Deep Dive #117 Show Notes
| Song | Artist | Year | Pick | Genre(s) | Willis Notes | Gregg Notes |
| The Hymn of Acxiom | Vienna Teng | 2013 | Willis | Chamber Folk / Choral | Since seeing her perform in a coffee shop over 24 years ago, supporting and following the musical journey of this singer/songwriter has been a treat. I dragged the family to her show last weekend at Montalvo Arts. While working an internship at a data-mining company, she wrote this from the point of view of the computers that store our personal information. She performed this song live using a harmonizer and it was powerful and informative as she explained her various equipment and usage in music. Kids’ 1-word reviews: Interpersonal, serene, lively | Serenity. I agree with the kids’ evaluation. Another word comes to mind: Precise. The harmonies are so technical and perfect, it almost comes across like Bon Iver (a compliment). I kept waiting for something to drop – but instead the layers appeared in additional voices. The male voice sounds like a keyboard tone at times. I’m a sucker for layers of melody and voices, if done right. This is done right. |
| Private Universe (Album Version) | Crowded House | 1993 | Gregg | Alternative /Tribal | First time with this song, and totally agree it garners attentive listening. I did so without any context (including the title) It is a sweet emotional chorus… (which I heard so wrong on two different lines. “Endless summer in Ithaca” and “In our Private juniper”), silly because I hear the S’s now at the ends. The tablas-sounding drums are masked in the studio reference headphones, yet stand out prominently on speakers, which add a huge dimension. The long chords fill a space that creates a room-filling tension – at times balanced by his firmly rooted vocals, except when he tightens up “It’s a tight squeeze by I won’t let go” Hard to believe this has so few plays compared to the other songs on this album or in their catalog. | One must listen deeply to this, not passively. Anyone who only thinks of CH as “Dont Dream Its Over” would be surprised to find out about their depth. Atmospheric pop music at its best, feat. one of the finest, most sincere voices in history. This was mine & Christiane’s song during our early relationship. It describes love in such a unique way – feeling as if the world can only truly exist in the presence of one another. Meanwhile the harmonies and percussion, omg. The guitars swirling like incense smoke. Passion is enveloping all the space within the music. And Neil’s voice. Good lord. |
| Song For Hal | U2 | 2026 | Willis | Alternative Rock | I got hooked on this song, and we have got to talk about this! If you haven’t read anything about this song yet, don’t! Listen first. But if you know, you know… and it’ll still be a great talking point on air. | My first time listening to this, w/ no backstory. Didn’t think I even cared to hear this record, which is quite sad. At first I thought Bono sounded a bit huskier in tone, and then realized it might be The Edge trying to sound like Bono. Holy crap I was right lol. Can’t believe how good he sounds, as this still sounds like classic U2. Most of their post 2010 stuff is too normal for my ears – but THIS could be a lost song from Zooropa or Pop. I really dig this, and should never be ashamed to admit how much I’ve always loved and appreciated U2. Great topic for us. |
| The Same Mistakes | The Cooper Temple Clause | 2003 | Gregg | Indie Rock /Psychedelic | An epic song from a band I never heard of. Hints of Radiohead-anxiety come to mind, Especially the swirl L-R in the headphones. but with more traditional rock instrumentation, more drum centric than experimental synths. The bottom end and beat in the beginning reminds me of Bauhaus Bela Legosi’s dead, Haunting harmonies, building to a head, yet he never goes above a conversational level. All instrumentation and drumming. | I will share a funny story about this song on air. I remember hearing this & thinking “new school U2” and then hearing things build & build for 4 mins until my whole head nearly exploded, and by the end dismissing U2 entirely. To this day, I’ve never heard a song build tension in such a poetic, beautiful way. It’s got a Bonnie & Clyde feel in theme. The guitars that wash into the song about midway seem to ride the beat like a horse race to the finish line. Things don’t seem to be going well for the characters in the song, but they’re trying to get away. It’s like a movie presented in music. Gives me chills. |
