The Current State of Music

So, my friend and colleague, Sinah, also known as Ea Akilat sent over the latest episode of her podcast and asked me if I wanted to include it in my show. Of course I do! I love her taste in music and I am helping her with her own music, with, hopefully, some collaborations between us coming in 2026.I played a little B2B set a a local record shop on Saturday and the theme was the best of the year, so the first hour is all vinyl tracks I’ve bought this year, most of which has been released this year. Nick Drake being the exception, but regular listeners know I am in a NIck Drake groove at the moment and I can’t see myself coming out of anytime soon.Sinahs mix is all about Airwaves Festival and she has discovered some amazing stuff, so stay tuned for that. I don’t have a tracklist so get shazamming!This is what I played:William Tyler and Kieron Hebden - If I Had a Boat/Spider BalladFour Tet - And Then PatternsSault - HTTREverything is Recorded - Never Felt Better feat Sampha and Florence WelchFred Again - Actual Life Piano LiveMajken - Nearly ThereNick Drake - Northern SkyIiris Viljanen - You’ll Meet HimNils Frahm and FS Blumm - Leuchter 2*Ea Akilat Guest 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

Ah man, I’m in a terrible rush today. Getting through a long list of jobs before I travel to France tomorrow for some work related things (and some fun hopefully) and I wanted to send out a show from the archives.So I just listened to one of my early shows from 1BTN or 1 Brighton FM as it was known and, not to blow my own trumpet, the music is simply incredible!I used to do my show live, and it was recorded off the broadcast feed, no-one really knew what they were doing, so the sound isn’t amazing, and I used to throw records in a bag and trundle off into Hove and see what happens. I’m pretty certain this show is 100% vinyl, although there may be a couple of tracks in there that never got a pressing, so maybe I had some digital stuff with me, but I’m quite astounded by the breadth of music I had taken along.There is some stuff in there you’ll definitely know, like the opener Will Powers (which is a also a good psotove affirmation if you need it) Lemon Jelly, one of my all time favourites from Sebastien Tellier, even Van Halen and the Beach Boys!But then there are some deeper cuts which I hope you love as much as me. I love Derek Gripper and his amazing guitar playing, Treva Whatevas’ Bouncing Bomb always brings a smile, and I think this is the first time I ever thoguht about mixing the Transglobal Underground into the Ewok Theme from Star Wars, a move I usually reserve for any show broadcast on May the 4th. I wonder what led me there?So this ia three hour show with plenty of twists and turns, and I’m rather proud of myself from 2017 for being bold enough to go to all these places. Most DJ’s have a style. or a genre and I’ve always hated that and, if I’m honest, its always worked against me as a DJ because its hard to know where to put me, I get that.However, looking back as a proof of being someone who is deeply motivated by music and has a sizeable bag to delve into for inspiration and references when working with artists, I think I’m doing OK.I hope you enjoy this one as much as I did relistening to it. See you soonCx Will Powers - Adventures in SuccessLemon Jelly - SoftSebastian Tellier - La RitournelleTony Allen and Africa 70 - No Accommodation For LagosCara Stacey - Theta WavesTinariwen - Afours AfoursDerek Gripper - Elyne RoadFinnegan and Finlan - Seasons of DoubtMatt and Boog - Radio SundayMatt and Boog - Night and DayBonobo - Second SunFloating Points - Kelso DunesVan Halen - Ain’t Talking ‘Bout LoveEden Ahbez - Full MoonNancy Wilson - Son of a Preacher ManDonald Byrd - The WeasilBlue Mitchell - Good Humour ManJimmy McGriff - Blue JuiceGand Starr - Check The TechniqueMarlena Shaw - California SoulRJ D2 - GhostwriterTreva Whateva - Bouncing BombTransglobal Underground - Temple HeadJohn Williams - Ewok Theme from Star WarsJon Hopkins - Open Eye SignalJamie XX - The Rest is NoiseTheo Parrish - FootworkSurfjan Stevens - ChicagoVitamin String Quartet - Get LuckyKings of Convenience - FailureJeb Loy Nicholls - Going Where The Lonely GoMary Wells - SatisfactionPastor TL Barrett and The Youth for Christ Choir - Joyful NoiseKiller Joe Piro - Hang on SloopyLea DeLaria - People Are StrangeThe Beach Boys - Good Vibrations 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

