You may be wondering, what does that title even mean JW’s Music Musings?

I have mentioned some of my friends and family on this page before. There’s Lorcan (funk guitar master), who loves Red Hot Chili Peppers, funk obviously, Jimi Hendrix, French house style dance music and much more! There’s Holly Maguire, whose solo EP and band WINTER I have reviewed. There are many more interesting characters that will be mentioned on the page in the future, I’m sure!

One such legendary figure is my cousin Angus. A truly hilarious individual who has a rather eclectic music taste. He always sends me a song/playlist that makes me laugh with how random it is! You never know what to expect from the man in general.

He recently won tickets for the Scottish music festival TRNSMT, with tickets for one day of his choice. He is sadly busy on the Saturday, as he wanted to fly me over to see Kasabian together! We will definitely try and see them together, or a concert/festival in general, sometime in the future.

I do prefer a festival like Glastonbury, where special guests and random surprises are always around the corner – and Isle of Wight which has had some truly legendary and surprising headliners/acts over the years. You sort of know what will happen at TRNSMT (an offshoot of T in the Park, which was too dangerous to continue). However, I thought as Angus would be at the festival, I would make it my mission to spot him on the TV! He says he will make sure to get on the screen – probably making me cackle with a funny dance move.

Before I watch the festival (and also review the acts while I’m at it), I thought I would do this Verve playlist. The headliner on the day Angus is going, the Friday, is Richard Ashcroft – the frontman for The Verve.

They are a band most known for ’90s Britpop-era hits like “Bittersweet Symphony” and “Lucky Man.” However, they initially started out as a shoegaze/dream pop style group on their debut A Storm in Heaven, with the swirling and atmospheric sounds of guitar maestro Nick McCabe. Still, compared to their other bands of the genre, the vocals are quite clear and the guitar noise isn’t overwhelming. There is still a good sense of groove they would carry through their career.

Their next album A Northern Soul moved to the sound the band are known most for, while still containing the sonic wizardry of McCabe (like all of their material). This led to 1997’s Urban Hymns, which is home to their biggest hits.

One thing I do find bizarre about the band is that their music is almost all slow-paced and long. They only have two faster-paced songs in their discography, which are both on this playlist. However, I do enjoy some of Ashcroft’s solo albums. They don’t have the guitar magic of McCabe, and can be rather unfocused, but there is a greater variety in tempo.

That’s why I made this playlist. It is mostly of the Verve, with some solo Ashcroft sprinkled in to raise the tempo! I also included his recent track “Lovin’ You” which I think is absolutely class. It is a different track that features a plethora of samples and a hip-hip/trip hop beat. It reminds me of Gorillaz and the solo material of Stone Roses frontman Ian Brown.

Thus, I present this playlist. It charts the change from the early shoegaze Verve material through to later sounds. Ashcroft will perform a lot of these songs at his TRNSMT set I’m sure! Thanks for reading.

1. Star Sail
2. Slide Away
3. Already There
4. Blue
5. All in the Mind
6. This Is Music
7. Space and Time
8. Sonnet
9. Lucky Man (a few more chill songs in a row here with “Sonnet” and this one)
10. A Song For The Lovers
11. Bitter Sweet Symphony
12. The Drugs Don’t Work
13. Sit & Wonder
14. Love Is Noise
15. Lovin’ You