Lebanese Blonde

This is why I love BBC 6 Music. It’s not just because they will play William DeVaughn’s ‘Be Thankful For What You’ve Got’ followed by Shack’s sublime ‘Comedy’ and ‘Hallelujah’ by the Happy Mondays (three songs played in succession over Christmas which convinced me that the station takes its playlist from my record collection). It’s not just because they champion new music of distinction. It’s also because it’s a station which reminds you of tunes you had overlooked. A case in point: ‘Lebanese Blonde’ by Thievery Corporation.

I don’t label myself as a fan of Thievery Corporation. I simply don’t have enough knowledge of their music to come down on either side of the fence. But, based on this track alone I feel that I should be re-evaluating my position. It’s not new (it’s been around since the late 90s), but it still sounds bloody marvellous.

The first time I came across this track (and then promptly forgot that I had it) was on the soundtrack to the film ‘Garden State’ – for my money one of the finer soundtrack compilations of the last few years. Any album which puts ‘One of These Things First’ by Nick Drake together with Simon & Garfunkel’s ‘Only Living Boy in New York’ is doing something right…