WARMER MIXTAPES #230 | by Sebastien Marshal of Detachments
1. Eleven Pond | Watching Trees
Weird stuff. From a compilation that came out recently. DJ Martyn sent it me. Me and the Simon from the label are big Cold Wave fans. I brought the compilation to the studio in Feb (2010), James Ford and I listened to this stuff to help us get in the right mood for the album. The DJ played it at an underground rave type gig we did in Brixton recently (August 2010), our whole posse hit the floor with much enthusiasm.
2. Aphex Twin | Green Calx
My mates picked me up at the roundabout as I was in conversation on the phone…to myself. On the motorway, halfway to Manchester I remember sitting in the back of a car still tripping on Acid listening to the Selected Ambient Works booming through the car speakers, I remember I had my eyes closed and was seeing Bhudda. My mates always get freaked out when I’m asleep/have eyes closed, as my eyes don’t close properly and the whites of my eyes are visible.
3. Motorbass | Neptune
That bassline, this tune makes me feel like I’m floating. I love the way the bassline that emerges, slowly revealing itself through the marine-like environment that this tune conjures up.
4. Pet Shop Boys | 2 Divided By Zero
This is probably my favourite PSB song. Noir Cinematic drama going on, seems to be about escaping from something that alludes to being sinister/possibly criminal. Romantic idea of escaping to New York.
5. Green Velvet | Stranj
His alienated, consumer society critique lyrics struck a chord. Good memories of seeing him at Fabric back in the day (when I first moved to E.London) - he was holding some sort of disco lazer thing he was constantly firing into the crowd. We were shuffling at the back, buzzing, off our faces. I remember being in the cab on the way to the club, sticking my head out of the window, flying through London. Hardcore, early noughties Electro days.
6. Drake | Unforgettable (feat. Young Jeezy)
I love this song man. Is it a guilty pleasure? He is a talented guy. For his genre - refreshingly vulnerable, sensitive. I like his voice.
7. a-ha | Here I Stand And Face The Rain
I was about 13 or 14, I used to do a paper round in the winter in the north shore residential area of seaside town Blackpool - we used to live near the often windy, rainy, stormy promenade. I had a-ha on my personal stereo (along with other 80s stuff my Auntie bought me). Music transforms the greyness around you and makes life more romantic. I love their pure Pop, they wrote brilliant songs. Pop that’s not a dirty word. This song isn’t Pop though, it’s haunting and whimsical, melancholy and epic.
8. The Chills | Pink Frost
This song conjures up strong imagery, the feeling of floating lost. I first heard this as a sixth former, I used to spend the evenings listening to my stereo (instead of doing homework properly) dreaming, hidden in my room (I didn’t get on with my parents). The song is about murder, it transpires that the frost is pink with the blood of his girlfriend. I once had a dream I’d murdered someone, the guilt was so overwhelming, oppressive, suffocating, inescapable, torture - let that be a warning.
9. The Chameleons | Perfume Garden (John Peel Sessions version)
This is sublime and powerful, the music just takes hold of me and my romantic heart soars. Thee great lost Manchester band.
10. The Jesus And Mary Chain | Never Understand
I used to listen to this lot when I was wrecked on methodone, lying in my bedroom, door closed, still living at my folks house. The masochistic white-noise squall of the marychain - the only thing to sooth the overwhelming grip of a heavy dose. No one in the family knew what I was up to. I met McGee when I first came to London, and tipsily put my arm round him and said some stuff about the Mary Chain still sounding great today, he asked if I was a singer, but I denied it, why?
+11. Joy Division | I Remember Nothing
I remember lying on the floor, back in the day, on the dole in my parents nice empty cold house, staring at the ceiling listening to this, 19yrs old. Pretty fucking low. Crushing depression. But Joy Division - when you enter their realm - you come back out and you feel a bit better. There’s a richness in the blackness, whenever you’re really fucked up, you need someone/thing who can relate to you. I guess Ian Curtis sacrificed himself for that purpose. His death was tragic, but he’s not really dead as he still speaks through his art everyday to someone around the world. I hope he’s found peace now though.
+12. My Bloody Valentine | Lose My Breath
Sublime, perverted beauty. Listened to in similar conditions to above. Kids - don’t do drugs. As a result of my fascinations - my life now is still a bit of a mess.
+13. K-Solo | Your Mom's In My Business
Ace beats, cool bassline, danceable smooth open hihat, v Cool lyrical flow. Quirky and amusing but still cool as fuck. Discovered it on a retro, early 90s hiphop mixtape. Unpredictable hiphop.
