The Current State of Music

Chris Cracknell
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  • Music Interviews

This project is an exploration of the current state of music and the music industry—told through the voices of artists, producers, musicians, DJs, and insiders. By sharing their personal stories, insights, struggles, and successes, we aim to understand how they've shaped their unique corners of the music world. It’s about uncovering the real journeys behind the sound—what drives them, what challenges they face, and what keeps them going. In doing so, I hope to inspire others—and myself—to keep pushing forward, especially during the tough times. chriscracknelldj.substack.com

  1. The Current State of Music - Archive show

    2d ago

    The Current State of Music - Archive show

    Hey, how are you doing? I apologise firstly, for no new show this week. I’ve been knocked flat out by gastric flu and I’m still in a bit of a fever and have to be within running distance of a toilet, but I’m getting better, alas, I didn’t feel up to a show, , maybe I’ll do you lovely subscribers and special one just for you next week… So, here’s a show from a few years ago, opening with the incredible Melanie De Biasio, whom, when I ordered the album, a few days later she sent me a postcard to say thanks for the support over the years. I don’t have big expensive hobbies (my wife would say my record collection is big and expensive)and I’m not one for trinkets, but little things like this are my treasured possessions. It’s quite a thoughtful start to the show, I’m guessing it was recorded late and I was recalibrating my brain from the day, regular listeners will know that I usually record my shows quite late at night and you can tell what sort of day I’ve had by how space I need at the start, to gather my thoughts and energy. Must have been a tough day… As usual, music does it’s thing and will return me to an inspired state, reading to share music with you. Starting with the prolific Sault, whose output is quite astounding, with a new album just recently. Asha Puthli is an amazing human being, I was lucky to grab a few words with her at We Out Here a couple of years ago, and she will be in Brighton next Friday at Mr Bongos, which will be epic, it will be great to say hi to her. If you missed DJ Formats’ The Devils Workshop from a few years ago, I’d say you missed his masterpiece. Another lovely soul who makes the world a better place. If you see him DJ live, you are in for a lesson. Its funny that Cut Chemist pops up in this show too, there was a podcast out this week where Cut Chemist was shouting out DJ Format… I quite enjoyed listening to the hip hop in this show, I don’t go back to hip hop very often these days and it’s a treat when I do. Well, I haven’t got much chat in the back and am having a full on hot flush, so I need to bail and get some water. I hope you enjoy this one, and I’ll see you next week, fighting fit with some new/old music for you. x Tracklist: Melanie De Biasio - We Never Kneel to Pray Nils Frahm - Harmonium in the Well Sault - Still Waters Chene Noir - Musique De La Nuit Chene Noir - Chemin d’ou l’on ne revient pas Asha Puthli and the Surfers - Sound of Silence Madlib - Road of the Lonely Ones DJ Format - Strange Sensations The Gaslamp Killer - Seven Years of Bad Luck Amon Tobin - At The End of the Day Joana Queiroz - Dois Litorais Servica - Sistema en Tick Tack Caballo - Hilo Del Destino Fybe:one and Katey Brooks - Sensetory Space Scrimshire - Eyes Shut Dangermouse and Murs - To a Black Boy Khalab and Baba Sissoko - Nana DJ Shadow and Danny Brown - Horror Show Palm Skin Productions - We Stand, Divided Pretty Lights - Vibe Vendetta Roots Manuva - The Lynch Soul Position - Run The Pharcyde - Yo Mama Black Sheep - Similak Child Cut Chemist - A Peak in Time Gawd Status - Destroyed J Dilla - NO One Knows RJD2 - 2 More Dead Swollen Members - Lady Venom This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chriscracknelldj.substack.com

