Posted: 12 Feb 2023
Author: George Baker

George's Desert Island Disks

One of my greatest pleasures is listening to a great album for the first time. I especially love music that leaves me thinking ‘wow—how did they come up with that?!’. So for me, Desert Island Disks is a challenging concept. Imagine being stranded on a deserted island with only a few songs to keep you company. What would those songs be? There are so many to choose from.

Having said that, I quite like the concept; music is highly subjective, but in this list, I don’t have to please anyone but myself. Therefore, without further ado, here are my eight Desert Island Disks:

  1. “Weird Fishes/Arpeggi” by Radiohead - “In Rainbows” is perhaps Radiohead’s most essential album, and “Weird Fishes/Arpeggi” is for me the standout track. The live version is maybe even better? A stunning piece of music that showcases the band’s signature blend of haunting atmospheres, intricate arrangements and thought-provoking lyrics. The song opens with a simple guitar arpeggio that gradually builds into a complex web of sounds, including electronic textures and experimental percussion. Of all the songs in this list, if I had to pick a favourite, this would be it.
  2. “Mephisto Waltz No. 1” by Franz Liszt - My favourite classical piece. It’s hard to imagine that anyone could play this virtuosic and dramatic piece that showcases Liszt’s mastery of the piano. The piece opens with a bold and sweeping melody that sets the stage for the immense skill, emotion, and technical wizardry that is to come. Check out this amazing YouTube performance of the piece.
  3. “A Day in the Life” by The Beatles - In my opinion, the best Beatles song. It’s a classic and enduring piece of art that has been widely regarded as one of the best and most innovative pieces of music ever recorded. The production is nothing short of breathtaking. The instrumentation begins with a simple piano melody and gradually builds in intensity and complexity, with the addition of various instruments and sound effects. This is well worth a listen, no matter your music taste.
  4. “Movement 6” by Floating Points - “Promises”—a collaboration piece blending three genres—sees Sam Shepherd (electronic producer), Pharoah Sanders (jazz saxophonist), and The London Symphony Orchestra (classical) playing together in an epic nine part piece, in which “Movement 6” is the standout. Transcendental.
  5. “sometimes” by my bloody valentine - Kevin Shields once described Shoegaze as an “infinite horizon”: an overwhelming wave of noise that when played with volume amounts to something of a hallucinogenic **experience. This is not music to consume; this is music to be consumed by.
  6. “Reflektor” by Arcade Fire - This song has everything: epic synths, a disco beat, three vocalists (including David Bowie), strings, trumpets, I could go on… although it starts slowly, “Reflektor” quickly builds in intensity, until a maximalist soundscape is reached that leaves me feeling starstruck by the ambition, fluidity, and sheer epicness of this track.

So there you have it…

What would you have on your desert island discs? I’d love to find out!