Mixtape Dec 16

It's coming on Christmas, they're cutting down trees, they're putting up reindeers and singing songs of joy and peace.  I wish I had a river I could skate away on...

There are some dark undertones to this month's playlist.   Probably because these were the songs that resonated the most with me.  It's not all doom and gloom and dead musicians covering The Smiths - only mostly. The mood lifts in the second half to ridiculous levels. The music from 2016 has been fantastic.  Those who doubt the abundance of quality modern music are obviously listening to the wrong sets.  I am here to be your guide to the best tunes that I stumbled over in the last month.

Open playlist in Spotify 

 1) Troubled Times by Green Day
Welcome to the post-truth world - it's a small comfort that Green Day have returned to their best form since American Idiot.  I wasn't planning on mentioning him!

2) You Want It Darker by Leonard Cohen
"If you are the dealer -I'm out of the game" R.I.P Leonard Cohen (1934-2016)

3) Let Me Get There by Hope Sandoval And The Warm Inventions featuring Kurt Vile
A lush and well stoned duet between two great artists.



4) Hold On by The XX
Highly anticipated third album released mid January



5) The Boy With The Thorn In His Side by Jeff Buckley
A cover of The Smiths song originally released on The Queen Is Dead 30 years ago.
"At the record company meeting, on their hands a dead star at last..."

6) Beautiful People by Mark Pritchard featuring Thom Yorke
Thom Yorke makes an appearance mumbling undecipherable words over a downbeat trip hop track.

7) Sandy Lane by The Magnetic North
Beautiful orchestration from a very Northern band.

8) No. 28 by Methyl Ethel
Fremantle's trippy trio return with a taster of goodies for 2017



9) Come On Mess Me Up by Cub Sport
Brisbane indie pop band with a massive hit on their hands.



10) Sad Songs by Sticky Fingers
Sydney Indie Reggae with a joyous tune ready for Summer.



 11) Follow The Leader by Foxygen
Third album called Hang released in January from these West Coast Hippies.



12) Make The World by Lee Fields And The Expressions
Uplifting funky and a positive message - desperately needed in 2016.

13) Garden Of Love by The Liminanas featuring Peter Hook
French band with the distinctive bass guitar of Joy Division



14) All I Want From You Is Everything (Alternative Version) by The School
Indie dream pop originally released a couple of years ago and now given the festive makeover.

15) What Are We Fighting For? by Dodgy
Never thought the 90's Scouse indie band Dodgy would ever bother my ear drums again but they
have some damn infectious anthems. (Cheesy as - but it is Christmas)

16) C-h-e-m-I-c-a-l (Edit) by The Chemical Brothers
Back with another one of those block rocking beats!



17) Rattlesnake by King Gizzard And The Lizard Wizard
The prolific Aussie psychadelic rock band return with home made instruments tuned to unusual
notes that I don't understand but totally adore.



 18) Roll Back The Years by Dorsal Fins
Melbourne band worth investigating if anyone needs a homework assignment.

19) Born Disco; Died Heavy Metal by Cornershop and The Mike Flowers Pops
This is the 90 revival supergroup you would never have imagined.



20)  Better Be Home Soon by Crowded House
The greatest New Zealand band Australia ever produced.  Their Sydney Opera House reunion gig was televised and became the singalong that stopped a nation.



That's all from me - I'll be back with my end of year roundup in a few weeks.

Mixtape Nov 16

November 2016 - The US Presidential Election between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton stumbles into its last days.  It is worth reflecting on an election poll conducted back in June when 43% chose Hillary, 38% chose Donald and 13% chose a Giant Meteor crashing into the planet causing a cataclysmic end to life on Earth.  Here is a soundtrack for the end of days.

Open playlist in Spotify 

1) Might As Well Be Gone by Pixies 
Love the Pixies - why did they split up for 20 years?

2) Where I End And You Begin by She Drew The Gun
Beautiful downbeat lament from Liverpool.

3) Deep Blue Skies by The Vryll Society
Good use of the wah-wah pedal displayed on this trippy wig out.

