Waking Life: A Music Mix For July 2016

(Photo: courtesy of the artist)

For whatever reason (zeitgeist? shrewd marketing? my own internal calibrations with the Earth’s seasonal tilt?), there’s a definite summertime vibe emanating from this month's mix, which seems to work well however you listen. Personally, I recommend “shuffle.”

• Waking Life: A Playlist For May 2016

Not unlike summer, there are a number of artists here making welcome returns: The Avalanches, The Stone Roses, Kathleen Hanna, De La Soul, Al Green, Beth Orton, Mazzy Star’s Hope Sandoval, The Strokes — artists many of us have known and loved for a while now. It’s great to hear them back with fresh work.

On the other hand, few things exhilarate like the thrill of discovering new artists we love. Whitney, Lucy Daucus, Daniel Wilson, The Beths and Big Thief do nothing to upset that here.

• Follow OpenAirCPR on Spotify for more online playlists

Also worth noting: tUnE-yArDs’ Merrill Garbus produced the new Sonny & the Sunsets record found here. Preoccupations is the new incarnation-in-name-only of the band formerly known as Viet Cong. Miles Mosley’s current regular gig is as bassist in Kamasi Washington’s band, and he played on Kendrick Lamar’s "To Pimp a Butterfly."

Listen, rinse, repeat via the playlist below. I’d love to hear your reactions, and you can reach at me @OpenAirJeremy. Happy summer!