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.

Mixtape July 2018

Welcome to July and its a wonder I managed to uncover any new music whilst being preoccupied with the FIFA World Cup - but I did and here you go - some tunes to soundtrack the knock out stages!

1) Burnout by The Lulu Raes
What can I tell you about the Lulu Raes that hasn't already been said?  Well I have never mentioned them before and all I can tell you they are an Aussie indie pop band.

2) Tools Down by The Presets
Now this is funny!  If you think Daft Punk's "Technologic" if it was covered by The Village People then you are in the ballpark.

3) Make Time by Mallrat
Brisbane's Mallrat (aka Grace Shaw) with a track from her latest EP.

4) Visions by Stonefield
Another space rock classic lifted from their Far From Earth album.

5) Mainland by Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever
RBCF have been releasing singles out of Melbourne for the last few years and their debut album "Hope Downs" has just been released and is a decent effort.

6) Romantic by Hooverphonic
Belgium's answer to Portishead is a more radio friendly orchestral brand of trip hop.  Nice! 

7) I'm Your Man by Spiritualized
This is the first new music from Spiritualized in six years - hopefully more to come soon.



8) Looking For Love (Instrumental) by Chromatics
This is the instrumental B-Side to their latest single - offence to their singer - this is better. 

9) The Club  by Gruff Rhys
This is the fifth solo album from the Super Furry Animals singer and he has included lush orchestration to his latest work.  This is a tale of being thrown out of a club which is surely a metaphor for something not explicitly stated.    

10) Inkolelo by Subjective (aka Goldie & James Davidson)
This track samples African rhythms and vocals and is the work of Jungle legends Goldie and James Davidson.  Mr Bullion's African Adventures.

11) It's A Trap by Ash 
A beautiful soaring song from the Northern Ireland's poppy punks who are now, if you can believe it, in their twenty-fourth year of their recording career!

12) Hold Unknown by Dinosaur Jr 
I don't even want to work out how long Dinosaur Jr have been going - I'm feeling old enough just thinking about Ash!

13) Spooky by The Nextmen Vs Gentlemen's Dub Club featuring Holly Cook
This is taken from an excellent album "Pound for Pound" full of British reggae, dancehall and rap influences with a smattering of guest vocalists.  My album of the month. 

14) The Comedown Was Real by Drapht featuring Indoor Fins
Lifted from the "Arabella Street" EP by Perth's leading skip hop artist.

15) And I Was A Boy From School by Tears For Fears
A faithful cover of the Hot Chip single.

16) Cry Little Sister by Marilyn Manson
Not a fan of MM but I did enjoy this cover the original was on the 1987 Lost Boys Soundtrack.

17) The Unforgiven by Alborosie featuring Raging Fyah
This is unusual and I haven't decided yet if it is inspired or a crime against music.  I suspect the latter but I can't help listening to it.   

18) Hi Hello by Johnny Marr
Echoes of The Smiths "There Is A Light That Never Goes Out"on this track taken from his third solo album "Call The Comet".



19) Salvation by Tash Sultana 
This is a new track which has a more polished production than her previous work and comes a couple of months before her highly anticipated debut album.  Will the extra polish push her into a household name?  I wouldn't bet against it.

20) It's Summertime by Morcheeba
Instant Summer classic - I would tap my toes if I could still feel them.  It's Wintertime in the Southern Hemisphere.

Mixtape June 2018

Half way through the year already so I have now selected 120 songs/tracks to soundtrack 2018 and I will continue to plow through new releases to uncover the best new music.  I found the Spotify algorithms were delivering me very predictable suggestions for new releases so I reviewed and unfollowed a few hundred bands trying to mix it up.   

Confident Music For Confident People 

1)  Out the Window by Confidence Man
This is a storming tune - sounds like Primal Scream circa 1991 meets the Polyphonic Spree.

2) Anything U Want by Needshes
Indie disco track hailing from Tashkent, Uzbeckistan. 

3) Your Love Is My Favourite Band by The Vaccines
Another great tune from the London band.  Love a song that mentions listening to the chart countdown.  Takes me back to the 80's with my tape recorder and finger hovering over the pause button.

4) Long Wave by Bonny Doon
This Detroit band take things in a more relaxed direction.

5) Walking To Oman's by Fraser A. Gorman
Australian musician has just released this beautiful downbeat track ahead of a new album.

6) Far Away Truth by Albert Hammond Jr.
Whilst The Strokes are on hiatus we still have Albert Hammond Jr. releasing music of a very similar nature.

7) Little Dark Age (Ghost Vision Remix) by MGMT
A remix of the title track of MGMT's last album.  I'm trying to find out who is behind this remix and it appears they might be related to UK duo Psychemagik and I will be delving deeper into their music.

8) Star Treatment by Arctic Monkeys
This new album has divided and alienated their fans.  I personally love it as Alex Turner is surely the best lyricists of his generation and he fills the whole album with his wordplay delivered via a trans-Atlantic lounge lizard crooner character.  Welcome to Smoothcore. 

9) Cactus by Teleman
The definitive song about finding freedom via cactus impalement.  Don't try this at home indie kids.

10) Bells & Circles by Underworld & Iggy Pop
Iggy Pop rants like a madman about the golden age of air travel when he could smoke on planes and pull air hostesses over an pounding Underworld track.

11) Contradiction by Alborosie ft. Chronix
Chronix appeared on three new singles this week collaborating with Alborosie, Richie Spice and Protoje - popular guy.

12) Dare (Friction Remix) by Gorillaz
This month I have been mostly enjoying drum n bass artist Friction.  Gorillaz have also just returned with a new song this month.

13) Break Me by DMA's
Time to chillax again.  Sydney's Madchester wannabes offer such an opportunity with some retro shoegazing music.

14) Sweet Release by The Coral
Merseyside rockers are currently touring with the Manics and although they vanished from my radar fifteen years ago they have actually been releasing albums all the time - to my total ignorance.

15) Smack My Pitch Up by The Traffic
I do not know who this band are but they play a great instrumental version of The Prodigy tune.

16) Tracks (Back To You) by Bootleg Rascals
Australian group who describe themselves as "Taco slinging dub warriors".

17) Younger by The Hails
Smooth grooves and indie rock from this band from Florida.

18) Never Start by Middle Kids
Sydney trio who have just released their debut album on the Domino label.

19) Easy Jesus by Naive Set
Guitar indie pop from Amsterdam.

20) The Perfect Life Does Not Exist by Ball Park Music
Playing out this month are Ball Park Music with yet another great song lifted from their Good Mood album.