one of the other two New Zealanders with Grammys, and I’ll give you a hint: it’s not Keith Urban!
Ribs / Lorde
That was Lorde with her song Ribs. We hope you liked that track because just as a treat we’ve arranged for a Lorde double feature. In 2013, the second film in the Hunger Games franchise, Catching Fire, was released. For the soundtrack of Catching Fire, Lorde covered this iconic song from the 80s.
Everybody Wants To Rule The World / Lorde
You have returned (bless you) to The Music Labyrinth where we recently heard Lorde covering the Tears For Fears song Everybody Wants To Rule The World. Boy, those Tears For Fears guys sure are something. Let’s hear some more from them. From their 1985 album Songs From The Big Chair, here is Head Over Heels.
Head Over Heels / Tears For Fears
On The Music Labyrinth we just heard Tears For Fears’ track Head Over Heels. You may or may not remember the music video for the song in which one of the members of the band tries to capture the affections of a librarian. Well, that music video was directed by Nigel Dick, who went on to direct a whole army of music videos, including the culture-defining video for this next song:
Oops!…I Did It Again / Britney Spears
That was Britney Spears’ 2000 hit Oops!...I Did It Again. Britney Spears actually began her career on The Mickey Mouse Club along with other artists and entertainers such as Ryan Gosling, Christina Aguilera, Justin Timberlake and this next artist. So, hopping from one Disney star to another (and one hoppin’ track to another) let’s hear from former Hannah Montanna lead Miley Cyrus.
Nothing Breaks Like A Heart / Mark Ronson (feat. Miley Cyrus)
This is The Music Labyrinth and, from her 2018 collaboration with Mark Ronson, we last listened to Miley Cyrus with Nothing Breaks Like A Heart. Back in 2014, Miley Cyrus made a surprise appearance at a Flaming Lips concert, at which they sang this next song together.
Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots Pt.1 / The Flaming Lips
That was The Flaming Lips with Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots, Pt.1. The Flaming Lips are serial collaborators with this next artist, having worked together in both production as well as several joint tracks, as well as covers of one another’s songs <3. Here is Tame Impala.
Feels Like We Only Go Backwards / Tame Impala
That was Feels Like We Only Go Backward by Tame Impala. Tame Impala is something of a juggernaut in the Australian music scene, accumulating numerous accolades, countless covers, and just generally being considered pretty groovy. Earlier this year, an even larger legend of Australian music paid homage to Tame Impala with our final track in this episode, a cover of a Tame Impala song. And the good news is that we can all look forward to hearing this again at the beginning of our next episode. That’s a wrap on episode 56 of the Music Labyrinth. We hope you haven’t gotten too tired from all the grooving and jigging, and that you haven’t cut your rug beyond repair. You’re welcome Dad for the late Father’s Day present. Here are The Wiggles.
Elephant (Triple J Like A Version) / The Wiggles
Hello Listener, and welcome to episode 56 of The Music Labyrinth. Fifty Six is a city in Stone County, Arkansas, which is sufficient for it to be included on a Wikipedia page of unusual place names. That list is just too good to bypass quickly. It includes the city of Batman in Turkey; Boring, Orgean; the village of Ugley in Essex; Hell, Michigan; Buttzville, New Jersey; and Shitterton in Dorset. The list also includes a bunch of place names perhaps a little too blue to be broadcast on this humble, family-oriented program. A social problem common to most of the towns we have mentioned (and you will be unsurprised to learn this) is the theft of public signage. Go figure! Anyway, most of that is completely unaffected by relevance to this episode of The Music Labyrinth, except maybe for the observation that you can never be sure where 56 may lead you, and I know that tonight it is leading us somewhere unexpected! More on that at the back end of the show. This episode has been lovingly (and mischievously) crafted for you by The Music Labyrinth Elves. The musical content and the facts linking tracks are entirely Elf-generated. I remain merely your humble presenter on this occasion. And so, onwards we go into Elf Territory! That laid back new wave groove which opened the show tonight was Life’s What You Make It by Talk Talk. Long-term Talk Talk collaborator Tim Friese-Greene describes the drum pattern in the song as being “loosely inspired by” the one in this next track from a fellow UK artist.
