CRISP PACKET RADIO: A Playlist For Summer

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I’m attempting to write this on a five-hour SeaJets ferry between Amorgos and Sifnos, but the combo of waves outside the window and hours staring at a screen were starting to make the ride a little vom-inducing. Still, it’s nothing a lemon Fanta, some Lays tzatziki crisps and the prospect of finally eating at Omega3 tomorrow lunchtime can’t remedy.

My two-week Greek getaway in 2024 is one of the few holidays where I’ve managed to fully switch off from work, so we devised a similar route through the Cyclades this month – this time taking in Antiparos, Tinos, Amorgos and Sifnos before finishing in Serifos. We’ve stayed in a mix of hotels and holiday rentals, and highlights – so far – include a return visit to Volax on Tinos so I could hug my favourite standing stone on Earth, picking up a Korres perfume for mise-en-scène spraying, eating horta with almost every meal, petting stray cats, four-beaches-a-day outings, sunsets you don’t get at home, plus a grin-inducing tzatziki that arrived with a smiley face made of olives and peppers. I find it hard to unplug, so sinking into a rhythm of sea swimming, hiking and reading is the ultimate way to reset my brain.

I’m thinking about writing a mini Greek island guide once I’m back, sharing my favourite beaches, restaurants and places to stay (including on Folegandros), but I’ve already seen more than a few floating around on Substack this year (Lucy Williams’ magnum opus from a few summers back is a must-read for any island plotting too). Hands up – would this be of interest?

Onto the tunes… As with my spring playlist, many of the selections below are inspired by films. This time, I’ve got soundtrack selections from Call Me By Your Name and A Bigger Splash, two Luca Guadagnino stunners. Both these films are set in Italy, so I had to chuck in an Italo Disco take on a yacht rock classic to set the scene for salty swims, tomatoes for breakfast and cold beers at lunch… Donna Summer’s ‘State of Independence’ also made the cut. It’s a favourite of mine that features – deep breath – Lionel Richie, Dionne Warwick, Michael Jackson, Brenda Russell, Christopher Cross, Dyan Cannon, James Ingram, Kenny Loggins and Stevie Wonder on backing vocals. It almost makes Band Aid’s efforts look low-key. Sydney singer Donny Benét, one of the most joyous live acts out there, closes everything out with ‘Santorini’ – featuring one of the best modern-day sax solos.

This summer playlist is designed to be something to stick on in that magic holiday hour between stepping out the shower and setting foot out the door, en route to a taberna or bar – the hour or so that’s filled with after-sun, something cold from the fridge and a bag of crisps sourced from a local supermarket. But I think it works just as well as a brightener on a drizzly British summer day.

I hope you enjoy the listen! If, like me, you’re an Apple Music user over Spotify, you can find the playlist here.

Coming soon on Crisp Packet: June’s Tastemaker, plus kitchen staples & new ingredients I’m enjoying cooking with right now (this might or might not have a few Greek staples thrown in, as I cannot get enough of wild green salads).