F&M Playlist

Cosmic Rough Riders The Loser As rediscovered on a car journey last weekend, the greatest Glasgow tunesmiths you never heard of. From 2001's zilch-selling Enjoy the Melodic Sunshine, this bittersweet song of lost love and revenge is typically awesome, like a fantasy hybrid of the Beatles' She Loves You and the Byrds' Turn Turn Turn. Dave Simpson Sky Ferreira One Eighteen-year-old LA hipster Sky Ferreira (pictured) has been talked about by people in the know for the last two years. One, her debut single, is a glistening slice of synthetic electropop, produced by Swedish maestros Bloodshy & Avant, that more than backs up the buzz. Michael Cragg Scissor Sisters Fire With Fire Though this didn't grab me at first – and even now reminds me of Elton John circa I'm Still Standing – hearing it every time I turn on the radio has won me over. It pits one of the Sisters' most exuberant choruses against one of their darkest lyrics, which has the narrator blotting out the spectre of Aids by indulging in a night of passion. Caroline Sullivan Broken Bells The Ghost Inside Appearing immediately after Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood's rapturously received Glastonbury set wasn't the easiest slot for Broken Bells, but Danger Mouse's new duo made an impressive fist of entertaining their huge inherited crowd. This snappy new single is typical of their strident, melody-soaked indiepop. Chris Salmon Seun Kuti Kalakuta Show I'm just back from Lagos, where Fela Kuti's youngest son Seun was playing at the New Shrine and revived his dad's furious classic with members of his old band. Afrobeat at its very best. Robin Denselow Konitz/Marsh Lee Konitz with Warne Marsh Reissued this month but recorded more than half a century ago, these dialogues on standard songs between two sax giants of the legendary Cool School purr with restrained vitality, helped by the classic bop bass/drums team of Oscar Pettiford and Kenny Clarke. John Fordham Endless Boogie Mighty Fine Pie These New York psych-rock classicists transcend their stylistic strictures (dirty great riff, solo, rinse, repeat, at some length) by simple virtue of jaw-dropping, world-beating chops and gloriously cornball stage names (Top Dollar, Grease Control, etc). No moulds broken, but it's hard to think of another band playing this stuff with the same skill, style and love. Tom Hughes