The Indie Years 1986

Welcome to the tenth installment of my indie retrospective where I will cover the music of 1986.  I looked at the news of the year and three stories jumped out at me - The US Challenger shuttle explosion, the Chernobyl meltdown and the Mexico '86 World Cup.  In fashion I recall everyone at school had to have one lime green and one fluro orange sock or you weren't cool.  At the cinema Crocodile Dundee, Aliens Platoon and Top Gun were playing.  And the indie soundtrack is detailed below.

 

The Indie Years 1986 Spotify Playlist

           

1) There Is A Light That Never Goes Out by The Smiths (Rough Trade)

Released on The Queen Is Dead album and considered as a potential single.  The doomed romantic theme and lyrics “to die by your side - well the pleasure and privilege are mine” were deemed too dark for 1980s radio playlists.  The song topped John Peel’s Festive Fifty in 86 and the song finally got released as a single in 92 to promote a Best Of collection.  Safe to say that There Is A Light That Never Goes Out is one of the greatest and most beloved indie songs of all time.

2) Really Stupid by The Primitives (Lazy) 

Thrashing garage pop with squalling guitars.  The Primitives were a indie band from Coventry who existed between 84-92  Success eluded them at this stage but they did score a UK hit in 1988 when Crash reached #5 in the charts.

3) All I Want For Christmas Is A Dukla Prague Away Kit by Half Man Half Biscuit (Probe Plus)

Taken from the debut EP The Trumpton Riots.  This song reminisces about childhood games Scalextric and Subbuteo and how they were unreliable and led to fights.  “And you’ll always get palmed off with a headless centre forward and a goalkeeper with no arms and a face like his”.

4) I Believe by R.E.M. (I.R.S.) 

First single from their fourth album.  Stripe’s vocals were clearer, more audible and less mumbled on the Life’s Rich Pageant album so he got the chance to be the voice of a generation and deliberately rejects it with stream of consciousness lyrics that proclaim nothing more than platitudes.  “I believe in Coyotes and time as an abstract”.  Elsewhere on the album R.E.M. introduce environmental and political songs (Cuyahoga, The Flowers of Guatemala and Fall On Me). 

5) And She Was by Talking Heads (Sire)

A song about a girl who keeps floating around her neighbourhood, very high on acid.

6) Freaky Dancin by Happy Mondays (Factory)
The funk pop of Happy Mondays is unmistakable on this early single.  Shaun’s unique vocal technique hasn’t evolved much over the years and the band speed up as the song goes on.  The Mondays just did what they wanted and the World bent around them accepting these Mavericks just as they are.

7) Happy Hour by The Housemartins (Go! Discs)

The upbeat drinking song that propelled The Housemartins into the charts and a place on every pub jukebox.  Obviously the lyrics undercut the cheery bonhomie of after work drinks with the closed minds and sexist work colleagues. “It’s Happy Hour Again, I think I might be happy if I wasn’t out with them”.  Paul Heaton would return to the dark side of drinking many times in his career.  Refer to Old Red Eyes Is Back by The Beautiful South for example. 

 

8) Velocity Girl by Primal Scream (Creation)

This 82 second rush of indie pop adrenaline was released as a B-side.  It opened NME’s C86 compilation cassette that gave a name to the alternative jangly guitar power pop sound that dominated the compilation.

9) Always The Sun by The Stranglers (Epic)

The Stranglers pre-dated Punk, embraced it and survived it.  This mid 80s poppy rock song is enhanced by the lyrics which pose many rhetorical questions, with a singalong chorus.  There are some nice guitar parts here, pneumatic drumming and an impressive cramming of too many words at the end of each verse.

10) E=MC2  by Big Audio Dynamite (Columbia)

After being fired from The Clash, Mick Jones created a new band B.A.D. which combined funk, reggae, dance and were early adopters of sampling music and film clips.  Joe Strummer later reunited with Mick Jones and co produced and co-authored much of B.A.D.’s second album.

11) Black Hole by James (Sire)

After a couple of EPs released on Factory, Manchester’s James released two albums on the Sire label.  A popular live band with a strong local following they had time to develop out of the spotlight before they emerged on the indie discos of the early Nineties.

