1. Salento by René Aubry
Salento comes from French composer René Aubry’s 1998 record Plaisirs d’amour – a title that instinctively promises beautiful content.
I came across it a few years ago thanks to Jeremiah Fraites of The Lumineers, who shared the song saying: “When that first melody enters [at 2:50], it’s like this crispy piece of iceberg audio lettuce.” Couldn’t have said it any better. Every bit of instrumentation on this song is so delicately intentional – again, in the words of Fraites, “nothing is excessive or wasted.” Aubry perfectly blends the strings’ classical harmonies with the more modern clapping percussion and acoustic guitars.
With the composer’s background and the title taking its name from the region of Italy, my Italian friend (thank you Tina) once described it very sweetly --- “There’s this nice mix of French elegance and southern imagery in my mind while listening to it.”
2. Sonate pacifique by L’impératrice
A fan favourite of French pop and disco group L’impératrice, it's so easy to naturally flow into Sonate Pacifique. The song sounds like a daydream, with hypnotizing guitar and basslines and sweet love song-style lyrics (“I’m feeling my heart beating with the rhythm of her body slowly move / I love this feeling").
If you listen on YouTube, it’s fun to try a .75 playback speed. It’ll probably take you a few seconds to adjust to the slower laziness of the rhythm, but once you do it becomes incredibly calming.
3. Charlie Boy (Live from CO) by The Lumineers
Very few songs evoke as intense an emotional reaction for me than this live take on Charlie Boy. The first time I really listened, it felt like for the first time I could feel the weight of the 20th century generations in my family who lived through so much war.
With this live version specifically, the emotionally raw quality of Wesley Schultz’ voice comes through more powerfully than ever. But it’s especially the rest of the instruments that add so much depth. I always appreciate this most at 3:22 when Schultz sings --- “Play the bugle / Play the taps / Make your mothers proud” --- and the percussion and heavy guitar strumming plow upwards together with so much passion. Whew.
This live take also allows Neyla Pekarek her due spotlight with the cello --- especially memorable since we rarely hear the cello shine through on the band's album recordings.
4. White Roses by Flyte
I came across Flyte thanks to a song cover of their hit Cathy Come Home posted by Eloise, which she aptly captioned: “One month ago I was introduced to the band Flyte… My feet haven’t touched the ground since.”
There are a few songs by the British trio that conjure up a modern-day Beatles vibe – White Roses especially. I think it’s something about the guitar lines and the way they harmonize so seamlessly with The Staves – Flyte’s collaborators for the track.
The verses are tinged with questioning and mystery until the chorus blossoms into a beautiful, soothing melody and gives the track such a warm dawn feel, all despite the sad nostalgia of the lyrics (“But those white roses are growing around the houses / that you buried under the arches all your life").
White Roses is a moving ode to loss and the ongoing impact of life after death – the way that people’s energy carries on in the world. (Luckily they convey the idea much better than I can.)
Listen on Spotify to all 'Songs of the Week' here.
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