WARMER MIXTAPES #229 | by Piers Baron [Baron]
1. Baron | Bury Your Bones (feat. Hesta Prynn)
I made this song for the 9191 Volcom snowboard movie soundtrack I just finished working on, I'm really happy to have gotten something like this to work with the film.
2. of Montreal | The Past Is A Grotesque Animal
Recommened by a good friend of mine, this song is 12:00 mins of unrelentless dance/rock blasting. Well worth checking if you haven't, its a cool as fuck song.
3. Zola Jesus | Nights
Don't know much about this artist, but I really like this song, good to hear some fresh gothness in the mix!
4. Brian Eno | No One Receiving
The first track off one of my favourite albums of all time. Words don't do this justice, just check it, it's biblical.
5. Kasabian | West Ryder Silver Bullet
I love soundtracks, especially the spaghetti western Ennio Morricone stuff, Kasabian managed to take that blueprint and turn it into a song, mega.
6. UNKLE | Set No Sun
Newie from James Lavelle and crew, no real drums on this song, a soundtrack esque arrangement with some epic instrumentation.
7. Oasis | Rockin' Chair
Oasis are one of my favourite bands and this is without doubt my favourite Oasis song. It's like a hymn...Biblical, literally.
8. Motörhead | Doctor Rock
Lemmy is the mutha fucking man, that's not up for debate, check the lyrics chin up, shoulders back you gotta body like a marshall stack it doesn't get much better than that now does it.
9. A Place To Bury Strangers
I lived my life to stand in the shadow of your heart. Oliver Ackermann is a fucking genius...Enough said.
10. The Rolling Stones | Under My Thumb
Classic stones (all of it is) from the aftermath record which also spawned paint it black. Beautiful track, always comes out when the party's in full swing.
WARMER MIXTAPES #228 | by Allen Taylor [Feast Of Violet] of Roman Photos
1. Scientist | Ghost Of Frankenstein
I am in love with the production on this song, since it's like a dense collage or a puzzle, you can listen to it a million times and still find new sounds each time. And it's so damn catchy!
2. Mulatu Astatqe | Tezeta
My winter city song. Makes me feel nostalgic.
3. Vashti Bunyan | Trawlerman’s Song
A sweet little lullaby. I try to listen to this when I’m falling asleep or waking up.
4. Avey Tare & Panda Bear | Alvin Row
I love all of the songs on this album, but this one is the eye of the duck of the album. This was the first AC album that I could get my hands on back when. My favorite memory of this album is riding through the windy roads of the bavarian alps during a break in a storm, intense light from snowy mountaintops down through the rain soaked pine forest. This is one of those songs/albums that got me to start drawing. I got my recording name from a misheard lyric from Chocolate Girl.
5. So | Untitled C
Markus Popp was really my first exposure into the world of noisier things. It came from me being a huge nerd at an early age. When I was a freshman in high school I downloaded and burned this game called Rez For The Dreamcast, and when you could unlock this hidden stage, which played an Oval song, which I would play for hours and hours. Once I did some research, it kind of opened the flood gates for everything. I love this project in particular, because I feel it strikes a strong balance between an emotional, gentle atmosphere, and dense, glitchy textures. Also the art designer of this record, Katsumi Yokota, also designed art for Rez, and Panzer Dragoon Saga, which also got me thinking about art a lot when I was little.
6. Spacemen 3 | So Hot
This is one of the most played songs on my iPod. This song is like medicine for me. I just put it on repeat until I’m cured.
7. OMD | Souvenir
This song reminds me of fireworks and snow. I love the drama.
8. Delta 5 | Mind Your Own Business
My bandmates Chris and Drew from Roman Photos turned me onto this one. I don’t think there should be a dj set without this one.
9. The Sharades | Dumbhead
My buddies from Carnivores turned me on to this saucy little number. It's probably everyone’s favorite Joe Meek track, but hearing that buzzy bass keyboard line still makes me crazy.
10. Sparks | My Other Voice
I’ve loved this song for a long time. And I love the fact that this song is on those internet jukeboxes that are at crummy bars & sometimes at the waffle house. That Moroder vocoder (Morocoder?) always blows my mind!
+11. Carnivores | The Florentine
+12. Dunes | Balance
+13. Living Rooms | You’re A Mirage
+14. Norse Horse | Shooodikids
+15. Cosmetics | Sleepwalking
+16. D/R/U/G/S | Love (Love/Lust)
+17. Abe Vigoda | Throwing Shade
+18. Coyote Clean Up | I Can’t Take This XXXX Anymore Doggie
+19. Balam Acab | Dream Out
+20. Grouper | Hold
WARMER MIXTAPES #227 | by Joseph Zucco [Teenage Reverb/Jezus Million]
1. Drink To Me | Small Town
I've been listening to these guys a lot lately. They've got a killer sound and this song just hits home quite literally I guess, because I live in a small town.