12) Sometimes by Erasure (Mute)

Erasure’s fourth single was a great seductive pop song which made #2 in the UK charts. Vince Clarke had already been a founding member of Depeche Mode and Yazoo before teaming up with singer Andy Bell and forming the Synth-pop duo Erasure in 1985.  They are still playing together 35 years later.

13) Bizarre Love Triangle by New Order (Factory)
My favourite New Order song - there have been so many versions and remixes of this over the years and I love them all.  Pop Heaven.

14) Some Candy Talking by Jesus And Mary Chain (Creation)

Is it about sex or drugs?  It’s certainly Rock n Roll and influenced by the Velvet Underground who recorded the similarly titled “Candy Says”.   

15) Once More by The Wedding Present (Reception)

Second single from Leeds based The Wedding Present, featuring their trademark frantic guitars and drums with David Gedge’s distinctive vocals pleading for one more chance.  

16) Infected by The The (Some Bizarre)

The The With a song about love being a sickness.  

17) Rise by Public Image Ltd (Virgin)

An anti-Apartheid protest record written about Nelson Mandela (still a political prisoner at the time).

"Anger is an energy" screams John Lydon.  Ten years after Anarchy In The UK, his fire is still burns.    

18) Ballard of the Band by Felt (Creation)

Lawrence feels like giving in after years of no fame and no money.   He carried on for another three years and disbanded the band in 89 having released 10 albums in 10 years.  He later formed Denim.

19) Wide Open Road by The Triffids (Mushroom)
Post-Punk band from Perth, Western Australia with a tale of the loneliness and the freedom of the outback.  A true blue Aussie classic.

20) Swamp Thing by The Chameleons (Geffen)
What an intro!  Trippy, twangy guitars and a steady dance beat For the first two minutes.  This Manchester band had three albums in the mid 80s and Swamp Thing was their final and highest charting single reaching the giddy heights of #82.  Noel Gallagher was a big fan and has cited them as a major influence on his songwriting.  It would have been interesting to see where The Chameleons could have gone if they were still active during the Madchester years.


Further Reading...
The Indie Years 1985
The Indie Years 1984
The Indie Years 1983
The Indie Years 1982
The Indie Years 1981
The Indie Years 1980
The Indie Years 1979
The Indie Years 1978
The Indie Years 1977

Old Indie Kid's Mixtape September 2020

Welcome to my first Monthly Blog of 2020.   Each month I pick my top twenty new songs (released or discovered) and put them in my monthly Spotify playlist which will be linked below and write some blurb on why I love these records.  I had been writing these regularly since November 2015 but I've been slack  haven't updated my blog since December.  

I spent much of January listening to the Britpop Banter Podcast @britpopbanter and created a Twitter account to get involved with the musical debates on old beloved albums.  However, once on Twitter I discovered so many fantastic bands coming out of the UK, mostly unsigned and a large community of like-minded (often mature/immature) nutters who love the old bands (Oasis, Roses, Charlatans, Ride etc) but were also open to hearing something new.  So hopefully if you're reading this you will stick the playlist on and enjoy some amazing new songs whilst reading my whitterings below.

Old Indie Kid's Mixtape Sept 2020 Spotify Playlist

1) Days Gone By by Dictator  @Dictator_Band
This Scottish's band's third single is an immense track that creeps towards your ears with menacing intent and contains dark hypnotic rhythms reminiscent of Dandy Warhols Come Down era.  Be warned, this music is infectious and will demand repeated plays as it worms it's way deeper into your mind.      

2) Brightstar by Social Room  @SocialRoomband

Starts with horns, the drums kick in, a powerful gravely voice and guitars begin to build to a killer chorus.  Social Room hail from Sunderland and this track is the lead song from a 5-track EP released twelve months ago.  They have a new single about to come out so give them a follow. 

   

3) Start Again by GreenCircles @greencircles74
The lead track from the new E.P. from Newcastle's GreenCircles. Amazing vocals here accompanied by some lush strings.  I've been following this band for about six months now and bought all their singles over on Bandcamp.  GreenCircles singles are fairly varied in style and you can hear influences from Primal Scream, The Stone Roses, Teenage Fanclub and especially the Liverpool music scene.  They haven't put a foot wrong in my book and are one of my top finds of the year.    

