If you stranded Arcadia Residential on a deserted island with only ten records to survive the tides, what hits the turntable? For the Brighton four-piece, music has always been equal parts blueprint, memory bank, and pure escapism. From childhood cinematic epiphanies and teenage indie obsessions to the foundational tracks that taught them how to play their instruments in the first place, this collaborative selection maps out the exact sonic DNA of the band.
Dive into the ten records Arcadia Residential couldn't live without—alongside a pair of unashamedly iconic guilty pleasures they refuse to leave behind.
1: Courtney Barnett - Avant Gardner
We adore this song, it’s the epitome of visual linear storytelling perfection
2: Talking Heads -‘This Must Be The Place’
The best song ever written in my opinion, Talking Heads ace it on all fronts.
3: Pixies - ' Debaser’
The first cover we ever learnt as a band. It served as the foundation for our creative process and in some ways, forming our own sonic identity.
4: The 1975 - ‘Give Yourself a Try’
The truth is, we may never have been a band without The 1975. As teenagers, our love for indie music is what brought us close as friends and this song (very on the nose I know) undeniably formed our identities as aspiring musicians.
5: Neutral Milk Hotel - ‘In the Aeroplane Over the Sea’
Any song from this album would certainly suffice, but the title track for us has to be on here. Not long after we got our first guitars, this song became an anchor for our love of playing. It was one of the first me (Riley) and Oscar ever learnt to play together. “how strange it is to be anything at all" perfectly captures those moments of solitude, wonder and existentialism we all experience.
6: Squeeze - Up The Junction
A similar vein to our first pick on this list, Up the Junction is a rollercoaster of emotions.The devastating lyrics juxtaposed with the uplifting melody and instrumentation makes this such a stand out for us. Many memories of listening to this growing up, one of mum’s favourite songs!
7: Westside Cowboy - I’ve never met anyone
The most recent release on the list, it’s a song full of emotion and vigor, we’ve covered it a fair few times at our live shows too. The harmonies are irresistible.
8: Everly Brothers - When Will I Be Loved
And now for the oldest song on our list. Nobody does harmonies better than these guys, I think the concept of brothers starting a band has always resonated with us for obvious reasons, and this song is just so perfectly simple.
9: Huey Lewis & The News - The Power Of Love
My earliest memory of having a “favourite” song would be this one, after watching Back To The Future for the first time our whole view on cinema changed and I think the soundtrack is so imperative to the overall feel and enjoyment of the film.
10: FEET - English Weather
Another recent pick here, we’ve massive FEET fans and I think this song just truly nails the British outlook on life, ‘supermarket trousers, I think I’d rather die’ is a line from the song that’s always stuck with us, a proper fun track with so much re-listenableness!
GUILTY PLEASURES
1: Nickelback - Rockstar
Listening to this on repeat as a kid was definitely a formative experience, I remember trying to decipher some of the lyrics that I didn’t understand like, “Gonna pop my pills from a Pez dispenser” and “Gonna date a centerfold, loves to blow my money for me” I’ll never stop listening to this song and belting it whenever it comes on, long live nickleback.
2: Steps - Deeper Shade Of Blue
Belting this song down the microphone whilst playing Singstar on the ps2 is definitely a core memory for the two of us. It’s just that wonderfully cheesy bubblegum 2000s pop that no one wants to admit that they love, but we do and it ain’t ever gonna change!