Endless January: A Soundtrack for a Month That Won’t End (Or Already Did?)
A Playlist for When Time Moves Too Fast… or Not at All
This January somehow felt like the longest year of my life, yet somehow, we're already barreling toward 2026. Time is weird—it stretches, contracts, and moves in every direction at once. This month’s playlist is a collection of songs that pull from the past, anchor us in the present, and propel us into the future.
The mix opens with Aphex Twin’s sprawling and hypnotic electronic textures, bending sound and time like no one else can. Then comes Róisín Murphy with a Bedouin remix of Dear Miami—a track that plays with nostalgia and futurism all at once.
St. Lucia’s Campari Lips & Soda follows, an effervescent slice of indie pop that cuts through the winter haze like a sunbeam. Then, SAULT arrives with I Look for You—a song that feels like it’s stretching itself across decades, carrying the weight of history while still sounding like the future. It’s reflective, haunting, and full of that searching quality that makes it a perfect fit for this time-warped mix.
Teleman strips things back with Cristina (Piano Version), a moment of quiet introspection before LA LOM shakes things up with Alacrán, injecting the mix with a rhythmic pulse that feels alive. IDER’s Attachment Theory then takes us into a world of harmonies and deep emotional exploration, setting the stage for Emel and Acid Arab’s Lose My Mind (Acid Arab Remix), a hypnotic, genre-blurring ride.
Dina Summer, Local Suicide, Kalipo, Curses, and Joshua Murphy join forces on Promise Me (Edit), a track that feels like a bright beacon of hope in the winter darkness. Awkward Moments and Illa J keep things playful with Talk to Me Baby, an easygoing moment before we hit a surprising addition.
I never thought I'd be putting a Ringo Starr track on one of these playlists, but here we are. I've long said he’ll be the last Beatle standing—underrated, but outlasting them all. This track with Lucius is a fusion of pop royalty across generations, tying past, present, and future into one infectious melody.
From there, BØRNS gives us a shimmering, retro-inspired moment with Breakfast Of Bohemians, while OK Go makes a triumphant return after more than a decade with A Stone Only Rolls Downhill. Of course, it’s accompanied by a wildly inventive stunt video involving 64 iPhones, because that’s what they do. But don’t let the spectacle overshadow the song itself: this is a pulsing, layered anthem about momentum, nostalgia, and the way time keeps rolling forward whether you’re ready or not. It also got me thinking—if my memory serves, they actually brought treadmills to the basement of the Middle East in Cambridge, Mass., where I first saw them play in 2000? Maybe 2001? (OK, so—I fact-checked myself, and "Here It Goes Again" wasn’t even released until 2006, and I moved out of Boston in 2004. So either time really does move in multiple directions, or I’ve completely invented this memory — But I have made contact with Ron Persky—and while I suspect he isn’t real, the fact that I made contact with him is.)
I don’t consider myself a Harley guy (and if you know me, you probably don’t either), but Tiger La Flor’s track is a real earworm, in a way that’s far more pleasant than the “potato-potato-potato” sound of an actual Harley muffler.
The cinematic Lord Huron track with Kristen Stewart raises more questions for the ‘World Enders’ than answers—and trust me, I’d love to spill the details, but I don’t think I’m allowed just yet. What I can say is that it makes me even more excited for the album the LH guys are putting together, which will soundtrack their first headlining arena tour this year.
Somehow, the fusion of Tamino and Mitski’s voices creates this eerie, magnetic beauty that lingers long after the song ends. It’s one of those rare tracks that feels both ancient and brand new at the same time.
Perfume Genius continues to redefine what’s possible in a song, and It's a Mirror is no exception. Its hypnotic minimalism draws you in, layer by layer, until you’re completely absorbed.
As we near the end of the mix, Deep Sea Diver adds some grit with Shovel, while Oracle Sisters bring a dreamlike haze with Blue Left Hand. Neal Francis channels pure soul with What's Left Of Me, followed by the raw, electric energy of Benjamin Booker on SHOW AND TELL.
And finally, closing things out, we get two tracks from Oklou—first, harvest sky with underscores, a song that feels like it exists in multiple moments at once, and then I Didn’t Give Up on You, a delicate yet powerful closer that leaves us in a state of reflection.