Wotcha, this is my latest show for Totally WIred and for you Substackers, man, its been a hectic couple of weeks and my brain has been not storing the inspiration it usually does, so when it came to putting this show together, I had to lean back on my vinyl collection and my musical instincts to slowly creep through this one.Saying that though, Melanie Be Biasio looks like she has done a couple of gigs recently, sadly, for me, in her homeland of France, but that did remind me of her last album, which I love and you should too. In fact,, you should go listen to everything Melanie has done, she is incredible. She did send me a postcard for all the love and support I’ve shown her over the years, it’s a much treasured possesion.I then played a bit more of that William and Kieran (Four Tet) record which is doing it for me, I like the acoustic guitar matched with electronica, its got my brain whirring…So I can do a little self promotion, I played Nara Back by Chip Wickham, which I co produced. Its sounds so good on vinyl and the vocals are out of this world. My poor tired brain can’t handle the fact they were recorded right by where I am typing this, they sound otherworldy.The new Sault record has been largely unlistened to by me, so a track had to be played.Then a little journey into XL recordings Richard Russell’s Everything is Recorded, which is a stunning record with some heavy colabs, then into the Jamie XX/Gil Scott Heron colab from a few years back, again on XL.Into a little mix (but not Little Mix) with an old Scruff remix, nicely into brand new Oliver Night feat Roots Manuva, into Cabin Dance and then Jazzanova. That led me to a tune from Gilles Petersons ‘INCredible Sound of’ album for the track by Incognito. I’m generally not a fan of Brit Funk or whatever its called, but this remix is top notch.Briefly into some orchestral moves with Godtet and then London Symphony doing the Star Wars end theme, then a massive swerve into Crooked Mans remix of Jarvis Cockers ‘Cunts are stilll Running the World’ which seems as apt as ever.Then a bunch of new bits (apart from Ezra Collective)to finish up and there we go, another two hours of music, which I hope will prick your ears, make your head nod, give you a little solace and make your world a little better.Tracklist:Melanie De Biasio - The Chaos AzureWilliam Tyler and Kieran Hebden - Loretta Guides My Hands Through The Radio/Secret CityChip Wickham - Nara Black feat PeachSault - H.T.T.REverything is Recorded - My and MeJamie XX Gil Scott Heron - My CloudOmni Trio - Byte Sized Life (Mr Scruff Remix)Oliver Night - Boss Feat Roots ManuvaCabin Dance - Octo OctaJazzanova - Coffee Talk (Yukihiro Fukatomi Remix) Incognito - I Can See The Future (Ski’sa Main Mix)Godtet - The London Philharmonic Orchestra - Star Wars End ThemeCrooked Man - CuntsLia Kuri - Cyclone (Ryan Hemsworth Mix)Brian Jackson and Masters At Work - Lady Gray and John ColtraneGerardo Batiz - Aguamarina (A Elis Regina)Ezra Collective - Dark Side RiddimNubian Twist feat Fatoumata Diowara - Chasing ShadowsDina Ogen - Mergeretas Sang 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

Digging into my archive of radio shows, I decided to go as far back as I could, and, as it happened, it threw up this show from 2016, which I still remember recording down in the 1 Brighton FM (now 1BTN) bunker.As I mentioned on an archive show from a couple of weeks ago, I recreated the soundtrack to a snowboard movie that was very influential, and I got to do that because of a mix I had put together for the premiere of a movie. Well, this is that mix, which I performed live on the radio, then unplanned, I carried in the same vein to close out the 2 hour show.I remember being carried away by the enthusiam on the chat box, and where I normally finished the set on the classic ‘Once in a Lifetime’ I dug deep for some of my favourite tracks from snowboard movies that hadn’t made the planned mix for one reason or another…The 90’s and 2000’s were a golden era for snowboard (and skate) movies, technology had made it easier for anyone to make something half decent and that unlocked a lot of creative individuals to make seminal movies without much outside help.And the sound tracks to those movies, sought after on VHS or DVD and watched on repeat, because the soundtracks to our lives, and rightly so, I mean, look at this tracklist, and it only really scratches the surface and they are all legit bangers.So, I hope you enjoy this one and much as I remember putting it together, please share with your friends who might appreciate this one, and don’t forget, thats winter is on its way… xTracklist:Doves - FiresuiteNathaniel Merriweather - Stroker AcePrimus - Over the Electric GrapevineGang Starr - Above the CloudsNTM feat Busta Flex and Lord Kossity - IV My PeopleNeil Young - Heart Of GoldThe Knife - HeartbeatsWeezer - My Name is JonasHelmet - Biscuits for Smut (Mutt Mix)Hammerbox - When 3 is 2Beastie Boys - Sneaking Out of the HospitalLuscious Jackson - Lady FingersModest Mouse - FLoat OnThe Steve Miller Band - Fly Like an EagleHer Space Holiday - Key StrokeThe Cadillac Tramps - Don’t GoTalking Heads - Once in a LifetimeNorman Greenbaum - Spirit in the SkyThe Cars - Just What I NeededShould have Mischief - 93. ’Til InfinityDe la Soul - Keepin’ The FaithThe Saturday Knights -RJD2 - 1973The Go Team - LadyflashDonovan - Season of the WitchMolokai - Fun For MeBilly Idol - Dancing With MyselfSupersuckers - Creepy Jackalope EyeFirehose - Bad LieutenantAll - She’s My ExCarpe Wade - Elvis 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