| Answers to Nothing | Midge Ure | 1988 | Willis | Synth Pop, Alt Rock | This song was on the same mix tape as “Glad I’m Not a Kennedy”, both recorded straight from the radio and impossible to find in a record store, despite the DJ calling the name out. (couldn’t work out the spelling and I had no idea he was from Ultravox despite having one of their albums). I always liked the flow of this song and how his voice evolves from a clean, intimate level to busting into high-helium-filled level. The synth pan-pipes and afro-tribal beat give an optimistic world-beat vibe to this cynical commentary. Still performing “Fade To Grey” live in the UK at 72 | Bless you for choosing Midge Ure! I love featuring an artist of this importance, even if just to praise their importance in “alternative” music’s lineage. Can’t say enough for Midge. This isn’t a song I’m overly familiar with, as I was selective with his catalog (only knew what I owned really). This almost reminds me of Peter Gabriel in a tribal, polyrhythmic way (musically), but also Robbie Williams (vocally). Never noticed before. Way more impassioned and flamboyant than I remember from him. So rad, I love it. |
| It Sends My Heart Into A Spin | Vanishing Twin | 2016 | Gregg | Pscyhedelic /Neo 60s /Italian Sdtk. | You are on a tablas kick this show and I love it. Trance-inducing and uplifting layers coming in and out are subtle shifts. The electric bassline is consistently there. Wet echoes and swirling flutes, keyboards melting and re-forming like a lava lamp or oil/sand frames they used to sell at gift shops. The background “Ah ah AHHH ahhh” so reminds me of a TV airline commercial, which is like a high altitude vision. | I can’t help but think of watching a beautifully filmed Euro movie from 1967 in that sepia, soft tone that you’d see at the time. There’s something so surreal about the music. It takes you somewhere familiar, but unexplainable. The vocal chanting turns from fantasy to surrealism in a hurry, but then back to fantasy. A perfect ‘interlude’ type song to soundtrack a Sunday morning in Spring. |
| Places, Everyone | Halou | 2026 | Willis | Dream Pop, Trip Hop | Started by a couple from SF and apparently have been around since 1997, gone through various lineups and band names (Anomie, anymore) and now a 5 piece group. If these guys are in rotation, how have we not talked about them yet?? I just stumbled across this. only 56k listeners, they definitely deserve more exposure. Dark and moody like goth but light and crisp like a gin and tonic with flourishes of indie rock. Playing Thee Stork Club 5/22 | Don’t know about this group, but Idk how? This is right in my pocket lol. They do sound familiar, so I wonder if I knew them by another of their names? Regardless – I love it x10. It’s classic trip hop (in the vein of Tricky and Massive Attack), but they modernize it to perfection. There are a few NIN style FX to it as well, which also adds some sizzle. |
| Eyes Without A Face | Billy Idol | 1983 | Gregg | New Wave /Rock /Pop Punk | Classic that deserves a Deep Dive listen. The bass and atmosphere are amazing for something that you wonder if it was meant to be so timeless or just a ballad on this album, cuz the interlude pulls it back into how you think Billy Idol should sound. Played a lot in my mind on the radio and movies. | Been thinking alot about this song. I’d have to consider it one of the most defining pop songs of my lifetime. Nothing sounds like this. It’s epic and subtle, slow and fast, New Wave and Hard Rock (and also mainstream pop). The atmosphere is palpable. The beat is nearly danceable. The lyrics are relatable and timeless. Is it one of the best songs of the 80’s? It might be close to the top for me. “Now all i can do is love what was once so alive in you. But its gone from your eyes, I better realize.” |
| Memories | Olive | 2026 | Willis | Electronic Dance / Soulful House | I was so excited thinking this was the same Olive 90’s Trip House project – because Amazon music can’t distinguish similar names. Even though I could tell the vocalists sound different I really wanted to believe the arc had come full circle. Nevertheless, this track is infectious and makes me grin from ear to ear. Whoever she is, her vocals and timing hit all the right spots. | Okay, OKAY! This beat immediately had me smiling. This has that certain thing, that tone I love so much. There’s a lot of bottom end tone filling up the lower part of my head, which is the only way to distinguish it’s not a mid 90’s Underground House jam. I love the voice, too. It’s seamlessly falls into place here. I’m all in on this one. |