    2 hr
  2. The Current State of Music Radio Show - Archive

    Jun 12

    The Current State of Music Radio Show - Archive

    Hey, how are you doing? Another week has flown by, I’m not sure I’ve achieved anything this week, apart from staying alive, and for some, that is enough. This archive show is from 1BTN and I must have been standing in for someone as it was broadcast live on a Sunday evening, so it will be interesting to see how the vibe of this one plays out. I was standing in for a reggae/roots show, I wonder if I venture down that way? I mean, I don’t really play that sort of thing, so it was probably a disappointment to anyone tuning in to hear that genre. Kicking off with Alice Coltrane would certainly send the message that it’s probably not going to be what they wanted to hear, ah well, hopefully I bought a few new listeners over my way. What I love about doing shows live, is the commitment, you have a limited selection of music, and you have to make sense of it, and make it work. I miss that. To blow my own trumpet, I think I am pretty good at that aspect in particular, building a narrative with what I have to hand and committing to tunes even though they might be a stretch for the casual listener, but by committing, you lead the listener to believe in the tune and to find something in it too. With that in mind, this track by Moses Boyd is hard, but totally brilliant. I should play this more. I’d like a regular night where I can play this stuff out to a crowd… I’m really enjoying the jazz selection here, in particular The Madison Time, a track I first heard on on of Lemon Jelly’s Breezeblock mixes for Mary Anne Hobbs on Radio 1 (at the time) which are some of the most mental dj mixes you’ll ever hear, once you’re done here, then go check at least one out here: Lemon Jelly Breezeblock May 2000 This track by Khalab is an all time favourite and what led me to getting Tenesha The Wordsmith on an, as yet, unreleased track with Chip Wickham. I hope that sees the light of day some time, its rather great. What is interesting (I’ll be the judge of that) is that I’ve been playing new releases by a few of the artists I’ve played on this show, so either something is happening in cycles, or I’m slowly drifting into nostalgia and not doing enough work to find new artists. Or maybe both things are true? Roots Manuva is still, in my opnion, the best MC of all time, and this track Crying from the album Bleeds is as heavy as it comes, definitely Grime inspired. Which leads me to a great doc on Grime on the iplayer, which is worth a watch It’s also worth noting how I”m taking the chance to play some hip hop, because the show went out after 9pm so swearing is OK. My usual show used to go out on a Tuesday morning, so I either edited out swearing, or I didn’t bother playing any. You’ll recognise the drums from the Skull Snaps track, which has been sampled hundreds of times, but this is the OG track. Do you want to smash shit up every time you listen to Sabotage by the Beastie Boys? Me too… I have no idea how I got from Nightmares on Wax to Blondie , but fair play to me for trying, if I was out at a bar and the DJ pulled this I would have bought him/her a pint, then ending with Superkat, well, thats a show. I hope you’ve enjoyed this one. See you soon. Love x Tracklist: Alice Coltrane - Improvisation Elysian Quartet and Kae Tempest - Where The Heart Is Moses Boyd - After Tomorrow Luke Vibert - Doozit Gogo Penguin - Ocean in a Drop Adele Sebastian - Day Dream Ray Bryant Combo - The Madison Time Pt1 Khalab - Blacknoise 2084 feat Tenesha the Wordsmith Radiohead - Daydreaming Rival Consoles - Be Kind Four Tet - You are Loved Melanie De Biasio - Your Freedom is the End of Me Roots Manuva - Crying DJ Shadow - Systematic feat Nas Audio Two - Top Billin (Dangermouse re-edit) Rube - Another Gone Record Gang Starr - The Militia Skull Snaps - Its a New Day Visioneers - Ike Mood I Helmet - Biscuits for Smut (Mutts Mix) Beastie Boys - Sabotage NWA - Express Yourself Mark B and Blade - The Unknown Nuts One - Disgrace Nightmares on Wax - Les Nuits Blondie - The Tide is High Cutty Ranks - Wede Man Kenny Dope - Superkat This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chriscracknelldj.substack.com

