Tunes to Travel To
The success or failure of any holiday or long trip abroad hinges on many things – Have I got my passport? Has the hostel/hotel been booked? Do I know where I’m going once I get there? Have I got enough money? – These are all very important issues, but one of the more crucial questions which can either have an adverse effect upon holiday vibe or enhance the experience is “What music should I take with me?”
Planning your holiday playlist is not a task which should be left to the last minute, like say, packing! Much care, thought, and attention needs to be invested in it. You need to think about the place you’re going to and match your choices accordingly. For example, if you are planning a trip to the top of a tall landmark like say the Eiffel Tower or Niagara Falls, then it might not be a good idea to have Van Halen’s ‘Jump’ suddenly blaring out of your headphones! Clearly Balearic grooves are more fitting for sun, sea and sand rather than a skiing retreat to snow-fettered mountains, for which something post-rock would perhaps be more apt. For a relaxing retreat, chilled-out ambiance is probably more desirable than banging party anthems.
Futurecop! Wax on, Wax off
“When I was a little kid I was addicted to TV, I watched a lot of 80s cartoons and movies & I used to love it, so I wanted to make music as if I was in the 80s making a tune for a cartoon or a Sci-Fi movie!”
Futurecop! creator Manzur Iqbal reveals the inspiration behind his musical project in an interview with oohcrapp.net music blog. So, did he succeed? Absolutely, on so many levels!
These guys put out a sound that places you slap bang in the middle of the 80s, although it’s not the 80s I heard the first time around, it’s almost a modern (or futuristic if you will) reincarnation of the decade that is everything I wish my local 80s night was but isn’t.
Current favourite track ‘Karate Kids’ (below) begins with a soft synth sound not too unlike the intro to Petshop Boys ‘West End Girls,’ this quickly gives way to epic sounding bleepery which captures the mood of the movie the title refers to, go on I challenge you not to imagine a bit of wax on wax off as you listen!
I saw them live as part of the great escape festval in Brighton this year (2009) and, despite catching them by accident, they happened to be one of my highlights of the weekend. So much so infact, that after sitting at the back of the room with my whiskey and coke, I was quickly risking death clambering on stools and tables to see who was making that sound. Turns out it was Futurecop! and they deserve a listen.
Check them out on their MySpace or check out the tune below.
