Sublime eclectic mayhem. That’s been my playlist project and musical life, one that begins with The Muppet Movie soundtrack and later involves performing hymns, death metal, surf, and bluegrass. I’ve played in theaters, tents, and basements, for multi-stage festivals and squirrel rodeos. I’ve written and recorded music for The Drunken Odyssey. Sublime eclectic mayhem. A warning and a welcome for joyous noise, for those navigating what Beckett called “this bitch of an earth.”

Grave, the tempo is
called. Slow and solemn. The waitress 
pours you more water. 

She asks how everything is.

You poke your yolk and 
watch its perfect weep. Everything’s 
fine, you tell her. Fine, 

like the end of a song.

I had nothing left to articulate.

Listen on Tidal. Listen on Spotify.

1. “Thème Rythme Léger” – Ahmed Malek
2. “Little Things (Reimagined)” – Jorja Smith
3. “Hells Bells” – Maria Faust, Lars Bech Pilgaard, Anders Vestergaard
4. “Michael Furey” – Lemoncello
5. “My Everything” – Rachel Chinouriri
6. “NULLIFY” – SPENT CASE
7. “Our Father” – Julius Eastman, wild Up, Christopher Rountree, Davóne Tines
8. “Panharmonic” – Taroug
9. “Infernum (Remix)” – Muse to Sirens, Trey Lane
10. “Imajighen” – Mdou Moctar
11. “Fire” – Ibibio Sound Machine
12. “Perburuan (The Hunt)” – Senyawa, Lawrence English, Aviva Endean, Peter Knight, Helen Svoboda, Joe Talia
13. “Dab Dub” – Microdose
14. “I’ve Written a Letter to Daddy” – Bette Davis

Stephen McClurg (Episode 473) composes and improvises in Serenity Dagger, The Abdomen, and other projects. Along with session work for mid-Alabama singer/songwriters, he frequently collaborates with musicians across the state adding bass, guitar, and synths to friends’ recordings. He currently writes reviews for Horror DNA and is the substitute low end wrangler for Mobile-based punk rock band Future Hate. You can find out more about his work here.