Another new feature on Spotify is a play list called “Your top songs 2017” which I assume is tracks I have lisened to the most during the year. If that is the case then I am quite Surprised by some of the items on it.

I was not surprised to find that it started with Enter Sandman by Metallica, Groove is in the heart by Deee-Lite and Dog Eat Dog by Ted Nugent. All are firm favourites that I will always dip into. I was even less surprised to find that the list also had a fair bit of Public Service Broadcasting on it, but I was quite bewildered to find that the list contained:

• Igen Og Igen by Kliche
• The Death Set by Moon Duo
• Fairy Tales by Kin Ping Meh
• Auf dem schwarzen Kanal by Dompteur Mooner

I can only assume that they turn up when an album finishes and Spotify plays similar music and these were similar to various other things that I have heard of. It is one of the ways I discover new stuff, although I may have put Kliche on my krautrock playlist which would explain why that crops up.

It seems I have also been listening to a lot of David Bowie, Yes, Angelique Kidjo, Sleaford Mods and Kraftwerk, but also Sir Mix-a-Lot, the O’Jays, a-ha,  and Suzi Quatro. It may be significant that very little actual new music is on the list, apart from the Sleaford Mods, PSB, LCD Soundsystem and Depeche Mode. I think it is fair to say that the 70’s are over-represented.

What really caught my ear was that one of my most-played tracks of the year is also one of the most appropriate for 2017: Fun Boy Three with The Lunatics (Have Taken Over The Asylum). At least 25 years old, but the most topical song on the list.