Well, its been a few weeks, OK, six weeks since you’ve had a live show from me. I’ve been busy OK? Actually, there has been loads of family stuff going on and its eaten up all my time and energy, apologies, but life can do that sometimes.However, I dragged my sorry arse out of bed early, got into the studio and rather enjoyed putting this episode together, and I think there is a breadth to the music that is rather pleasing.I kick off with Weekender by Flowered Up, which popped into my head because the guy who runs Green ISP who provided our internet (and I’d recommend) has been on the phone whulst I’ve been sorting the internet connection for an elderly relative. We got talking about music because he saw my email footer and he ended up sending me some stuff to listen to, which, I thought, sounded quite like this, in a very raw form.I recently picked up Gomez’ ‘Bring It On’ as it was reissued, and given how I’ve ended up being friends with a couple of the guys from Gomez, I felt I should support the cause. Its a great album, it was at the time, winning a Mercury Music Prize, and it still sounds as good as ever. I’ve been reading the official Nick Drake biog recently, so I’ll be playing songs by him for a while, Saturday Sun is one of my favourites. It leads on nicely to Kieran Hebdon (Four Tet) and his side project with William Tyler, which I have been loving since it dropped.Nils and FS record is still in my listening pile an I’m grateful to Lieter for sending me a copy from Germany.Jumping forward to the Sault track, which I heard whilst listening to 1BTN last week, they have dropped so many records in recent years that I’m not overly famiiar with them, and this track is the closer to the album ‘Unititled - God’ and its a little different, with a slight whimsy about it, which I love. That made me think of the Jim Noir track ‘Eeanie Meanie’ whcih I also adore. I first heard this in a sound track to a snowboard movie, and as winter is coming (and I have an alter ego as a snowboard culturalist and somewhat historian dontchaknow) it felt like the right time to play it.That then led me down a 7” sized avenue, finishing up with a repressing of Joy Divisions ‘Love Will Tear Us Apart’ which is numbered 497 of 500. I don’t know the story behind this, or why it is a limited run, any ideas?From there, a classic slab of Simple Minds and then I was just trying to work my way out towards the end of the show in some sort of way, so into the mix for some Andrea Parker on Mo Wax, two versions of Radioheads’ Everything In Its RIght Place, and finishing with some Boards of Canada.Phew, we certainly covered some distance and I hope you enjoy(ed) listening.Please feel free to share with fellow music lovers, and don’t forget, I’m in my studio everyday, helping people with their records, so if you or anyone you know needs a Producer or Mixing Engineer and you like the cut of my job, then get in touch.xTracklist:Flowered Up - WeekenderGomez - Get MilesThe Spellbinder Project - SwitchbladeNick Drake - Saturday SunWilliam Tyler and Kieran Hebden - When it RainsFS Blumm and Nils Frahm - Leuchter 2Liris Viljanen - GianniSultan Stevenson - AfterwordJorja Smith - Rose RougeSt Germain - Rose RougeGodet - Always BrightColin Wilkie, Shirley Hart, Albert Mangelsdorff and Joki Freund - Ich Armes Maidlein Klag Mich SehrDave Pike Set - Raga Jeeva SwaraThe Joachim Kuhn Group - Depression and IllusionEverything is Recorded - No More RehearsalsSault - Life We Rent but Love is Rent FreeJim Noir - Eenie MeanyBelle and Sebastian - Legal ManRodrigo and Gruff - Gold Medal WinnerJoy Division - Love Will Tear Us ApartSimple Minds - Theme for Great CitiesAndrea Parker - Melodious ThunkRadiohead - Everything in Its Right PlaceBoards of Canada - Telephonic Workshop 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

A few years ago, I was asked to DJ at a premiere of a snowboard movie. As always, I massively overthought it, buying loads of tunes from classic snowboard movies on vinyl (because it matters, yeah) and then making a mix which I would then perform at the night… All well and good.Because that went so well, I then wanted to carry on in the same vein, and there had been a snow/skate movie come out of Canada called The Burning. It was nowhere to found online, not even a mention of it. But I was sure it hadn’t been a dream and many UK riders cited it as one of their favourite of all time, and it had a killer soundtrack.So, I tracked down the producer/director, a guy called Murray Siple and told him about my plan to recreate the soundtrack, he was pretty suprised to find a DJ and snowboarder from the UK of all places, asking after his film which he had pretty much forgotten about. A conversation ensued and he promised he would put a version up on Vimeo so I could work out what tracks were played…Hearing the soundtrack after all those years immediately transported me back to a flat in Bourg Saint Maurice, where a bunch of scruffy snowboarders would sit and devour movies like these, before tryng to emulate them the next day, although emulating the soundtrack proved to be as difficult.Some tracks were listed, some were listed wrong, Shazam proved to find some tracks difficult, but in the end, I had most of the tracks, bar one I think, on vinyl and I put the soundtrack together.And here it is, even if you have no interest in skate or snowboarding, these are some killer tunes put together by the best named DJ in the planet, DJ Vinyl Ritchie, and lovingly recreated by me many years later…You might also noticed that I was DJing under the moniker 6ft Stereo at the time… the joy of youth!Enjoy x 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

I’ve known Mr Scruff for quite a while now, I’d say we were friends. He was the first person I’ve ever interviewed, and it is suprising that he didn’t think I was a total cock when I first met him, maybe he did actually, but I think I redeemed myself.Ok, lets tell that story briefly… Scruff was booked to play the Arcadia Spider at Glastonbury, I was working for Arcadia at the time. I hoped I might bump into him, and after a triumphant set on The Bug (which, incidentally was the only music at Glastonbury for a couple of hours due to a massive thunderstorm) finishing with the Hot 8 Brass and their version of Sexual Healing, I did indeed see him wandering down the backstage area. It might be worth mentioning that I had just taken a ittle MDMA for the first time (late to the party at about 41) and was having quite the day. I seized my hazy opportunity and approached saying Hi and saying how much of a fan I was, then I asked him to record a mix for the podcast I was doing at the time. he was generous, but cleary not interested, but I had a CD of my podcast in my pocket (that even seems weird typing it) and gave it to him.Fast forward a few days and truly back on earth and I felt like a bit of dick, so I messaged him on socials and apologised for asking a little too much, but he was cool and said he and his mates had listened to the CD on the way home and really enjoyed it, he mentioned one of the tracks on it, so he must have checked it out. Phew.A while later he was playing in Brighton and I’d had an idea for a (another) podcast called The Current State of Music and how I’d love to interview him, again, being the generous, lovely guy he is, he obliged and I spent a couple of hours with him at Concorde 2 talking about his journey in music.You can hear the podcast in the archive on my Substack.Fast forward quite a few years and I was chatting to him at We Out Here, we talked about when he was next playing Brighton and it turned out to be near to my 50th and I asked him if he wanted someone to warm up. He did and invited me to open for him, and what an honour… So here is that warm up set, nearly a year later, I tried to cover a lot of bases, without being too obvious, without going too hard, just some headnodding to get in the mood for the man and a 5 hour set (which, btw, was awesome)Enjoy x 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