   

4) Chasing Gold by Crimson Bloom @CrimsonBloomUK

Crimson Bloom are my favourite new band discovered in 2020.  They were formed by Andrew Johnson (aka #MrBloom) a prolific singer songwriter with a plan to create an album in a similar style to The Stone Roses debut.  The Crimson Bloom band recreate the jangly guitar pop, indie rockers and spaced out baggy grooves from the late 80s/early 90s that first turned me on to great music. Crimson Bloom have two excellent albums and a selection of great T-shirts which can be found in my wardrobe and over on Bandcamp.  

5) Please Don't (In Isolation)  by Bloosoms & Courteeners  @BlossomsBand & @thecourteeners

Blossoms have been recording a series of isolation covers during their lockdown and remotely recording with other bands.  I don't know a lot about the Courteeners - I hear they are big in Manchester and Please Don't was probably a big hit back in the day but the song was new to me.  Listen out and name the snippet of another classic song they segue into on this version.     

6) Marmalade Dreams by Alligator Moon  @alligator__moon
Strange things are afoot in West Yorkshire and it involves the Alligator Moon, a time portal to 1967 and a field of magic mushrooms.  Whether these are linked or co-incidental needs further investigation.  Marmalade Dreams is taken from The Erractic Explosion of Colour & Compassion album released in April.     

7) Has It All Gone Wrong by The Jack Fletcher Band @jackfband
Good question?  In general - yes it has but the advice from this talented Wolverhampton band is to keep keeping on.  What else can we do?   

8) Reasons To Be (Spacekid Remix) by Moonlight Parade @band_parade
Another of my favourite new bands come from the South Coast and have two LPs, some EPs and a handful of remixes by the mysterious Spacekid.  This tune was released in February and is my pick of the trippy dance remixes.       

9) Lucy by DDE's @wearetheddes

The DDE's are a great Manchester band and their latest EP Calm Before The Storm is a sonic blast - four tracks all killer no filler.  

10) Behind The Sun by Eskobar 
This beast of a track comes from a Stockholm band that have been playing together since the mid 90's. 

11) Youth by Pioneers @UK_Pioneers
Southampton's Pioneers with a tale of hedonism - they play unglamorous indie rock n roll and sound like a laddish version of The Libertines.  Plenty to love here.     

12) Fake ID by Spyres @spyr3s
Two female singers in this this excellent Scottish indie rock band Singing about blagging their way into venues with fake ID.  Absolutely brilliant - only two songs on Spotify so far but they are gaining a huge following. 

13) Affliction by Pink Tide Great Three piece band from Teeside who unfortunately split up during the lockdown when one third quit the band.  Two thirds plan to continue working together and hope to re-emerge with a new band.  These are the times we are living in so if you can afford to, please support the artists you love.  Like my dentist once told me, "Only brush the ones you want to keep".    

14) Something's Gotta Give by Jamie Webster @JamieWebster94

Jamie just released his debut album We Get By in August and he's another massive talent emerging from Liverpool.  This is a savage take on the crooked clowns of the Boris Johnson government failing the country and "the dreamers left out to rot".  Heartbreaking but an amazing protest song.

  

15) Tangled Up by The Royston Club @TheRoystonClub
Welsh band from Wrexham who have just signed a management deal this week. They have clocked up over half a million streams on Spotify and sold out three gigs at the end of the year.  Great band - give their latest EP This State I'm In a spin.  

16) Nobody Else by Dylan John Thomas @DylanJohnThoma5
Young Scottish singer songwriter with some lovely songs and a big following.  This song was released in March 2019 and is close to a million streams now.  Not bad for a recording he made in his shed. 

17) On The Back Burner by The Reytons @TheReytons
The Reytons have been going for a few years now telling the tales of the Kids off the Estate. The Reytons sound like the early Arctic Monkeys and the lyrics are just as good which obviously very high praise from me.  Perhaps they stole Alex Turner's notepad and gave him a wedgie for good measure?   

18) Ripley Jean by Afflecks Palace @afflecks_palace
Back to Madchester for the latest baggy revivalists.  Afflecks Palace will release their 2nd EP Everything Is An Attempt To Be Human in Mid September which will include Ripley Jean, It All Comes Around and Pink Skies. They are touring the UK later this year.    

