I don't like cake. It's just not worth it. It’s a combination of sugar, salt, and fat engineered in a way that allows you to consume copious amounts of it without even realising it.

I do, however, love Cake the band.

In particular, I love "The Distance", which I am officially adding to the 1000 Songs Archive.

Released in 1996 on the band's album "Fashion Nugget", the song is from my pivot year. As I’ve explained earlier in the blog, 1996 contained all the right ingredients for me to endlessly consume copious amounts of music from both the past and the present.

Cake were kind of outsiders. But they had a confidently distinct sound, leaning heavily into frontman John McCrea’s deadpan, spoken-word vocal delivery.

Interestingly, rather than sapping the energy out of the room, they combine this monotone style with Vince DiFiore’s driving mariachi-style trumpet lines and a heavy, rhythmic bass to create brilliant, escalating drama. And I absolutely need drama in a song.

Director Edgar Wright chose this track as his 'Heartracer' on the Nick Grimshaw breakfast show on BBC 6 Music. Edgar has ridiculously good taste, so I thought it was fantastic that he went for this specific track.

Anyway, you know exactly how it goes...

"Reluctantly crouched at the starting line..."

The Distance by Cake