4) End Of An Era by Public Access TV 
NYC - The Strokes, The Virgins and now Public Access TV

5) Our Town by Sticky Fingers
Australia's Sticky Fingers providing the soundtrack to another BBQ season

6) Strange Diseases by Gang Of Youths
Sound like Aussie Kings of Leon fronting an Orchestra 

7) Press Rewind by Kaiser Chiefs
Kaiser Chiefs continue their invasion into Hot Chip's territory

8) No No No by Yes Sunshine
Ramshackle Indie Rock from Coventry 

9) Sweep Me Off My Feet by Pond
New single from one of Perth's best bands - hopefully a new album will follow 

10) Lost Cause by Sons Of The East
Meanwhile in Sydney the Sons Of The East are releasing Embrace style anthems

11) Bills by Ultimate Painting
I thought Veronica Falls had been quiet lately.  Just found their guitarist in another band.  

12) Don Quixote by Drapht ft. The Hilltop Hoods
Perth's top skip hop artist teams up with the Hoods 

13) Learning To Fly by Deep Sea Arcade
Great Aussie band who appear to be about to follow up the excellent Outlands album

14) 16 Beat (Cassius Remix) by Metronomy
Funky French Techno Vs Grooves from Devon

15) Takeover by L-Fresh The Lion
L-Fresh has attitude, rhymes and beats - Aussie Skip Hop Legend 

16) The Summer by Spring King
Dedicated to everyone in the Southern Hemisphere

17) SloMo by San Cisco
Fremantle Band with a ridiculously poppy song - as slick as an oil spill

18) Time After Time by Iron & Wine
Amazing cover of Cyndi Lauper song

19) Find Me by Kings of Leon
This sounds just like Gang of Youths if they were American and didn't have an orchestra!

20) Found God In A Tomato by Psychedelic Porn Crumpets
Best Named Perth Rock Band Ever with 9 minutes of madness 

Until next month - giant meteor permitting

Mixtape Oct 16

Here's twenty of the best new tracks I've uncovered in the last month with the regular Spotify playlist. Enjoy Indie Rocktober
 

Open playlist in Spotify 

1)  Love by Stonefield.
Four Aussie sisters from Victoria, Australia

2) People On The High Line (Richard X Remix) by New Order
Great dance remix of New Order track courtesy of Richard X

3) Randy by Justice
French dance masters with the full joyous version - please ignore the short changing radio edit 

4) Harvest Moon by Sunflower Bean
New York band with a cover of Neil Young

5) Never Say Never by Thundamentals
Funky Aussie Hip Hop 

6) Stonecutters by Dope Lemon
Another track taken from Angus Stone's excellent new album

7) Acid Rainbow by Sweat
Time to find the end of the acid rainbow according to this new sweat band from the UK

8) Still Breathing by Green Day
Green Day continue their revival with this being the second new song in two months that I've enjoyed

9) Robin Hood by Jamie T
This is one of my favourite tracks of the year and must be remembered when I start compiling an end of year wrap up.  It is a fitting tribute to the legend of The Clash

10) Hold On by Teenage Fanclub 
One of indie's greatest bands has returned after six years with their eleventh album called Here

11) Wow (GUAU! Mexican Institute Of Sound Remix) by Beck.
Awesome Mexican remix of his first single with an album expected in November

12) Grace by Work Drugs
A dreamy chilled out moment

13) Ceremony by Wussy
You can't beat a Joy Division cover (unless you're playing the original)

14) Ivy League by Alex Lahey 
Alex Lahey is an indie pop songwriter from Melbourne

15) Hearts To Kill by Palace Winter
Danish/Australian indie rock

16) Gotta Find A Way by The Frightnrs
New York group making classic early reggae sounds.  The singer Dan Klein died a couple of months ago but the band have just released this final album.   

17)  Olympic Village, 6AM by Belle & Sebastian
A cheesy instrumental offering from the Twee Overlords that reminds me of O.M.D.

18) Waste A Moment by Kings Of Leon.
No description necessary here.  Plus I've got nothing of interest to add.

19) The Opposite Of Us by Big Scary
Beautiful music from the Australian band who have released a new album this month called Animal

20) Just A Lover by Hayden James
A slab of laid-back Aussie house music to play us out

Mixtape Sep 2016

 So many great new albums are getting released this month - check out the albums beyond these tracks if you need extra homework.

Open playlist in Spotify 

1) High and Low by Empire of the Sun
First track taken from the Australians's third album expected to drop very soon.

2) Never Seen This Before by The Delta Riggs
Another funky band from Australia who have just released their Active Galactic album.

