Comfort Listening - Music for rainy days

A new playlist for your ears

Hello from another rainy night in Auckland City. The weather has been rough all over the place - so as you read this, I hope you are warm and dry. Looking through my playlists recently I realised I love curating playlists for bad weather. Stormy Nights. Rainy Nights. Morning Rain…. and my latest ‘Comfort Blanket’ featuring some of my favourite songs that make me feel warm, cosy and comforted.

Naming playlists is always a funny thing. This one was inspired by a compilation I worked on many years ago when I was the Strategic and Digital Manager at Warner Music NZ. The compilation called Comfort Zone was inspired by the successful compilation series called Lazy Sunday. My workmate Dave Southgate had worked on that series featuring the now iconic inflatable plastic chairs, and they were hugely successful and sold incredibly well - there were 5 different versions released between 2001 and 2005.

I worked with Dave on the tracklist and concept for Comfort Zone — we were both so excited about it. But honestly, by 2006, a compilation called Comfort Zone might’ve just missed the mark timing-wise. The music? Incredible. The tracklisting? Chef’s kiss. But the industry was shifting fast. That year, both Vodafone Music and iTunes launched in New Zealand — the was the early days of buying and downloading music on your phone and computer. I didn’t quite understand the full impact at the time, but I remember realising it: things were changing. CD compilations were on the way out. And I felt genuinely sad — I’ve always loved compilation albums.

I have very fond memories of discovering so many great bands through compilations - in fact I pay tribute to the Flying Nun Compilation Pop Eyed for introducing me to excellent music but also to one of my favourite record labels in the world.

Speaking of great musical discoveries…

ALBUM OF THE WEEK:

The Circling Sun – Orbits

This new album by Aotearoa jazz collective The Circling Sun channels the cosmic energy of ‘70s spiritual jazz. Think beautiful synths, warm harmonies, layered percussion, dreamy vocals, and deeply ethereal vibes. Backseat Mafia gave it a glowing 9/10 and wrote a fantastic, in-depth review if you need more convincing to listen: Read the review

The first vinyl pressing of this album has already sold out! Pre-order the next run Order on Bandcamp

NEW WORK

I am almost ready to announce the exciting projects I have been working on.

Next week - I will send subscribers a very special link. Subscribe if you are not already.

Please forgive me for keeping this weeks Substack short - we are on deadlines.

If you haven’t listened to my interview with Frank Black from THE PIXIES - listen here - audio up the top https://substack.com/home/post/p-167857051

Here are some videos my daughter took when I ‘Guest Hosted’ 95bFM Breakfast last week

And a song Im still addicted to listen to - featured on my playlist - and perfect for a rainy night in… Talk soon X