WARMER MIXTAPES #539 | by Lee Webster
1. Lord Finesse | Check The Method
Hip Hop from the 90s was definitive of the genre. It will never be the same and I wouldn't want it to, that's the Golden Era and there it shall stay. I can listen to jams from this decade back to back for hours, endless head-nod boom-bap beats will have your neck snapping like a turtle. For me, Lord Finesse as a lyricist and producer contributed to the sound that defines this Golden Era more than any other. His style of rapping was Old Skool, he had flow and punchlines and that's how I like it. His beats were simple but full of vibes, and that to me is what making good Music is all about. This track in particular is, in my opinion, one of his best.
2. The Jimi Hendrix Experience | Red House
This could of been one of many tracks by Hendrix because the man is obviously one of the greatest musicians ever to walk the planet, I don't need to state the obvious. Jimi embodies passion in a way so pure and almost God-like it rarely fails to make everything else look pretty mediocre. I don't know what else I can say about him other than, make sure your children know who he is and they will turn out fine. Also watch the Woodstock director's cut and watch the expressions on the faces in the crowd as he goes off on a solo with ends in an off-key rendition of the national anthem. It's EXACTLY like Back II The Future where Marty plays that solo at the prom but goes to far and people are lost for words.
3. Medway | Resurrection
(On -8 pitch)... It's important that you play this record pitched down, I find myself pushing the pitch fader lower and lower every time I play this. It's synth break-down after the intro drops you into an ocean of tripped-out chords, pulsing over each other until the beat drops with its deep kick and bouncing bass, it's incredible if played at the right time. This record was on Hooj Choons if I remember rightly, I don't have much else from the label but this little gem found its way to me by accident while I was looking for something else and since then its been my secret little treat.
4. Scott Garcia | A London Thing (feat. MC Styles) (London Mix)
This is the best Garage track ever made. I LOVE the vibes on this. Before this track I didn't really get House Music. It's so Underground and remains so, in spirit, even after its brief commercial outing during the Pop days of Garage. Scott Garcia captures the Pirate Radio vibe that I love and am constantly trying to re-create in my own productions. A true classic for me that never gets old, I often find myself referencing this after a session just to remind myself of what kind of simplicity and bounce I should be aiming for with my own music.
5. Solid State | Just A Vision (Marcus Intalex & ST Files Remix)
I love Drum & Bass. There was a time in my life when it was everything to me, I guess I moved away from it a little in the recent years but still very much miss the raw energy that comes with it. Marcus Intalex is an amazing producer, How You Make Me Feel is another little gem from that rarely leaves my record box. Just listen to these tracks, even of you're not into Drum & Bass I'm sure you can catch the vibes…
6. Gregorythme | Isola
This is trippy Deep House at its best. It's for those special moments when Music speaks a language more appropriate than words, a time when conversation fades into irrelevance and all ears tune in, everything floats away and you become an Isola… This track came on one night in a mix just at the right time to catch me off guard and in a rather cliché way, touched me. It was an after party, must of been 11am and everybody was starting to zone-out a bit, I was sat in front of someone who wouldn't stop talking and this track came on and literally stole my attention to the point where I forgot where I was in space-time. True story.
7. Schmoov! | Playground
Amazing track. This is one of the most perfect tracks ever. If there was ever a track that I wish I made, it's this. Its atmospheric beginning gives way to a deep, funky bass line as children's mutterings ride over the spacey atmosphere like a misty dream. I love it, infact Schmoov! make a lot more of these. Their music makes me feel like I'm floating through space on a fucking banana, in a good way.
8. Klashnekoff | Its Murda
A UK Hip Hop track by Klashnekoff of the Terra Firma crew. This track is pure London slang, lots of rowdy talk - it's not what you would typically class as positive Hip Hop perhaps but since when does that matter when describing Hip Hop I ask myself… If I have to walk through a scary place this is the soundtrack playing in my head, it instantly gives me an expression like Yeah? And what you gonna do you c*nt?... I was torn between this and Parrowdice feat. Terra Firma crew which is also sick.
9. Nightmares On Wax | Les Nuits
I don't really know how to describe this song. If Music is Therapy then this is a Miracle Cure. It's so chilled, melancholic but with an undertone of everything's gonna be ok though floating through its notes. If prisons played this into peoples cells at night, nobody would re-offend. Also this track is perfect to wake up to in the morning.