Running Up That Hill / Kate Bush
Welcome back to the entirely Elf-Driven Music Labyrinth, where we last listened to Kate Bush with her gorgeous song Running Up That Hill. Kate Bush is an artist whose influence (and I don’t think this is controversial to say) is both widespread and very welcome within the music scene. In a video interview for Pitchfork, the artist Big Boi - who you might know better as one half of the duo Outkast-- discusses his love for that song, discussing Kate Bush’s knack for theatricality and narrative in her music. It’s essentially just four minutes of him fangirling. Nonetheless, despite Big Boi working in the world of hiphop, I think there’s a definite nod to synth pop in this next track by him.
Shutterbug / Big Boi (feat. Cutty)
Welcome back to the Music Labyrinth where we just heard Shutterbug by Big Boi. Big Boi, apart from being a devoted Kate Bush fan, has also received quite a few accolades in his career as both a member of Outkast and for his work as a solo performer. The song we just heard was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best performance by a Duo or Group in 2011, which provides many an exciting direction to go in, but let’s hear from the 1999 winner of that same Grammy category.
Intergalactic / Beastie Boys
That was the Beastie Boys with their song Intergalactic, from the 1998 album Hello Nasty. Caroline Sullivan of The Guardian, named that album the "Pop CD of the Week", writing that it "fills a gap created by the current profusion of serious rock bands like Radiohead”. Well now, given that us here at the Music Labyrinth are very serious folk, let’s have a go at some serious music. This is Radiohead with Subterranean Homesick Alien.
Subterranean Homesick Alien / Radiohead
Welcome back listeners. Hopefully you’re not feeling too serious after that track from Radiohead. Subterranean Homesick Alien is the third track from their album OK Computer. As you may or may not know, three is also the number of sides, points, and -- funnily enough-- angles in a triangle. This next track has a mention or two of triangles, AND is also the third track on its respective album. Put that in your protractor and smoke it!
Tessellate / Alt-J
That was, of course, Alt-J with their song Tesselate. Hardcore geometry fans will be extra pleased with this episode, because not only does Tessalate feature triangles as a lyrical motif, but the band name Alt-J is actually a shortcut on Mac keyboards for the Greek letter delta, which is a triangle! I’ll admit it's a little bit hipster-y. However, some may recall the time when Prince changed his name to a ‘love symbol’ (which combined the signs for male and female) as an act of rebellion against his record label. I always found it amusing that, for a while after his change of appellation, that some people began to refer to him as Mr Squiggle. Propriety please people! Anyway, here is The Artist Formerly Known As Prince.
Cream / Prince (and The New Power Generation)
Here in The Music Labyrinth we were just grooving with Prince and his song, Cream. Those familiar with Prince might fondly recall his rockstar reputation, his genre-blending, his distinctive style which blended elements of both feminine and masculine, his song named Sign Of The Times… hang on a second. This all sounds awfully familiar. Here is Sign Of the Times, but by the artist currently known as Harry Styles.
Sign Of The Times / Harry Styles
On the Music Labyrinth you just heard Sign Of The Times by Harry Styles from his self-titled album. Jeff Bhasker is credited as one of the writers for the song, and has an arsenal of other songwriting credits to his name, in addition to some production credits on the album that features this next track:
No Church In The Wild / Jay-Z & Kanye West (feat. Frank Ocean & The-Dream)
That was Kanye West with No Church In The Wild from the 2011 album Watch The Throne. That song, and the album were actually a collaborative effort between West and his long term friend and fellow musician Jay-Z. So, let’s listen to some solo work from Jay-Z. This is 99 Problems.
99 Problems / Jay-Z
Welcome back to The Music Labyrinth where we last heard Jay-Z with 99 Problems. Now, if you’re in the know (and, lets face it - our listeners are as sharp as a B Flat played for A) you’ll see the obvious marital link from Jay-Z to Beyonce. I turn my nose up at the assumption that we would go such an obvious route. Beyonce’s sister, however, has a couple of Jay-Z related links. One is the infamous incident in which she punched him in an elevator at the 2014 Met Gala afterparty (I checked this on behalf of our listeners. Its fact.). Solange also wrote several songs for Beyonce, including many featuring Jay-Z. So, we appear entirely justified in proceeding from Jay-Z’s 99 Problems (and Solange is one) to Solange herself. From her solo 2016 album, here is Solange with Junie.
