From Nick Drake and Patti Smith to Madra Salach and MJ Lenderman, these songs are made for a walk through the autumn leaves.
We’re all guilty of it: the slightly self-indulgent walk on a bleak autumn day, hands in pockets, carried off with a Bob Dylan-esque flair. And, it’s often on these walks that I find I have the most time to properly tune in to whatever music I currently have on repeat; this autumn being a particularly good time for new music obsessions, as well as returning to older classics.
So, with Halloween only around the corner, it feels fitting to collate a list of songs suited to the occasion. Untangle your wired earphones and prepare for a witchy walk amongst the golden-brown leaves; just maybe have one ear free, you might want to listen out for any ghouls summoned by such a perfect playlist…
1) The Stranglers – ‘Golden Brown’
Released in 1982, the popularity of this harpsichord-powered tune has endured for good reason. And it’s perfect for those crisp mornings where, from the leaves to the low sun, golden brown is the prevailing colour.
2) Madra Salach – ‘The Man Who Seeks Pleasure’
With their debut EP, It’s a Hell of an Age, coming out earlier this year, Madra Salach are rapidly gaining momentum. Best described as traditional Irish sound cut with guitars and grit, their depth is addictive. This particular track is a contrast to the much bolder single, ‘Ribbon Factory’. It’s slower, stripped back and a very good contemplative tune to lose yourself in.
3) Nick Drake – ‘Northern Sky’
Needing no introduction is the 1971 gem, ‘Northern Sky’. As effortless now as it was then, the tune meanders along, with its soft instrumentation, from acoustic guitar to an organ, strolling alongside the optimistic lyrics.
4) Fontaines D.C. – ‘Too Real’
Having recently released their fifth album, Dopamine Chamber, Fontaines D.C. have solidified their status as one of the biggest bands in the world right now. And while ‘Six Shot Morning’ or ‘Japan’ are strong contenders for this list, it’s ‘Too Real’ that feels best suited to colder outings. With an excerpt from T.S. Eliot’s ‘Preludes’, Chatten’s delivery crafts a scene in which the ‘winter evening settles down… with withered leaves all about your feet’. It’s a raw piece of guitar rock that I always find myself coming back to.
5) Florence + The Machine – ‘Shake It Out’
Clad in a Banshee of Savile Row suit, her recent Mercury Prize performance of ‘One of the Greats’ has, once again, reinforced Florence Welch’s icon status. With a discography that is bohemian, soulful and rich, an autumn playlist would be incomplete without her music. And, with Halloween in mind, I thought it only right to choose the powerhouse of a song that is ‘Shake It Out’.
6) MJ Lenderman – ‘Bark at the Moon’
From Westside Cowboy to Wyatt, MJ Lenderman is often cited by artists as an integral inspiration. And, with such a distinctive sound, it’s no wonder why. His 2024 album, Manning Fireworks, has been on repeat in my CD player for weeks now, and its closing track ‘Bark at the Moon’ is addictively alt-country, so much so that you’ll find yourself wanting to walk in time with it.
7) Man/Woman/Chainsaw – ‘Nosedive’
From their debut album, released in August this year, is the brooding ‘Nosedive’. A song that builds so gradually, you can’t help but get caught up in its theatrics. Sweeping and dramatic, the string arrangements alone are a valid excuse for having this on repeat as you march down whatever path you’re on.
8) Patti Smith – ‘Dancing Barefoot’
Classic rock that has prevailed since 1979. Patti Smith’s ‘Dancing Barefoot’ is a high-energy, spiritual exploration of love and devotion. With tragic narrative tropes in mind, Smith dedicates part of the song to Jeanne Hébuterne, speaking of the ‘rites of heroine’, alluding to Hébuterne taking her own life merely two days after her partner, Amedeo Modigliani, died. And thankfully, Smith resisted the record label’s wish for her to change the ‘heroine’ lyric, with them believing she was singing of the drug. It’s a dramatic song, shrouded in drama; perfect for the swirling autumn storms.
9) Lisa O’Neill – ‘Old Note’
With Halloween being a holiday rooted in Irish folklore, it felt right to include the hauntingly beautiful vocals of O’Neill. Having had her music featured in emotionally complex shows such as Peaky Blinders and Say Nothing, the force of her voice is, unsurprisingly, exceptional. This tune in particular laments the increasingly noisy world and closes with an eerie, but touching, conversation between O’Neill and her niece discussing the idea of spirits, and alludes to the capability of music to outlive us all. It’s a truly Irish air and very fitting as we approach what was once known as the ancient festival Samhain.
10) Eagles – ‘Witchy Woman’
A simmering piece of seventies rock, it would be rude not to include this guitar-driven piece. With multiple sources of inspiration, from a white witch ex-girlfriend to Zelda Fitzgerald, it’s a catchy exploration of the ‘restless spirit… witchy woman’ when observed by a mere mortal man…
And, with that, I hope you now have the autumnal playlist of your dreams ready for whatever awaits you this Halloween.