3) Let Love Be (With U) by Kula Shaker
Twenty years after their debut album K comes its companion album K2.0 and it is their best work since 1996.  I got giddy promoting the original as one of the greatest records of all time so I will be more even handed with this review - "Glamorous Indian Rock N Roll /Mythical Bollocks".

4) Bang Bang by Green Day
I haven't enjoyed a Green Day record since American Idiot but this is great punk rock.

5) The Spoils by Massive Attack featuring Hope Sandoval
This is outstanding - if they can top this I will be surprised.  Haunting and beautiful.

6) Architecture Lecture by Methyl Ethel
One of my favourite bands from Perth have just released five new tracks - Bonza!
  
7) Darwinism by Holy Holy
The first track to emerge from the Aussies' second album should whet your appetite for more.

8) Give Me A Reason by Jagwar Ma
Another cut of pure groove marinaded in Screamadelica.    These Aussies must be close to releasing a second album any day now.   

9) The World Is Overtaking Me by Mystery Jets
This Pink Floyd inspired band have released this tune reminiscent of Gary Numan's Cars.

10) Guilty by PJ Harvey
Polly Jean Harvey releases a great new track that is not included on her recent album.

11) Lose My Mind by A-Trak & Tommy Trash
Groovy electro collaboration between the Canadian A-Trak and Queenslander Tommy Trash. 

12) Beverly Laurel by Tame Impala
New music from Perth's Tame Impala.

13) Whipping Boy by Ball Park Music
Lead single taken from these Australians' excellent fourth album called Every Night The Same Dream.

14) One More Night by Michael Kiwanuka
Classic sounds from this Londoner taken from his debut album Love and Hate produced by Danger Mouse.

15) Extreme Ways (Jason Bourne) by Moby
A new version of the classic Moby track taken from the new Bourne movie soundtrack.

16) Sunkick by The Shimmer Band
Third single from this new British group.

17) Inside Your Sun by Venus II
A new Australian band with an uplifting electro anthem 

18) You Belong by The Avener featuring Laura Gibson
A new song from the French house producer. 

19)California Gold by Dodgy
Still trying to recapture the classic sound of The Stone Roses.  At least that is something totally unattainable but worth aiming for nonetheless.  

20) Talent by Pixies
Short n' sweary. 

Mixtape Aug 2016

Its been 29 years since I got my first twin tape deck - I think it was a Phillips but it became my first tool of piracy!  A fuzzy copy of a fuzzy copy of a fuzzy copy.

Open playlist in Spotify 

1) Cubensis Lenses by Psychedelic Porn Crumpets When I heard this band's name I had to hear their sound and I've enjoyed what I found. Another Hairy Psychedelic Perth Rock Band. 

2) Um Chagga Lagga by Pixies Pixies turn 30 this year making this old indie kid feel even older.  Still got it but.

3) Ain't No Rhyme by Jake Bugg This is my favourite Jake Bugg track from his recent album - heading in a Beck direction.

4) Marinade by Dope Lemon Breezy laid back tune which I have been loving - just realised it's Angus Stone's new band. Marinade on that for a while...

5) Take It From Me by Kongos Three years after their debut Kongos have realised their follow up with African rhythms and instruments.  Think Kings of Leon covering Paul Simon's Gracelands. 

6) Anesthetized Lesson - (Kevin Parker Remix) by GUM GUM is a solo project by a Tame Impala musician and now remixed by a Tame Impala musician so unsurprisingly it sounds even more like Tame Impala.  See Mixtape Dec 2015  for the original.


7) Subways by The Avalanches Finally The Avalanches released a follow up album after 16 years. 

8) 2 4 by Sampa The Great More awesome Aussie music!

9) Breaking The Girl by El Perro Del Mar Minimal Swedish synth cover of the Red Hot Chili Pepper's original from Bloodsugarsexmagik.

10) Siberian Nights by The Kills Taken from the fifth album by The Kills.

11) Tiny by Dinosaur Jr Three minutes of spunky grunge pop.

12) Touch Of Grey by The War On Drugs New music from The War On Drugs.  A cover taken from The Grateful Dead tribute album will have to suffice whilst we await their next opus.