19) Can't Get Out Of Bed by The Mariners @TheMarinersBand

This is the closing track on 60's inspired debut album The Tides of Time.  They are releasing this fantastic album on vinyl via their Bandcamp site from 4th September.  I have the CD and it is wonderful to play and look at. #GetOnTheBoat    

20) Marquee by Liam Hillier  @liamhillyermus1

 Playing out with another Scouser crooning his heart out.  Liam is a great songwriter - follow him, listen to his songs and share them widely.      

If you heard something you like, please follow the bands on Twitter, Spotify, Bandcamp or just start to follow them around if you see them in the street.  As I mentioned above, if you love 'em and can afford to support them, then buy a ticket, t-shirt, vinyl, CD or download.  Streaming pays almost nothing to the artists and they've had a tough year with no gigs.  

See you in October 

Cheers Danny x @oldindiekid1 

The Indie Years 1985

I've taken a few years break from writing this blog but I'm back newly inspired and ready to push on to finish the Eighties and then tackle the monster that was the Nineties when Indie briefly went mainstream.  However ten years before Britpop is where this blog will land us.  1985 saw the arrival of two important bands - the Jesus & Mary Chain and The Stone Roses - a band that would later herald the "Resurrection of British Pop" as John Robb describes in his book of the same name.     

 

The Indie Years 1985 Spotify Playlist

1) Nowhere Fast by The Smiths (Rough Trade)
The Smiths released their four studio albums at a rate of one a year between 1984-87.  Given most of their later singles were not included on their albums this demonstrates a remarkable work rate.  They burned bright and fast before they burned each other and split up.  Nowhere Fast is taken from their second album Meat Is Murder and is a great example of the often overlooked humour of Morrissey, the ferocious melodic riffs of Johnny Marr and the tightness of the rhythm section comprised of Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce.

2) Inbetween Days by The Cure (Fiction)
A single from the excellent Head On The Door album where the Cure mixed darkness and light with songs of despair, joy, pop and rock. This track and fellow single Close To Me were both huge hits accompanied by memorable videos on heavy rotation on MTV that completed the progression of the band from cult wonders to a worldwide pop phenomenon.

3) Just Like Honey by The Jesus And Mary Chain (Blanco y Negro)
Taken from debut album Psychocandy, the JAMC emerged from Glasgow in a swirl of melodies and feedback that would influence a generation of shoegaze bands.  Their drummer Bobby Gillespie left shortly afterwards to form the equally important genre-hopping Primal Scream.

4) Love Vigilantes by New Order (Factory)
Great song from Bernard Sumner about a soldier fighting in an overseas war always gives me the shivers.  Ambiguous lyrics can be understood in one of two ways.  Either the soldier returns home to find his wife had mistakenly been informed of his death or there was no mistake and it hasn’t sunk in yet.

5) Dirty Old Town by The Pogues (Stiff)
Excellent folk song from the Irish band taken from the album Rum, Sodomy and the Lash.  The song was originally written by Ewan MacColl in 1949 and was based on Salford, Manchester. It was a hit for The Dubliners in 1968 and has been covered many times over the last seventy years. 

 

 6) A New England by Kirsty MacColl (Stiff)
A cover of Billy Bragg’s original.  Bragg wrote an extra verse for this version.  Aside from her own releases Kirsty provided vocals to many groups including Talking Heads, Happy Mondays, The Smiths, The Wonder Stuff and Simple Minds over the years.

7) Walls Come Tumbling Down by The Style Council (Polydor)

Weller encourages the masses to unite and rise up to overthrow the Thatcher Government.  The Style Council joined with other left-wing artists to form Red Wedge a political youth movement associated with the opposition Labour Party. Weller’s experience of this left him disillusioned and he stepped back from overtly political songs after this.

8) Death Valley '69 by Sonic Youth (Big Blast)

Words can’t do justice to this aural onslaught. This is both unnerving and addictive in equal measures.

9) Downtown Train by Tom Waits (Island)
Great song from gravely voiced Tom Waits that later became a hit for Rod Stewart when he covered it in 1989.  This original version was taken from the Rain Dogs album selected as NME’s 1985 Album of the Year. Rain Dogs tells gritty tales of the New York underclass.

