Mixtape September 2017

Twenty tracks to fill the void left by the end of the Game Of Thrones season.

1) Something More by Shock Machine
The former Klaxon, James Righton, has just released his first album under the Shock Machine moniker.

2) The Devil's Shelter (Young Galaxy Remix) by Elephant Stone
Canadian band remixed by another Canadian band resulting in some hypnotic rhythms.

3) Spanish Town Rocking by Chronixx
Laid back and smooth Jamaican reggae taken from Chronology the debut album by Chronixx.

4) Across The Multiverse by Dent May
Dent May makes a welcome return with an excellent album of the same name.

5) Dear Life by Beck
Beck continues his slow drip feed of singles from his forthcoming album.  This is the third single in three years.  Just do it already.

6) Put Me Together by Everything Everything 
A band named after the opening words from Radiohead's Kid A, creating music in the same vein.

7) Whiskey, Wine and Ham by Black Grape 
No idea if it means anything but it is prime Shaun Ryder akin to A Big Day In The North.

8) Love Me More by Chase & Status featuring Emeli Sande
Like a drum n' bass I Will Survive but better than that sounds.

9) You Can Be Your Silhouette by King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard
Taken from the stoner-jazz Sketches of Brunswick East album. Only the third album released this year by King Gizz and the Liz Wiz.  Sad to say they are slowing down.

10) Up All Night by The War On Drugs
Finally The War on Drugs have released A Deeper Understanding, their follow up to 2014's Lost In The Dream.  If you have a couple of days to spare why not enjoy one of their guitar solos.  Still can't put my finger on why I like them so much - it must be old age!  

11)  In My Car by The Creases
Brisbane indie pop by numbers.  It's alright I guess but will I remember it in years to come?  I've just listened to it and I can barely recall it.  It goes "der dur der dur dur dur" and then I forget.

12) Remedy by The Allergies featuring Dr. Syntax
I keep hearing new tunes by this band and they always sound fresh mixing up genres and adding guest vocalists - can't believe they are not world famous yet.

13) Instant Crush by Cage The Elephant
Taken from a live covers album Unpeeled, they take on the Daft Punk song originally sung by Julian Casablancas.  They can't match the vocals but it is interesting to hear it played by a indie band.

14) Heroes by Motorhead
This David Bowie classic is turned up to eleven and tastefully reproduced by Motorhead from their Under Cover album.

15) Stupid Things by INHEAVEN
The band look like a glamourous version of  the Senseless Things if such a look was possible or even desirable.  Crusties in make-up basically.  But in this feedback drenched track they manage to include a catchy pop song.  It sounds like early Jesus and Mary Chain playing Friday I'm In Love.

16) Lust For Life (The Avener Rework) by Lana Del Rey
I do like her voice but the original version left me as cold.  The song is about climbing the Hollywood sign in the buff and instantly forgettable.  But when The Avener remixed it it is subtley transformed into a groovy and mildly funky dancefloor pleaser.  The Avener, it appears can polish a turd.

17) Beatnik Trip by Gin Wigmore
A little gospel tinged number from New Zealand's Gin Wigmore.

18) Into The Sky by Pnau
Australia's Pnau have been going for nearly twenty years and are better known as half of Empire of the Sun.  This track was inspired by their love of Madchester and the Happy Mondays but despite these influences - it sounds different.

19) Over Everything by Courtney Barnett & Kurt Vile
A stoner duet by two of indie rock's most rough sounding singer songwriters.

20) The Rains Of Castamere by The National
Finally, The National perform The Rains Of Castamere from the Game Of Thrones Soundtrack.  A song beloved by the Lannister Army retelling the grisly fate of House Rain who betrayed them.  So wallow in this and lament another long wait until the final season is leaked.

But if you haven't already seen it then check out Coldplay's Game of Thrones Musical.

Mixtape May 2016

Old Indie Kid's Mixtape May 2016

Some very exciting tunes this month and I thought it was going to be a quiet one!

1) Let's Go Crazy by Radio Riddler featuring Suggs taken from the reggae tribute album you never knew you needed "Purple Reggae".  R.I.P. Prince

2) Another Dub In The Sun by Jagwa Ma.  The B Side to their new single Another Day In The Sun.  As good as finding a lost track from Screamadelica.       

3) Poem by She Drew The Gun.  Social commentary from this top new band from Liverpool. 

4) Spirits by The Strumbellas.  A Canadian band with an infectious hit.

5) Wild Roses by Bill Ryder-Jones.  Back to Liverpool for a solo effort from the former lead guitarist of The Coral.   

6) In Miracle Land by The Vines. A bit too Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds? 

7) Go Up by Cassius.  Return of the French electronica duo who were big in the late '90s. 

8) Ghetto People by Chronixx.  I can't get enough Chronixx at the moment. 

9) Space Oddity by The Flaming Lips.  A deep space Bowie cover.

