Discs to Dust To

Just me, my earplugs, a bottle of Fabulosa and a duster: It is in these moments of self care (and house cleaning) that I love to listen to a full album run-through, or explore new music, as well as returning to some old favourites.

I love an album that tells a story when played in chronological order: whether intentional or not. For example, Styx's 'Paradise Theatre' is an album with a clear narrative arc throughout (as explored in a previous post), but albums such as Catfish and the Bottlemen's 'The Balcony' - although not a direct narrative - evokes a nostalgic journey from start to finish, taking me back to the first time I listened to (and fell in love with) one of my favourite bands.

Another of my favourite cleaning albums is Ed Sheeran's 'Divide' and Bruno Mars' 'Doo Wops and Hooligans' : although both straying from my usual music taste, I find them the perfect balance of sing-along nostalgia, easy listening and energetic at just the right points.

Of course, Arctic Monkeys are also on my cleaning playlist, but not the album you would expect. 'Suck It And See' I sing along to track by track: not having to engage my brain, just floating through while I clean.

If I need a mood boost, I can always rely on a bit of musical theatre to cheer me up! You can guarantee that the hoover and I will re-enact the entirety of 'The Time Warp', while the Fabulosa will serve as a fitting prop for 'Look At Me I'm Sandra Dee' from Grease.

From pop to musical theatre, cleaning becomes a journey of nostalgia, dancing and satisfaction when I realise how much I have cleaned while getting carried away in my own bubble.