I think I’ve mentioned before that life has a habit of getting in the way when I go to record these shows? Well, life came at me this week and I haven’t been able to get organised to bring you the usual mix of new music, new to me music and digging in my crates music, so instead we are going back a couple of years to my first show on Totally Wired Radio (where this show gets broadcast)Funnily enough, it starts with my remix of Amanda Whitings’ Where Would We Be, which is the track that got me my first major radio play, so it’s nice to hear that again.Looking at the tracklist, its quite staggering how fast music comes and goes these days. Digital releases just don’t get the same amount of attention as vinyl releases, and I don’t think just think thats the case with me. Its is obviously easier to release a digital track, a few mouse clicks and your track is all around the world, but I think that ease has created a ‘fast music’ culture where music is literally being thrown out and forgotten almost instantly.Gilles Peterson was quoted as saying that if someone gives him a track on vinyl, he’ll listen to it, and I’d concur. If an artist or label go as far as putting music on vinyl, I’ll respect that and give it more gravitas than something that falls into my inbox. That isn’t to say that I disgregard digital promos, its just the number I get. Can you imagine what Gilles’ inbox looks like? Jeez.However, there is some gold in this show. Flock, whom I sadly missed at WOH, but its almost a jazz super group (if there is such a thing) featuring two Current State of Music Podcast guests Sarathy Korwar and Tamar Osbourne. Comet is Coming. whom I totally love, Jamie XX (obvs), Marc Mac, Gorillaz and Sault all firing out new music.Finishing with a great version of Tempted, penned by the worst interview guest I’ve had, Chris Difford, so bad in fact I’ve not really wanted to go back and see whether I could put it out. As bad an interviewee he was that day, he does write great songs, and this version reworked by Erykah Badu and James Poyser really is a great track to stick around for…Hoping I’ll be back in control for a new show in a couple of weeks, and hoping you guys are well too… x 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

As you all know, I have a co-production credit on the new Chip WIckham album and we have become firm friends since, which is a joy in itself. He was in town to record an interview with Capsule Records for their radio show and he also had the first copies of the new record (he gave me #1) which again was a joy in itself.He mentioned he was doing a release day signing in Capsule, so I suggested that whilst he is signing, I play some tracks from the new record, alongside some other spiritual jazz tunes and a plan was formed.Fast forward a couple of weeks and we had a joyous afternoon in Capsule (shout out to Lawrence and Sarah) Chip was signing records and chatting to his fans, I was spinning tunes, and the joy with long jazz tracks is that could also talk to people about my involvement in the record, what tunes I was playing and,generally, chat about music. Someone plugged in a little recorder into the mixer so my set was recorded and here it is for you now… Its a bit of a journey and some cuts are deeper than others, but I hope you find something in there you dig. xTracklist:Chip Wickham - Nara BlackTakeo Moriyama - East PlantsChip Wickham - Falling DeepYusef Lateef - Love Song from SpartacusSons and Daughters of Light - Let The Sun Shine InChip Wickham - The Eternal NowRene McLean - AidaChip Wickham - Astral TravellingSarathy Korwar and the Upas Collective - Intimate EnemyMysterium and Ursula Rucker - Lonely Can Be SweetAhmed Jamaal - PoincianaKoop - Waltz for KoopChip Wickham - OutsideAlice Coltrane - Journey in Satchidananda (feat Pharaoh Sanders)Chip Wickham - No Turning BackSathima Bea Benjamin - AfricaPharaoh Sanders - You’ve Got to Have FreedomSonny Red - The ModePharaoh Sanders - RejoiceLopez Alexandria - MorningGrady Tate - MoondanceChip Wickham - Shamal WindThe Cosmic Range - Palms To HeavenSwarthy Korwar - Utopia and Visions 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