SO IN SHORT: Time bends in all directions, and this mix captures all of it—the momentum, the nostalgia, the detours. Whether we’re looking back, soaking in the present, or speeding toward the future, music is the constant that keeps us grounded.
FULL Track List & Liner Notes:
pretend analog extmix 2b,e2,ru [Manchester 20.09.2019] | Aphex Twin | Music From The Merch Desk (2016 - 2023) — A mesmerizing electronic odyssey that stretches and distorts time itself.
Dear Miami - Bedouin Remix | Róisín Murphy, Bedouin | Dear Miami (Bedouin Remix) — A sultry, atmospheric remix that feels like stepping into a neon-lit future.
Campari Lips & Soda | St. Lucia, Aly & AJ | Campari Lips & Soda — A vibrant, sun-kissed anthem that brings warmth to the coldest days.
I Look for You | SAULT | Acts of Faith — A hypnotic and searching track that carries echoes of the past into the future.
Cristina - Piano Version | Teleman | Cristina (Piano Version) — A stripped-down, emotional take that lingers long after it ends.
Alacrán | LA LOM | Alacrán — A fiery blend of rhythms that demands to be felt as much as heard.
Attachment Theory | IDER | Attachment Theory — A lush, introspective dive into connection and longing.
Lose My Mind - Acid Arab Remix | Emel, Acid Arab | Lose My Mind (Acid Arab Remix) — A pulsing, hypnotic fusion of global sounds and deep club energy.
Promise Me - Edit | Dina Summer, Local Suicide, Kalipo, Curses, Joshua Murphy | Promise Me — An electrifying, genre-blurring groove that refuses to be pinned down.
Talk to Me Baby | Awkward Moments, Illa J | Talk to Me Baby — Playful and infectious, this track is like a carefree late-night conversation.
Come Back | Ringo Starr, Lucius | Look Up — A surprising gem that blends classic charm with modern harmonies.
Breakfast Of Bohemians | BØRNS | Honeybee — A dreamy, kaleidoscopic trip through nostalgia and new beginnings.
A Stone Only Rolls Downhill | OK Go | A Stone Only Rolls Downhill — A triumphant return that proves they’re still masters of inventive pop.
Tighten Up | The Black Keys | Brothers — A bluesy, swagger-filled jam that never gets old.
Back To The Way We Was | BØRNS | Honeybee — A shimmering track that feels both wistful and celebratory.
HEAVEN IS A HARLEY | Tiger La Flor | HEAVEN IS A HARLEY — A rebellious anthem that sticks like a motorbike’s hum on an open road.
Boys In The Girls Room | Baba Stiltz, Okay Kaya | Blurb — A playful and eccentric tune that refuses to follow the rules.
Who Laughs Last (feat. Kristen Stewart) | Lord Huron, Kristen Stewart | Who Laughs Last — A cinematic and haunting piece that leaves you with more questions than answers.
Sanctuary | Tamino, Mitski | Sanctuary — A breathtaking vocal duet that feels timeless and otherworldly.
Cherry Baby | Jenny Lewis | Joy'All — Breezy and sweet, with just the right hint of melancholy.
It’s a Mirror | Perfume Genius | It’s a Mirror — A hypnotic, minimal masterpiece that pulls you in with its eerie beauty.
Shovel | Deep Sea Diver | Shovel — A raw and driving track that digs deep and doesn’t let go.
Blue Left Hand | Oracle Sisters | Blue Left Hand — A surreal and dreamy soundscape that feels like a lucid dream.
What’s Left Of Me | Neal Francis | What’s Left Of Me — A soulful groove that’s equal parts heartbreak and swagger.
SHOW AND TELL | Benjamin Booker | LOWER — Bluesy, gritty, and full of raw emotion.
Ferry Lady | Panda Bear | Ferry Lady — A whimsical and looping ride through psychedelic nostalgia.
As Soon As You Can | Twin Shadow | As Soon As You Can — A track that straddles the past and future, carried by longing and urgency.
harvest sky | Oklou, underscores | harvest sky / obvious — Ethereal and expansive, this track floats between worlds.
I didn’t give up on you | Oklou | Galore — A tender yet powerful closer, leaving us suspended in the moment.
If you haven't listened to previous months:
Since you stuck around this far, you really earned your cover art outtakes:
