Best 3 Sequential Songs
Much consideration goes into an album. The individual tracks, how they fit concisely and where they should go. With respect to placement of songs on an album, creative considerations of an artist include overall narrative; feel and tone; beginnings and endings. There is also practical concerns of song length, single placement, and stakeholder concerns. Having top songs in a row is a luxury few albums can afford, as the best tracks must be spaced out.
This year marked the 4th full length album release of American indie band Small Black - Cheap Dreams. In this author’s humble opinion, it also marks the new headliner for best three sequential tracks on an album, in the indie electronic genre. Having a set of songs that so adequately encapsulate the feel of an album is difficult. Even harder to have a set of three songs in a row be some of the best on the album.
Obviously, there is an element of subjectivity to this list. But the aspects listed above are taken into consideration. The standard musical elements are considered by the author when deconstructing each track. Honestly, the genre considerations are there for posterity, but I can’t think of many albums outside of this genre that would be better than these choices.
Before I get to Cheap Dreams, let me get to what was previously the previous place holder:
Future Islands – In Evening Air (2010)
This album has held a special place in my heart for a long time. Since hearing it, it changed the way I thought about electronic music. The thick and bustling textures of the synth lines; the driving bass line; all steered by the insane vocal from Samuel Herring. This album is full of raw emotion. With only 9 songs, it is a concise and focused work. Seeing this album live, when On The Water was released in 2011, was a highlight of my concert going life. The Brisbane Art Gallery made the perfect stage, with the band literally playing on a stage over a water artwork in there. The trio of songs that open this under-rated album completely embody the feel of it.
Walking Through That Door
Long Flight
Tin Man
Walking Through That Door
This tune sets the tone for the entire album. The ethereal synth lines with long release that blend into each other, being grounded by the drums and bass in the opening. A driving pace and call to action from the vocals. Narratively, this sets up the love the writer has for their companion. Lots of warble from the organ sounds later gives the song a cinematic quality. A simple tune that doesn’t need to go many places structurally. A simple cut back in text towards the end sets up for a build before moving into track two.
Long Flight
The sad entry to this list. A story of the writer finding their companion in another’s arms. Something that can resonate. The sonic narrative is pushed by a confused synth hook that frantically moves around, while always repeating. Replaying the memory. The digital drums and the driving bass are motivators also. The subtle sadness of the vocal is poignant and introspective. The chorus drops, hard. As the song progresses, the vocal line becomes more desperate, removing all pretences of subtlety. Wanting answers. Ending with a crescendo of the narrator taking things into their own hands. The electronic wind down of the song moves into the third on this list.
Tin Man
A child like, mocking synth line is the riff of this tune. The bass line is more prominent in this piece, acting as a thicker harmonic texture than previously. This jaunty tune is a lighter emotional break from the last. The story of this tune is of the stories of L Frank Baum. With imagery of the Scarecrow and the Tin Man being woven in with biblical references. The track is shorter than the other two, rounding out the first third of the album with a glorious announcement of how the narrator’s heart feels at the end.
This spot was held for 11 years. Very powerful stuff. There were a few times that the place was nearly taken. The other contenders over the years have been:
- Hot Chip – One Life Stand (2010)
o Hand Me Down Your Love
o I Feel Better
o One Life Stand
- M83 – Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming (2011)
o Midnight City
o Reunion
o Where The Boats Go
- Chromatics – Kill for Love (2012)
o Into the Black
o Kill For Love
o Back From The Grave
- Destroyer – Have We Met (2020)
o Cue Synthesizer
o University Hill
o Have We Met
Not a long list, but it is hard to attain this spot. Many albums have had amazing works, but so few have had three sequential songs that have resonated with me.
So, back to Cheap Dreams.
Cheap Dreams was long hyped with the 2020 single Tampa and 2021 The Bridge EP. The release of Tampa was a strong start for this album. Setting the tone of what was to come for the rest of the album. The body of work is collection of tunes that feature fantastic holiday stories, seaside legends and memories of what was to come. One of the best albums of the year in my opinion. It is lucky enough to feature three sequential tracks that speak to the nature, style, and tone of the album.
Small Black – Cheap Dreams (2021)
Waterworks
Driftwood Fire
The Bridge
Waterworks
Small Black is no novice when it comes to ambient instrumentals. Other stand outs are The Bridge (Ambient Edit) - The Bridge EP (2021), Æ - Moon Killer Mixtape (2011), to Invisible Grid – New Chain (2010). This track, under a minute and half in length has such a strong mood. It is introspective and emotive. It embodies a sense of thought; wonder; wind down; being busy; feeling lazy. Whether on holiday or routine life. All themes of the album. The modulated synth line mixed with electronic tones that resemble ambient animal sounds set the narrative of dusk falling. Perfectly winding up to one of the album’s biggest numbers.
Driftwood Fire
After a short track merge there is a wonderous synth arpeggiator that signals the dawning of the new. Clustered textures weave against each other before the lyrics and the beat drops. The big party aesthetics flush against the washed out vocal narrative. The master and apprentice surfers the song refers to in a battle with the waves, while explaining their lifestyle. The shimmery guitar lines, with poppy synth bites are refreshing and invoke the sense of the seaside, as does the high passed noise gate. The beautiful contrast of the natural and the synthetic sounds present a unique addition to the dance genre. The song ends, before the next fires up.
The Bridge
The optimism for the next wave is sudden and palate cleansing, as The Bridge opens up with simple piano, strings with a swelling synth noise. The story here is of a local surf legend hanging for the next wave, even though he has moved on. The continuous addition of simple textures is refreshing after the thicker and more poignant numbers prior. The sudden hit of the Euro synth sound introduces the double time drums and tempo. This fuels the excitement. It was very powerful when I first heard it. The usual reverbed and doubled vocal lines are back as the song moves into the chorus, replacing the vulnerable single vocal line. Closing out this trio is a wild synth and guitar cacophony (I imagine would be epic to see live); before resolving with the opening lyric and track’s beginning.
