Crate Digging: Paddy Orr, Music Coordinator

Paddy Orr, music coordinator at Think Sync, discusses his top two finds from Concord Label Group.

Sonido Cosmico by Hermanos Gutiérrez

I was sent their album ‘Hoy Como Ayer’ by a friend during lockdown, and it certainly provided some escapism from everything that was going on! I've been a regular listener ever since! I love these guys. They’re so unique and create an atmosphere with their music I’ve not really come across before. Two brothers playing Latin-tinged, psychedelic music straight outta the desert. An instrumental album, slide guitar and reverb are commonplace, but their instrumentation remains minimal, evoking vivid imagery and emotion without the need for lyrics. 

With Dan Auerbach on board once again, the production levels are fantastic, allowing the guitars to shine through - every pluck and strum is impactful. 

I saw them play recently at Rough Trade, during which they aptly described this album as taking the spirit of the desert and lifting it into space, bringing the listener with it. The chemistry between the two is undeniable and with this album in particular, I found there’s so much mystery and intrigue surrounding their music that it really lets your imagination run wild. This album can seem almost conversational at times, one sequence posing a question and the next answering it – ‘Cumbia Lunar’ and ‘Los Navegentes’ showcases this particularly well I think. 

Although Western films would be the obvious home for their music, the emotional depth and intimacy they create would work well across so many styles and genres of film! 

What’s so amazing about these two, is their ability to create such a depth in music through seemingly so little. In such a fast-moving world today an album like this, that invites you to slow down and take a moment is often needed!

Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde by The Pharcyde

I went through a real alt hip-hop phase at school, but The Pharcyde never really became a regular listen, so I thought I’d jump into their all-time classic. 

My immediate impression was it’s a pretty hilarious album. There’s comedy and self-deprecation throughout, running in stark contrast to so many hip-hop albums released in the same era. ‘Ya Mama’, for example, consists almost entirely of, shock, yo mama jokes, delivered in a brilliantly creative and comical manner. There’s little ego here, which leaves so much room for fun.

Immediately recognisable are the influences of De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest, Slick Rick etc. in their characterful, playful delivery, deliberately goofy in some places. ‘Return Of the B-Boy’ was a fave for me, rounding off the album with an old-school '80s throwback. 

There are so many lively samples and jazz-infused beats which when combined with the offbeat vocals and whacky skits create a parodical, comic-book style sound which had me smirking right through but always kept my head bobbing along.

I could definitely see this record working in a quirky comedy or coming-of-age film. The storytelling in tracks like ‘Oh Shit’ or ‘Passin' By Me’ would fit with well with comic misadventures and characters who like to play the fool!

If you’d like to know more, or you’re keen to discover more of our repertoire, please contact: labelsyncuk@concord.com.