Phil Collins - In The Air Tonight

Joe writes: This came on the radio while I was driving through Los Angeles. It sounded so futuristic. It was clearly a massive inspiration for the Drive soundtrack, but much as I love Real Hero and Nightcall, this is on a different level in terms of melody, vocal performance, arrangement, everything.

It has been used on numerous films, TV programmes and adverts, starting with the pilot episode of Miami Vice. Some of those uses, like the Cadbury's Gorilla commercial and The Hangover, have been slightly mocking, which is perhaps why not everyone realises what a brilliant, serious, angry record this is.

The official video is cut to the single version which has drums from near the start, added on the suggestion of Ahmet Ertegun so don't listen to that, listen to this:



And here's a demo version, before the addition of Phil's trademark gated drum sound:

Phil Campbell/The Temperance Movement

Joe writes: I wrote about Phil Campbell once before but I wasn't expecting the music world to hear from him again. In the mid nineties, he was signed to EMI in what was a particuarly Kill Your Friends-esque era for the label. His debut album had a lot of money spent on it but was a stiff. After leaving EMI he formed a band called White Buffalo but eventually left the music industry before joining a new band, The Temperance Movement, around two years ago. They signed to the heavy rock label Earache, toured a lot, and charted their debut album at no. 12 in the official UK album chart.

My favourite from Phil's debut album was Hope, Faith & You, with its gloriously over-the-top string arrangement and a healthy dose of influence from Tom Traubert's Blues by Tom Waits. Hope, Faith & You was covered by Cliff Richard. Is it religious? It's ambiguous - he could be referring to his actual father. Either way it's a lyric about self-belief that is particularly appealing given the arc of Phil's career.

My favourite track on the Temperance Movement album is Chinese Lanterns, but remember that Chinese lanterns are dangerous and bad for the environment:



The Temperance Movement play Koko in London tonight.

Here's Tom Traubert's Blues (Four Sheets to the Wind in Copenhagen):

Ten Walls - Requiem

Joe writes: Super catchy but cool instrumental house tune.



It reminds me of Disco's Revenge by Gusto:



with a little of Get Get Down by Paul Johnson:

Jake Bugg - A Song About Love

Joe writes: I don't always get Jake Bugg but I really like this song from his new album. It sounds big.

my favourite Laura Marling tracks - a Spotify playlist

Don't let it die - Hurricane Smith

Phil writes:  Heard this on the radio recently.  I always thought it was a great song and, clearly, more and more relevant as the years go by:

  Hurricane Smith was a sound engineer who worked a lot with the Beatles.

Sad Songs - Spotify playlist

Joe writes: My favourite genre is sad songs, and this playlist includes most of my favourites including Sad Song by Lou Reed: