Gigs, concerts and music festivals in Singapore
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e-mail this to a friendElectric lazy-land
TOS staffers pick soothing soundtracks and lethargyinducing locations to help you chill in that hot hot heat
BEST FOR: lounging next to your significant other on Esplanade Park, enjoying the sun setting over the durian-like domes
Air, Moon Safari (1998)
Sexy boys Nicolas Godin and Jean-Benoît Dunckel fashion electronica for the heart and soul rather than the feet, and dreamy easy-listening masterpiece Moon Safari sounds like the past and future rolled into one – thus, truly timeless. A decade on, nothing in the Parisian duo’s catalogue (or, indeed, anyone’s) compares to this unashamedly nostalgic, utterly romantic debut.
JE
BEST FOR: enjoying a picnic dinner and wine with friends on a secluded stretch along Tanjong Beach, Sentosa
Fat Freddys Drop, Based on a True Story (2005)
Full-bodied and soulful, Joe Dukie’s velvet-smooth voice meanders its way through a myriad of instruments on this album; it sounds like gospel to your ears. ‘Cay Crays’ starts off with a reggae beat, bopping you gently back and forth, but as soon as the horns kick in you fi nd yourself swaying your hips. And as the moon refl ects off the water, ‘Hope’ (for which the band is best known) brings the night to a close.
SL
BEST FOR: sweet, solitary beach time without a care in the world
Daedelus, Of Snowdonia (2004)
If slow and smooth isn’t quite your bag, LA-based Daedelus has the summer soundtrack for you. Named after that mythical fellow who fl ew too close to the sun, his pseudonym’s original spelling (Daedalus) means ‘cunning worker’ in Greek. Weaving lush soundscapes with jazzy instrumental snippets, obscure spoken narratives and warm, fuzzy percussion, Daedelus is nothing short of a true romantic when it comes to his chosen craft. Of Snowdonia is a great starter kit for new listeners, filled with rich horns and atmospheric orchestra samples.
AO
BEST FOR: ‘me’ time in the privacy of your own room and thoughts
Devendra Banhart, Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon (2007)
Artist and neo-hippie messiah Banhart has a haunting voice that delivers peculiar lyrics over slow, mystical arrangements – perfect for a relaxed Friday night at home. He introduces himself with friendly banter in ‘Cristobal’, a simple, guitar-strumming tune. After you’ve exchanged pleasantries, ‘Bad Girl’ aches with an electric guitar, light drumming and Banhart’s lament of unrequited love. ‘Shabop Shalom’, reminiscent of doo-wop in the 1950s, wishes you sweet dreams as your eyes start to shut.
SL
BEST FOR: playing board games at a pyjama party
Tommy James & The Shondells, Anthology (1989)
Songs ‘Crystal Blue Persuasion’ and ‘Crimson and Clover’ have been featured in 2007’s thriller Zodiac and 2003’s comedy Coffee and Cigarettes, respectively, securing this 1960s American rock ’n’ roll band’s place in present-day pop culture. With a mix of uptempo ditties like ‘I Think We’re Alone Now’ and ‘Gotta Get Back To You’ (with its bluesy riff), Anthology has a timelessness and playfulness that makes it work for any pyjama party, any decade.
SL