13) Belle of St Marks by Helen Love A new album is out from Swansea's finest power pop punks. This follows the release of the year's best football record for Euro 2016 with "A Boy From Wales Called Gareth Bale"

14) Clouds & Rain by BUOY Don't even know how to describe this music anymore... drum n bass for coffee tables?  

15) Undermine by Planet It was bugging me for weeks who this band sound like. I've just realised they sound like the DMA's.  Planet also hail from Sydney and have yet to release their debut album.

16) D'You Know What I Mean? (Noel's Remaster) by Oasis It has been 19 years since this topped the charts.  This remaster has scraped away three layers of excess cocaine inspired guitar overdubs to reveal the strings and Wonderwall chords that were hidden in the mix.  

17) Natty Rides Again by Nattali Rize & Julian Marley A nice slab of reggae.

18) Time For Heroes by Graham Coxon Cover of The Libertines which is more ramshackle than the original which was a single 14 years ago.

19) Night On The Sun by Modest Mouse The Mouse have just released this nine minute epic. 

20) Night Owl by Metronomy Playing out with Metronomy's classic beach synth sound.  

Laters

Mixtape July 2016

It's July - have a soundtrack

Open playlist in Spotify 

1) Colours by The Avalanches.  After sixteen years in the wierderness, Australian DJ collective The Avalanches emerge with new music.  Colours is lush, backwards chanting return to their classic sound and much preferable to their annoying Frank Sinatra comeback single.

2) Wow by Beck. It's a fantastic stab at day-glow cowboy pop and together with last year's Dreams single lead me to speculate that he is about to release his album of the decade in the near future.

3) Shakedown Street by Unknown Mortal Orchestra.  It's an irresistible feel-good cover of The Grateful Dead's original.

4) Cinnamon by Cullen Omori.  I loved the indie band The Smith Westerns who produced some great singles and a classic album Dye It Blonde in 2011.  Their follow up was disappointing and they broke up in 2014.  Happily the former vocalist has gone solo with a great album called New Misery.

5) Dave's Song by Whitney.  The guitarist from The Smith Westerns teamed up with a former singer from Unknown Mortal Orchestra and formed Whitney who just released their debut album Light Upon The Lake.  So two excellent albums from the ashes of a great band.  Happy days!

6) Parachute by Kaiser Chiefs.  The Kaiser Chiefs have traded their guitars for synths and have a forthcoming album in the same vein.

7) Bulls by The Cat Empire.  Aussie Legends.
"The Bull's inside my head and the flag I wave is red".

8) I Never Get Old by Nathaniel Rateliff And The Night Sweats.  It's a modern soul classic!

9) Beautiful Thing by The Stone Roses.  This Is (More Like) The One.  Backwards loops, reverb, drums, guitar licks, blasphemy "There was no Crucifixion, just lies to steal your mind...", seven minutes long, room to breathe and a looser funkier jam.  This resets the expectations for the third album which is, after all, What The World Is Waiting For.

10) Theme From Likely Stories by Jarvis Cocker.  Why has Jarvis never been chosen to write the James Bond theme tune?  I can just hear him whispering "Casino chips, and gravy stains, it's not all fast cars and beautiful women, it's dirtier than that".

11) Hype by Dizzy Rascal and Calvin Harris.  Unhinged dance floor lunacy and great rhymes.

12) Dune Wind by Palace Winter.  Now this is more like it - in fact I'm playing noodling air guitar between typing words in this sentence.

13) Open Wound by Bob Evans.  Bob Evans a.k.a. Kevin Mitchell of Perth band Jebediah singing what feels like an album closer from a Crowded House album.

14) Since You Been Gone by The Heavy.  They sound very American but actually hail from Bath, England.  This is their first single from their new album Hurt and The Merciless.

15) Spinning Away by John Cale.  I thought this was a cover of  Sugar Ray's classic Spinning Away which graced The Beach Soundtrack.  John Cale is of course the Welsh musician and founding member of the Velvet Underground.  It appears that actually John Cale's version was the original.

16) Freedom by The Shimmer Band.  A new British band tearing up the festival circuits.  This is one to watch.    

17) Surgery Of Love by The Delta Riggs.  Ah the psychedelic pop return of Australia's Delta Riggs.  Life is better already.

18) Drag by Cat's Eyes. A Canadian singer Rachel Zeffira and Faris Badwan of The Horrors have teamed up to become Cat's Eyes and produced the wonderfully lush 60's influenced string laden album called Treasure House.

