The one that tells you exactly what this record is before the first chorus would have landed.
Cue sheet
Psychedelic synth-pop, dark 80s R&B. Phaser-swept Juno-60 pad, fuzzy compressed melodic bass, gated LinnDrum snare over a squashed tape-saturated breakbeat, stacked wordless falsetto. 108 BPM, A minor. Tape saturation, flanged plate reverb, warm overdriven mix. No rap, no drop. Glamorous ache: the bass line keeps sliding up to a note the chords never resolve to. [0:00-0:30] pad, bass and breakbeat together [0:30-1:30] falsetto harmonies enter [1:30-2:20] phaser sweep opens wide, DX7 bells [2:20-3:00] full groove, filter closing. Wordless vocals only.
Slow and slinky, for standing at the edge of the room pretending you don't care.
Cue sheet
80s slow-jam R&B, neo-psychedelia. Chorused Rhodes, Juno string pad, round fuzzy fingered bass, LinnDrum with snappy gated snare and rimshot. 96 BPM, E minor. Warm tape hiss, dark plate reverb, low-passed top end. No rap, no builds. Aloof longing: the snare lands a hair behind the beat every bar. [0:00-0:45] Rhodes, bass and LinnDrum [0:45-1:40] breathy wordless falsetto answers the Rhodes [1:40-2:30] pad swells, bass climbs an octave [2:30-3:00] drums drop to rimshot only. Wordless vocals only.
The song where the night suddenly gets a second wind.
Cue sheet
Psych-disco, synth-funk. Heavily phased drum break with a four-on-the-floor kick, octave-jumping fuzz bass, Juno-60 chord stabs, arpeggiated Minimoog. 118 BPM, D minor. Saturated tape compression, stereo flanger, bright but gritty. No rap, no EDM drop. Restless euphoria: the whole drum bus is swept through a phaser every eight bars. [0:00-0:40] kick, break and bass [0:40-1:30] Juno stabs and arpeggio [1:30-2:15] wordless falsetto chant, full phaser [2:15-3:00] everything but bass and kick cuts out. Wordless vocals only.
Low lights and a heavy head, good for the hour when conversation stops mattering.
Cue sheet
Dark R&B, woozy psych-soul. Detuned Juno pad with slow vibrato, sub-heavy 808 bass, dry LinnDrum kick and clap, reverse-reverb falsetto swells. 84 BPM, A minor. Muffled, low-passed, heavy sub-bass, tape wobble, no top-end sparkle. No rap, no hooks. Drunken tenderness: the pad drifts slightly out of tune and back. [0:00-0:50] pad, 808 and kick together [0:50-1:45] reverse falsetto swells enter [1:45-2:30] clap and shaker join, bass fills [2:30-3:00] filter slowly closes on the pad. Wordless vocals only.
The peak, where the windows are down and the whole skyline seems to spin.
Cue sheet
Synthwave-psych, 80s dance-pop. Pounding gated LinnDrum, driving 16th-note analog bass, Oberheim-style brass lead, swirling Juno pad through a rotary effect, DX7 bells. 122 BPM, F# minor. Big gated reverb, tape saturation, flanged cymbals. No rap, no EDM drop. Reckless exhilaration: the bassline never stops, even under the breakdown. [0:00-0:30] drums, bass and pad at full tilt [0:30-1:20] brass lead melody [1:20-1:50] breakdown to bass and bells [1:50-3:00] everything returns, wordless falsetto soaring on top. Wordless vocals only.
Floating on your back in lukewarm water after everyone else has gone to bed.
Cue sheet
Psychedelic dream-pop, ambient R&B. Slow-attack Juno pad through a phaser, muted fuzz bass holding long notes, soft brushed LinnDrum at half-time, tremolo DX7 electric piano. 72 BPM, E minor. Underwater low-pass, deep tape hiss, long dark plate reverb. Minimal drums, no hooks. Numb drift: the electric piano tremolo slows as the pad swells. [0:00-1:00] pad, bass and electric piano [1:00-1:50] half-time brushed kit enters softly [1:50-2:40] wordless falsetto hums deep in the reverb [2:40-3:00] drums fall away. Wordless vocals only.
A lazy, grinning groove for the ride between one party and the next.
Cue sheet
Bedroom psych-pop, synth-funk R&B. Crunchy compressed drum loop with a swung hi-hat, bouncing fuzzy Hofner-style bass, wah-filtered Juno chords, clavinet-like synth plucks. 102 BPM, A minor. Tape saturation, heavy bus compression, short spring reverb, flanger on the hats. No rap, no drop. Giddy half-heartbreak: the bass keeps answering the chords with cheeky slides. [0:00-0:40] drums, bass and wah chords [0:40-1:30] synth plucks weave in [1:30-2:20] doubled wordless falsetto melody [2:20-3:00] drum loop tape-stops and restarts. Wordless vocals only.
This one goes at full volume, for the last stretch when you're driving too fast on purpose.
Cue sheet
Dark synthwave, 80s arena synth-pop. Huge gated LinnDrum snare, hard eighth-note analog bass, distorted Juno lead, stacked brass pads, glassy DX7 bells. 128 BPM, D minor. Overdriven tape, massive gated reverb, dark low-mids. No rap, no EDM drop. Dangerous glamour: the snare reverb slams shut on every hit. [0:00-0:35] drums and bass straight in [0:35-1:25] distorted lead enters [1:25-2:10] brass pads and wordless falsetto wall [2:10-3:00] half-time drums, bass alone keeps racing. Wordless vocals only.
Bittersweet and a little dizzy, like the lights coming up and nobody wanting to leave yet.
Cue sheet
Neo-psychedelic soul, 70s-tinged synth-pop. Warbling Mellotron-style flute, phased Juno chords, round melodic bass, dry thumping drum break with a tambourine. 90 BPM, C major into A minor. Tape wow and flutter, warm room compression, vintage spring reverb. No rap, no big builds. Fond regret: the flute line wobbles in pitch like a slowing turntable. [0:00-0:45] break, bass and flute [0:45-1:35] phased chords, tambourine [1:35-2:25] wordless falsetto choir, key darkens to A minor [2:25-3:00] flute and bass alone. Wordless vocals only.
The comedown song, for when the sky turns pale and you finally head home alone.
Cue sheet
Downtempo psych-R&B, synth-soul ballad. Wide Juno pad with slow filter sweep, felt-like DX7 electric piano, muted fuzz bass, soft LinnDrum with a distant gated snare. 78 BPM, A minor. Tape hiss, washed plate reverb, warm rolled-off highs. No rap, no climax. Tired afterglow: the electric piano repeats one unresolved chord like a question. [0:00-0:50] pad, electric piano and bass [0:50-1:40] soft LinnDrum enters [1:40-2:30] layered wordless falsetto, filter opens fully [2:30-3:00] drums stop, pad sustains on the unresolved chord. Wordless vocals only.