Episode 116

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Remembering Pink Floyd's Syd Barrett
Quirky, D.I.Y. indie pop from Boat
The stark duality of Canada's Arctic
New music from Radiohead's Thom Yorke
Singer-songwriter Mason Jennings
Gentle new folk from Nick Castro
New Arabic music from Anouar Brahem

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Syd Barrett co-founded the now legendary psychedelic rock group Pink Floyd in 1965 and gave the band its enigmatic name. Though he left Pink Floyd before reaching major stardom, he wrote most of the group's earliest and most experimental music, inspiring legions of other artists who followed. Barrett died July 7 at the age of 60. The track featured on this best-of collection was originally released as a single in 1967.

Pink Floyd

CD: Echoes
Song: "See Emily Play"
Label: Capitol

Listen to "See Emily Play"

D. Crane started Boat as a basement project in his Seattle home. Today the pop trio features drummer J. Goodman, bassist M. McKenzie and D. Crane "playing guitars and keyboards and shouting and singing lyrics about lanterns, rainbow shoelaces, his hatred of Chicago, and ninjas."

Boat

CD: Songs You Might Not Like
Song: "Clogged Castle"
Label: Magic Marker

Listen to "Clogged Castle"

Arctic

CD: Music for Rain
Song: "Some One Turning"
Label: Project Arctic

Listen to "Some One Turning"


We have no purchase information for this EP. For more, visit the artist's Web site.

Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke insists his first album without the support of his band is not a solo project, saying "that just doesn't seem right." It's a beautifully somber collection of electronic beeps and sweeps woven with Yorke's mysterious poetry and lovely falsetto voice.

Thom Yorke

CD: The Eraser
Song: "And it Rained All Night"
Label: V2

Listen to "And It Rained All Night"

Mason Jennings is a singer-songwriter from Minnesota. Though he switched to a major label imprint for his latest release, Jennings preserves the organic and subtle tones of his earlier work.

Mason Jennings

CD: Boneclouds
Song: "Some Say I'm Not"
Label: Glacial Place

Listen to "Some Say I'm Not"

Nick Castro and his backing band The Young Elders blend the sensibilities of experimental, psychedelic rock with folk music. Their music is solemn, serene and beautiful.

Nick Castro and the Young Elders

CD: Come Into Our House
Song: "Winding Tree"
Label: Strange Attractors

Listen to "Winding Tree"

Anouar Brahem plays the oud, a type of Middle Eastern lute. On his latest CD he blends the instrument with piano and accordion to make magnificent, contemporary Arabic music.

Anouar Brahem

CD: Le Voyage de Sahar
Song: "Vague/E La Nave Va"
Label: ECM

Listen to "Vague/E La Nave Va"

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