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The Current State of MusicThis is an attempt to find out what is going on i Author: Chris Cracknell
This project is an exploration of the current state of music and the music industrytold through the voices of artists, producers, musicians, DJs, and insiders. By sharing their personal stories, insights, struggles, and successes, we aim to understand how they've shaped their unique corners of the music world. Its about uncovering the real journeys behind the soundwhat drives them, what challenges they face, and what keeps them going. In doing so, I hope to inspire othersand myselfto keep pushing forward, especially during the tough times. chriscracknelldj.substack.com Language: en Genres: Music, Music Interviews Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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The Current State of Music Radio Show - Archive
Saturday, 14 February, 2026
Welcome to another dive into my archive going back to 2017, which I think, universally, is accepted as a corker of a year for music, and possibly also the year my spending on records broke all previous, ahem, records.Its been a tough few weeks here, winter dragging its arse, rain literally every fucking day. However, it feels like Spring is starting to make its presence felt, I even went out for a few drinks this week, to a new ‘listening’ bar in Hove which is called On Air, and also functions as the home of 1BTN. So whilst thinking about the many hours I put in the bunker recording shows, I thought I’d pull out one of my early 1BTN shows, when it was still called 1 Brighton FM.You’ll need to excuse my mic level for some of the show, there isn’t a way of monitoring your levels, so I’m a bit muffled in some links.There are a few highlights on this show, it was obviously around the time Gorillaz had dropped the album Humanz, because I open with Saturnz Bars, which isn’t my favourite track off that album, but it does set their sound for the whole record.The Monday Michiru is quite a ground breaking track, introducing a drum and bass sound to jazz before anyone was really doing that, worth the rice of admission alone.We hit jazz full steam, with Wojtek Mazolewski into the Creative Arts Ensemble then an absolutely uplifting tune called Sister Rose by Abdullah Ibrahim. This tune could make the cloudiest sky blue, its just so damn happy and I definitely need to hear this tune more often, as do you.Pastor TL Barrett has become a staple of 6Music in recent years, but really, this should be the preserve of those who have the vinyl. One of those tracks a tasteful dj’s drops at the end of a night and sends everyone home (or to the afterparty) on a wave of love. I’ve never seen a pictire of Elza Soares, even though I’ve been playing. her music for years, but it turns out she looks uncannily like Tina Turner. This version of Mas Que Nada is one of many I own, maybe I’ll do a show just of thse one day.I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of listening to Jimmy Smiths’ ‘Whose Afraid of Virginia Wolff Pt 2’ its just so infectious. Follow the drummer and how he builds it up and by the end he must resemble one of those guys at an airport waving down planes, but about ten all at the same time.I also need Pickled Spider by Mr Scruff and Kirsty Almeida in my life more often. I also feature the first interview of The Current State of Music Podcast with Mr Scruff in this show, definitely a highlight for me, the first time I’d ever interviewed anyone and a door opened, which I have kicked all the way open since. The results of which you can hear if you go back to the archive on Substack. There is some gold medal motivation in there, and more soon hopefully.As we head into the third hour, and I loved doing three hour shows, I think it shows the mark of a DJ/Selector to be able to swerve and change and highlight incredible music for that long, but for it still to make sense. Not many people can do that on their own. The Applewood Road album is a stunning work, recorded live round a single mic, yet it sounds so good! The Goldberg track is another piece that takes you somewhere else in space and time. I wish I could go there.The show finishes with quite a run of soul, fuck, disco and all the good stuff which should leave you feeling ready for spring and a sense of optimism, at least that what its done for me. Music really is the answer to most questions. Enjoy xTracklist:Gorillaz - Saturnz BarsMonday Michiru - Yellow Bird (Incognito Capoeira Mix)Wojteck Mazolewski - LondonCreative Arts Ensemble - UhuruAbdullah Ibrahim - Sister RosePastor TL Barrett and the Youth for Christ Choir - Like a ShipMarcos Valle - DemocusticoLuiz Arruda Paes - Upa NegrinhoElza Soares - Mas Que NadaJimmy Smith - Whose Afraid of Virginia Wolff Pt 2The Tony Hatch Orchestra - Up, Up and AwayAmrals Trinidad Cavaliers - It Sure Is FunkyAnderson Paak - CelebrateDangermouse - Tob BIlling (Bootleg)Skull Snaps - Its a New DayMr Scruff and Kirsty Almeida - Pickled SpiderMr Scruff InterviewRae and Christian - BacalauBonobo - FlashlightBen Lucas Boysen - Golden Times 1Elizabeth Cotton - Time to Stop Your IdlingApplewood Road - Home Fires feat Amber Rubarth and Amy Spence)Goldberg - Never Come to StayThe Mexican - Babe RuthThe Doors - Soul KitchenThe Eight Minutes - I Can’t Get No HigherDiana Ross - Love HangoverBanbarra - Shack UpDe La Soul - Say No GoSeventh Wonder - Daisy LadyThe Reflex - Play That Funky Music Grace Jones - Feel UpWilliam Orbit - Montok Point This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chriscracknelldj.substack.com
