A Babylonian Tower: Marc Hollander's Favourite Music | Page 3 of 14 | The Quietus

Baker's Dozen

Artists discuss the 13 records that shaped their lives

2. Howlin’ WolfMoanin’ In The Moonlight

At the same time I was listening to other stuff as well, rougher things – pop bands like The Animals, blues-based bands like The Yardbirds, The Who, even early Stones. So after listening to all these bands, you realised it was a real thing that could be explored and I started looking for blues records mostly, Delta blues, and shouter blues like Howlin’ Wolf. This Howlin’ Wolf record is really a favourite. Again it’s a sound thing, there’s a strange thing due to his incredible voice in combination with the recording technique of the extremely early 50s. There’s something that makes it totally ghostly.

That led me to more Afro-American music, which wasn’t called that at the time, but you know you walk up the stairs of a genre and you discover the rest – soul music, Stax, Motown. Hip-hop much later. The period I was listening to most hip-hop was in the 80s, De La Soul and bands like that, believe it or not because it’s not so obvious in Aksak Maboul. But you can’t try everything you like, I’m trying to do a lot already!

PreviousNext Record

The Quietus Digest

Sign up for our free Friday email newsletter.

Support The Quietus

Our journalism is funded by our readers. Become a subscriber today to help champion our writing, plus enjoy bonus essays, podcasts, playlists and music downloads.

Support & Subscribe Today