10. Other People | Various
This track doesn't exist, but it's on my list to represent all the tracks I fall in love with every day and can't fit onto a list of top tens. My ears are slutty, they fall in love constantly and very often do not remain monogamous. So this last one is to represent all the tracks being made by extremely dope producers, you know who you are...
1. Charles Mingus | Track A - Solo Dancer
My good friend and bass instructor Todd Cambio bought me this album for my 13th birthday. Still one of my favorite compositions. The spaces and counter harmonies, the improvisation and all the different characters each of the instruments play, ufff.
2. Mariah Carey | Always Be My Baby
Her voice, her bod... Nuff said. Mariah = #WINNING. Freshman homecoming dance.
3. Lakutis | Death Shark
The most #based abstract minded Post Post Rapper. Long hair don't care. Shouts out to Heems and Kool AD of Das Racist.
4. Andre Nickatina | Blood N My Hair
Andre Nickatina has the sickest West Coast flow ever of all time. So hood and yet so eloquent. Some of my favorite raps came from his collaborations with Saafir. Honorable mention, their song Hell's Kitchen.
5. George Winston | Autumn
I have been sampling this guy ever since I started making beats, and writing Winston-esque piano lines. My mom collected records and had a lot of Windham Hill label records, the label George Winston released many records on. I love my mom.
6. Salem | Imasheet
I first heard Salem through some (???) mixtape in like late 2008- early 2009, it was their song Trapdoor, I loved it. I asked their agent at the time if they were available to play shows, they were. So they played my hometown with another of my favorite bands Excepter and my band at the time. I believe it was JFR from Excepter who bootlegged the show and sent me a copy... (after mollywopping a pervy creeper in the audience in the dome with a megaphone, JFR a true hommie/thug). One of the songs on the bootleg Imasheet has inspired me lyrically and harmonically ever since.
7. Iron Maiden | Flash Of The Blade
This song was featured in the Dario Argento film Phenomena. I love everything by Maiden but some of their lesser known works are their best. My brother Cyrus, a large contributer to M∆DDEN, is the most shreddingest guitar players I've ever heard. He helps me when I need to blast Iron Maiden and finish a 30 pack of Ham's.
8. Black Uhuru | Darkness
Michael Rose, the former lead singer, is a friend of my father and a huge influence in the message of the lyrics I write. Also Sly and Robbie are the best riddem section known to the Human Race.
9. Cannibal Ox | Straight Off The D.I.C.
Future Rap. These men spit the real bonfire. El-P produced this entire album and sampled Philip Glass on the majority of it, bonus points.
10. Sade | By Your Side (Neptunes Remix)
No lie, I still cry when I hear this song. I spent a little stretch in a correctional facility and there was a local radio station (89.9 WORT) that had a Saturday night call-in Hip-Hop show. So all the dudes would call in their shout outs and what not. I would request this song for my girlfriend at the time.
+11. Karen O | Immigrant Song (feat. Trent Reznor) (Led Zeppelin Cover) (Chopped And Skrewed)
Two of the more famous Icepunks colab on a great classic Zep cover. #ICEPUNK #PIXXVGVNG #FAMOUS
WARMER MIXTAPES #537 | by Howard and Guy Lawrence of Disclosure
Photo by Pietro Pravettoni.
1. The Blue Nile | A Walk Across The Rooftops
One of the best hand me down records our parents have delighted us with. This track's recording/production/vocal/everything... Get the hairs standing up on our necks everytime. If you don't have this album... Find it and immerse yourself in it.
2. Wild Beasts | Loop The Loop
First heard this song when they played it at Rough Trade on Record Store Day, there was something euphoric about this one, very excited about Smother.
3. D'Angelo | Greatdayindamornin'/Booty
Only discovered D'Angelo last year, and we listened to this album Voodoo hundreds of times. This track is my favorite because a friend of mine used to play it to me all the time.
4. Blackbird Blackbird | Hawaii (Sunvisor Remix)
We like this remix because it makes a Blackbird Blackbird song MORE 80's (this pushed it up our most played)... Bass is also sick.
5. James Blake | Give A Man A Rod (Second Version)
Perfect Blake drums and percussion right here... One of the best Blake tracks... Should have been on the album!
6. Lando Kal | Further
Two things...1... This is an amazing track... 2... The guys name is Lando Kal! He is the sickest guy in the galaxy and owns Cloud City, what more could you want...
