"And time has told me
Not to ask for more
For someday our ocean
Will find its shore”
Nick Drake, Time Has Told Me
There is something poetic about a season change. A repeating, expected event of life which comes around every year, reminding us that time moves forward, no matter what might be happening in our personal lives. With this comes the urge for quiet reflection, a feeling that can often change what we reach for on our record shelves, pointing towards albums which reflect the mood of the season.
Some albums just sound like autumn: a warm bass, hushed vocals or fingerpicked guitars that feel organic and meandering. For us, autumn listening could be the jangling guitars of The Sundays, the hushed intimacy of John Martyn or Nick Drake, or the darker gothic folk of Ora Cogan. Here are ten albums that evoke the season.
What songs sound like autumn? Embrace the change of season with this playlist of soul-searching songs ready to warm you up as the temperature drops.
Yusef Lateef - Eastern Sounds (1961)
Fusing hard bop and Eastern sounds, this 1961 record is considered one of the great modal jazz albums. Its rich harmonies and sometimes melancholic tone make a warm backdrop to the shifting season and the introspective moods that follow.
Nick Drake - Five Leaves Left (1969)
Nick Drake made three timeless albums in his tragically short time on earth, all of which are rich in the wistful and intimate introspection typical of the colder months. His debut Five Leaves Left, however, seems most fitting as a turntable companion to gently carry you through the changing of seasons.
Despite its title referring to the message on Rizla cigarette papers when they are running out, it is hard not to picture falling leaves as October creeps in. Pentangle’s Danny Thompson plays warm, resonant double bass; paired with Drake’s poetic lyricism and floating vocals, it sounds like autumn itself.
"the grounding and earthy double bass comes, again, from close friend and collaborator Danny Thompson, who seems to be one of the common denominators on these melancholic autumn albums."
John Martyn - Bless the Weather (1971)
Written about his move with his wife Beverly Martyn from bustling London to quaint and atmospheric Hastings Old Town, this album embodies the feeling of slowing down a fast-paced life, something we're all drawn to do in the colder seasons.
It will come as no surprise that the grounding and earthy double bass comes, again, from close friend and collaborator Danny Thompson, who seems to be one of the common denominators on these melancholic autumn albums. John Martyn, Nick Drake and Thompson, the unofficial 'fathers of autumn folk', shared an extremely close and decades-long friendship, something which infuses a warmth and intimacy all music they created together.
The Sundays - Reading, Writing and Arithmetic (1990)
The Sundays’ debut Reading, Writing and Arithmetic, the title paying homage to their hometown of Reading, has the feel of a crisp October morning. Its almost childlike innocence and academic title evoke back-to-school nostalgia at any age. The band was formed by Bristol undergraduates Harriet Wheeler and David Gavurin. Wheeler’s whimsical, acrobatic vocals and pensive lyricism paired with Gavurin’s guitar jangle create a record that is as carefree as it is full of longing.
Yo La Tengo - I Can Hear The Heart Beating As One (1997)
“Me with nothing to say. And you in your autumn sweater”. This album is autumn-coded for reasons beyond this beloved track. The cool percussion, textured instrumentation and soft, spoken-sung harmonies of Ira Kaplan and drummer Georgia Hubley all make for a close cosiness, while fuzzy guitars add warmth to its quiet ballads. It mirrors autumn’s shift in weather and carries us into winter.
Alex G - Trick (2012)
Trick feels built around Alex G’s emotive guitar playing, with constant strumming on fragile acoustic or distorted electric guitar. Its lo-fi production gives the album a muted, slightly hazy quality, revealing Alex G’s meandering world through a rainy window. The Philadelphia-born musician’s contemplative, lovelorn lyrics feel like peak, tranquil autumn listening, a little bit melancholy without being too miserable, a little weird but infectiously nostalgic. The perfect dose of sad indie for you to find your safe space in every time autumn comes back around.
Jessica Pratt - On Your Own Love Again (2015)
Both heart-aching and warm, Jessica Pratt’s treacly vocals are the perfect antidote for any end-of-summer burnout. An ideal soundtrack for those seeking to get into cosy season. On Your Own Love Again is Pratt’s signature earthen folk with a touch of the uncanny: the cosmic imagery in the lyrics, Moon Dude, the twinkling piano of opener Wrong Hand, or the off-kilter, warbled outro of the album closer and title track On Your Own Love Again. Autumn comes floating in with Pratt’s ethereal range. A contender on the list of perfect second albums too.
Michael Kiwanaka - KIWANAKA (2019)
KIWUNAKA wields tender, delicate instrumentation whilst also leaning into rich, analogue, psych-soul territory, running awash with warm jazz bass, distortion and dreamy backing vocals. Somehow this album manages to be both cosy and cinematic in scope, earth-rooted folk-soul that feels like golden tones. A strong companion for that anticipation in the air which Autumn can bring, whilst still bringing that warmth. This is an album that can cocoon you in sound when you most need it.
Clairo - Sling (2021)
Written during a quiet, slow period of intentional living, Sling deals with seeking home, comfort, and emotional shelter. The perfect option for some autumn hibernation. Clairo channels the serene and poetic styles of classic Laurel Canyon singer-songwriters like Joni Mitchell and Carole King, with intensely atmospheric moments (Blouse features delicate background harmonies from Lorde), a vintage electric piano groove and touches of ’70s jazz. It is a comforting soundtrack for a walk through falling leaves.
Ora Cogan - Formless (2023)
The perfect spooky-season spin. Ora Cogan brews up gothic country and hazy folk into a moody and psychedelia-tinged record. Cogan’s haunting vocals and the rich, atmospheric instrumentation, from violin strings to eerie reverb-heavy guitar, are truly frisson-inducing. The tracks were recorded mostly live to analogue tapes, capturing the entirety of Cogan’s enchanting performance and retaining the warmth and colour that makes this record so perfect for autumn.
Further Listening
Michael Kiwanuka - Small Changes, Sylvie - Sylvie, Neil Young - Harvest Moon, The Cure - Disintegration, Fiona Apple - When the Pawn…, Elliott Smith - From a Basement on the Hill, Wolf Alice - My Love Is Cool, Smashing Pumpkins - Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, Big Thief - Double Infinity, Van Morrison - Astral Weeks, Jessica Pratt - Here in the Pitch, Mazzy Star - Among My Swan, Echo and the Bunnymen - Ocean Rain, Raye - My 21st Century Blues, American Football - American Football, Phoebe Bridgers - Punisher, Brian Eno and Harold Budd - The Pearl, Fairport Convention - Unhalfbricking, Simon & Garfunkel - Bridge Over Troubled Water, This Mortal Coil - It'll End in Tears, Nico - Chelsea Girl, Fontaines D.C. - Skinty Fia, Bill Withers - 'Justments
Further Reading
Rough Trade Essential: ’90s Dream Pop
Ranked: Alex G's Greatest Albums