Can you believe it? Another winter come and gone. Spring had its moments, but too often served a somber post-script to winter. Truth is it was a hard one. After a deep freeze receded, pot-holes in cities and towns all over the country proved a testament to our failing infrastructure. What does this have to do with soul music? Think of Summer of Soul as warm sunshine for your heart. Yes the snow melts at 0 degrees Centigrade, but what of the ice in your soul? Meteorologic summer is merely related to the position of our northern hemisphere with respect to the sun, but if you experience summer fully it is also a state of mind. Most of us have had jobs in the summer since high-school, it is no longer the time of running free among the grass meadows or playing some b-ball outside of school. Despite this when one is sitting outside, cool drink in hand, the right tune on the radio can elevate the moment and encourage us to bask in the moment. Of course for the full experience add a few friends to the mix.
Music is meant to be shared. Our societies have systems like scales specifically to clarify and ease the transference of musical messages. Thusly you should consider this my easing the transfer of bitchin' music to all your homestead social activities. Dinner? Party? Game night? Just stopping by? Sure, why not put on Summer of Soul?
You may notice I moved away from the keg model for my playlist, preferring this six pack of hard hitting funk. The theme of the music is Thawin' Out. This refers to the progression of the music and its uplifting themes throughout. The music progresses roughly from old to new but also the timbre changes from rougher old live recordings to polished modern digital music. It opens with an inviting Odetta number and transitions into a familiar surprise. Later a little Dianna Ross gives you a clear idea of the uplifting Thawin' Out feeling that typifies this mix. Heavy on the guitars, steady but dripping in syncopation, soaring lyrics laden with warmth. Later on we encounter musicians like Disclosure and Thundercat blurring the lines of live and electronic sounds. Because all good things must end, this one does it with some gospel and a delightful retro number both tunes made exclusively of a little sunshine and a little soul.
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