7. Prince Club | Love Jackson
Went to BLOC Festival last year and pumped this haaaarrrd in our room every night. Good memories... Which barely remain as memories to be honest... More like happy blurs.
8. Paris Underground Trax | Sexy Thing Remix
Quite an amazing Deep House track for sure, and an incredible label as well (My Love Is Underground) with one of our favourite mottos... Play it vinyl or don't play it at all. Wanted to catch their night in London but missed it sadly... Still, every release and every track never fails to fucking get you. Think this is going for silly money on Discogs now... Good news!
9. OFWGKTA | Up
As with everyone, we have caught Odd Future fever. Not the best thing to catch as I'm sure if you listen to it for too long you would eventually turn into a serial killing pedophiliac rapist... Still, this track shows a totally different side to Tyler... Much more sensitive and what a vocal sample that is! Fucking yes fucking Tyler... Fuck.
10. Blacksmif | TLC
Loving Blacksmif at the moment. Weird mixture of Garage beats, bass and almost Fly Lo strangeness. Was overjoyed when he sent us a few bangers... Always get's a play out.
WARMER MIXTAPES #536 | by Tim Brown [Aural Burrows]
1. Real Estate | Suburban Beverage
Suburban Beverage makes me think of being in your swimming pool when it’s late at night, and there’s really no reason to be swimming but you’re doing it anyway and it’s kind of cold but you don’t care because you’re swimming at night and how often do you go swimming at night? It’s the kind of song that can play in the background in the car and you’re not even consciously aware of it, but suddenly everyone in the car is in a better mood because of it.
2. Aquarium | The Art Of Being Humble
For the longest time I had no idea what this song was called, because nearly everything written about it is in Russian. Apparently, Aquarium had to bribe their way into a government-owned studio to record it, which adds this whole other element to the song. It’s so simple and optimistic, but knowing what they had to go through to get it recorded gives it that much more depth. It’s seems unreal to me that this came out of the mid-80s USSR.
3. //bones// | Always Falling
Always Falling gives me this mental image of New York City and it’s raining and a girl ducks into a cab and she lights up a cigarette and lays back and starts looking at the raindrops collecting on the window. It’s my rainy-day song, and I mean that in the best way possible. I get this feeling of being surrounded by people but still feeling lonely, like people-watching on a subway train or something. It’s melancholy and overcast without being hopeless.
4. Small Black | Despicable Dogs
I can’t tell you how many times this song’s beat has gotten stuck in my head. Every time I hear it, I’ll end up tapping it out with my feet, and trying to sing the lyrics in a shitty falsetto voice. The synths in this song have this weezy, analog vibe to them too. The whole song is just so catchy and simple; it’s hard not to love it.
5. Ducktails | Dancing With The One You Love
The vocals on this track are what get me. It’s one of his older songs, and you can tell it was before he was really comfortable singing, but he does it anyway and you barely even hear what he’s singing but it doesn’t matter. It sends me back to middle school dances, where you’re dancing with the girl you’ve had a crush on and you don’t want the night to end but you’re not thinking about that right then. You’re just in the moment, and you know it’s a great moment and you’re just thankful that that moment ever existed and you know it’ll be gone soon but that doesn’t change the fact that it existed at some point.
6. Future Islands | Vireo’s Eye
Within about 10 seconds of hearing the intro to this song, I knew I’d love it. It’s just this powerful, catchy melody, and then it breaks into this grand string-laden arrangement backed by a Peter Hook-ianbassline. Samuel T. Herring’s vocals are so over the top, but they really add to the feeling of the song. This band has got it figured out; they’ve managed to fuse that 80s Post-Punk sound with some more modern sensibilities.
7. Orange Juice | Rip It Up
This is the ultimate Love song. Edwyn Collins’ lyrics have this element of vulnerability to them, while still coming across as tongue-in-cheek. It just perfectly encapsulates that feeling of getting your heart broken and gathering the pieces and starting over. Plus, it has the best music video I think I’ve ever seen.
8. Youth Lagoon | 17
This whole album is incredible, but 17 in particular stands out to me. It’s just so honest and innocent; it totally hits that feeling of not being a kid anymore, but not really being an adult. The way the song builds from just vocals and keys to this grand, layered spectacle is magnificent. My best friend and I drove down to Atlanta to see him [I was 17 at the time, how perfect] and this song brings me back to that night; just relishing novel experience and celebrating youth.
