In the process of gathering solar songs for the last mix, I ended up with a lot of songs about summer. Since I was struggling to whittle the long sunny list down, I put aside a handful of summer-specific songs for a separate mix.
That was in June, when Berlin was just nudging into summer mode. But it wasn’t until mid-August - returning home from a week of sleeping in a tipi in the Dutch countryside, covered head-to-toe with erratic tan lines and mosquito bites - that I felt I was in a suitably toasted headspace to get the mix right. And while tomorrow may be the first of September, and many folks are thinking about returns to work and school, summer is by no means over. Certainly not where I am. The temperature here in Berlin is still regularly in the thirties (nineties, Fahrenheit). As it is in Oregon, where I will soon be visiting friends and family. Until the weather cools enough that I can go outside without sweating in shorts and flip-flops, we are still in the bowels of summer in my books. And the tunes shall reflect as much.
We kick off with a song about “Tiny Bugs,” which I first heard playing in the Anchorage Museum last summer (the mosquitos in Alaska are legendary). Followed by songs about more popular aspects of summer: blue skies and ocean swims, popsicles and fireworks, long days and lively nights. Some of which capture the urge to run around while the warm weather lasts, and others that capture the urge to sprawl out and siesta when the heat catches up with you.
One song that sadly didn’t make the mix is the one that most made me want to make it: “Summer Heat” by John Cale. It seems to be available on Spotify elsewhere, but not here in Germany. I don’t know why. But if you want to seek it out separately, you can listen to the full fantastic eleven-minutes here (maybe).
Here is what we do have:
As ever, you can listen here, or here:
Any tracks I should keep in mind for next summer? Please leave your suggestions. In the meantime, stay cool. And hydrated.