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 May 2018

I'm back again with twenty new songs that have tickled my fancy over the last few weeks.
I don't appear to have personally uncovered any new bands this month but there is a high supply of great new music from established artists. 

1) Tracers by Johnny Marr
Guitar-fest heralding the return of Johnny Marr and his third solo album since striking out under his own name.  Actually his real name is John Maher but he adopted his stage moniker to avoid confusion with the drummer of The Buzzcocks.

2) The Lovecats (TC & Benny Remix) by The Cure
The Cure's 1990 remix album Mixed Up was my first introduction to this seminal band and I quickly hovered up their back catalogue (except Faith /Carnage Visors (1981) which I couldn't stand).  Twenty eight years later The Cure are preparing a special edition of Mixed Up and this previously unreleased remix of their 1983 pop single is a welcome discovery.

3) Fascination by Confidence Man
Funky Australian electro taken from their debut album Confident Music for Confident People.

4) Surfing In The Sky by The Vaccines
High tempo crashing drums and guitars with soaring melodies and chipper vocals make this an infectious slab of punk pop rock n roll.

5) I Am A Dog by Ball Park Music
This song is on high rotation in our household and it's my wife's new favourite song. The dog likes it as well.

6) Burn It by Sunflower Bean
New York band have released their second album produced by Jacob Portrait of Unknown Mortal Orchestra.  Thankfully this record has avoided the weirdness that has spun Unknown Mortal Orchestra into their current unlistenable experimental direction.

7) Into My Arms by Band Of Horses
A cover of the classic 1997 love song by Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds.

8) Bad Got Me Good by Gin Wigmore
This is a timeless breakup anthem which I can't listen to without imagining it's being sung in a 1930's Speakeasy.  Maybe it isn't timeless if I think it has a specific time?  It's great anyway.

9) Sundials (976-DUB) by Django Django
A dub remix of Django Django - I'm in blissed out heaven!

10) Serotonin by GUM
Keeping things on the calmer side GUM's latest single sounds like Spiritualized playing Screamadelica.  Relax, Man.

11) When You're Ready (Karizma Remix) by Winston Surfshirt
Winston Surfshirt's debut album has been given the remix treatment and Sponge Cake Rebaked has been released.  This track was remixed by Karizma - an artist on Spotify who had one follower.    I'm now number two in the Karizma fanclub so I'll let you know how their career develops!

12) Blaze Away by Morcheeba & Roots Manuva
This collaboration sounds good on paper and happily it doesn't disappoint on wax.

13) Better Than That by James
Manchester survivalists James are back with an upbeat single, top vocals and drum n bass rhythms.

14) Right Here, Right Now (Friction One In The Jungle Remix) by Fatboy Slim
Keeping it Massive - a tasty d&b remix of the Fatboy Slim track that was turns 20 this year! 

15) Pablo Picasso by Jack White
Ex White Stripes man covers one of my favourite songs originally recorded by the Modern Lovers in the early 1970s.  I prefer the original but this cover is a fun re-interpretation.  In Jack White's mind he is Jimi Hendrix.

16) TiedUpRightNow by Parcels
Berlin based Australian group specialising in five piece harmonies and funky disco.  Beloved by Daft Punk who co-wrote their previous single.

17) Loaded by Miles Kane
Miles Kane is one half of The Lost Shadow Puppets.  The other half is Alex Turner who will release the Arctic Monkeys long awaited sixth album next month. 

18) For Now (Confidence Man Remix) by DMA's
The Oasis fixated Sydneysiders have released a second album and this baggy inspired track is remixed by fellow Aussies, Confidence Man. 

19) Everything's Gone Green (live) by Peter Hook & The Light
I'm currently reading Peter Hook's book Substance - Inside New Order which is a gripping read about the music, the tour antidotes and the inter-band rivalry. I often wondered why Hooky left New Order but after a few chapters of this book I'm surprised they lasted so long.  This is a live recording of New Order's first programmed tracked.  It was the forerunner to the dance hits Temptation and Blue Monday.

20) She Taught Me How To Fly by Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds
This song is so catchy I had to included it so it can be stuck in your heads as well.