Well, I thought the last couple of weeks would be a bit easier with the kids back to school.Things don’t always pan out how you hope and I came into this show with very little plans about what I was going to play.I played Saturday Sun by Nick Drake to my daughter in the car the other day, and I think no-one comes close to Nicks ability to write such beautifully melancholic songs. I am in awe of what he acheived in three albums and sad that he didn’t survive this world long enough to hear how beloved he has become. I’d love to go back in time and tell him how much people will think of his songs, maybe that would be enough for him to go through another day, then another one…The second track weighs in at 19 minutes long and is the B side to the new FS Blumm and Nils Frahm record ‘Handling’ I’m going to do a seperate post of my Substack about this record, so tune in for that…I picked up the Jamie XX Gil Scott Heron record whilst I was DJing at Capsule Records for Chip Wickhams album signing session. I saw the distinctive cut out and jumped on it, I love Jamie XX and was happy to find this.After a brief sidequest with The Avalanches and a couple of brand new tunes, I worked my way to Stardust ‘Music Sounds Better with You’ which was the first record I learned to DJ with. Two copies, back and forth, learning the rudimentaries. I wrote a post about this on my Substack this week if you want to check that out. I dont know where my original copy went (or another track I had on Roulé called Spinal Scratch) so I bought this one on Discogs recently.I know Get Lucky got played to death, but I can’t resist the full 9 minute Daft Punk remix, its so good…As I talk about, Diana Ross, Sister Sledge and Abba aren’t normally staples on my show, but maybe they should be, all great tracks and fine examples of exquiste production. All found at charity shops recently and hapy to blow the dust off.I finished with a little run of new Jazz bits which have landed recently and leave you, in light of Trumps visit to the UK and all the bullshit surrounding it, a rather spicy track I couldn’t resist…Hope you enjoy this one, its definitely a journey and I’m happy to have you with me…xTracklist:Nick Drake - Saturday SunNils Frahm and FS Blumm - Leuchter 3Gil Scott Heron - The On/Off Switch (interlude)Gil Scott Heron - Blue CollarJamie XX x Gil Scott Heron - RunningJamie XX feat The Avalanches - All U ChildrenThe Avalanches - Frontier Physiatrist (Mario Caldato Remix)Till Bronner - Il Trucido E Lo SbirroRabbath Electric Orchestra - Samares feat Raphael Imbert and Minino GarayChip Wickham - The Eternal NowLa Chooma - CozumelOne Inch Punch - Yin YinStardust - Music Sounds Better With YouDaft Punk feat Pharrell and Nile Rogers - Get Lucky (Daft Punk Remix)Diana Ross - Love HangoverSister Sledge - Lost In MusicAbba - Dancing QueenDon Phillipe - DisplacementAmi Taf Ra - Speak To UsAmi Taf Ra - Love feat Ryan PorterCharles Stepney - Step on StepAhmed Jamal - PoincianaAnita O Day - Rock and Roll BluesDonald Trump is a Cunt - The Kunts 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

This week, Gorillaz launched new music, a great track featuring Sparks, and album and a tour.This is following the brilliant House of Kong exhibition that has been running throughout August at the Copperbox Arena in London’s Olympic Park, which, in itself hinted at new work in the pipeline.But this reminded me of a show I did back in 2017, I’m guessing around the time the Plastic Beach Tour was touching down in Brighton. I nearly got a pass to go and do the sound whilst the 1BTN, or 1 Brighton FM as it was then, head guy Mickey interviewed Damon Albarn. That didn’t happen sadly, but the missus and I did have tickets to the show anyway, so all good.So I put together a show, featuring their big hits but also trying to unlock some deeper album cuts and rareties the casual listener might not know about.The sound quality isn’t great, this was the broadcast feed and had limiters etc on it, which back then, no-one really knew what they were doing at the station, so forgive that please.Obvioulsy, Gorillaz, have dropped loads of good music since then as well, so it is only a screenshot of where they were at that time, just in case you wonder where some of their newer stuff has gone…I hope you enjoy this, I do sometimes like to deep dive on an artist, there was that time I played a whole Nils Frahm album from start to finish. Maybe I lost a listener or two on that one, but then I did get messages saying they loved it, so I’ll continue to do things like this. Putting a show out on Substack means I can do that. Which I love. See you next week for the usual radio show, stay safe, sane and as always, fuck facism. x 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

Well, time seems to be flying, the seasons have done an abrupt handbrake into Autumn and We Out Here already feels like a distant memory. This is my first show since that weekend, so I’m gonna take you back to the set I did at midnight on the Tomorrows Warriors stage. I wrote a bit about the experience of that a couple of weeks ago, so you don’t need me to go into that again, so instead I’ll talk about the selections for this show.Starting with Chip Wickham… it was my absolute pleasure to work with Chip on his new album, which, is out today, and in particular this track Nara Black. I’ll be doing a longer post about what happened this week, but I listened to the vinyl version of this track as I recorded the show, and it sounds insane. A lot of love went into his album, two years in the making and I hope you love it.Jeremiah and Ashars’ tracks are from an album curated by Gilles Peterson and given the stellar line up at We Out Here, when I saw this down at Capsule Records in Hove, it immediately caught my eye. As a collection of songs, its not instant, but slow moving, sometimes quite abstract pieces, which I love, an album that you keep discovering new things on.Nina Maias’ album is something I’ve had for a few weeks on promo, but I heard a track that instantly piqued my interest on 6Music. The label, Mr Bongo, is based in Brighton and I’m good friends with them, as they release music of mine on their publishing label, so I popped in to get this on vinyl. Another record that will take some time to uncover all its gems, which I’m looking forward to.I seem to have found a few Nicola Conte 10” records recently, so it seemed apt and in the flow of the show to play this, followed by the 4Hero version of Minnie Rippertons’ Les Fleurs, in homage to Rotary Connection, who headlined WOH on the Saturday night, playing tracks I thought I would never hear live, and performed so well.The new Sault record is another grower, it didn’t grab me on first listen, but consecutive plays have revealed greatness, this is a great track.The last few tracks are all from recent Mr Bongo releases, including a version of Dancing Drums by Anandar Shankar, which isn’t what I was expecting, but good to hear nonetheless.Then we get into my set from We Out Here.I wanted to play the 4Hero version of Black Gold of the Sun, as a nod to anyone who had been watching the Rotary Connection an hour previously, followed by WIllis Jackson and Jimmy Smith as a nod to Gilles. Then it was all about making the dancefloor jump, mostly with fairly new tracks I’ve been keeping an ear open for, as I knew I had this coming up, but I wanted to play things which wouldn’t be too predictable and in the same style, it is, after all, a festival with a certain aesthetic which I wanted to stick by. Floating Points was a nod to last years headliner (which was fucking epic btw) and I finished with a crazy track I heard recently that would give whoever following me free reign to go where ever. So I hope you enjoy this show, its been crazy recently with kids heading back to school, work commitments lining up, new releases to talk about. Life, generally…I hope also you are all doing ok, if you can please share this with someone you thnk might dig it too and I’ll see you again soon. Love CxTracklist:Chip Wickham - Nara BlackNils Frahm - You Name ItJeremiah Chiu and Marta Sofia Honer - SnackoAshar Gamedze - MeloncholiaNina Maia - Mar AdentroNicola Conte - Jet Sounds (Nuspirit Helsinki Remix)Minnie Riperton - les Fleurs (4Hero Remix)Sault - R.INukhet Ruacan - GolgeNana Benz du Togo - DanserAnanda Shankar - Dancing Drums**We Out Here Set**Nuyorican Soul - Black Gold Of The Sun (4Hero Remix)Willis Jackson - Nuthern Like ThuthernJimmy Smith - Whose Afraid of Virginia Woolf Pt 2Sault - I Just Wanna DanceJames heather - Invisible Forces (Ishmael Ensemble Remix)Quantic - Run (Sofia Kourtesies Remix)Raz and Afla - Shikor Shikor (Jamz Supernova and Sam Interface Remix)Nubian Twist and Sean Kuti - Carry Me (UKG Version)Weval - Open Up That DoorFloating Points - Birth4000London Grammar - Hey Now (Bonobo Remix)Voices of Fire - Joy 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

