Ultramarine’s Paul Hammond reveals the first and last records he bought and one he turns to in an emergency
FIRST
![](https://electronicsound.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/ELO.jpeg)
ELO
‘Mr Blue Sky’
(Jet, 1977)
“I can’t recall why this symphonic pop classic caught my 12-year-old ears but, in retrospect, it feels like a relatively sophisticated entry into record buying. I didn’t stick with this type of thing for long, rapidly moving on to The Jam, but it still sounds incredible to me. Perhaps I can trace my love of Prefab Sprout – similarly ambitious, emotive, beautifully arranged pop – to this formative moment.”
LAST
![](https://electronicsound.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Jean-Marie-Mercimek.jpeg)
Jean-Marie Mercimek
‘Le Flourenn En Mars’
(Aguirre, 2020)
“A lovely jumble of lo-fi synthpop, instrumental collages and ambient electronic interludes. Arranged as two unbroken sides of mixed tracks that leave out just enough, allowing the listener to use their imagination. It has a charming, homely feel. Maybe the curious, episodic arrangement holds a private meaning to its makers. It’s loose, possibly performed live or based on improvisations. Despite the name, they’re actually a duo from Marseille.”
ALWAYS
![](https://electronicsound.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Tortoise-1024x1024-1-1024x1024.jpeg)
Tortoise
‘TNT’
(Thrill Jockey, 1998)
“‘TNT’ takes me back to an exciting period of change when genres were starting to dissolve into a much freer area of cross-fertilisation, taking in a more organic, electro-acoustic approach, folding jazz, dub, improvisation and experimental forms into the mix. ‘TNT’ captures a band that sound like they have more ideas than they know what to do with, revelling in a rich seam they’ve unearthed. It feels like joyous and optimistic music to me.”