September Songs

Few months mark the start of something new as much as 1st September does, a real change in the seasons, change of mood, new phase of the year,  the whole back to school routine (which as someone who has worked in education since the early 90s is very much part of my annual rhythm). 

In 1984 Ian McCulloch tested the water for a solo career with a single released under his own name, outside the Bunnymen with a cover of Kurt Weill's September Song. Weill's song looks forward to autumn coming...

'But it's a long, long while from May to December
And the days grow short when you reach September
And the autumn weather turns the leaves to flame
And I haven't got time for waiting game

And the days dwindle down to a precious few
September, November
And these few precious days I'd spend with you'

September Song (Long Version)

In 1987 David Sylvian released a solo album, Secrets Of The Beehive which had this song to open it, one minute and seventeen seconds of David and piano. For David, the inevitability of September and the changes it brings are shot through with melancholy...

'The sun shines high above, the sounds of laughter
The birds swoop down upon the crosses of old grey churches
We say that we're in love while secretly wishing for rain
Sipping Coke and playing games

September's here again'

September

Much more recently, in 2021, Chris Coco and George Solar released September On The Island, a tribute to Ibiza after all the tourists have gone home...

September On The Island (Dub Version)

Tears And September

Two slices of late summer Balearica from the reliable hands of DJ/ producer/ musician/ journalist Chris Coco, perfect for this sweltering September heat wave. I sat in the garden last night, the sky an inky deep blue and the trees silhouetted in black against it. It was still 25 degrees centigrade, hotter than it was in August. There are some bats that flit over the garden- you catch them out of the corner of your eye as they zig zag left and right. They brighten my day up every time I half see them. 

Back to the Balearica. First is Chris Coco with George Solar and their Lagrimas De San Lorenzo, a blend of spaced out synths, warm summer sounds and some jazzy guitar. Proper back garden watching the bats against the night sky in the heat music.

The Coyote remix is even better. I can't find a Youtube clip for it so you'll have to go to Bandcamp to listen to it- you can do that here. Coyote, a Notts DJ/ producer duo, have been everywhere I turn this year and an album is due out shortly. The remix slows things down, stretches it out and finds a very cool groove. 

Chris and George released this recently too, a dub version of September On The Island, a tribute to Ibiza when the season has ended and the beaches are empty. Nice work if you can get it. Low slung Balearic dub with a lovely wandering trombone part. Buy it here.