30/11/2016

Mixtape Dec 16

It's coming on Christmas, they're cutting down trees, they're putting up reindeers and singing songs of joy and peace.  I wish I had a river I could skate away on...



There are some dark undertones to this month's playlist.   Probably because these were the songs that resonated the most with me.  It's not all doom and gloom and dead musicians covering The Smiths - only mostly. The mood lifts in the second half to ridiculous levels. The music from 2016 has been fantastic.  Those who doubt the abundance of quality modern music are obviously listening to the wrong sets.  I am here to be your guide to the best tunes that I stumbled over in the last month.



 1) Troubled Times by Green Day
Welcome to the post-truth world - it's a small comfort that Green Day have returned to their best form since American Idiot.  I wasn't planning on mentioning him!

2) You Want It Darker by Leonard Cohen
"If you are the dealer -I'm out of the game" R.I.P Leonard Cohen (1934-2016)

3) Let Me Get There by Hope Sandoval And The Warm Inventions featuring Kurt Vile
A lush and well stoned duet between two great artists.



4) Hold On by The XX
Highly anticipated third album released mid January



5) The Boy With The Thorn In His Side by Jeff Buckley
A cover of The Smiths song originally released on The Queen Is Dead 30 years ago.
"At the record company meeting, on their hands a dead star at last..."

6) Beautiful People by Mark Pritchard featuring Thom Yorke
Thom Yorke makes an appearance mumbling undecipherable words over a downbeat trip hop track.

7) Sandy Lane by The Magnetic North
Beautiful orchestration from a very Northern band.

8) No. 28 by Methyl Ethel
Fremantle's trippy trio return with a taster of goodies for 2017



9) Come On Mess Me Up by Cub Sport
Brisbane indie pop band with a massive hit on their hands.



10) Sad Songs by Sticky Fingers
Sydney Indie Reggae with a joyous tune ready for Summer.



 11) Follow The Leader by Foxygen
Third album called Hang released in January from these West Coast Hippies.



12) Make The World by Lee Fields And The Expressions
Uplifting funky and a positive message - desperately needed in 2016.

13) Garden Of Love by The Liminanas featuring Peter Hook
French band with the distinctive bass guitar of Joy Division



14) All I Want From You Is Everything (Alternative Version) by The School
Indie dream pop originally released a couple of years ago and now given the festive makeover.

15) What Are We Fighting For? by Dodgy
Never thought the 90's Scouse indie band Dodgy would ever bother my ear drums again but they
have some damn infectious anthems. (Cheesy as - but it is Christmas)

16) C-h-e-m-I-c-a-l (Edit) by The Chemical Brothers
Back with another one of those block rocking beats!



17) Rattlesnake by King Gizzard And The Lizard Wizard
The prolific Aussie psychadelic rock band return with home made instruments tuned to unusual
notes that I don't understand but totally adore.



 18) Roll Back The Years by Dorsal Fins
Melbourne band worth investigating if anyone needs a homework assignment.

19) Born Disco; Died Heavy Metal by Cornershop and The Mike Flowers Pops
This is the 90 revival supergroup you would never have imagined.



20)  Better Be Home Soon by Crowded House
The greatest New Zealand band Australia ever produced.  Their Sydney Opera House reunion gig was televised and became the singalong that stopped a nation.



That's all from me - I'll be back with my end of year roundup in a few weeks.


01/11/2016

Mixtape Nov 16

November 2016 - The US Presidential Election between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton stumbles into its last days.  It is worth reflecting on an election poll conducted back in June when 43% chose Hillary, 38% chose Donald and 13% chose a Giant Meteor crashing into the planet causing a cataclysmic end to life on Earth.  Here is a soundtrack for the end of days.








1) Might As Well Be Gone by Pixies 
Love the Pixies - why did they split up for 20 years?

2) Where I End And You Begin by She Drew The Gun
Beautiful downbeat lament from Liverpool.

3) Deep Blue Skies by The Vryll Society
Good use of the wah-wah pedal displayed on this trippy wig out.

4) End Of An Era by Public Access TV 
NYC - The Strokes, The Virgins and now Public Access TV

5) Our Town by Sticky Fingers
Australia's Sticky Fingers providing the soundtrack to another BBQ season

6) Strange Diseases by Gang Of Youths
Sound like Aussie Kings of Leon fronting an Orchestra 

7) Press Rewind by Kaiser Chiefs
Kaiser Chiefs continue their invasion into Hot Chip's territory

8) No No No by Yes Sunshine
Ramshackle Indie Rock from Coventry 

9) Sweep Me Off My Feet by Pond
New single from one of Perth's best bands - hopefully a new album will follow 

10) Lost Cause by Sons Of The East
Meanwhile in Sydney the Sons Of The East are releasing Embrace style anthems

11) Bills by Ultimate Painting
I thought Veronica Falls had been quiet lately.  Just found their guitarist in another band.  

12) Don Quixote by Drapht ft. The Hilltop Hoods
Perth's top skip hop artist teams up with the Hoods 

13) Learning To Fly by Deep Sea Arcade
Great Aussie band who appear to be about to follow up the excellent Outlands album

14) 16 Beat (Cassius Remix) by Metronomy
Funky French Techno Vs Grooves from Devon

15) Takeover by L-Fresh The Lion
L-Fresh has attitude, rhymes and beats - Aussie Skip Hop Legend 

16) The Summer by Spring King
Dedicated to everyone in the Southern Hemisphere

17) SloMo by San Cisco
Fremantle Band with a ridiculously poppy song - as slick as an oil spill

18) Time After Time by Iron & Wine
Amazing cover of Cyndi Lauper song

19) Find Me by Kings of Leon
This sounds just like Gang of Youths if they were American and didn't have an orchestra!

20) Found God In A Tomato by Psychedelic Porn Crumpets
Best Named Perth Rock Band Ever with 9 minutes of madness 


Until next month - giant meteor permitting

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