John Richards

Psyence Fiction includes collaborations with an all-star lineup including Thom Yorke (Radiohead), Mark Hollis (Talk Talk), Mike D (Beastie Boys), Kool G Rap, Jason Newsted (Metallica), Badly Drawn Boy and on this track, Richard Ashcroft (The Verve).

This album was completed during quarantine. "The last 10 percent [of a project] can be the hardest part, just fine tuning stuff -- and we were in different places while we did it, with Tom [Stell] in Australia and us in Seattle. At that point, you’ve heard the music so much that you don’t even know what it sounds like anymore. It was good to finally get it done, but it’s hard, because you’re going back and forth and you’re not as close to the music as you want to be, because at that point you’re just a little overexposed. But it did come together, and we’re very happy with it." - Clayton Mills of Odesza

This song has its origins in the Radiohead Kid A sessions. Thom Yorke told Rolling Stone magazine in 2006: "'Black Swan' has this tiny, shredded segment of something that was one of the library samples we had. It was Ed (O'Brien guitar) and Phil (Selway drums) doing this thing, and I sliced it into bits. The sample was 2000, but the song was 2005."

Morning John & Sparkle Nation, "Lucky Man” from The Verve hit my ears at the exact moment I needed a song today. Found out this morning that my father, who is hospitalized, may not be getting out of there. You have been a source of hope and comfort during this year & my wife Amie & I appreciate all that KEXP does for all the listeners. Thank you again for making KEXP the place to listen, vent, feel & heal. Stay safe as YOU are not alone. Anthony -- Released 23 years ago today. Urban Hymns missed out on the Mercury Prize in 1998. It was recognized alongside the likes of Pulp’s A Different Class and Massive Attack’s Mezzanine, but they eventually lost to Gomez’s Bring It On.

First new Doves album in 11 years. Andy Williams (drums, vocals) said the album and its title are concerned with “the idea of always continuously wanting something and never being satisfied with what you’ve got … It’s about always looking over the wall and thinking that if I can get to that place then I’m going to be happier, and then most of the time when you get to that place, you’re not.”

The video for "Wishing" is made up of crowd-sourced footage of fans standing in front of 78 music venues closed because of the pandemic, in an effort to promote the Save Our Stages movement. Jessica Dobson had this to say in a press release: “I gladly add to the chorus of voices of those releasing music right now and say, alongside many others, that it is DEVASTATING not being able to properly promote an album by playing shows and touring. The question that keeps rising within us as we try to maintain our wits and creativity is, how can we still involve people—and how can we still involve these music venues that we love and NEED?" See the video here: youtu.be

Hi John, what a ridiculous and hard time. Singing along to Suede and watching a squirrel somersault like she’s just had LSD nuts has really helped this morning. Much thanks to you all, ~Shannon ------ This anthem to suburban romance sees vocalist and lyricist Brett Anderson desperate to convince himself that there's an escape from council estate gloom. He recalled to Q magazine April 2011: "I had this schoolboy-ish idea to sneak an overtly sexual song with the framework of pop. I was amazed it got daytime radio play, considering the title is a play on amyl nitrite. To me, it's set in suburbia, in a council estate in Haywards Heath. I was brought up as a white, working-class English boy, and that's what I wrote about. If you're born in a dump you aspire to something better."

Get the new album from Seattle band Spesh here: bit.ly See Spesh's 2018 stop by the KEXP studios here: www.youtube.com

"IDLES set for UK number one album, outselling rest of top five combined with ‘Ultra Mono’" -NME bit.ly

Their 4th album in 2 years and just 12 weeks after their previous double album. Find it on their bandcamp page: saultglobal.bandcamp.com

Brotherhood, the 4th album from New Order, was released on this date in 1986. That's 34 years ago.

Johnny Marr of The Smiths played 12-string guitar on this track at the suggestion of producer Steve Lillywhite. Talking Heads often used outside guitarists, but this was the first time they connected with Marr, who fit right in. He recalled to Uncut magazine February 2008 about his contribution to this track: "When I got there they put down some bass and drum tracks. '(Nothing But) Flowers' sounded almost like a reggae dub track. I wasn't trying to play in an African style - although some people pointed out that I sometimes sound like that anyway! I knew all about King Sunny Ade (performer of Nigerian juju music) and I love Fela Kuti (Nigerian multi-instrumentalist) but really I just played melodies that sounded good in a high range. The intro to 'Flowers' was me playing without knowing the tape machine was on - that's how little attention I paid to any kind of remit! I built that track from the ground up. I was impressed with what David (Byrne) did on it. He worked super quickly on it."

Aquemini is the third studio album by American hip hop duo Outkast, released today back in 1998. The title is a portmanteau of the two performers' Zodiac signs: Aquarius (Big Boi) and Gemini (André 3000).

"Reflecting Light" features surprise guests: soul singer Sananda Maitreya and folk elder Vashti Bunyan. Bunyan appears only as a sample from her 1970 track “Glow Worms”; the group splices together her original verses to create the refrain, “Dreamers moving slowly through reflected light.” - Pitchfork bit.ly

Chicano Batman performed "Freedom is Free" live at KEXP back in 2017. See the full performance here: www.youtube.com Chicano Batman also shared a set of songs recorded exclusively for KEXP and joined Morgan to talk for Live at KEXP at Home: www.youtube.com

Fantastic Negrito.....Just WOW, will be checking that one out for sure. Thanks for a little positive charge this am, so needed. Keep up the great work you all are doing! Rachael in Rockville -- Hear another from Fantastic Negrito's latest album, this time "How Long?" as featured as the song of the day 9/8/2020. Download it here: bit.ly

The video of George Michael rehearsing this song while David Bowie and Seal watch: youtu.be

“We did this tune with Robert completely by email,” Damon Albarn explained on BBC Radio 6. Smith added: “I loved it! I thought it was excellent. I felt ripples in the force and I thought, ‘I better get this done’.”

Brotherhood was released on this day, 34 years ago. (Even if it says 1988 on this playlist!) When it was released "Bizarre Love Triangle" failed to reach the Top 40 and topped out at # 56. Now it is an 80's staple.

Ian Devaney of Nation of Language explains how the cover came about: "People come to us all the time suggesting songs we should cover, but 98% of the time they’re songs written by our more obvious sonic influences. If I can’t offer a new angle or interpretation to the song, I’d rather spend that energy on creating original work. When Aidan suggested “Gouge Away” I was immediately struck by how badly I wanted to rework it in our style, and the whole song mapped itself out in my head right away. I didn’t let myself listen to the original from then until it was fully recorded so I might forget certain details about it, leaving only my impression of it’s foundational elements – the way the quiet, unsettling verses give way to the savage choruses, the way the big transitional guitar line overwhelms you every time it happens. What we ended up with felt like an honest reimagining so we’re proud to present it to everyone and shed light on our favorite song by a band we really love."

Happy Coffee Day! Kate Tempest performed "Perfect Coffee" live on KEXP in May, 2017: www.youtube.com

Good morning! If you have a chance, I'd love to hear Not Enough Time by Inxs. Thanks and stay safe! -Russ in Seattle ----------------------- Welcome to Wherever You Are was released in the US 28 years ago. The lyrics to "Not Enough Time" were originally intended for another composition from Welcome To Wherever You Are, which later became the album's opening song 'Questions'. The original version can be heard on the 2002 remaster of the album.

It’s feeling like it could be a lovely day. Any chance you can get Bill Withers to confirm this? -Mike in Seattle Confirmed. Definitely lovely today. Get outside before the smoke returns!

Hi John, Could you play “Wake Up Boo” by Boo Radleys for my wife Heather’s birthday today? Thanks! -Shawn ----------------------------- Happy Birthday Heather!

Built to Spill has two nights scheduled at the Crocodile, November 1st & 2nd. Not sure these can happen/are happening? Maybe they're doing some social distanced/online thing? Find out more: www.builttospill.com

“The song and the video for ‘nowhere, man’ were created under conditions of feeling squeezed and pushed to the brink — relatively, of course,” explains Merril Garbus. “I wanted to ask, ‘How loudly do I have to shout and sing before I’m heard?’ And the video asks, too, ‘What am I not hearing?’ We hope the music brings energy and a strong wind of encouragement to those who are shouting and singing loudly for justice right now.” Read more: bit.ly

“‘UNITED GIRLS ROCK’N’ROLL CLUB’ is a song that screams GIRL POWER!” CHAI and Hinds said in a press release. “You might be from different countries, different languages, but at the end of the day, the music speaks for itself. You can hear it, you can feel it! It’s that type of song!"

Today is my son Liam's 10th birthday! He loves the gorillaz, thievery Corp, and vampire weekend, could you play something for his bday while he online schools? He is a super resilient kid who brings constant comfort to his stressed out parents. He plays the bass, guitar and wants to start trombone with the remote school band. We love this kid more than words. -Sally -------------------------- Happy birthday Liam!

Asked about the lyric that references him ("This feels so unnatural, Peter Gabriel, too"), Gabriel told 6Music, "I haven't quite worked that out whether I should be doing that or substituting it with a name." He ended up replacing one of the lines with "And it feels so unnatural to sing your own name" when this cover was released.

Good Morning John! Im HUGE fan of Cincinnati’s own…the National Could U play Fake Empire this AM? THANK YOU!!! BE WELL…😷 Much peace!☮️ Brian

The source for the title of the album is based on an English idiom. Its use is very old, but R.E.M.'s use is, according to guitarist Peter Buck, from the 1964 film A Shot in the Dark, minus the apostrophe: Inspector Clouseau opens a car door, falling into a fountain. Maria: "You should get out of these clothes immediately. You'll catch your death of pneumonia, you will." Clouseau: "Yes, I probably will. But it's all part of life's rich pageant, you know?"

In an all too predictable twist, it is not "International Coffee Day" internationally today. Some countries are October 1st. Some are in January. Brazil celebrates May 24th. Columbia is in June. Every day is coffee day on The Morning Show.

In a 1987 interview with Option, Stephen Morris commented that the "mad ending" to "Every Little Counts" – which sounds like a vinyl record needle skipping the groove – is similar to the ending of The Beatles' "A Day in the Life". Morris said: "What we should have done is make the tape version sound like the tape getting chewed up. The CD could have the sticking sound."

John chose "I Love Only You" as today's free KEXP Song of the Day: www.kexp.org