CYCLE MUSIC #02
Cordelia
“Play Pretend”


This serial column, which began last month, started with an introduction. In the first installment, I wrote about “My Ever Changing Moods” by The Style Council, a song that accompanied my youth and how cycling made the world more enjoyable. In this second installment, let’s introduce Cordelia, a talented young British female singer-songwriter with a hauntingly beautiful voice, whose debut song was released just this summer.

The song “Play Pretend” is a delightful groovy tune with a hint of introspective mellowness, set to the cool, bossa nova-flavored strumming of the guitar that’s hard not to appreciate. I immediately liked it upon listening. However, when I watched her music video, I couldn’t help but think that it was perfectly timed.

The video combines ever-changing landscapes from different parts of the world with her cycling, creating a striking impression. It beautifully reflects her character as she sings and plays in the landscapes of youthful reverie.


Just like Corinne Bailey Rae appeared riding a bicycle in the music video for “Put Your Records On” in 2006, bringing a sense of newness and sweet excitement, this summer indie pop in 2023 has freshened up and colored the season sweetly.

Text_Toru Hashimoto (SUBURBIA)

Cordelia「Play Pretend」

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYzn7dqh6Jw&list=WL&index=56



♬CYCLE MUSIC STORAGE♬
#01 The Style Council “My Ever Changing Moods”
#02 Cordelia “Play Pretend”
#03 Corinne Bailey Rae “Put Your Records On”
#04 Georgie Fame ”Happiness”
#05 Alulu Paranhos “Bicicletinha”
#06 Motoharu Sano “Angelina”
#07 B.J. Thomas “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head”
#08 The Smiths “This Charming Man”
#09 Dominic Miller “Bicycle”
#10 NewJeans “Bubble Gum”
#11 Tank and the Bangas “Smoke.Netflix.Chill.”
#12 Kraftwerk “Tour de France”
#13 Livingston Taylor “Don’t Let Me Lose This Dream”
#14 RM “Bicycle”
#15 Norah Jones “Christmas Calling (Jolly Jones)”


Profile

Toru Hashimoto (SUBURBIA)
Editor / Music Selector / DJ / Producer. Founder of Suburbia Factory. Owner of Shibuya’s “Cafe Apres-midi” and “Apres-midi Selecao.” Over 350 compilation CDs, including series like ‘Free Soul,’ ‘Mellow Beats,’ ‘Cafe Apres-midi,’ ‘Jazz Supreme,’ ‘Music With A View,’ and many others, have been curated, making him the world’s foremost selector. He oversees and produces music broadcast channels “usen for Cafe Apres-midi” and “usen for Free Soul” on USEN, wielding significant influence in Japanese music scene since the 1990s. In recent years, his ‘Good Mellows’ series with a focus on mellow chillout has gained great popularity both domestically and internationally.

Art Work_spoken words project

CULTURE
CYCLE MUSIC #12
Kraftwerk
“Tour de France”

Ever since this series began, I’ve always thought that if I were to write a column about cycling and music, I would eventually feature Kraftwerk’s “Tour de France” at just the right moment. With their live performance at FUJI ROCK FESTIVAL 2024 now making waves, I feel that now is the perfect time to introduce it. Formed in 1970, the German electronic music group Kraftwerk, known for designing their own album covers and visual images, is a quintessential example of so-called Krautrock (German rock) and a pioneer of techno-pop. They greatly influenced not only YMO but also the British new wave scene, particularly the electro-pop/synth-pop movement known as New Romantic […]

#Kraftwerk
CULTURE
Music Cycles Around The World
#01 New York
3rd Bass “Brooklyn-Queens”

After 15 instalments, my column CYCLE MUSIC, where I’ve written about cycling and the music I love, has come to an end.Starting from this issue, I’m launching a new series titled Music Cycles Around The World. With the theme of “cities and music”, the idea is to explore the world through both cycling and sound. We begin with New York, where the Five Boro Bike Tour—a ride event that takes in all five boroughs including Brooklyn and Queens—is scheduled for 4th May. The title speaks for itself, so let’s kick things off with “Brooklyn-Queens” by 3rd Bass. 3rd Bass were a mixed-race hip-hop trio formed in Queens in 1987, made up of MC Serch, Prime Minister Pete Nice, and DJ Richie Ric […]

#New York
CULTURE
CYCLE MUSIC #11
Tank and the Bangas “Smoke.Netflix.Chill.”

In last month’s column, I mentioned the DJ party held on 27th April at Cafe Apres-midi. The event brought together the editor and artwork production team of this series, their friends, and even the staff of “Global Ride,” including designers and translators. The atmosphere was filled by good vibes with an array of fantastic music, and it was genuinely a delightful and lively gathering. During the event, our mutual friend and interior designer, Takashi Kobayashi, who runs the architectural firm ima, was spinning records. This month, I’d like to introduce a favourite song of mine that I remembered, “Ah, this one had a bicycle cover too!” They are acclaimed as the best l […]

#Column #Music