Two notes of a
piano keyboard being repetitively struck in quick succession hit me in the
stomach on my tube journey to work, with an uncontrollable urge and sense of
excitement. The kind a child gets when they wake up on their birthday; the
feeling you have when a memory takes you back to a time and place; the volt of
energy you receive when you set eyes on a long absent loved one. It is a primal
instinct over which you have no control. The sort of reaction that gives you
the positive energy to start another day and see it through.
These early
morning epiphanies on the tube are becoming a regular occurrence. The two repetitive piano notes which kicked me out of my slumbers came from LCD Sound System's All My
Friends, from their Sound Of Silver
LP. A fabulous tune with exactly the right balance of uplifting melancholia to get the blood racing and
it was just what I needed on that particular morning commute.
The music fits
the mood and it isn’t always in need of the rabble rousing. Other tracks to grab
my start of the day attention have ranged from the dreamy and soulful Connan
Mockasin on his sublime Caramel LP, to
Aaliyah and her self titled album. As the train headed towards Surrey Quays, with Millwall Football Club to my left,
towering in the distance on the other side of the train, the tip of One Canada Square was submerged
in low lying cloud, whilst I Can Be, the
third track on Aaliyah’s album
entertained my ears. The girl had a wonderful voice and like so many musical
talents was taken from us way too early.
This morning,
the laid back drawl of Q-Tip spoke to
me as he accompanied Masters At Work
on a version of I Am The Black Gold Of
The Sun, part of the daily musical mix which helps my journey to work go by in a range of
sounds, words and musical textures.