10) Tell Me by The Stone Roses (Thin Line)
Years before they became famous, the Roses were putting out singles on tiny labels and growing a local fan base in the North of England.  Their early material is interesting to see how they developed from a gothic punk band into the legendary band that delivered their debut album four years later.  The Stone Roses actually recorded an album in 1985 with several songs that would later emerge on the 1989 eponymous album.  However they weren't happy enough with the results and decided to can it and go back to the rehearsal rooms. 

11) Tupelo by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds (Mute)

A song about the birth of Elvis during a storm in Tupelo Mississippi.  

12) Take The Skinheads Bowling by Camper Van Beethoven (I.R.S.)
I only know of this song because it was covered by the Manic Street Preachers as a B side over a decade later.  Great song, great band name and goofy lyrics that were written to deliberately deny any coherent story or meaning.

13) She Sells Sanctuary by The Cult (Beggars Banquet)
The biggest and best song by The Cult - actually I can only name one other Cult song but if it’s not She Sells Sanctuary then I’m not interested.

14) Kerosene by Big Black (Blast First)

US Punk band founded by Steve Albini who later became a recording engineer for many alternative artists and bands including Nirvana, Pixies, PJ Harvey, Jarvis Cocker and The Wedding Present.

Kerosene is a song about the escaping the boredom of rural America by screwing and blowing shit up.

15) Flag Day by The Housemartins (Go Disc!)

The debut single from The Housemartins formed by Paul Heaton.  As a single it reached Number 124 in the UK charts.  It was included on their debut album London 0, Hull 4.

16) Move Me by The Woodentops (Rough Trade)

A South London band who formed out of The Jazz Butcher.

17) The Unforgettable Fire by U2 (Island)

Atmospheric rock track inspired by a photo exhibition of victims of the Atomic bombs dropped on Japan.

18) Welcome To The Pleasuredome by Frankie Goes To Hollywood (ZTT)

Following their trio of number one hits in ‘84 the Liverpool band just missed out on four straight number ones when this record stalled at number 2.  (Bloody Phil Collins).  

19) Like An Angel by The Mighty Lemon Drops (Dreamworks) 

A psychedelic punk band from Wolverhampton whose debut single Like An Angel appeared on the NME compilation cassette C86 and helped secure a number one in the Independent charts. 

20) This Is England by The Clash (CBS)

The final single from the punk legends. With infighting leading to main songwriter Mick Jones and drummer Topper being fired and law suits flying around.  Joe Strummer and manager Bernie Rhodes clashed over the musical direction, the use of drum machines, samples and new band members. The final album Cut The Crap was widely panned and Strummer dissolved the band in October’85.

Further Reading...
The Indie Years 1986
The Indie Years 1984
The Indie Years 1983
The Indie Years 1982
The Indie Years 1981
The Indie Years 1980
The Indie Years 1979
The Indie Years 1978
The Indie Years 1977

Tracks of the Year 2019

Here are my top 40 tracks of 2019 presented in reverse order with obligatory playlist.

40) Rocket Fuel by DJ Shadow feat De La Soul


39) Black Star Dancing by Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds

38) Hot Motion by Temples

37) Tonight by Katy J Pearson

36) Symbols Of Joy And Eternity by Sundara Karma

35) Lo/Hi by The Black Keys

34) Dancing In Love by Alice Jemima


33) Sunrise by Alice Ivy

32) Northern Holiday by Kaiser Chiefs

31) Blame It On The Summertime by Miles Kane

30) Sad Boi by Seratones

29) Final Form by Sampa The Great

28) Blankenship by DIIV


27) Summer Lover (MBRZ Remix) by Cub Sport

26) Forget Your Name ( Kevin Parker Alt Mix) by Mini Mansions

25) To Feel Good by Swim Deep

24) Cool As Hell by Baker Boy

23)  Nobody’s Home by Mallrat featuring Basenji

22) Go by The Black Keys


21) Wandering Star by Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds

20) Record Collection by Kaiser Chiefs

19) Lost It Mode by Fiction

18) Bust This Town by Stereophonics

17)  Clouds Of Saint Marie by Ride


16) Must I Evolve? by JARV IS...

