ok, so here are 20 tunes selected at random just because i think they stand out. i gave up doing an absolute top 20 because i wanted as wide a selection as possible and couldn't decide exactly what should go into it. the list then is basically a mix of music that i like, full stop. and in no particular order whatsoever. 1) vivaldi - stabat mater so i kind of cheated with this one. its not one tune but about 9 or so, but i think it counts as its one composition really, and deserves to be heard in full. loads of composers did stabat maters and this is probably my favorite. in today's parlance, very emo. 2) a guy called gerald - voodoo ray this is an absolute classic. made in the late 80's it still sounds so good, and considering electronic music trends come and go so quickly that's really saying something. its got really basic beats sounds and melodies, but it just works. 3) allison krauss - i'll fly away this is off the 'oh brother where art thou' soundtrack. its good old fashion country / bluegrass style with a typically catch tune. its the woman's voice that really gets me though; and the words ...'one bright morning etc' its strange, but such an optimistic and happy song about death really touches me and the power of these southern christian's faith is really quite inspiring. definatly one that appeals to the extreemist in me! 4) ltj bukem - atlantis basic amen breaks and subs going on here but a definate gem of the genre. i think that the period of atmospheric, 'intelligent' dnb pioneered by bukem and the good looking label really moved dnb into a different vibe to where it is today, and this tune stands out as one of the classics. 5) baby shambles - new love grows on trees this probably wouldn't make it into an all time top 20, but since i gave up on that i thought i'd include it for the sake of having something recent in the list. ok so pete docherty is a twat but i think the bands songs and music are actually very good. also, this is one the mp3 player at the moment so it gets included. 6) digable planets - ninth wonder you know why this is here. 7)donna summer - love to love you baby a great piece of chilled out but beat driven disco and very atmospheric. her singing is audio sex. if i ever stared in a porn flic, this would be playing in the background. 8) r.e.m. - drive from the automatic for the people album, definatly one of my all time favorite albums. so many tunes to choose from but this is probably one i come back to the most. atmospheric, dark and brooding as r.e.m. do best. 9) fairport concvention - matty groves a band that were part of the sixties english folk revival. this is their version of a timeless english folk song. everybody likes folk music; these guys give it a bit of an edge. again, a beautiful woman's singing voice. 10) georges moustaki - il est trop tard dont know much about this guy except that he used to be really famous. womaniser, anarchist etc; big in the sixities again i think. he wrote greats songs and really beautiful melodies. i have lots of his tunes but this one is possibly my favorite. lovely duet going on here. good to practice your french with! 11) LEFTFIELD - SWORDS i dont actually have, or ever have had the leftism album! i'm gonna heve to remedy that. this is from rhythem and stealth and has always been my favorite. simple but brilliantly crafted layers of sounds, great production. 12) NIRVANA - HEART SHAPED BOX nevermind is the iconic album of our teenage years but i allways preferred in utero. it feels alot darker and explosive that the other albums for some reason - this track typifies what i like about nirvana. 13) lucilla galeazzi - notte scura folk music from around naples i think. lovely womans voice to start with that turns into a full blown accordion and fiddle romp! beware, this record causes carnage amongst drunk people; you just have to dance to it! 14) mozart - marriage of figaro - one of the arias can't remember which scene its from this might well be the one from shawshank you mentioned in the pub, tho not sure. omg! this trully is devine music, litteraly, you hear this and you feel like god is whispering to you. 15) the doors - riders on the storm this gets in by vertue of being great and to induce flashbacks to rainy roads in holland! 16) sister nancy - what a bum bum dont know much about the woman or the record, though am pretty sure its a classic as has been sampled left right and centre by hip hop, dnb, ragga etc. great tune. 17) jefferson airplane - somebody to love i never get bored of this record. absolutly love it. its on the toy machine welcome to hell vid which is where i first heard it years ago. 18) the stranglers - no more heros golden brown is probably my favorite but this comes second. sounds like a mixture of late punk and early 80's synth pop. great tune. 19) thelma houston - don't leave me this way more quality disco. dont know why but something about this just makes me love it. 20) Crosby Stills Nash and Young - wooden ships the last tune on playing fields and the last tune here. you heard this in the pub. a lovely tune to sit back and chill too and if i still smoked gange, probably a great tune to smoke to. thats all, hope you enjoy these. have a good holls and i look forward to hearing your selection. ed