Love. It encompasses so many other emotions that it’s hardly an emotion on its own. This mish-mash of feelings created by its effects is my theme today.

Kraftwerk– Computer Love, [Computer World]

I foolishly once thought that Computer Love was Kraftwerk’s weakest albums. This was before I learned to love it. And hear Electric Café. The centrepiece of the record, perhaps the centrepiece of their entire aesthetic is wrapped up in this seven minute ditty. It’s boring to get into all that now, though. The main thing that strikes me about this song is its ability to change its meaning depending on how I feel each time I hear it. If I’m happy for some reason, it’s a melancholy pop song that has a nice little melody. Perfect for background music. If I’m depressed, it has the power to render me even more so. Perfect for listening up and close and personal in headphones. Either way, it’s a gem among gems on this largely ignored (in favor of Autobahn or the tiresome Trans-Europe Express) masterpiece.

[visit Kraftwerk’s website here, buy Computer Love here]

Six Parts Seven– A Blueprint of Something Never Finished Redeemed by Pedro The Lion

It was a relatively ingenious concept to have artists remix, remake, and redeem the instrumental stylings of Suicide Squeeze band Six Parts Seven. Many of the artists on this compilation added the possible words of the originals, but none so with the impassioned fervor of Pedro the Lion. Largely irrelevant to me nowadays, Pedro has had about three good tunes on, what, four or five albums? This is his most recent, a song that vacillates between wire-tapping blasts of vengeful fury and weary resignation. What does it for me is that slight cracks in his voice. They’re slight and nearly imperceptible, but it’s that sort of naked aside that’s missing from his recent stuff.

[visit Pedro the Lion’s website here, buy Lost Notes From Forgotten Songs here]

Takagi Masakatsu– Primo

There’s a certain calm that goes along with love.

[visit Takagi Masakatsu’s website here, buy Coieda here]