Album #1

Lyle:

Shuggie Otis - Inspiration Information

 "It's very free, beyond genre and ahead of its time!"

Rado:

Deodato - Love Island

"It's timeless, groovy, funky and it makes my life better every time I hear it."

Bridget:

Kanye West - Late Registration

“I know, Kanye is controversial now, but back then, every record he dropped was formative for me. All the way up to Dark Twisted Fantasy tbh - I’m sad that his mental health has lead to him being how he is now, but damn. Old Kanye was a legend.”

Album #2

Lyle:

Ahmad Jamal - The Awakening

"Ahmad Jamal's the GOAT. He's really good and it's a really good album. Lots of nostalgia of sun streaming in, starting my day with a tea or coffee, making breakfast with that record playing."

Rado:

Paulinho da Costa - Happy People

"A great record full of the best LA session cats of the time with the best that Brazil has to offer at the same time.”

Bridget:

Hiatus Kaiyote - Tawk Tomohawk

“My old drummer introduced me to this record at a time when I was really struggling to find a pathway forward for the music I wanted to make. Hiatus showed me that music nerds can be cool and I really needed to know that at that exact moment and I’ll never stop enjoying their tunes.”

Album #3

Lyle:

Solange - A Seat at the Table

“It’s beautiful, the production is amazing, the songs are very human and honest which is difficult sometimes for pop-leaning albums, but this does a really good job of it.”

Rado:

John Hicks Trio - Is that so?

“My favourite jazz record of today.”

Bridget:

Anderson .Paak - Malibu

“Again like Hiatus, a friend introduced me to AP’s Tiny Desk concert in like 2015 and it was a formative part of the journey that brought me to 10:32. Not only is it groovy AF but there’s a really important lyric in Talib Kweli’s guest verse in one of the tunes that basically says (paraphrasing) “my role as an artist is to make the revolution irresistible” and that has basically been my mantra ever since.”

Album #4

Lyle:

Flying Lotus - Until the quiet comes

“Honestly I don’t know why I pick this one - every FlyLo record I love in a different way, and I think this one is underrated. He’s a rule breaker, he’s unique and his production style, colours, sounds he uses - like everything he does it’s very colourful, experimental and innovative.”

Rado:

Red Hot Chilli Peppers - Blood Sugar Sex Magik

“Nostalgia of my youth, early days, heartbreaks and what it means to be band, really.”

Bridget:

Kimbra - Vows

“An actual musical goddess - Kimbra’s unapologetic voice and musical acrobatics have reminded me many times that my voice doesn’t have to *sound* a certain way, it can just be whatever it wants to be. Nai Palm is the same in Hiatus Kaiyote too. Fearless femme voices - I’ll never grow tired of them.”

Album #5

Lyle:

Marvin Gaye - What’s going on?

“Even though it’s already been rated the best album ever, I feel like right now the world really needs to hear it. It was always relevant at the time but it is just as much today.”

Rado:

Nuyorican Soul - Nuyorican Soul

“This is of my favourite records, in one record. The crossover of DJ sampling / live music culture.”

Bridget:

James Blake - The Colour in Anything

“On days when space gets a little more introspective, James Blake will be the saving grace for sure. His sonics and the breathing room he gives his ideas and creations are forever teaching me new things about making and listening. I love his use of toys and effects and the stories he weaves with sometimes very simple lyrics. This record will always be important to me.”