So Mother’s Day is coming up and of course is there a better gift than the gift of helping her discover new music? The guys from party starting collective Sex on Toast don’t seem to think so.
So to celebrate the release of the band’s brand new EP Ready (a perfect gift for your Mum) Sex on Toast frontman and co-producer Angus Leslie has collated a list of ideal musical gift ideas for the modern music loving mum.
“I’d like to preface this article by saying that I have what might be described as a pretty ‘cool mum'” explains Angus. “She brought me up listening to things like Nina Hagen, King Crimson, The Beatles and the late Prince Rogers Nelson. This list may relate to things she would probably like but hope that all mothers could listen to and enjoy…” Listen to Sex on Toast’s new EP Ready here.
D’Angelo – Black Messiah
As your mother was obviously a lover of soul and funk in the late 1970s and early 80s, you may find it necessary to enrich your mother’s life with some contemporary soul music… This is the album.
Varied, challenging, emotionally complex, socially aware and most importantly funky as all hell!
Burt Bacharach- The Look of Love (Compilation)
Your mum probably grew up in the ’60s and would have childhood memories of songs by Dusty Springfield, Dionne Warwick , Aretha Franklin and Tom Jones. What better record that a compilation of every single incredible hit song Burt ever wrote?
You can delight at hearing her sing ‘Made in Paris’ while she stirs her cup of tea in the lounge room.
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Joni Mitchell- Court & Spark
After seeing Joni on that Woodstock ’69 film singing those unbelievable high notes, I’m sure Joni became your mother’s hero and she had posters plastered all over her wall.
What better record than when Joni’s music really started moving into the realm of 1970s studio overdubbing perfection? Help Me is just about the best opening track to any album ever.
Kendrick Lamar- To Pimp A Butterfly
Sometimes it’s hard for the older generation to understand hip-hop. There’s no “tune” and sometimes the lyrics are angry and rude.
Since this album completely revolutionised hip-hop last year, it has hooks to die for as well as a lot of and socio-political depth, surely your mum can turn off ABC IView for a minute and put it on? She may recognise the wah-wah funk bass sound from that Bootsy Collins album gathering dust in the garage or the John Coltrane album that is on in the background at dinner parties.
Plus she’s probably only 10 or 15 years older than Snoop Dogg, right?
Chaka Khan – I Feel For You
Tell me you’ve never seen your mumsie get down to Chaka’s ‘Ain’t Nobody?’
All it would take to have her running to the d-floor would be to hear the repeated “CHAKA KHAN… CHAKA KH…” stutter at the beginning and she would be cutting a rug before Stevie Wonder’s harmonica riff had even started!
Prince – Diamonds & Pearls
Prince is one of the greatest geniuses of our time and has just left this world far too soon. I picked Diamonds and Pearls because to be honest this is actually an album my mum brought me up on, and find it hard to imagine anyone’s mother not getting down to ‘Money Don’t Matter Tonight’.
The Beatles – The White Album
Because she still loves John, Paul, Ringo and George just as much as she did when she saw their progression from mop tops, to psychedelic soliders, to long haired hippies and probably still remembers where she was when they did that gig on the roof. Essential.
Frank Zappa and The Mothers – Filmore East 1971
Well they were called ‘The Mothers’ right? This early band even had a song called ‘Motherly Love.’ Put on the Mud Shark so she can scowl disapprovingly and then realise that performers in the early 1970s were just as filthy, if not worse than today’s rap groups.
Diana Ross – Upside Down
Yes. More funk. Your mother must enjoy funk. I once heard that motherhood and funk come hand in hand.
It is no mistake that Parliament used to jump on the MOTHERship. This record is primo disco funk produced by Chic’s Nile Rogers Chic with some of the most memorable chorus melodies ever written. She’ll love it!
The Slits – Cut
Because punk. This may re-ignite memories of her rebellious youth and cause her to shave her head, quit her job and start her own punk band!
