Daily Jam - The Fairest of the Seasons

I really do love Nico.  Here's a track from her solo debut, co-written by Jackson Browne.  Listen to "The Fairest of the Seasons" below, our Daily Jam.

Daily Jam - Mutterlein

Here's a weird and somber track from the late, great Nico.  Listen to "Mutterlein" below, our Daily Jam.

Daily Jam - Femme Fatale

It wasn’t until my freshman year of college that I got in to The Velvet Underground (eternal gratitude to my dormmate for making it happen). I was aware of them, knew some of Lou Reed’s solo work, and understood how important and influential they were, but had never really sat down to absorb any of it. Then my roommate brought home The Velvet Underground and Nico and everything changed.

That album’s a masterpiece, and it’s probably not even their best record (Loaded possibly?), but it’s mix of pop and noise and poetry, along with Reed’s New York swagger, Nico’s icy croon, and Andy Warhol kitsch makes for an absolute monument of sound, a record that naturally didn’t sell, but that affected everything that came after.

At any given moment, I have a different favorite song from the album, but the one that really grabbed a hold of me first was the Nico sung “Femme Fatale,” a kind of quirky little nugget that felt like a detached version of ‘60s pop music. It somehow manages to be warm and glowing and cold and aloof all at the same time, and like the rest of that wonderful record, led me to extended works of Reed and Cale and Nico.

Listen below, our Daily Jam.

Daily Jam - Tananore

We're big Nico fans around these parts, so here's a track from the artist's final studio album made with The Faction before her death in 1988.  Listen to "Tananore" below, our Daily Jam.

Broadcast

The good folks over at Warp Records are set to release 3 new collections of music from the gone but not forgotten band Broadcast (a perennial favorite around these parts).  The albums include two records that were previously tour-only CDs, "Mother Is the Milky Way," and "Microtonics Vols. 1 & 2," and the other, "BBC Maida Vale Sessions," collects recordings from the BBC.  All of them are most definitely worth your time.  Pre-order them here, and listen to the band cover Nico's "Sixty Forty" below.

Daily Jam - Vuelo Quimico

On the 1978 album "Vuelo Quimico," Spanish prog and electronic act Neuronium teamed with Nico for the title track.  The result is 14 minutes of weird, spacey, kinda dark sonic exploration, like discovering some faraway ice planet.  I really wish they had made more music together.  Check the track out below, our Daily Jam.

Daily Jam - All Tomorrow's Parties

"All Tomorrow's Parties" is one of those songs i could literally listen to on repeat all day long.  It puts me in a particular kind of vibe that i love to just roll with.  So, join me along with The Velvet Underground and Nico with our Daily Jam.

Daily Jam - Janitor of Lunacy

Even when i go back and listen again and again, i'm never not blown away by how amazing every Nico album was, and ultimately how overlooked they all were too.  Just crazy.  Here's the dour and foreboding (i guess you could say that about a lot of her work) "Janitor of Lunacy," our Daily Jam.

Daily Jam - It Has Not Taken Long

I consider myself very fortunate to still have power after these last two days in Texas.  I have friends and family all over the state who are not so fortunate.  And the unpreparedness of our local and state governments as well as the callousness of people on the outside looking in and pointing will never cease to both amaze and depress me.  So in keeping with the amazing and the depressing, here's some Nico for your Tuesday.  Listen to "It Has Not Taken Long" below, our Daily Jam.

Daily Jam - Femme Fatale

It seems i always circle back around the Velvet Underground eventually.  Here they are with Nico and "Femme Fatale," our Daily Jam.

Daily Jam - My Heart Is Empty

Before her untimely death in 1988, Nico's music had evolved into this dark and gothy synth pop kind of thing.  It was glorious.  Anyway, here's the dour "My Heart Is Empty," from 1985's "Camera Obscura," our Daily Jam.

Daily Jam - Your Kisses Burn

Soft Cell's Marc Almond continued (and continues) to make music long after Soft Cell ceased to be, releasing a slew of albums and output over the last 30+ years.  In 1988, he put out his "The Stars We Are" LP which featured today's jam, "Your Kisses Burn," a kind of gothic duet recorded with Nico.  It was to be the last thing she recorded before her death.  Listen below.

Daily Jam - Evening of Light

Nico is one of those artists whose work crawls and oozes its way into my brainspace and then slowly takes over.  I am utterly and completely transfixed by her.  So, today's jam comes from German singer/actress/model's 1968 John Cale-produced album "The Marble Index."  That record could be her best, though i'd happily listen to arguments for the other five as well.  Anyway, watch the video for "Evening of Light" below.  It's got Iggy and The Stooges in it.

Daily Bowie (Cover Week 3) - Heroes by Nico

My oldest son turned 3 today.  Here's hoping he can appreciate Nico as much as his old man does when he's older.  Anyway, here's Nico covering "Heroes" from 1981's "Drama of Exile," your Daily Bowie.

Mark Lanegan and Beth Orton cover Marc Almond and Nico

Heavenly Recordings is celebrating their 25th anniversary this year and are releasing a slew of singles for the event.  One of those singles is an excellent and faithful cover of Marc Almond's and Nico's "Your Kisses Burn" performed by Mark Lanegan and Beth Orton.  The song is gorgeous and lush, Lanegan's dusty old vocals pairing nicely Orton's ghostly swoon and the orchestral accompaniment.  Listen below.