| Alright (Club Mix) | Urban Soul (Ft. Roland Clark) | 1991 | Gregg | Ambient / Deep House | This is an eye opener to know this came out in 1991, as I wouldn’t have heard it until 5 years later in the club scene here in SJ. Initially, all night rave dance music for me was techno in large spaces, but the south bay vibe was this style in small clubs. | I used to record the Sat Night Dance Party on Hot 97 in NY when I was 14. They’d simulcast live from clubs in the city from 10-2a, and I’d be up all night listening. The DJ’s were all the legends (Junior Vasquez, Frankie Knuckles, Little Louie, etc). I was so lucky. This one streamed thru my stereo one night, & it set off the longest search for the 12” lol. Nobody carried it! So badly, I wanted to feature this in my HS Dance sets, or my latest mix tape series. I didn’t know if it was new or old – I just knew it was my language. A perfect compliment to Olive to take us out. When I think of classic deep house, this is what I think of. |
Song playlists are also available on these platforms:
Deep Dive #116 Archive
Deep Dive #116 Show Notes
| Song | Artist | Year | Pick | Genre(s) |
| (Glad I’m Not) A Kennedy | Shona Laing | 1987 | Willis | New Wave / Synth Pop |
| Sacred Heart | M.I.A. (ft KALA) | 2026 | Gregg | Indie /Trip Hop / Electro |
| You’re My Automatic Lover | Hyperreal | 2026 | Willis | Synth Pop / Electro-Pop |
| A Strange Education | The Cinematics | 2007 | Gregg | Indie /New Wave |
| Pictures | Gnarls Barkley | 2026 | Willis | Alternative Soul |
| Love’s Taken Over | Chante Moore | 1992 | Gregg | Neo Soul /Trip Hop |
| Opening Night | Arctic Monkeys & War Child Records | 2026 | Willis | Lounge-Pop, Psychedelic Rock |
| Where Are They Now? | Gene | 1997 | Gregg | Brit Pop |
| lemonlime | Purity Ring | 2026 | Willis | Synth Pop / Electronic Dance |
| Point Of View | DB Boulevard | 2002 | Gregg | Electronic /House |
Song playlists are also available on these platforms:
Deep Dive #115 Archive
Deep Dive #115 Show Notes
| Song | Artist | Year | Pick | Genre(s) |
| All Of The Places | Travis | 2016 | Willis | post-Britpop, soft pop rock |
| Fair | Remy Zero | 1998 | Gregg | Indie Rock |
| The 3rd Time We Opened the Capsule | Kitchens Of Distinction | 1989 | Willis | Post-Punk / Alternative Rock /Shoegaze |
| Lucky Girl | Fazerdaze | 2017 | Gregg | Indie /Fuzzy Pop |
| Afterglow | NINON | 2026 | Willis | Indie Pop |
| 100 Ways | Porno For Pyros | 1996 | Gregg | Alternative /Trippy Tribal |
| : D | Chanpan | 2025 | Willis | Alt pop, Dance, Acid Jazz |
| Fall For You | Kings of Tomorrow | 2013 | Gregg | House / Electronic |
| Electro Glide In Blue | Apollo 440 | 1997 | Willis | Trip-Hop, Electronic Rock, Dance |
| Higher Than The Sun | Primal Scream | 1991 | Gregg | Madchester /Acid House /Alternative |
Song playlists are also available on these platforms:
Deep Dive #114 Archive
Deep Dive #114 Show Notes
| Song | Artist | Year | Pick | Genre(s) |
| Back & Forth (Guitar Version) | Brothers Page | 2025 | Willis | Folk Rock / Electronic |
| This Could Be Love | The Cars | 1981 | Gregg | New Wave /Modern Rock |
| Say My Name | Landroid | 2026 | Willis | Synth Pop / Indie Dance |
| Battersea | Hooverphonic | 1998 | Gregg | Psychedelic /Ambient Pop |
| The Concept | Teenage Fanclub | 1991 | Willis | Alt Rock, Power-Pop |
| Tractor Beam | Snail Mail | 2026 | Gregg | Indie Pop |
| Smile | deary | 2026 | Willis | Indie Pop / Shoegaze |
| Autosleeper | Chapterhouse | 1991 | Gregg | Shoegaze |
| Breaking My Own Heart | Modiste | 2026 | Willis | Lynchian Synth Pop |
| I’m Alive | Seal | 1991 | Gregg | Prog Soul /Sophisti Pop |
Song playlists are also available on these platforms:
Deep Dive #113 Archive
Deep Dive #113 Show Notes
| Song | Artist | Year | Pick | Genre(s) |
| Stay | SpaceAcre | 2023 | Willis | Indie Rock |
| The Pig War | Minus The Bear | 2005 | Gregg | Prog Indie /Math Rock |
| 867-5309 / Jenny | Tommy Tutone | 1981 | Willis | Power Pop |
| Kiss Me On The Bus | The Replacements | 1985 | Gregg | Power Pop /Post Punk |
| Super Chubtastic | Secret Agent 23 Skidoo | 2020 | Willis | Children’s Hip Hop / Family Funk |
| Driving On Sand | Shy One | 2026 | Gregg | Electro /Neo Soul |
| Black & Blue | Miike Snow | 2009 | Willis | Indie-Pop |
| I’ve Been In Love Before | Cutting Crew | 1985 | Gregg | Sophisti-Pop |
| Hold On | Rhye | 2026 | Willis | Alternative R&B |
| Tender Kisses | Tracie Spencer | 1990 | Gregg | R&B /Neo Soul |
Song playlists are also available on these platforms: