Weekend Wind-Down No. 1: Trip-Hopping

–Words and list by Kevin Madert

Here’s the first in a series of playlists we’ll be running weekly via Spotify: our Weekend Wind-Downs. In the words of the oft-marginalized Semisonic, “Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.” No matter the amount of debauchery, the number of mistakes, and the richter-scale magnitude of your hangovers, weekends end (hell, it’s in the name). We’re here to take that back-to-reality transition and make it a bit smoother for you in ten-song, hour-long segments.

Kicking it off is a smorgasbord of trip-hop speaker-soothers– a beat-driven genre under the wider downtempo umbrella. Minimalism can be key – Amon Tobin’s eclectic “Easy Muffin” is often reduced to little more than rambling percussion – but lush instrumentation isn’t uncommon – the sweeping string section on Bonobo’s album-opening “Prelude/Kiara” sets the bar in this regard. Keep time to the beat and let the soundscapes carry your mind far away from thoughts of the work week to come.

Tracklist:

Bonobo – Prelude
Bonobo – Kiara
Little People – Basique
Blockhead – The Music Scene
Kodomo – Concept 1
Wax Tailor – How I Feel
Emancipator – Soon It Will Be Cold Enough To Build Fires
RJD2 – June
Amon Tobin – Easy Muffin
Tor – Nomad
Tycho – Elegy