Back in 1977, NASA sent a probe into deep space laden with earthly goods. One such object was a golden record, containing some of the best music created by human beings: J.S. Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Chuck Berry. All in the hope that, should life exist beyond our spacial borders, anyone that came into contact with the probe would be prepared for homo-sapien culture. But what if we got to choose which albums went into space?
Seventh Heaven is a feature in which musicians and influencers pick their seven favourite albums and send them out into the heavens in the hope of spreading peace and good vibes throughout the galaxy.
Writing for this edition of Seventh Heaven is Feral's guitarist Sam Foote
Metallica - The Black Album
Okay so if I’m gonna start with anything, it seems appropriate that it’s the first album I ever bought. It’s not even my favourite Metallica album, but the significance in my life of pounding out every snare hit with a clenched fist, barely able to listen on my portable CD player in bed, trying as hard as I can to not to wake my mum up miming along “exit light, enter night”. It’s a cringe memory to me now, but this album is one that has shaped my love for rock and heavy music. A true coming-of-age moment for me. I could talk in detail for hours about my love (and loathe) for Metallica, but the Black Album has that special place in my memory. Everyone has their album they know every word to. Everyone has their band they fell so deeply in love with that no other music would cut it. I regret the time I lost not listening to other bands when I discovered Metallica, but I’m glad it was them.
Two Door Cinema Club - Tourist History
I will be the first to tell you that TDCC are absolutely rubbish now and not the band the used to be at all... but damn can that band that can create such an assembly of back-to-back one hit wonders all tightly squeezed into a 10 track debut. It feels quite strange to include a band I don’t like anymore but this album made such an impact culturally, forming a diverse audience and really taking the spearhead for Northern Irish music to new places. There will be always that association that you couldn’t watch TV without hearing one of these tracks on DFS advert or some shit. They’re cheesy & they’re cliché but this album opened me up to a world of what local music can be.. it showed me that it CAN be done, even from the most challenged country in the world.
Ben Howard - I Forgot Where we Were
Not your Ed Sheeran produced bollocks that seems to constantly be tied like an anvil of disapproval around Ben’s neck. The man writes from his deepest feelings not for the fame and glory but for himself. This album encapsulates everything that he tries to be, a massive landscape of dark guitars and lyricisms that create the most vivid images in your head. His ability amazes yet is still as a deer in the woods, with delicacy in his writing I Forgot Where we Were is a living breathing masterpiece of 10’s that allows Howard to step into his own shoes and fill the footprints of some the greatest ever songwriters. The only negative thing I can say is that he is an exception on this list in that I am yet to see Ben live, and that my friend’s is a first world tragedy.
The 1975 - The 1975
This band will be scoffed at for even a mention, but you can not argue the impact of this band has had. They are one of if not the biggest bands in the world and I’m not going to lie and tell you I don’t LOVE them! Their debut was a product of 10 years of the hardest work and they really grafted to where they are now. At the time in my life the 1975 came out they were writing about the drinking and drugs that I was experiencing for the first time. It grasped a hold, almost shamelessly glorifying it to a degree but really being true to every thought process I had at this time. Each song was like I had never heard anything like it before, hard to believe now I know but they truly were something special and this album made tidal waves in the music industry. A direct result of where I wanted to take my own music, ambience was the new banger riff, a preference to groovy beats instead of smashing cymbals. This album changed a lot.
Frightened Rabbit - Pedestrian Verse
Anyone that has come into contact with Frightened Rabbit over the years can relate to the songwriting on a spiritual and emotional level. The late Scott Hutchinson has touched the lives of many people, with powerful words surrounding depression, break up, anxiety, addiction. Scott could create like no other, a true legend of the English language. We have lost such a talent. Pedestrian Verse may not be the most critically acclaimed but it is the first FR rabbit I listened to and it rooted itself deep into my life. I will never forget the first time I heard the Oil Slick, live at Stendhal festival of all places. I cried in the middle of a packed out crowd, and I wasn’t alone. The solidarity that Scott’s word brought to that tent that day is going to stay with me forever. I have now listened to every FR song now a 100 times, really got me through some dark times, as with so many others. Thank you Scott. Long may your legacy continue. Rest in peace.
Foals: Total Life Forever
Ok, time for something positive. I adore Foals. If there was ever a band to directly affect how I viewed and played my instrument here we are. What are they? Indie? Alt? Who knows, but they’re fucking cool! I have the fondest of memories aged 18 with my mates, stoned out of my mind trying to piece together the conceptual art of this album. This is my Dark Side of the Moon. Every track just creates its own story for you to work out, I’m yet to meet someone to agree with me on the meaning. That’s what makes it so special to me, it’s like a Create your own Story book. Everyone gets something different. Of course I have to mention that Annie Mac was so blown away by Spanish Sahara that she played it entirely again! ..TWICE! ..IN A ROW! This had never done before Total Life Forever!
And So I Watch You From Afar - ASIWYFA
Ah, best to last some would say. What on earth can I say about ASIWYFA. Aged 15, fresh out of my lengthy Metallica phase a friend of mine mentioned that I should “check these guys out”. They were from my hometown, they had a good following and we’re building up momentum for the second major release.. so of course, with much naivety on what this would lead to, I obliged. 3 years later I’m getting they’re logo branded on my leg for my first tattoo. This album. First track. Set Guitars to Kill. I’m not saying anymore.
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