Music and Wine: January 2020

Welcome to Delectable's column, Music and Wine! If you’re on the lookout for newly released music, grab your headphones. If you’re searching for a fresh bottle, grab your glass. And if you’re looking for the perfect wine to pair with that pop song you can't stop playing on repeat, then sit back, relax, and enjoy these Delectable tunes. Each month, we gather a playlist of newly released songs and pair them with wines that hit all the right notes. Listen on Spotify Now 1. love, death, distraction – EDEN If the adjective “broody” had a face, it would be the face of Irish musician, Jonathon Ng aka EDEN. While his songs vary in subject matter and surface level sound, the core that consists of piano notes, light guitar strums, and a sprinkling of electronic sounds remains. EDEN’s forthcoming album is scheduled for release on February 14. Will this Valentine’s Day album lean towards the melancholy sound of heartbreak, the lighter notes of being in love, or something else entirely? Let’s be honest, no matter the subject, these tunes will have an air of melancholy to them, giving us the EDEN sound we keep coming back for. The second single off this album, “love, death, distraction” is a commentary on social media and the complex it creates. Grab a glass of Willamette Valley Pinot Noir that develops over time, listen to the lyrics, and decipher what exactly EDEN wants us to know. 2. Hero Ground Zero – The Who It’s been 13 years since The Who’s last album, Endless Wire, was released to mediocre praise but no matter, they’re back! Overall we’d say the album is worth a listen — although your next favorite Who song is likely not going to come from this self-titled album. Fun fact, the song title is the same as the name of the band in Pete Townshend’s first novel, The Age of Anxiety, released in November 2019, as well as lyrics paralleling the novel’s story. The song itself begins with a lovely burst of strings, guitars, and drums that sounds reminiscent to some of the band’s earlier tunes. While not particularly complex, it feels like one of those reliable songs that you can turn on in the car and know you’ll enjoy singing along to off-key. But if you’re not driving down the road holding a personal concert, we’d suggest enjoying this classic rock song at home with some friends while sipping on another classic, such as a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc . 3. Look At Me Now (Acoustic) – Emily King Watch out for the Grammy nominated artist, Emily King because with songs like “Look At Me Now”, she’ll have you dangerously close to reaching out to your ex just to list all of your accomplishments since you broke up and yell at them how great you are. Well, it could be worse! We could all use a little more confidence and maybe a little less bitterness that are found throughout King’s song. Whether you’re listening to the recently released, acoustic version or choose to stick to the original, more up-beat tune, there’s no denying that this song will have you smiling by the end. It will definitely give you a confidence boost, even if you’re still friends with your ex. Pick up a bottle of lively Napa Valley Merlot to match the liveliness of this tune. 4. Freefall – KAYTRANADA (feat. Durand Bernarr) If we had to pick one word to describe KAYTRANADA’S second album, it would be “motion”. Play the album from the beginning all the way through track seventeen, and we guarantee you won’t be able to sit still, making this a dance record through and through. The seamless transitions make it incredibly easy to flow from one song to the other without even realizing the song has changed. Each individual song off the album could be paired with its own wine or spirit. Seventeen tracks paired with their own drink and smooth grooves? Someone host and invite us to that get-together! Freefall into a glass of Piedmont Nebbiolo . 5. Barricade – Elliot Moss If you’re familiar with the video that went viral about four years ago of two dancers moving, grooving, and doing jaw-dropping lifts on a subway platform, then you’ve heard the voice of Elliot Moss. Moss is back with his third album, A Change in Diet. Autotune, drums, synths, and layered vocals are reliable components of Moss’ sound and he does not stray far from this comfort zone on this latest album. “Barricade” describes the apprehension of deciding whether to let someone near your heart or not. The lines “What the hell am I doing here in the golden dark” and “I’m under your gravity frozen mathematically” convey to the listener that letting your barricades down doesn’t always work out as you would hope. Pop a bottle of Pinot Meunier Champagne while you debate if you want to let your barricades down. 6. Crown – Stormzy “I’ve been struggling to find words to describe how much this song means to me...“, so Stormzy introduces this particular song, Crown, in an Instagram post the day before its release. The song begins with a mellow and soothing piano before switching tempo and opting for a rhythmic electronic beat. The lyrics are filled with personal battles and recent events in the world. From his much-talked-about BRIT Awards performance in 2018 when he called out Theresa May for mishandling the Grenfell Tower disaster to admitting his mother misses her son, Stormzy doesn’t hold back. It’s a true survey of many personal events that affected him recently, only interrupted by a softer chorus of voices. Perhaps this song will interest you to reflect on your own struggles or even accomplishments, not just over the past year, but over the last few years. While you do so, a Scotch may help keep you grounded. Listen to last month’s playlist here .