    1h 56m
  3. The Current State of Music Radio Show - 06.06.26

    Jun 5

    The Current State of Music Radio Show - 06.06.26

    Hey. how are you doing? I’m OK thanks for asking, well, I’m a bit frazzled. I think the whole world is right now. I look at my records and I don’t know where to start, or what direction to go in. Luckily, I have built up some muscle memory (and an awesome record collection) and I really leaned on that whilst recording this one. To start with, Fred Deakin of Lemon Jelly fame dropped me a message to let me know that my prediction of LJ never reissuing any of their vinyl was wrong and that Rough Trade were putting out a new coloured vinyl version of their first album .KY. Now I have an original copy, and they go for an eye watering amount on Discogs, but that didn’t stop me from ordering the new version. Its an investment right? Or so I tell my wife… So that inspired me to play ‘Page One’. I almost can’t listen to those albums, I worked with Nick Franglen in his studio for a couple of years and I don’t think I was ever happier. Although I wasn’t there when those records were made, I can hear Nicks workflow and studio in them, plus the songs remind me of a more carefree time, which is great, but also sad in a way. I guess that’s nostalgia for you. The rest of the show is a bit of a wander round various places, a little homage to Mike D of Beastie Boys fame, not playing his new release, but playing a couple of things he has done, an edit of a track that came out on Mr Bongo, and a Beasties classic, with him on drums. Speaking of Mr Bongo, a few tracks off their Cuban box set in collab with DJ Koco are in the mix, a lesser known track by Massive Attack featuring Roots Manuva, the greatest MC of all time (in my opinion, but I’m willing to fight anyone who disagrees) which took me to some Cinematic Orchestra, then to a great track by Tawiah. So, the muscle memory served me well, this show ended up being. a little less influenced by my life over the last few weeks and more instinctual, very much led by the music, which I hope you enjoy. x Tracklist: Lemon Jelly - Page One Kiasmos - Told Massive Attack - Protection Massive Attack - Dead Editors feat Roots Manuva Dizzy K - Konga Mama The Cinematic Orchestra - Wait for Now feat Tawiah (Mary Lattimore Remix) Tawiah - Borders Sault - Love Does Not Equal Pain Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell - You’re All I Need To Get By The New Seekers - Dance Dance/I’d Like To Teach The World To Sing Willis Jackson - Headed and Gutted The Menahan Street Band - The Starchaser Cees Slinger - Waltonia Ricardo Martinez Y Expreso Ritmico - LA 132 Grupo Los Yoyi - Paco La Calle Farah Maria - Amame Y No Pienses Mas Khalab and Baba Sissoku - Hame Nissodia - Mike D Edit Beastie Boys - Futtermans Rule Gil Scott Heron x Jamie XX - We’re New Here Meredith Adelaide - Guard Dog London Grammar - Hey Now (Bonobo Remix) KH - Only Human (MPH Remix) Floating Points - Vocoder (Club Mix) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chriscracknelldj.substack.com

    2 hr
  4. The Current State of Music Radio Show - Archive

    May 30

    The Current State of Music Radio Show - Archive

    Climate change is very real then? I’ve been toiling under the heat this week, and trying not to think too much about the fact that we seem to not be dealing with the incoming climate crisis (or any other f*****g crisis for that matter) So this show starts off with what I feel is a fairly futuristic and slightly claustraphobic track by Dizraeli, fully dystopian-ed up by Danalogue (whom you might now from the Comet is Coming) it makes a change to start with a banger, rather than a more slower introspective start, so lets see where this goes… Oooo, this track by Bonobo and TEEDS is a heater, its good to hear this. I need some big outdoor gig this summer to flex some of this stuff, if anyone is tuned in. I will apologise for some wonky mixing at this point, I rarely practice mixing any of these tunes, and a rarely plan what I’m gonna play, so its all mixes I’ve never done before and some sound better in my head than in reality, but I don’t go back and fix anything either, so if it’s shit, well, that’s what happened, like life right? One of the sections of my records that is the biggest by a single artist, is Mr Scruff, whom I’m lucky to consider a friend. As well as being musically across so much stuff, creates (not often enough) bangers like this, he’s an awesomely nice person and a joy to hang out with. I had the honour of warming up for him on my 50th birthday, not something I took lightly, and I hope I have earned that spot again sometime. I hope you enjoy this one, I finish off with some jazz, before going big with Ezra Collective, JME and Swindle… Tracklist: Dizraeli - Ketamine Honey (Danalogue Remix) TEEDS and Bonobo - Heartbreak Nikitch and Kuna Maze - The Leak (Domu Remix) 187 Lockdown - Gunman Zed Bias - Neighbourhood Magic Drum Orchestra - Original Nutter (DJ Madd Remix) Wheel Up - Sun Up Mr Scruff - Sweetsmoke DJ Spoony - Gabrielle Goldie - Inner City Life (Baby Boy Mix) Her Space Holiday - Keystroke Deadly Avenger - In Search of the Pimpmobile Jorja Smith - Rose Rouge Sault - Strong Shirley Scott - Keep On Movin’ On Petter Eldh and Koma Saxo - Koma Mate Ajate - Sowah Roland Hayes - Africa the Beautiful Morton and the Uptights - Montego Paradise Cinema - Possible Futures Gorillaz - Désolé feat Fatoumata Diawara Ezra Collective, JME and Swindle - Quest for Coin II This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chriscracknelldj.substack.com