Firstly, I’ve left this show until the last minute and I should also be preparing for a festival gig this weekend, so I’m sort of combining the last couple of weeks of my life, and thinking about what I might play out.Phew, glad I got that out the way. I guess its the thing I always do of setting your expectations low, and then you can only blame yourself if you think it’s shit. I did warn you.Enough of that though, far too deep for a simple 2 hours of music.The overwhelming theme, looking at the tracklisting, is that I’m thinking about this festival and trying to work out, in my head, what I think is the best pitch. The problem is, the stage I’m playing has a noise reduction curfew at 11pm, my set is at midnight. Don’t overthink it, is what I get told, but you don’t inhabit my brain, which has turned overthinking into an art form (did you not listen to my first mixtape, starting with a rather grandiose opner from Dylan Thomas?) So, is it going to be empty, with ravers all heading to the noisier parts? Is it going to be mellow, so I play a set accordingly? Do I go esoteric and play weird stuff that no-one knows to try and be ‘that guy’? Do I try and represent what I’m all about, get a few people interested and hoopefully follow me on Substack? Fucking hell, I’m really overtinking this.Back to the show.I’m really enjoying sharing music with my kids, my eldest is really engaged and likes electronica, so I played him the opener Chem Bros track to gauge his reaction. He was into it. Perfect. So that spawned a few tracks which seem to fit together. I particularly love the Sexwitch track, the repetitive build makes me want to dance on a clifftop at sunrise.That album was produced by Dan Carey, so that led me onto a little DC tip, with Kae Tempest (I’ll be posting an interview I did with them from a few years back soon) and onto new music from Wet Leg. Swerving from that into some Gorillaz. I took the family to their House of Kong exhibition last week, which is fucking brilliant and well worth the trip. I love how things like that now have to have a bit more about them, immersive and well put together. I’d love to get involved in those sort of projects, it fascinates me. It reminded me how good and how consistent Gorillaz have been, so I tried, in three tracks, to cover that. I might do an episode solely devoted to them soon too.I locked into some bangers, testing them out for the weekend, was happy wuth that arc, so pulled the rip cord on that and dived into some oddments from second hand shops and random 7”s taking in James Last, Andy Williams, Art Garfunkel doing the saddest song from the saddest movie, before another second hand find, the ong version of White Lines (Don’t Do It) which took me down a bit of an electro(ic) avenue.Phew (again) So, thats the story of this weeks show, I hope you enjoy it. If you can, please share to your mates and I’ll see you soon. CxTracklist:The Chemical Brothers - The Sunshine UndergroundThe Gaslamp Killer - Listen for my WhistleThe Spellbinder Project - Dark Is The LightSexwitch - Kae Tempest - Tunnel VisionWet Leg - Mange ToutGorillaz - Momentary Bliss feat Slowthai and SlavesGorillaz - Don’t Get Lost in Heaven/Demon DaysGorillaz - Clint Eastwood (Refix)Malcolm Mclaren - Double DutchRaz and Afla - Voodoo Eze (Esa Remix)Jamie XX - All You ChildrenSofia Kourtesis - Nitzah and AminaaWeval - Open Up The DoorFloating Points - Birth4000Andy Williams - Up, Up and AwayJames Last - Here Comes The Sun5th Dimension - Aquarius/Let The Sun Shine InThe New Freedom Singers - The Whole World In HIs HandsArt Garfunkel - Bright EyesAdrian Celetano - PrisencolinensinainclusolGrandmaster Flash and Belle Mel - White Lines (US Remix)Le Fox - French KissJanet Jackson - When I Think Of YouThe Rocksteady Crew - She’s Fresh 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

