After years of writing music as he travelled from his native Italy, across Europe, to the United States, and back again, Mauro Remiddi’s sound slowly developed into Porcelain Raft. With songs built up from layers of guitar, synths, drum machines and anything else lying around, Porcelain Raft’s music is a swirl of dream-pop mood and melody.
Having put out a string of self-released EPs through Bandcamp, Remiddi signed to Secretly Canadian last year for his debut album ‘Strange Weekend’. Released on 23 Jan and streaming online right now, its distinct sound clearly comes from a deep love of music. So, we asked Mauro to help us unravel his influences by putting together this ten track playlist.
PORCELAIN RAFT’S TEN
Click here to listen to Mauro’s playlist in Spotify, or here to listen to it via We7, and then read on to find out more about their choices.
01 Martin Rev – I Heard Your Name
This track features a keyboard that sounds terrible. The man couldn’t fight the urge to express himself though. Rock n roll is about the here and now after all, and that’s what this track is about too – no time to waste, let’s use what we have and let me sing. I like the melody a lot, so simple, like a nursery rhyme. His voice is calm but disturbing, really trying hard to sound ‘OK’ whilst having a nervous breakdown. I love Martin Rev and this album is just incredible.
02 Nico – Le Petit Chevalier
This is Nico’s little son singing. The song is very short and it feels like a glimpse into a world few of us were allowed to see.
03 Vangelis – Main Titles (From Blade Runner)
The melody unfolds very slowly, while the sound of the synth is like one hundred Miles Davis playing on a silver cloud.
04 M83 – Intro
Epic and liberating.
05 Oupa – Those Are The Senses
I want to cover this song…
06 Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds – In The Ghetto
I love this version, so romantic. Nick Cave is the child who was born in the ghetto and now is telling us: “People, don’t you understand, The child needs a helping hand, Or he’ll grow to be an angry young man some day”. Somehow I feel that all Nick Cave’s aesthetic is within this song.
07 The Ramones – Baby I Love You
I always thought Joey Ramone’s voice is one of the most beautiful voices in pop. So emotional and straight to the point.
08 Dean Martin – That’s Amore
Every morning I wake up with a nice cup of coffee, singing ‘That’s Amore’.
09 Terry Jacks – Seasons In The Sun
It sounds like a nursery rhyme. It sounds like springtime. But it’s really about someone on the brink of dying.
10 Harry Nilsson – Everybody’s Talkin
“Call me Ishmael. Some years ago – never mind how long precisely – having little or no money in my purse, and nothing particular to interest me on shore, I thought I would sail about a little and see the watery part of the world…” (Chapter I, Moby Dick)
Sections: CMU Playlists | Tags: Porcelain Raft
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