    2 hr
  5. The Current State of Music Radio Show - Archive

    May 23

    The Current State of Music Radio Show - Archive

    Hey! Hope you are enjoying this bank holiday weekend (if you are in the UK) which, if you aren’t from the UK is a strange holiday every so often where you get a Monday off work, unless of course you are freelance, or a parent, or work in hospitality. If that is case, it isn’t so much of a day off, just an inconvenience and a reason to be annoyed by all the people who do get the day off. Tyically in the UK, it meant you had three nights to get f*****g wasted, with the Monday to recover or face your demons. Blur did a song called Bank Holiday, which sums it up. I’ve randomly picked a show from September 22 for this weeks archive show, starting with pretty mellow vibes from Annabel Lee and Nils Frahm. I think I used to give my Soho Radio shows a little more seriousness, and would typically start with some mellow, left field stuff, a nod to my friend from Fat Cat Records, Alex, who did the same and I always liked that start. I would normally take a little longer to build some pace, and possibly digging a little deeper that I do normally. I’m not sure that last statement is true, but I kind of assumed the audience could handle less music that they might have encountered before. Whether I was right or not, I never found out. Listening back to this show, I think I may have been a little too challenging and not rewarding enough. But again, maybe thats b******t. Maybe the audience likes the journeys into the unknown? I mean, listening back, this is a lot of music I probably hadn’t heard before, or have listened to since, guessing that it dropped into my inbox as digital promos’ as oppposed to on vinyl. Vinyl still gets a play, gets an association with the cover art and all the usual cues one mentions when talking about vinyl, but there is a lot here I don’t have a connecting with, so it must have been digital. But saying that, building a flow with music you haven’t heard before is a fairly unique skill, so I’m pleased with how this show is moving along, especially into this track by Soyuz, a great soundtrack to a beautiful sunny day, like it is today in Brighton. So, I hope the sun is shining on you wherever you are in the world, and that life is smiling on you. Feel free to share my shows, new and old, with anyone you might think will dig them See you soon. Love Cx Tracklist: Annabel Lee - My Homeland Nils Frahm - Lemon Day Clarice Jensen - Sadness Rival Consoles - Echoes Linda Frederickson - Clea Dorian Concept - Let It All Go UNKLE - The Way Back Home (Ronin/Original) Zero DB - Sunshine Lazy (Raphael Sebbag Remix) Kyle Lovett - Secret Place Hatis Noit - Thor Matthias Lindermayr & Masako Ohta - Trudelutt Soyuz & Kate NV - I Knew It Sven Wunder - Sun Kissed Sly5thAve - Watching Me Sharky - Sad Songs Karoline - Ready for Juju Crafty 893 - Easy Nuh Beth Orton - Friday Night WheelUp and Kaidi Taitham - More Love (feat Brint Story) Carl Stone - Coraloense Rival Consoles - Now Is Nils Frahm - Briefly This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chriscracknelldj.substack.com