9. The Drums | Me And The Moon
This is another one of those songs with an incredible, driving, drum track. It’s great when you’re driving home late at night, smoking a cigarette or something. You can just belt out that Forever, forever breakdown and bang your head and stare at the Moon.
10. Dan Deacon | Snookered
Look up live versions of this song. Every time he plays it, he guides the audience through this strange, meditative ritual, and right as it ends the verse breaks out. Words can’t do it justice. According to him, the song is about a guy being hanged at the gallows, and as he’s dying and having DMT rush to his brain, he transcends to an equally fucked-up Other Reality. The song transitions between these beautiful chimes and chaotic glitch vocals; the entire song is transcendent and spiritual.
WARMER MIXTAPES #535 | by Valentin Plessy [aMinus] of Plateau Repas
1. Simple Minds | Don't You Forget About Me
I have a huge obsession with 80s teenage flicks. Especially the ones from John Hughes. The Breakfast Club is my all time favorite and of course the soundtrack as well.
2. The Cure | Just Like Heaven
It's my happy song. At a time I was confused and a little depressed this song came on my mp3 player and everything got lighter. It's hard to describe, but it just gave me so much hope and motivation. Since then, when I feel down, I need loud speakers and this track to realize things aren't so bad afterall.
3. Lords Of The New Church | Dance With Me
Great 80s Gothic Pop. Makes me wanna dance, makes me wanna love differently, makes me want the taxi never had struck Stiv Bators.
4. Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark | Almost
Heads down. Their first album is a pure Synth Pop masterpiece and I totally relate to this track, to its lyrics, its sounds and atmosphere. One of the tracks I wish I had written.
5. Summer Camp | Better Off With You
It's a warrior-feel good song. It makes the break up process quite fun too! I love this vintage adolescence energy of the band. It makes me wanna dance like Molly Ringwald does in Breakfast Club.
6. Everything But The Girl | Walking Wounded
This band is amazing. There's so many songs from their albums I could choose. Tracey Thorn's lyrics are so accurate and crystal clear. I wish I could write like her. I understood the lyrics years later I first heard it and was and still am deeply touched.
7. Kate Bush | Army Dreamers
I had to pick one from her. She's the mother of them all. She treats my mind right. I am still so impressed by how the theme of the song is overwhelming and she manages to give it a tragicomic side.
8. Philip Glass | Heroes (Aphex Twin Remix) (Orchestral Version of David Bowie's Heroes)
The best combination! I simply adore those 4 artists (including writer Brian Eno) and the result is as beautiful as it is scary but as in a nightmare-scary type of way: it's comfy and safe as you eventually realize you're in bed at home. You might as well enjoy the ride and redefine your role inside your nightmare.
9. Madonna | Deeper And Deeper
I was a child when I first heard it. I couldn't get the lyrics but I absolutely loved it, I would dance to it, make up dance shows on it, go totally insane on it. I had a feeling this song was about me. Then I had my I'm too cool for Pop phase in which I neglected all my Eurodance/Pop and Madonna past (Justify My Love and Rescue Me would also blow up my parent's speakers!) and once I got back to this track, it felt right, it felt inspiring and obvious. I get addicted easily and I just can't help falling in love, with the wrong things/people! It is also one hell of a Dance anthem a tad tacky but still, it never fails to get me exctatic!
10. The Cardigans | For What It's Worth
I remember sitting at my window and drinking wine doing what I love to do most: re-writing the past, making excuses to make it better. I'd pour myself another glass as I'd play the track again and again until I got quite drunk and cried on how truthful this song was. It's an amazing ballad and Nina Persson is an amazing songwriter.
+11. Ladytron | International Dateline
One of the most beautiful dark song I know. I discovered it as I was moving to Paris back in 2005 and facing its hard life, working 24/7 in survival jobs you can't stand. There's strong hope somehow in the melody, infering that things will change. That's mostly what I love to hear: melancholic melodies with a twinch of hope.
+12. Moloko | Forever More
This track is like therapy. It's beautiful, intense, nerve-racking and you end up out of breath just like after a long run.
+13. The Divine Comedy | Tonight We Fly
This one is my get-away song. Anyone should try it.
+14. Björk | Violently Happy
It says it all.