Since we last spoke, I’ve been away. My wife’s elderly Auntie had to go into sheltered accommodation and it fell to me to go there and empty her house and make it fit to be rented out, all in a short space of time, whilst the kids are on holidays… great timing yeah.The house is about two and a half hours from home, so I stayed up there, on a mattress on the floor, surrounded by paint and other detritus, however, I think it is always fascinating and depressing to see what one persons life accumlates and what, when it comes down to it, is considered surplus.How does this relate to the show this week, I hear you cry! Well, I listened to a lot of radio, and one track in particular stood out, The Voices of Fire - Joy, was a treat late on the Friday night when energy was flagging. I found two records worth keeping, Sgt Peppers and a Monty Python album, and through finding these, I had a conversation with the house clearance guy (who was an angel sent from above) and he bought down some records from his warehouse for me to look at, which included The Beatles ‘Get Back’ on 7”. Nothing valuable, but nice to save from landfill and a few oddities to play on the show.Since we last spoke, I also saw Fred Deakin do his Club Life show, and one of his club nights was an attempt to not be cool, to play whatever feels right, to bring a smile, or whatever, and I’ve been mulling over that. So, as well as my continuing search to find great new music, great old music, I”m gonna be a little more open to playing oddments, such as ‘Duelling Banjos’ which I found in a charity shop recently, because these tracks can steer my show into totally different spaces, whcih is exciting, right?These last two weeks have been absolutley draining, from the motional rollercoaster of the kids leaving school (and a secret Fatboy Slim gig to finish proceedings) to being on my own for ten days, working all the hours. However, I did get to have a couple of pints n the Sunday afternoon with an old friend and his wife, whom I haven’t seen for years but live in the same town, and it was a conversation with them that led me to playing the opening track this week, James’ ‘Say Say Something’ from the album Wah Wah, which we talked about… on that note, go listen…xTracklistJames - Say Say SomethingSarathy Korwar - There Is Beauty There AlreadyBicep - SikorsuitHi Tek/The 2 Bears - Come Get It (Tekstrumental)/Modern FamilyWilliam Shatner - It Hasn’t Happened YetVoices of Fire - JoyThe Beatles - Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club BandThe Beatles - A Little Help From My FriendsThe Beatles - Get BackThe Kinks - Louie LouieRubettes - When You Are Falling In LoveEric Weissberg and Steve Mandell - Duelling BanjosLeo Kottke - Cripple CreekHenry Mancini - The Magnificent SevenNaire - Um Dia Azul De AbrilSom/3 - Um Minuto Sebastian Tapajos and Pedro Dos Santos - Despedida De MangueiraLuli Lucinha e o Bando - Flor LilasHidden Orchestra - Dawn ChorusNick Drake - My Thoughts of Mary JaneFamous Blue Cable feat Feist - RivermanWojtek Mazolewski Quintet - We Love YouWojtek Mazolewski Experience - ParisPerera Elsewhere and Andy S - Fuck Le SystemModeselektor - Mega Mega MegaKiasmos - Burst (ANNA Remix)Raz and Afia - Shikoor Shikor (jazz Supernova and Sam Interface Remix)Sly5thAve - Liberty (Sam Interface and Jazz Supernova Remix)Amy Dabbs - First LoveAlina Bhazinska and Tulshi - Nomads Nocturne 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

This show starts with a couple of tracks that are about 20 mins each in length, and there is a reason for that.My daughter has just finished primary school and it has thrown up a lot of emotions, both for her at a time of big change, and for me as a parent. The school has become part of our routine and I feel I am very much part of the community, one which we are now leaving. The emotional drain has been palpable and when I started recording the show, I just didn’t have it in the tank to really dive in as I usually do. So I thought I’d let some music do its restorative thing, a couple of amazing, long tracks, so I could sit, listen, gather my thoughts and energy.So, from Melanie De Biasio’s ‘Blackened Cities’ and Four Tets ‘Morning’ to where we end up, via some charity shop finds, I hope this show does for you what it did for me.If you are a parent in similar circumstances then I hope you can find some time to sit still and let some music do its thing for you too.CxTracklist:Melanie De Biasio - Blackened CitiesFour Tet - MorningMolly Joyce - 15 April 2000Nils Frahm and FS Blumm - LeuchterSlawomir Zubrzycki - CarillonCrayon - Home SafeLemon Jelly - Come Down On MeLemon Jelly - GoWendy Craig - Say GoodnightThe New Seekers - I’d Like To Teach The World To SingJohn Hammond - I Can TellMerry Clayton - Gimme ShelterAnandar Shankar - Jumpin’ Jack FlashJohnny Harris - Paint It BlackJeb Loy Nichols - Coming Home LoveMoodorama - Breathe In Breath OutLaura Vane - FaceRaz and Afia - Shikor Shikor (jazz Supernova and Sam Interface Remix)Amy Dabbs - Up In My Frills 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

A few years ago I had an idea for a show because sometimes I play some heavy jazz on my regular show and I feel I might be pushing it a little too far.That got me thinking about whether people actually like jazz or just pretend they do, and for people who don’t, or who say they don’t, how can you break down what it is and help people find their way into it? Does that even make sense?Well, it did to me, and my idea was find some of my favourite musicians and DJ’s, all passionate about lots of forms of music, but who are, how could I put it, Jazz sensitive? Get those people to talk to me about how they got into jazz and if there was a specific tune that spoke to them, a gateway drug if you like, then I’d play that tune and maybe that could be your gateway into jazz too.There is also an event called International Jazz Day that happens in the spring every year, with the legend Herbie Hancock being its most notable patron, and this show earned me a letter from him, which blew my mind a bit…I did have plans to do another one, and my first port of call was Herbie himself, but that conversation with his agent faltered and other thigns came along, but I’m really proud of this show, the line up I managed to get on it (trying not to fan boy with Shabaka too much) Maybe I’ll do another one, one day. I’d be keen to know what you think, and if there is any tunes you particularly like (or don’t like) Let me know. Cx 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