    2 hr
  6. The Current State of Music Radio Show - 16.05.26

    May 14

    The Current State of Music Radio Show - 16.05.26

    Here is a new live show for you, I do apologise for the lack of regular live shows recently. Life really does serve up some curveballs sometimes and its been either untimely or just impossible to get some space behind the decks and organise my thoughts into a show. In the meantime, I hope you’ve been enjoying the archive shows. However, I did carve some space this week, and this show will be broadcast on Totally Wired Radio at 2pm this Saturday, right up against Jamz Supernova and Gilles Peterson, so I guess I’m aiming at the listen again crew. Shout out to you guys listening again, love ya x I’ve been sat surrounded my music making equipment in my studio, but recently I’ve been mostly working for clients, mixing their tracks, which I love BTW, helping other realise the music in their heads is what drives me forward and is so rewarding, but I do occasionallly like to indulge myself in some of my own self initiated creativity. Its almost impossible at the moment to find the space to do so, so I thought I’d start this show with a piece of my own, to remind me (and maybe you) that I do create music myself. Its a track called Exhale, and I hope it acts as a sort of auditory ‘amuse bouche’ before we head off on musical adventures. I kick off with some new music, my inbox has been lsowly filling up with new music, so I thought it mught be nice to get into some of that, Alina and Tulsi getting a remix of their latest work, then the Heliocentrics and Marshall Allen bringing some heat with Nuclear War. I feel confident to get into places that are maybe outside where many dj’s go, and I sometimes wonder what all this music means. I’ve done a bit of DJing out and about, at sea level and above 3000m, and I can’t quite balance all this different music I am into, but I think I’m getting there, knowing when to lean into the fringes and when to go all in on some bangers. The set I did for Chip Wickhams warm up that I put out a few weeks ago felt like a good example of that. So we go some places, Ganavya, Anoushka (whom I love) Dorothy Ashby and into some DJ Khalab, both new and old sitting together nicely. I upped the energy with some D’n’B and then a couple of stompers, which I’ll be taking in my bag for any gigs this summer, but then I fancied heading to the fringes again, new music from Sault, Mr Bongos incoming Record Club Vol 8 and Momoko Gill. I”ve been thinking about doing a Nick Drake and related music show for a while, I’m still not sure if I”m going to do it, but I wanted to play a few bits from vinyl I”ve bought over the last few months, so there is a track by his mother, Molly, some of his own rare home recordings and a version of a Burt Jansch track. Black Eyed Dog is a powerfully sad track that appeared toward the end of his recording career and, in retrospect, could be seen as a sign he was struggling. Then I found a version of that by Self Esteem, whom I just listened to on the Adam Buxton podcast and really rate. Before a version of Pink Moon and then Andy Beys’ seminal version of Riverman, which I might like even more than the orginal. I’ve been listening to a lot of artists work recently as I’m actively looking for more artists to mix tracks for, and came across this song by Simone Tang which stopped me in my tracks. Its an unusual album which is a little eccentric and sweet and this track does it for me, hoping you dig it too… Finishing with a little Fairport Convention with their version of Chelsea Morning, which I hadn’t heard before, always going for the Joni or Jennifer versions, so it was a nice suprise to find this in a box set of Nick Drake adjacent (Joe Boyd worked with them too) music I picked up at King Bee in Manchester and couple of months ago. Making these shows is a lifeline for me at the moment and I hope you enjoy listening to them as much as I do sharing this music with you. Feel free to send to friends. See you soon Cx Tracklist: Chris Cracknell - Exhale Alina Bzhezhinska and Tulsi - Journey Home (Cosmic Analog Ensemble) The Heliocenrics and Marshall Allen - Nuclear War Ganavya and Jahnavi Harrison - The Bee Anoushka Shankar - In This Mouth Dorothy Ashby - For Some We Loved Khalab and Baba - Nana Khalab and Baba - Denifurula DJ Khalab - Yaka Muziek KH - Looking At Your Pager (Clipz Remix) Suburban Architecture - Focus Swell Sessions vs Seiji - Prepared To Go feat Ernesto Dizzy K - I’ll Never Love Again (M.A Dizzy Mix) Sault - Good Things Will Come After The Pressure The Sylvers - Wish I Could Talk To You Baby (Kenny Dope Remix) Momoko Gill - Ineffably (BBC Maida Vale Session) Jo Mango - The Windowpane Molly Drake - Poor Mum Nick Drake - Way To Blue Nick Drake - Strolling Down The Highway Molly Drake - Do You Remember? Nick Drake - Black Eyed Dog Craig Armstrong and Self Esteem - Black eyed Dog Aurora - Pink Moon Andy Bey - Riverman The Incredible String Band - Little Girl Simone Tang - Hey Little Love Fairport Convention - Chelsea Morning This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chriscracknelldj.substack.com

