Mixtape February 2019

This month there is a definite dance vibe to the playlist interspersed with a big old dub section and a few indie shmindie acts towards the end.  It's a strong set if I do say so myself - and I do.

1) Cool As Hell by Baker Boy
Awesome groovy track from the hottest act from the Northern Territory.

2) Lightenup (Alex Metric Remix) by Parcels 
One of my favourite tracks from last year remixed by the great Alex Metric who can always add extra funk to everything he touches.

3) Got To Keep On by The Chemical Brothers
The Chemical Brothers are back in a rich vein of form lately after some frankly lean years.

4) Cyboogie by king Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard
There is something very familiar about this release it sounds like Super Furry Animals covering Dark Side Of The Moon.  Great to have King Giz back after a year's silence.

5) Wide Awake by Parquet Courts
New York band banging out the percussion as if they were A Certain Ratio circa 1982.

6) B.L.M. by The Specials 
Autobiographical tale of the singer's family travelling as part of the Windrush generation and dealing with the attitudes they received in the UK and USA. Best new song I have heard from The Specials in the last 30 years - I am now checking out their new album Encore.

7) Meditate by Golden Features
Another wicked slab of Aussie Dance music taken from the excellent SECT album.

8) Break Down The Walls (Warm Up Jam) by Ian Brown
King Monkey s back with Ripples, his first album in ten years.  It's meant to be a grower - only the second half has grown on me so far.  This reggae cover of Mikey Dread is the final album track.

9) Teardrop (Mazaruni Dub One Remix) by Massive Attack  
A classic song given a dubby remix by the Mad Professor.

10) There Will Come A Time (We Will Die Remix) by Orbital ft Prof. Brian Cox
This remix features a Sane Professor and is even better than the real thing.

11) Forever Dub by Friction ft Kilo Bun 
Keeping it on a dub vibe but introducing some drum n bass beats.

12) Delete by Chase & Status ft Burro Banton
Again Son, Harder! 

13)  Stardust by Gentleman's Dub Club 

And relax - after all that dnb it's time to chill. 

14) Echo Arms by Mr Twin Sister 
Further chilled grooves from an artist from Long Island.

15) Beat 54 (Krystal Klear 12" Mix) by Jungle
From the XL Recordings label - a slice of pure disco heaven.

16) Nobody's Home by Mallrat & Basenji
A sweet collaboration from two Aussie artists. 

17) Confidence by Ocean Alley
Number One in the recent Triple J Hottest 100 countdown as voted by Australia's youth.  Being a grumpy middle-aged music fan I didn't enjoy much of the countdown and sadly now fall into the camp of old men shaking their fists at clouds.  This is a worthy winner from the popular tracks.      

18) Not Done Yet by Sticky Fingers
Taken from their recently released 4th album Yours To Keep, sees the band return after a few years off and infighting in the band.  A comeback record claiming they are far from over.

19) Fun Destruction by Teleman
"We're four boys in our corduroys" playing with their keyboards.

20) Got To Let The Good Times Back Into Your Life by Razorlight
I didn't expect to hear of Razorlight again after their song America was a hit in 2006 and composer Andy Burrows left to pursue a solo career and work with Ricky Gervais.  But surprisingly Razorlight resurrected themselves and returned last year with a new album full of feelgood anthems.

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 November 2017

G'day, as this month is Australian Music Month, the playlist is totes true blue ridgy-didge Aussie.
We have trippy tunes, jazz reggae, indigenous skip hop, dirty rock, a splattering of indie and several genres that I fail to identify.  I expect many of these artists to reappear in Triple J's Hottest 100 countdown - or I would if it didn't get worse every year.  Did I mention I was a grumpy old indie kid?

Aussie Rock

1) Aunty Tracey's Cookies by Joyride
Funky jam from a band who obviously enjoy their space cookies.



2) Mystik by Tash Sultana 
That Tash is so hot right now! This reggae rocker breaks out into electronics and saxophone solos - it sounds bad on paper but at this stage she can do no wrong.

3) Shred For Summer by DZ Deathrays
Queensland hard rockers come out with killer riffs and a chorus celebrating the arrival of Summer.

4) On A Lock by Winston Surfshirt
This Sydney Band have just released Sponge Cake their debut laidback trippy album which is my tip for further listening this month.

5) Turn Up Your Light by Boo Seeka
Soulful trip hop from a very cool band currently touring Australia and New Zealand.

6) Lay It On Me by Vance Joy
Vance Joy's latest anthem has the potential to top Triple J's Hottest 100 and repeat the success of Riptide.

7) Marryuna by Baker Boy
The highly anticipated second single from Baker Boy whose debut song Cloud 9 deservedly won the NT's Song of the Year award.  The hype is also well deserved - this guy is going to be huge!

8) 105 by Sloan Peterson
Debut single by this Sydney band with a love of classic pop drenched in garage rock.

9) Not Worth Hiding  by Alex The Astronaut
With the non mandatory postal survey on the issue of same sex marriage due to be announced in early November, this is a topical and sweet song about coming out rather than living a lie. An antidote to the vitriol of the last couple of months.