10) Teenage Crime by Rod Ladgrove.  Another cover this time with acoustic guitar.

11) Dracula Teeth by The Last Shadow Puppets.  Time to get orchestral on your ass!

12) The Community Of Hope by PJ Harvey.  From the Hope Six Demolition Project album.

13) Angela by The Lumineers.  Latest single from the Colorado trio.

14) Sunday Morning by Billy Bragg & Courtney Barnett.  A Velvet Underground cover.

15) I Love EU by Gruff Rhys.  The Super Furry Animals say no to Brexit.

16) Plucky by Morly.  She is from Minnesota and she makes great records.

17) Where Are You Now? by Royal Blood.  The Brighton Rockers latest release from the soundtrack of the HBO Show Vinyl.

18) Wish You Were Here by The Milk Carton Kids.  Beautifully sad.  Thanks for the tip off Sam.

19) Billie Jean by The Civil Wars.  Hey I was busy this month so you get a load of covers!

20) The Tourist by Sarah Jarosz.  Radiohead cover and that's me done for another month.  Peace X

Mixtape Jan '16

1) Into The Cave by Lonelady.  Let's kick off the New Year with a dirty bassline from Manchester.

2) Like Kids by Suede.  A return to form even ends with a kids choir.  Never going to top We Are The Pigs but certainly making some great music again.

3) The Good News by Bloc Party.  And the good news is that Bloc Party release their fifth album this month.

4) Never Gonna Hold You (Like I Do) by Fraser A Gorman.  A singer songwriter from Geelong.

5) Harry's Symphony by Joss Stone.  The Soul singer from Devon has been working with Damian Marley and there is a strong reggae influence on her latest album.

6) Get It All by DBFC.  They are French, groovy and sound like Django Django.

7) 1990's by Custard.  Brisbane Indie Rock band who have been recording since the 1990's.

8) Higher by The Hilltop Hoods.  Adelaide's Finest Skip Hop Act.

9) Just A Dream by Tobias Jesso Jr.  Canadian songwriter sings a lullaby for his newborn on the eve of the Apocalypse.

10) Eye To Eye by Wild Honey.  All I know is they are Australian (probably).

11) Dusty In Memphis by The Dreaming Spires.  I know a fair bit about these guys on the other hand.  Second album from this band from Oxford is their homage to all things Americana.  If the lyrics are autobiographical the singer was also born in London in the late 70's to a Catholic family.
If that helps?

12) Play Some Roots by Chronixx.  Reggae for your soul.

13) Adventure Of A Lifetime by Coldplay.  Released their 7th album in early December and thankfully Chris seems to have stopped mopping over his divorce which ruined their 6th effort.

14) Let It Happen (Soulwax Remix) by Tame Impala.  I love a good Soulwax remix and here is one of my favourite songs of 2015 under their steady scalpel hands.

15) Salvation Army by Darren Hanlon.  Australian folk singer with a lovely little ditty.

16) Cheer Up London by Slaves.  Modern punk rockers that don't suck!  In fact they're awesome.

17) Eagle by Southeast Desert Metal.  Sounds like Motorhead mixed with Iron Maiden but they are an Indigenous Australian metal band from the desert South East of Alice Springs.

18) Sympathy For The Devil by Motorhead.  Lemmy is now rocking on his Valhalla Tour.

19) Song for Josh by Frank Turner.  Live version of a sad song dedicated to a friend who took their own life.  Brings you to tears.

20) Tomorrow Never Knows by The Beatles.  2016 marks the 50th anniversary of Revolver.  This track was 30 years ahead of its time.  The Beatles music is finally available on Spotify so enjoy!

Reggae Revival

There is something stirring up in the Caribbean - the return of a popular and authentic roots reggae scene.  I love the reggae music that come out of Jamaica in the 1970s, before  the cheesy reggae of the 80’s and 90s in the search for world wide appeal and commercial success.

Protoje

After the 1970s in Jamaica, reggae had been influenced by dance and rap creating the genre known as Dancehall which became the dominant genre since the 1980s with sex, violence, materialism and dancing as key lyrical themes.  Dub Poet Mutabaruka explained, “If 1970s reggae was red, green and gold, then the next decade was gold chains”. Each to their own, but Dancehall left me cold.

Jah9 

Recently there has been resurgence in the roots reggae style that I loved from the 1970s.  These are young Jamaican talents using bands and real instruments.  Usually carrying a spiritual vibe of the Rastafarian religion and full of social comments, rebel stances, laidback grooves and plenty of ganga.  The new roots reggae scene has been dubbed the Reggae Revival.

Raging Fyah

Whilst returning to the themes and sounds of the 1970s, these new acts do not sound dated or function as tribute bands.  These are exciting artists who have become popular in their homeland by playing roots reggae and deserve wider attention.

Chronixx

This playlist includes some great selections from the leading lights including Chronixx, Raging Fyah, Jah9, Dre Island, Kelissa and Protoje, .  It’s a punky reggae party.