    2 hr
  7. The Current State of Music Radio Show - Archive

    May 10

    The Current State of Music Radio Show - Archive

    Happy Sunday (or whatever day you are on when you receive this) but for me its a Sunday. I’ve got a few jobs to do and I’m gonna cook a roast, it’s that sort of day. And this show has started very much in that vein with a track from Nils Frahm then into his old label mate, Ben Lucas Boysen. This start is very much in the tradition of how I used to start shows, easing slowly in, a reset if you will, before heading into musical adventures to who knows where. Quite the ethereal start, traversing many worlds, which I hope gave your brain a place to unwind, then into some Dee C Lee and Tara Lily and heading towards the mighty Ezra Collective and The Ballistic Brothers, tunes I’m gonna make a note of for any summer dancefloor action I might be in charge of… Its quite funny hearing Amanda Whiting’s ‘Nomad’ a tune (and album) I produced. I haven’t revisited this for a while for various reasons, but it still sounds epic and I’m very much not getting that thing that producers get a few years after working on something where you can kinda hear where you were and how far you’ve come since. So, either I did a good job, or I haven’t progressed, lets hope its the former. Whats quite mad about this show is how quickly digital promos come in and out of my conciousness. I’m listening back to this hearing music I can’t remember every hearing, but give me the vinyl and it sticks in my brain. So, it feels like some of this stuff is new, even though it’s now a few years old. Heading into Hip Hop world, coincidentally playing the A Side to the Q Tip track in last weeks archive show, Breathe and Stop, then heading homewards with some feel good funk, which I normally don’t go near because of Craig Charles, but every now and again, some slips out. I enjoyed hearing this show again, so hopefully you’ll like it. I’ll have some new music and a new show for you next week, keep it locked xxx Tracklist: Nils Frahm - ? Ben Lucas Boysen - Dance Kiasmos - Told Shards - Facta est Deserta Jon Hopkins - Falling into Place Amirtha Kidambi and Elder Ones - The Great Lie Nick Marks - Dedication Dee C Lee - Every Day Summer Tara Lily - No Way Out Ezra Collective - Life Goes On feat Sampa the Great Sly5thAve - Liberation The Ballistic Brothers - Come On Basil ‘Mennenberg’ Coetzee and Lionel Pillay - Plum Amanda Whiting - Nomad Goran Kajfes Tropiques - Unity in Diversity Chip Wickham - La Sombra Janek Van Laak - Here to Stay Ill Brothers - Funkneck Gang Starr - Check The Technique Tye Tribbett and GA - No Way Q Tip - Breathe and Stop ? - La Da Da The O’Jays - For The Love of Money James Last - Here Comes The Sun ? - Oh Happy Day The 5th Dimension - Aquarius/Let The Sunshine In This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chriscracknelldj.substack.com

