October 2003. I’m living in London for the first time and get invited by Apricot Records to do an acoustic gig in Frankfurt. I take the train down and it’s a lovely evening, the Apricot guys are pure hospitality. We go to one of their apartments beforehand where I’m introduced to caipirinhas, and sit sipping these with a couple impossibly beautiful German women before it’s time to head to the venue. I’m sharing the stage with Holger from Panamaformat who I haven’t heard before but is a lovely guy and his set really impresses me. I still remember his parting words as I’m heading to Amsterdam next - ‘it’s really strong, so smoke, but not too much’ - said with a laugh part mischief, part warning. I stay at Johannes’ flat and after giving me breakfast, he also throws some cds my way.

My friends Rick and Liisa come for Thanksgiving a month later and I still remember the first morning as being just so nice as I put on the Panamaformat cd while we’re getting ready to go out. Here I am with friends in a foreign city that I love and now think of as home listening to excellent music about to head out into the still-new wonder of it all. If there is ever a film of my life this is definitely a vibe I want in there. Liisa is so impressed by Panamaformat she buys the cd at the Talbot Road Rough Trade later that day.

I love this song. It’s a wonderful breezy pop song that never fails to bring a smile. Stuck in my head a lot lately