5 tracks for Friday (week3)
Every Friday, we’ll be posting "5 tracks for Friday". Tracks from past and present that caught our ears during the week in terms of quality and vibe…as simple as that.
New York Lightning x The Voices of East Harlem
Label -Elektra Records
Year - 1970
Recorded during a period of intense artistic and political fervour, the track is a powerful representation of the group’s soul-stirring, gospel-infused rhythm and blues sound. The Voices of East Harlem were a youth collective brought together by activist and music teacher Bernice Cole, designed to provide a creative outlet for young people in the neighbourhood. "New York Lightning" captures that raw, communal energy perfectly, blending tight, soaring vocal harmonies with a gritty, driving funk backing that reflects the urgency of the urban experience at the time.
Miles Away by The Linkwood Family
Label -Firecracker Records
Year - 2008
Often cited as a modern "deep house" essential, the track became a cult classic shortly after its release, finding its way into the sets of legendary selectors like Derrick May and Moodymann. It is a masterclass in atmosphere, built around a mournful, Miles Davis-inspired trumpet solo that drifts over lonesome, jazz-inflected keys and a steady, late-night house groove. The vocal lines are sparse and intimate, teetering on the edge of a torch song, which gives the track a haunting, melancholic warmth.
Ebb Tide by Houston & Dorsey
Label - Numero Group
Year - 1968
Ebb Tide by the veteran duo Houston & Dorsey is a fascinating, unconventional instrumental track that highlights a unique corner of 1960s American music. While many listeners associate the song with the grand orchestral pop of The Righteous Brothers or Frank Sinatra, Houston & Dorsey’s take, likely appearing on their LP At the World’s Most Famous Beach, offers a completely different, cult-favorite aesthetic.
Still Life x The Horrors
Label - XL
Year - 2011
The track is anchored by its lush, driving synth-pop foundation, atmospheric reverb-drenched guitars, and Faris Badwan’s distinctive, haunting vocal delivery, which creates a cinematic, introspective experience. Produced by the band themselves, "Still Life" is widely celebrated for its grand, sweeping arrangement that successfully merges the grit of late-70s post-punk with the ethereal grandeur of 80s dream-pop.
The Day We Lost The Soul by Moodymann
Label - KDJ
Year - 1997
A seminal work in the canon of Detroit electronic music, the track serves as a deeply moving, sonic tribute to the legendary Marvin Gaye and the profound cultural void left by his tragic passing in 1984. Moodymann masterfully constructs the piece around a raw, looped sample of a radio newscast announcing Gaye's death, which he overlays with stuttering percussion, dusty, crackling vinyl textures, and a heavy, soulful swing that feels both mournful and celebratory. By weaving these gritty, lo-fi aesthetic choices with the sampled audio, Moodymann creates a bridge between the classic soul era and the future of house music, effectively turning a moment of collective mourning into an essential, timeless piece of dancefloor history.