15) Bad Guy by Billie Ellish

14) Salted Caramel Ice Cream (Moscoman Remix) by Metronomy

13) Remember The Name by Ed Sheeran feat Eminem & 50 Cent

12) Got To Keep On by The Chemical Brothers

11) Sister Buddha by Belle and Sebastian

10) Inappropriate Behaviour by Lime Cordial

9) Don’t Look At The Sun (Or You’ll Go Blind) by Pond

8) Melody Of Love by Hot Chip

7) Graveyard Of The Outcast Dead by Frank Turner

6) Once by Liam Gallagher

5) Salt & Pepper by Dope Lemon

4) Make A Move by Winston Surfshirt

3) Charlie by Mallrat

2) Patience by Tame Impala

1) Borderline by Tame Impala

Mixtape December 2019

The final monthly round up of the decade and as Australia is baking in another December heatwave there is a Summertime theme to this month's playlist.  Keep Hydrated!

1) Wandering Star by Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds
I’m a sucker for chiming bells on a record at this time of year.

2) Kiss Like The Sun by Jake Bugg
A guitar stomper from Nottingham’s finest.

3) Ice Cream Party by Modest Mouse
A six minute sonic invitation and a welcome suggestion during the Aussie Summer.

4) Must I Evolve? By JARV IS...
Jarvis Cocker monologues set to unsettling musical jams like Pulp circa 1992.

5) Cane Fields by Natural High Music featuring Wayne Marshall, Jesse Royal & Kabaka Pryramid
Social justice message in a modern reggae song - however I don’t endorse fire starting in the cane fields.

6) Sunrise by Alice Ivy & Cadence Weapon
Great tune with summer vibes if you still have the motivation to jump around.



7) Beautiful World (acoustic) by The Beautiful Girls
An acoustic version of a 2018 single from these Aussie dub heads.

8) Your Capricious Soul by Michael Stipe
Another legendary frontman returns with new solo material after a quiet decade.

9) Hollow World by Elephant Stone
Psychedelic pop

10) Enjoy The Silence by Nada Surf
Lively cover of this Depeche Mode classic that is almost 30 years old. I’m feeling like Ancient Indie Kid now!

11) Everlasting Nothing by Beck
Beck has just released his 14th album Hyperspace and this electronic gospel number was co-authored with Pharrell Williams.

12) Show Love by Winston Surfshirt
Laidback grooves that will soundtrack another hot Aussie summer.

13) Talk Deep by E^ST
I can assure any youngsters that you will want sleep and talking deep all night will interrupt this.  Priorities change as you get older.
OK Boomer

14) Dance Monkey by Tones and I
This song now holds the record for spending the longest time at the top of the Australian chart (18 weeks so far).

15) Orphans by Coldplay
Coldplay have been on the scene for two decades now.

16) Get On by Easy Street
Australian band with a nod to Bob Dylan.



17) Roddy by Djo
Hard to describe but hard to dislike.

18) Out Of Control (The Avalanches Surrender Remix) by The Chemical Brothers featuring Bernard Sumner
The original is a pounding big beat monster from twenty years ago but this remix version has surfaced with the Avalanches chilling things out considerably.

19) Feel Good Summer by SCABZ
Don't be fooled by the title, this grungy takedown of entitled wankers and the end of the effin' world as we all burn together



20) White Wedding by Graham Coxon
A cover of Billy Idol's classic that didn't make his latest soundtrack.

Mixtape Oct/Nov 2019

As I failed to get my playlist/blog sorted for October, I've skipped it and instead have a bumper double album for November.  Like all good double albums there is something for everyone and some tracks that you may wonder how they made the final cut.  I refer you to the Brexit Disco stomp of track 20 as an example.  No blurb this time or I will never release this!

