Nana’s Sunday Jams: Eating Noddemix - Young Marble Giants

Published on 2020-08-23 00:00:00 by Nana Fani-Kayode

Banner a_rtwork by the majestic Trav, all of Nanas jams are gathered in_ this playlist.

Yes Yes Sunday Jammers.

Welcome back, I hope all is well, good and right. Have you had a chance to check out this month’s edition of Deep Cuts yet?

This week’s offering? A classic. But don’t let its age fool you—some tracks demand infinite replays. The label? Domino Records, and my love runs deep. Countless sweaty indie dance floors owe their magic to their roster, including one of my newest obsessions: Tirzah.

Founded in 1993 by Laurence Bell and Jacqui Rice, Domino’s ethos was simple: sign what they loved, not just what would sell. Early days leaned American (Sebadoh, Pavement), while Britpop raged elsewhere. Instead of chasing trends, they championed left-field brilliance like Hood and Pram—a haven for music lovers craving depth.

Then came the 2000s: Franz Ferdinand, Arctic Monkeys. Cue my ruined shoes, shredded voice, and zero regrets. A commercial watershed, yes—but Domino never sacrificed its soul for success. That balance? That’s why I’m still hooked.

Take Tirzah’s 2018 masterpiece Devotion: a breathtaking blend of composition and deconstruction, soulful and always thrilling. (I’d follow her in a respectful, non-stalker way, obviously.)

But today’s gem? Young Marble Giants—post-punk’s soulful minimalists. Domino’s compilations spotlighted them alongside icons like Orange Juice and Fire Engines, acts that shaped generations. (Fun fact: Franz Ferdinand, Courtney Love, and Cobain all cite this era as pivotal. Even the xx owe them—imagine YMG jamming with Timbaland.)

The track: ‘Eating Noddemix’. Lushness defined.

YMG stood apart—their sparse sound pulsed with unexpected warmth. Alison Statton’s vocals? Critics call them “cool,” but I hear gentle power, evocative and alive. That bassline, her voice—a dance between mundane and tragic. Every time it ends, I’m gutted… until the next track saves me.

Perfect for a Sunday Jam. Hell, play the whole Colossal Youth LP (their only studio album, originally on Rough Trade). A masterpiece.

So crank it up. And big love to Domino—for staying bold, staying curious, and never stopping the excellence.

Written by Nana Fani-Kayode