10) The Future by Motez featuring Antony & Cleopatra
A chilled hit worthy of reuniting the greatest double act of the Roman Empire... Fair dos - I know nothing about any of these guys. 

11) November by Super Cruel featuring Lisa Mitchell 
Lisa Mitchell has been releasing folk-pop songs for the last ten years and is the featured vocalist on this electronic music - I'm too old to know how to describe it let alone dance to it.  Is it dubstep?  The title is November which is co-incidental - but pleasing.     

12) This Thing We Got by The Kite String Tangle 
One of the first tracks that I've enjoyed by The Kite String Tangle.  I've always like the band's name and now their music has caught up with it.

13) Into The Sky by Pnau
Now this is just warped trippy dance/rock crossover with slabs of synth and sampled vocals - Old school!

14) R.Y.K. by GUM
In a similar vein - this is another track from a Perth musician who is also a member of both Tame Impala and Pond - Lucky bastard!

15) 2 Black 2 Strong by A.B. Original 
Briggs is a legend and very funny comedian who often shows up to have a rant on the ABC.  His political hip hop band A.B. Original is the Australian equivalent of Public Enemy.  Check out their awesome album Reclaim Australia.



16) Dawning by DMA's
Another track from the DMA's who are following their usual formula on this latest release.  Innovation is for other people.

17) Hold On by The Money War
This has a Sleepy Jackson vibe to it.  Speaking of the Sleepy Jackson - weren't they meant to be reforming?  It's all gone very quiet on that front.

18) Black Lake by Wallace
Wallace has a great sultry voice and this track sounds like a lost James Bond theme.

19) Mechanical Bull by Stella Donnelly 
Singer songwriter recently nominated for best single in the West Australian Music Awards.  Gets a little bit PJ Harvey around the two minute mark.

20) Get High Like An Angel by The Bennies 
Melbourne Punk Ska band with their anthem to mediocrity and getting high.

That's it - now clear off and come back next month for my final monthly roundup and my end of year album and singles lists. 

Mixtape July 2017

July is here and so are twenty new songs carefully handpicked to soundtrack the middle of the year.

Generic Stock Picture Festival 2017

1) Cloud 9 by Baker Boy - Debut release from this awesome Indigenous Aussie rapper from the Northern Territory - looking forward to hearing more.



2) Everything Now by Arcade Fire - It's just too good to be true - can't take my eyes off of you.

3) Notion by Tash Sultana - This song has wormed its way into my head over several months - another extremely talented Aussie.

4) Holding On by The War On Drugs - Two new songs this year so it looks like an album is imminent.   At nearly six minutes, this is the shorter of the two.  The other is over eleven minutes long.  Did these guys never hear of punk rock?

5) Man of War by Radiohead -  One of three Radiohead tracks that were culled from OK Computer but are now found on the 20th anniversary re-release of the album.

6) Put Your Life On It by Kasabian - Kasabian's latest album closer builds to a singalong anthem of epic proportions with a gospel vibe akin to Blur's Tender.

7) Paved With Gold by Sampa The Great - Smoothness and dope beats.

8) Jacket Weather by Sam Gellaitry - Cool bleeps produced by this young Scottish DJ.

9) Enter Sandman by Cookin' On 3 Burners -  Australian Hammond organ jazz trio provide an instrumental cover of Metallica.  Sounds better than it looks on paper - but only just!

10) Blue Sun by Vanilla - It's great when you imagine a genre in your head and then discover it exists and is flourishing.  This happened to me recently with Chill-Hop and this is a fine example of what to expect if you want to take a detour in that direction.

11) Chariot by Beach House -  Keeping things on a blissed-out trip are Baltimore's Beach House with their first dreamy soundscape for a couple of years.

12) Can't Help Falling In Love by Beck - Taken from the soundtrack of The Man In The High Castle, Beck croons this epic ballad.   But when is his new album coming out?

13) Believe (triple j Like A Version Cover) by DMA's - Melbourne's DMA's cover Cher's 1998 disco hit and make it tolerable.


14) Snow by Angus & Julia Stone - Rejoice! Angus and Julia Stone have recorded a fourth album and this is the lead single.

15) How To Boil An Egg by Courtney Barnett - New catchy song from Melbourne's undisputed Queen of Glum.

16) Monkey Disco by The Babe Rainbow - Sixties hippy throwbacks have released their debut album including this funky monkey French disco number.

17) Wall Of Glass by Liam Gallagher - Liam is back singing other people's songs again with a backing band that sounds like Oasis during the excesses of the Be Here Now.  Liam brings his trademark attitude but to what end?  To shatter a wall of glass?  All Surface, No Feeling.  

18) Dive by Saint Etienne - Classic St Etienne handbags disco number.

19) Wait (Non Electric) by The Kills - Acoustic version of an album track from their excellent debut album Keep On Your Mean Side originally released back in 2003.  Just love her gravelly vocal here.

20) My Name Is Thunder by Jet & The Bloody Beetroots - A collaboration between The Bloody Beetroots and Aussie rockers Jet. Very Acca-Dacca!