    1h 60m
  8. The Current State of Music Radio Show - Archive

    May 3

    The Current State of Music Radio Show - Archive

    No new live show from me this week. Many apologies, I was away DJing at over 3000m in Austria last week, plus some heavy life stuff didn’t leave any room for a new one. So we are taking a trip back to feb 2017, remember when life seemed a little easier all those years ago? But a random pick seems pretty relevant, The Prodigy open this show, and they have been on a UK tour this week, doing Prodigy business and looking and sounding incredible. Jack White also seems to be everywhere, so moving into one of his side projects seems apt, this is The Dead Weather. When I worked at HMV back in the day, I used tro rinse this track by Bomb The Bass, there is a heavier remix of it I must play soon, someone remind me yeah? Q-Tip sounding good on a solo track and I have no recollection of ever doing this Eric B and Skee Lo mash up, I obviously didn’t like it and haven’t done it since. I must have felt bad for such a train wreck, so I‘ve played the full version of I Wish, a banger for sure. I actually played this track by Her Space Holiday at over 3000m last week, and this is such a tune, a classic from a snowboard movie. Another timely play for cLOUDDEAD as this track is remixed by the Boards of Canada who also have some new music incoming. Exciting. I know I’ve said it before, but I’m totally besotted with Melanie De Biasio and her music. When I ordered her last record direct, a few days after it arrived I received a handwritten postcard from her, saying thanks for all the support over the years, which is one of my treasured possessions. This track No Deal, is f*****g incredible. Following that is another incredible track from an incredible album, Matador. Detroit by Gaz Coombes, whom I’m also besotted by. I’ve seen him play at Glastonbury and been in tears, I’ve seen him play about 2 feet away from me in Brighton, he’s so good, either on his own, with a full band or with the ‘Grass. This tune is heavyweight and he didn’t shy away from a chugging outro which I love. Heidi Vogels track is turned into a stomper by The Cinematic Orchestra, and I played this at Alphabet whilst warming the crowd up for Chip Wickham a fortnight ago. Its funny that it has popped up here too.. Either I play a lot of the same music, or I knew what I was doing then and bought f*****g good records. I’ve also just introduced my daughter to this track from Courtney Barnett and this is one for the car. I’ve screamed along to this countless times and I really recommmend her album ‘Sometimes I Sit and Think, Sometimes I Just Sit’ it still hits hard. Another incredible album is ‘A Moon Shaped Pool’ by Radiohead. Not as lauded as Kid A or OK Computer, but I think its another masterpiece, this track really lights me up. Then we head weird and a bit phsycadelic with Vibration Black Finger, Silver Apples and touching back down with Sarathy Korwar, whom you can go into my archive and listen to a full interview with him. Closing out the show with a remix of Kelly Watch The Stars by Air, into David Axelrods ‘Holy Thursday’ which, in my mind, leaves you a good spot. I hope you enjoyed this one as much as I did, I’ve got a few tracks I had forgotten about to revisit. x Tracklist: The Prodigy, Manfred Mann and Public Enemy - Shut ‘Em Up (feat Jaguar Skills) The Dead Weather - Act Like a Buffalo Bomb The Badd - Bug Powder Dust Q-Tip - Vivrant Thing Eric B and Rakim/Coldcut/Skee Lo - Paid in Full mash up Skee Lo - I Wish Her Space Holiday - Key Stroke Zero 7 - Light Blue Movers Matthew Halsall - Sailing Out To Sea cLOUDDEAD - Dead Dogs Two (Boards of Canada Remix) Olafur Arnalds and Nanna - Particles Riven - Infinity’s Edge Nils Frahm - La (Sebastien Freij Rework) Melanie De Biasio - No Deal Gaz Coombes - Detroit Heidi Vogel - Turn Up The Quiet (Cinematic Orchestra Remix) Little Miss Sunshine OST - First Push Courtney Barnett - Pedestrian At Best Radiohead - Decks Dark Vibration. Black FInger - Black Pearl Silver Apples - Misty Mountain Sarathy Korwar - Eyes Closed John Swing - Touch Strange Cargo - Montok Point Air - Kelly Watch The Stars (Moog Cookbook Remix) David Axelrod - Holy Thursday This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chriscracknelldj.substack.com

    2 hr
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About

This project is an exploration of the current state of music and the music industry—told through the voices of artists, producers, musicians, DJs, and insiders. By sharing their personal stories, insights, struggles, and successes, we aim to understand how they've shaped their unique corners of the music world. It’s about uncovering the real journeys behind the sound—what drives them, what challenges they face, and what keeps them going. In doing so, I hope to inspire others—and myself—to keep pushing forward, especially during the tough times. chriscracknelldj.substack.com

Information

  • Creator
    Chris Cracknell
  • Years Active
    2017 - 2026
  • Episodes
    71
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Chris Cracknell
  • Show Website
    The Current State of Music

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