Junie / Solange
That was Junie by Solange. Among the beautiful and intricately layered vocals on that track was an uncredited feature from the other half of Outkast, Andre 3000. (Hey, we’ve accidentally circled back to Big Boi!) Now, because we’ve spent a loving, yet large, amount of time on hip hop this evening, let’s take a more tenuous leap over Andre and to some colleagues of his. In 2013, Andre 3000 teamed up with this following group in a campaign for Converse. This is Gorillaz
Doncamatic / Gorillaz (feat. Daley)
You’ve just listened to Gorillaz with their track Doncamatic, named for the Disc Rotary Electric Auto Rhythm Machine Donca Matic DA-20, the first instrument to be produced by tech company Korg. This next artist is somewhat of a niche instrument connoisseur, utilising rhythm machines, monophones, and even wire fences in his mixes. Here is Gotye with In Your Light.
In Your Light / Gotye
Welcome back to the Music Labyrinth. The previous track was the joyous In Your Light by Gotye. Another Gotye song which you will definitely be no stranger to is Somebody That I Used To Know, which took out the number one spot on the Triple J Hottest 100 countdown in 2011. But enough about that guy. Lets hear from the artist who was featured on Somebody That I Used To Know. This is Kimbra.
Settle Down / Kimbra
That was Kimbra with Settle Down. Kimbra is one of only three singers from New Zealand to have received a Grammy, hers being in both the Record of the Year and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance categories. Let’s hear from one of the other two New Zealanders with Grammys, and I’ll give you a hint: it’s not Keith Urban!
Ribs / Lorde
That was Lorde with her song Ribs. We hope you liked that track because just as a treat we’ve arranged for a Lorde double feature. In 2013, the second film in the Hunger Games franchise, Catching Fire, was released. For the soundtrack of Catching Fire, Lorde covered this iconic song from the 80s.
Everybody Wants To Rule The World / Lorde
You have returned (bless you) to The Music Labyrinth where we recently heard Lorde covering the Tears For Fears song Everybody Wants To Rule The World. Boy, those Tears For Fears guys sure are something. Let’s hear some more from them. From their 1985 album Songs From The Big Chair, here is Head Over Heels.
Head Over Heels / Tears For Fears
On The Music Labyrinth we just heard Tears For Fears’ track Head Over Heels. You may or may not remember the music video for the song in which one of the members of the band tries to capture the affections of a librarian. Well, that music video was directed by Nigel Dick, who went on to direct a whole army of music videos, including the culture-defining video for this next song:
Oops!…I Did It Again / Britney Spears
That was Britney Spears’ 2000 hit Oops!...I Did It Again. Britney Spears actually began her career on The Mickey Mouse Club along with other artists and entertainers such as Ryan Gosling, Christina Aguilera, Justin Timberlake and this next artist. So, hopping from one Disney star to another (and one hoppin’ track to another) let’s hear from former Hannah Montanna lead Miley Cyrus.
Nothing Breaks Like A Heart / Mark Ronson (feat. Miley Cyrus)
This is The Music Labyrinth and, from her 2018 collaboration with Mark Ronson, we last listened to Miley Cyrus with Nothing Breaks Like A Heart. Back in 2014, Miley Cyrus made a surprise appearance at a Flaming Lips concert, at which they sang this next song together.
Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots Pt.1 / The Flaming Lips
That was The Flaming Lips with Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots, Pt.1. The Flaming Lips are serial collaborators with this next artist, having worked together in both production as well as several joint tracks, as well as covers of one another’s songs <3. Here is Tame Impala.
Feels Like We Only Go Backwards / Tame Impala
That was Feels Like We Only Go Backward by Tame Impala. Tame Impala is something of a juggernaut in the Australian music scene, accumulating numerous accolades, countless covers, and just generally being considered pretty groovy. Earlier this year, an even larger legend of Australian music paid homage to Tame Impala with our final track in this episode, a cover of a Tame Impala song. And the good news is that we can all look forward to hearing this again at the beginning of our next episode. That’s a wrap on episode 56 of the Music Labyrinth. We hope you haven’t gotten too tired from all the grooving and jigging, and that you haven’t cut your rug beyond repair. You’re welcome Dad for the late Father’s Day present. Here are The Wiggles.
Elephant (Triple J Like A Version) / The Wiggles