1) Blame It On The Summertime by Miles Kane



2) Bored and Razed by The Saboteurs

3) Chrysalis by Empire of The Sun

4) Rocket Fuel by DJ Shadow featuring De La Soul

5) Mucky Weekend by Dub Pistols featuring Rodney P

6) S T A R by Underworld

7) I'm Good by GRiZ

8) Nuff Respect by The Allergies featuring Andy Cooper



9) Don't Look At The Sun (Or You'll Go Blind) by Pond

10) When She Finds You by Shakespears Sister featuring Richard Hawley

11) Context by The Temples

12) Waiting For A Check by Heaven the Dude featuring Fat Tony and Dent May

13) Good Times by Genesis Owusu

14) Smile by Winston Surfshirt

15) I Know Where The Summer Goes by Belle & Sebastian

16) Bust This Town by Stereophonics



17) Better Than Ever by Flight Facilities featuring Aloe Blacc

18) World I Share by Swim Deep

19) All The Good Girls Go To Hell by Billie Eilish

20) Backstop by Article 54

21) Arabesque by Coldplay

22) A Dream Is All I Need To Get By by Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds

23) It Might Be Time by Tame Impala



24) Silver by DMA'S

25) Nobody Else by The S.L.P.

26) Paradise by Golden Features & The Presets

27) Moonlight Run by Boo Seeka

28)  Uneventful Days by Beck

29) Head Case by Steve Mason

30) Forgot Your Name (Kevin Parker Alt Mix) by Mini Mansions

31) Monuments by Temples

32) Bad People by Boy & Bear

33) Warning by Pepper featuring Stick Figure

34) Cannibal Tree by Yenkee

35) Eat, Sleep, Wake (Nothing But You) by Bombay Bicycle Club

36) Can You See Me Now by Miles Kane

37) Inappropriate Behaviour by Lime Cordiale



38) Wessex Boy (Early Demo Version) by Frank Turner

39) Setting Sun (live acoustic) by Oasis

40) By Myself by Fidlar

Mixtape September 2019

This is in my esteemed opinion, contender for playlist of the year. Enjoy!

1) Joy by Cousin Tony’s Brand New Firebird
Melbourne band to kick off proceedings this month.

2) Charlie by Mallrat
Great song and Mallrat & I both have dogs called Charlie.



3) You’re Either On Something by Temples
Psychedelic pop taken from the third album coming soon.  This song is so infectious it was in my dream this week and I woke up humming it.

4) I Can’t Grow Peaches On A Cherry Tree by Mystic Braves
A hippy strum-along song.

5) I Melt With You by Surfer Blood
A cover originally recorded by Modern English in 1982.

6) Something In The Water by Shannen James
Debut single by an Australian singer-songwriter.

7) Roots Girl by Eli Mac, Paula Fuga & Nattali Rize
Obligatory reggae track of the month.



8) This Is The Place by Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds
Ten years on from the Oasis split, Noel is churning out the hits with beats and vocals replacing the usual guitars.

9) Jet by Shonen Knife
Brilliant cover of the Wings classic by the only Japanese band I know.

10) Every Little Thing by The Black Keys
Thankfully the Black Keys haven't turned their backs on dirty guitar riffs or tunes



11) Exit Sign by Hilltop Hoods, Illy & Eva Vandal
Aussie hip hop legends collaborate on a track about getting out of the club.

12) Remember The Name by Ed Sheeran, Eminem & 50 Cent
I first heard this Ed Sheeran song and thought great beat then Eminem and 50 Cent started rapping.  This is the most surprising collaboration of the year linking Ipswich and Detroit.

13) Junglist Warrior by Lady Waks, Deekline & Freestyles
Massive jungle tune based on Ini Kamoze's nineties hit Here Comes The Hotstepper.



14) Get Over Myself by Bootleg Rascal
More bloody great Australian music.

15) Clouds of Saint Marie by Ride
Shimmering guitars and dreamy vocals make this an instant favourite.

16) Angel Eyes by The Czars
Now this is my favourite ABBA song given a stripped-back gender reassignment.

17) Record Collection by Kaiser Chiefs
Kaiser Chief's lead single from their latest album.  Clever lyrics and as catchy as the common cold.

18) Salted Caramel Ice Cream (Moscoman Remix) by Metronomy
A remix of Metronomy's latest iconic tune.  Lyrics are again off the chart. 

19) 2 Much by The Allergies & Andy Cooper
Keep 'em coming - I can't get enough of these tracks.

20) Forgot Your Name by Mini Mansions
A song about dancing and romancing off your face and having minimal recall.