Mixtape August 2018

This month's playlist has been a hard one to compile due the amount of awesome music I've stumbled over.  I've picked twenty of the best songs and remixes which have either moved me or got me moving.   

1) Idaho by Gorillaz
Their latest album The Now Now is a more low key affair without the hundreds of rappers who crowded their previous effort, Humanz.   This allows 2D or Damon's voice to take centre stage and often it sounds more like Blur.

2) As You Said Your So Longs by El Goodo
A 60's influenced Welsh dream pop band - friends of the Super Furry Animals. Very similar sound to the Cosmic Rough Riders if anyone remembers them.

3) Demon Is A Monster by Cornershop
This funky instrumental was used as the theme music to one of my favourite podcasts so happy to share it.

4) Black Magic by Baker Boy ft Dallas Woods
Arnhem Land's Baker Boy is back rapping in both English and his native tongue over indigenous instruments and an epic riff.  Sending a middle finger to Australia's politicians.

5) Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino by  Arctic Monkeys
It's certainly a departure from their previous sound but their sixth album is very rewarding and has been on high rotation over the last few months.

6) Out The Window (Andrew Weatherall Remix) by Confidence Man
The original was featured on this blog a few months ago and at the time I said it sounded like Primal Scream.  And now Andrew Weatherall has remixed it so it sounds even more like Screamadelica.

7) Cactus (Boxed In Desert Mix) by Teleman
This is another tune that I featured the original on a recent playlist and it is included again because of another wicked remix.

8) Dancing (Dawn Wall Remix) by Friction ft JP Cooper
Drum N Bass star Friction given a banging remix treatment by Dawn Wall.

9)  Downtown Shutdown by The Presets
Electro-pop from Australia's dance act.

10) You Worry Me by Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats
Another mature rock number very reminiscent of Kings of Leon.

11) Too Little Too Late by Miles Kane
Damn catchy power punk pop - what's not to like?

12) Mambo Rap by Parov Stelar
A talented Austrian (not Australian) musician with a mambo beat and amusing lyrics.  It's a banger!

13) Double Denim by Helen Love
They haven't changed in quarter of a century and seem destined to rewrite the same song forever.  Gotta love them for it.  They have never sold out - perhaps no-one would buy them!

14) Burnt Out Star by Pond
Perth's Pond have returned with an eight minute space prog rock opus. 

15) Ready Now by The Cat Empire
This has Triple J's Hottest Hundred written all over it.

16) My Own Sunshine by Fraser A. Gorman
Heart-jerking sad song which builds to an uplifting end.

17) Civil War by A-Sides Club
An Australian indie super-group comprising members of Boy & Bear, The Whitlams, All Our Exes Live In Texas and Hot Spoke.  They have just released their second album comprised of Guns N Roses cover versions.   This song was originally released by GNR in 1990 and the album is well worth a deeper dive. 

18) Texas by Mallrat
Talented Aussie indie singer songwriter with another track from her In The Sky EP.

19) Works Every Time by Mini Mansions
LA band return with their first new song in three years, and it's a corker.

20) Oh Dear! by Gruff Rhys
SFA frontman with another catchy song from the excellent orchestral pop Babelsberg album.