This is my first show solely for Totally Wired Radio and Substack, which is where all my shows are going from now on. In that spirit, I’m talking more about why I’m playing what I’m playing, a little more about the world around us and how thats impacting music, as well as playing interesting music, both new and old, brand new releases and new to me old records, and a few gems that mean something to me, or have popped into my brain for some reason. Let me know what you think and if you know of music you think I’ll dig, then please let me know. Heres the tracklist:Lemon Jelly - Ramblin’ ManBreaks Co Op - The OthersideMr Scruff - Shanty TownGrey Reverend - RegenRival Consoles - Known ShapeRaz and Alfa - Shikor Shikor (Jamz Supernova and Sam Interface remix)Eight in the Room - Bought and SoldBurial - Near DarkFloating Points - Del OroAir - Kelly Watch The Stars (Demo)Mouth 2 Mouth - Deep In The PocketGorillaz - 12D3Alfa Mist - In My DefenceRadiohead - Kid AHoward Stern vs The Dust Brothers - Tortured ManThe Dust Brothers - X Files ThemeBeck - Dark and Lovely/Devils Haircut (Dust Brothers Mix) Apeman - At RandomMugen - In The MorningTycoon Tosh - Who Police the Police?Tycoon Tosh - China Syndrome Pt 2 Andrea Parker - Melodius Thunk 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

Back last year, possibly November, Chip came to Brighton to play a show, we'd had a few online conversations before then, he was a guest on my show "Jazz For People Who Think They Don't Like Jazz (listen here) which was a real pleasure, and Chip was really enthusiastic. So fast forward back to this gig, I'd told Chip I was going to be there, and was nearish the stage to the side, and I was pretty surprised when he clocked me and gave me a nod...After the show, he came into the bar where I was hanging out and we got chatting, really just to say thanks for a great show, and it was a great show, the music just blew my mind and took me away to that place you hope you'll find when listening to live music... anyway, we got chatting and he told me he was a big fan of my radio show and thanked me for the support, which wasn't really what I was expecting to hear! I'm his fan, not the other way around! So yeah, that was a bit of a moment. but suffice to say, Chip is a lovely, talented beyond belief, down to earth guy, making his way in music, who has done a few laps of the park so to speak, so I knew he'd be a good guest.We also have a couple of other random connections, one being my good friend Fred who lives in Manchester and the second being Chips nephew who taught my son in Primary school!, Small world innit?So, yeah, a real pleasure to chat to Chip, which nearly went off the rails due to a power cut on his road in Madrid where he currently lives, but in spite of this, we managed to chat for a long while and it was a real pleasure.If you want to find out more you can find his work here:https://www.gondwanarecords.com/artists/chip-wickham Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. 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

So stoked to have had the opportunity to talk to a proper legend in the game and find out more about his journey. one of the original DIYers and still hustling, putting out his best work yet (IMHO) with a new album incoming on Strut Records.Idris did a piece for a me a couple of years back, after chatting to him online a little bit. He is a warm, welcoming, generous person and obviulsy has such a unique voice, both musically and in the music business, he has seen most trends come and go and is still on it, partnering with Bandcamp on his latest album launch, which, sadly I don't have the details of just yet, so I can't post them here for you.Please do take the time to listen to his work, its not quite like anything else out there, his 2018 album An Angel Fell is what drew me in, and I would say a masterpiece, but early listens to the new album show that Idris is not resting on his considerable laurels, pushing forward all the time, developing new skills and keeping the Pyramids hard at it.I could have listened to Idris' stories for hours, we did talk for over two, and I keep thinking of things we could have gone into, but I hope you find this conversation as interesting as I did, from diving back in time to talking about the industry today, and some sage advice at the end.Enjoyhttps://idrisackamoor.bandcamp.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. 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

This was one of my favourite conversations so far, and I know I probably say that about all my guests, but really, I get so much out of the connections I'm having with my guests, and it feels like something meaningful to my life. I wonder how you, the listener, are feeling about them? Adam is a kind soul, you can tell that he is compelled to be in music, in many different forms, maybe to his detriment, or maybe not. he certainly feels the weight of looking after others, whether that is band mates or artists on his label, I imagine he is a good friend because he genuinely cares and feels it. He has been part of the industry for a long time now and I feel our paths may have met, had I gone to Alchemea (a music school in London) because it was probably around the same time that I looked round it, but decided it wasn't for me, which to be honest, was probably imposter syndrome and low self asteem kicking in more than anything (and maybe money!)Adams label has come on my radar through working with Amanda Whiting on a remix of one of her tracks and its Adams label Alberts Favourites that is putting it out, so its funny how these connections have come around and then yoou look back and see the threads running through your life, but it seems to make sense to me now and I don't feel like a complete outsider or imposter, which is a good thing...So, yeah, I hope you enjoy this episode, we cover a fair bit of ground, from shit haircuts to mental health (all the same thing to me) so hold tight... Cx Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. 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