Session notes from the booth.

Walkin' by Miles Davis lands here because Cheap Thrills by Sia and Final Straw by R.E.M. provide a sharp two-step that extends the feeling of David Bowie's I’d Rather Be High without sounding automatic.. The jazz edge gives the turn a more precise contour than a plain mood match. Cheap Thrills can step in after it without the handoff feeling pre-chewed.

On At Plugged Nickel, Chicago (CD1) (1965), Walkin' shows Miles Davis working in a 1960s pocket with jazz in the grain. The cut moves with a slow-burn glide, which is why it can hold this turn without flattening it.

Listen for the jazz texture in the pocket, especially in the way the arrangement keeps color moving under the lead. It also leaves a lane for Cheap Thrills to arrive without the segue feeling forced.

Cheap Thrills answers Walkin' by Miles Davis with a related tension instead of a copycat move, so the sequence keeps opening out. The pop, rock edge gives the turn a more precise contour than a plain mood match. Final Straw can step in after it without the handoff feeling pre-chewed.

On This Is Acting (2016), Cheap Thrills shows Sia working in a 2010s pocket with pop, rock in the grain. The cut moves with a slow-burn glide, which is why it can hold this turn without flattening it.

Listen for the pop, rock texture in the pocket, especially in the way the arrangement keeps color moving under the lead. You can hear how it answers Walkin' without borrowing the same emotional weight. It also leaves a lane for Final Straw to arrive without the segue feeling forced.

Final Straw answers Cheap Thrills by Sia with a related tension instead of a copycat move, so the sequence keeps opening out. The rock edge gives the turn a more precise contour than a plain mood match.

On Around The Sun (2004), Final Straw shows R.E.M. working in a 2000s pocket with rock in the grain. The cut moves with a steady shoulder-roll, which is why it can hold this turn without flattening it.

Listen for the rock texture in the pocket, especially in the way the arrangement keeps color moving under the lead. You can hear how it answers Cheap Thrills without borrowing the same emotional weight.

Livin' Thing by Electric Light Orchestra lands here because A Clean Break (Let's Work) (Live; 2004 Remaster) by Talking Heads and The Time Of The Barracudas (2022 Remaster) by Miles Davis provide a sharp two-step that maintains the emotional arc while introducing a new era.. The pop, rock edge gives the turn a more precise contour than a plain mood match. A Clean Break (Let's Work) (Live; 2004 Remaster) can step in after it without the handoff feeling pre-chewed.

On A New World Record (1976), Livin' Thing shows Electric Light Orchestra working in a 1970s pocket with pop, rock in the grain. The cut moves with a slow-burn glide, which is why it can hold this turn without flattening it.

Listen for the pop, rock texture in the pocket, especially in the way the arrangement keeps color moving under the lead. It also leaves a lane for A Clean Break (Let's Work) (Live; 2004 Remaster) to arrive without the segue feeling forced.

A Clean Break (Let's Work) (Live; 2004 Remaster) answers Livin' Thing by Electric Light Orchestra with a related tension instead of a copycat move, so the sequence keeps opening out. The alternative / indie rock edge gives the turn a more precise contour than a plain mood match. The Time Of The Barracudas (2022 Remaster) can step in after it without the handoff feeling pre-chewed.

On The Name of This Band Is Talking Heads (Expanded 2004 Remaster) (2004), A Clean Break (Let's Work) (Live; 2004 Remaster) shows Talking Heads working in a 2000s pocket with alternative / indie rock in the grain. The cut moves with a slow-burn glide, which is why it can hold this turn without flattening it.

Listen for the alternative / indie rock texture in the pocket, especially in the way the arrangement keeps color moving under the lead. You can hear how it answers Livin' Thing without borrowing the same emotional weight. It also leaves a lane for The Time Of The Barracudas (2022 Remaster) to arrive without the segue feeling forced.

The Time Of The Barracudas (2022 Remaster) answers A Clean Break (Let's Work) (Live; 2004 Remaster) by Talking Heads with a related tension instead of a copycat move, so the sequence keeps opening out. The jazz edge gives the turn a more precise contour than a plain mood match.

On Quiet Nights (2022), The Time Of The Barracudas (2022 Remaster) shows Miles Davis working in a 2020s pocket with jazz in the grain. The cut moves with a slow-burn glide, which is why it can hold this turn without flattening it.

This one is airing as a clipped passage, so listen for the section Mr Rassy chose to stand in for the whole piece. The choice was deliberate: The Time Of The Barracudas is a deep dive into Miles Davis' work, and playing a clip from the middle will give listeners a taste without overwhelming them..

A Clean Break (Let's Work) (Live; 2004 Remaster) by Talking Heads lands here because The Time Of The Barracudas (2022 Remaster) by Miles Davis and Black Rain by Soundgarden provide a sharp two-step after How Do You Sleep? (The Evolution Documentary) by John Lennon, keeping the feeling of quiet bloom while moving to the next horizon.. The pop, rock edge gives the turn a more precise contour than a plain mood match. The Time Of The Barracudas (2022 Remaster) can step in after it without the handoff feeling pre-chewed.

On Once in a Lifetime: The Talking Heads Box (2003), A Clean Break (Let's Work) (Live; 2004 Remaster) shows Talking Heads working in a 2000s pocket with pop, rock in the grain. The cut moves with a bright electric charge, which is why it can hold this turn without flattening it.

Listen for the pop, rock texture in the pocket, especially in the way the arrangement keeps color moving under the lead. It also leaves a lane for The Time Of The Barracudas (2022 Remaster) to arrive without the segue feeling forced.

The Time Of The Barracudas (2022 Remaster) answers A Clean Break (Let's Work) (Live; 2004 Remaster) by Talking Heads with a related tension instead of a copycat move, so the sequence keeps opening out. The jazz edge gives the turn a more precise contour than a plain mood match. Black Rain can step in after it without the handoff feeling pre-chewed.

On Quiet Nights (2022), The Time Of The Barracudas (2022 Remaster) shows Miles Davis working in a 2020s pocket with jazz in the grain. The cut moves with a slow-burn glide, which is why it can hold this turn without flattening it.

This one is airing as a clipped passage, so listen for the section Mr Rassy chose to stand in for the whole piece. The choice was deliberate: The track is a long-form piece that benefits from a middle segment to capture the listener's interest without overwhelming it.. Black Rain is waiting on the far side of that seam.

Black Rain answers The Time Of The Barracudas (2022 Remaster) by Miles Davis with a related tension instead of a copycat move, so the sequence keeps opening out. The pop, rock edge gives the turn a more precise contour than a plain mood match.

On Telephantasm (2010), Black Rain shows Soundgarden working in a 2010s pocket with pop, rock in the grain. The cut moves with a slow-burn glide, which is why it can hold this turn without flattening it.

Listen for the pop, rock texture in the pocket, especially in the way the arrangement keeps color moving under the lead. You can hear how it answers The Time Of The Barracudas (2022 Remaster) without borrowing the same emotional weight.