19) Feasting On The Flowers by Red Hot Chili Peppers.  I'm enjoying the 11th studio album by the RHCPs.  It's as rock n roll as a comfy pair of Ugg Boots but just as pleasing.

20) True Love Waits by Radiohead.  It certainly does and so do fans of Radiohead who have been waiting two decades for this song since it was first performed.  It was previously released as a live recording in 2001.




Update - actually Jarvis did do a cover of All Time High the theme from 1983's Bond film Octopussy.

  

Mixtape June 2016

This is a roundup...

Midway through the year and a host of new releases from old favourites have arrived.
Radiohead return with a new album and The Stone Roses release their first new material in 21 years.
90's staples Dodgy, Super Furry Animals, Richard Ashcroft and the Chili Peppers all have new tunes out.

So tonight we're gonna party like it's Nineteen Ninety Five!

Open playlist in Spotify

 1) You Give Drugs A Bad Name by Dodgy.  Struttin' Led Zeppelinesque riffs introduce the return of the band that no-one was waiting for.  Lyrics are based around the Wizard of Oz and there is a whiff of suspicion that they have timed the released of this to cash in on the return of the next band.

2) All For One by The Stone Roses.  A short track based around a repetitive Squire riff.  Nothing too remarkable except the fact that they are releasing new music.  Begst part is 2:30 -2:50 where they rock out for twenty seconds.  Looking forward to the eight minute jams where the magic of this band really elevates them to their deserved legendary status.  Sadly, this track couldn't match the expectations the fans had placed upon it.

3) Burn The Witch by Radiohead.  This is an absolute classic that can hold its own with the best of Radiohead's songs.  If you haven't seen the Trumpton/Wickerman video yet then pull your head out of your arse immediately.  

4) Dark Necessities by Red Hot Chili Peppers.  A laid back funky baseline propel this track along.  It's classic RHCP and I'm very pleased to see they are still writing and performing such high quality tracks.

5) Ready Or Not by Pete Wiggs & Sarah Cracknell.  This is from St Etienne's Pete Wiggs' solo album.  With Sarah on vocals it may as well be St Etienne.  Lush!

6) Hold On by Richard Ashcroft.  The Verve front man releases his fifth solo album called These People.  

7) Bing Bong by Super Furry Animals.  I was surprised to hear from them again after so long but the way things are going I wouldn't be surprised if The Smiths reform before Christmas.

8) Wax On Wax Off by Citizen Kay.  Not every track this month is a comeback single from a 90's band.  From this point on things get more varied.  Citizen Kay provides this month's obligatory Aussie Skip Hop track.

9) Nihilist Party Anthem by Ball Park Music. Latest single from this Brisbane band

10) Inertia by 20syl.  I know nothing about this beyond a quick google search and now suspect a French Jazz/Hip Hop artist is behind it.

11) Destination Heartbreak by Kim Salmon.  Hailing from Perth Western Australia Kim was a founder of the first Punk band in Perth called The Cheap Nasties in 1976.  He later formed The Scientists both bands are now on my list to investigate.  This is whatever happened to Kim Salmon.

12) Ocean Of Night (Henri PFR Remix) by Editors.  A dance remix.

13) Evil Death Roll by King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard.  Australia's greatest psych rockers release their 83rd album of the year so far.  These guys are so prolific they put The Fall to shame.

14) Signs by The Magnetic North.  This British trio includes Simon Tong, another former member of the Verve and The Good The Bad And The Queen.

15) Moon by Beth Orton.  Beth Orton's latest album is less folk and more beat orientated.

16) Blast Off by The Allergies featuring Andy Cooper.  Old School Dope Hip Hop.

17) Ha Ha Ha Ha (Yeah) by White Denin.  Funk Soul Rock N Roll from Austin Texas.

18) Oblivious by The Strokes.  Taken from the new EP this is the first new music from The Strokes in three years.

19) How Long by The Shitz. This is really by Soulwax (a.k.a. 2manyDJs) who have released an  the Belgica Soundtrack which is comprised of 16 fictional bands with different genres all alter-egos of Soulwax.

20) A Life Worth Living by Quantic, Flowering Inferno, U-Roy and Alice Russell.  Reggae bliss.

...this is a low flying panic attack