2. Roberto Cacciapaglia | My Time
This track is ahead of its time. The lyrics are so sweet and the instrumentation is something else.
3. Wavves | Green Eyes
So catchy. The whole record is just phenomenal.
4. Zola Jesus | Night
I adore the lyrics. The arrangement is so simple but her words overpower the song itself.
5. The Beach Boys | I'm Waiting For The Day
Pet Sounds doesn't bring me back to endless summers, surprisingly. When I have a lot on my mind I'll listen to this album for hours on end.
6. Deerhunter | Vox Celeste
One of my favorite Deerhunter songs. It has such a nostalgic feel and is good sonic inspiration for me. Any Deerhunter track is just sentimental to me. They are currently helping me cope with the strains of high school.
7. Beach Fossils | Vacation
Although this song is about getting out of the city, it gets me psyched to move to the city in a couple of years. I have fallen in love with the city of New York since visiting.
8. Evenings | Friend [Lover]
The perfect nighttime music for me. I can't wait to see how North Dorm will help get me through homework assignments this year. The vinyl distortion plus his elaborate beats are just so soothing.
9. Gauntlet Hair | All Eyes
I am madly in love with Gauntlet Hair. I listened to them everyday when I was in Vermont early this summer.
10. Drake | Up All Night (feat. Nicki Minaj)
This song flows so well. Thank Me Later is an amazing record.
WARMER MIXTAPES #226 | by Alex Schaaf [Yellow Ostrich]
1. Jon Brion | Row
A one minute song, with nothing but piano. Absolutely gorgeous, I can't listen to this without feeling completely at ease. I just put headphones on and crank this song up so that its just (gently) pounding into my ears, and it's perfect. From the Eternal Sunshine soundtrack.
2. Neil Young | After The Gold Rush
My favorite Neil song, this one really shows off his voice and his ability to create timeless melodies. For such a classic or famous song to be recorded with only piano and voice is pretty impressive. He doesn't need any sort of studio tricks or impressive production, he just sits down and records, and that is the end product. Which is pretty amazing.
3. David Bowie | Sound And Vision
Not feeling pressured to fill every minute of every song with vocals and clever lyrics, this song is largely instrumental, but when the vocals do come in they are catchy as hell.
4. Dirty Projectors and Björk | On And Ever Onward
This is off of that EP that they just released a couple of months ago or something. I really like the EP because it showcases the quieter, textural side of the DPs, especially emphasizing the vocal interplay between all of the singers which is what I really love about the DPs. And Björk is great, especially when put in contrast to the DPs singers. This track just really puts me at ease, and the sound of it is just so soft and creamy, it's great headphone music.
5. Weezer | Getchoo
I've just gotten into Weezer relatively recently, I've been listening a lot to Pinkerton and The Blue Album. I was always kind of turned off by Weezer because I really only ever saw modern Weezer which is full of mustaches, pork, and The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived (which is actually an incredible track, in that it is almost impossibly ridiculous). But going back to the older stuff, I've really been digging it, this track is just full of so much raw energy and bare emotion, it's the result of not holding back one bit. Which I like.
6. of Montreal | Casualty Of You
This is easily the newest track, in that the album hasn't even come out yet. Hopefully I don't get in trouble for already having heard this (a friend downloaded it and forced me to listen!). Overall the album is very solid, the songwriting isn't as captivating as on Hissing Fauna, my favorite of Montreal album, but the production (with Jon Brion) is incredible. This is one of my favorite tracks on the new album, I tend to like when Kevin slows things down and dials down the psychedelic guitars and crazy drums every now and then.
7. XTC | Dear God
Another band that I've just gotten into recently. I'm not sure I knew XTC existed a couple weeks ago, which is pretty sad now that I've heard their stuff. I only have one album, Skylarking, and this is my favorite song off of that. The production is really great overall, and the lyrics of this one are pretty enjoyable. The lead vocals kind of remind me of Joe Jackson, but with bigger beats and more rock guitars.
8. A Tribe Called Quest | Bonita Applebum
I really love the beats of ATCQ, the whole vibe is so confident and slick. This song is one of my favorites recently, I'm trying to figure out a way to cover it; I've got a cool way to do the chorus but i haven't figured out how to do the verses without sounding ridiculous. Some day.
9. Talking Heads | Psycho Killer
My favorite version of this song is probably the one from Stop Making Sense, their concert video. The showmanship of Byrne during that opening song is just incredible. A great song that's built around a simple but effective bass line.
10. Sufjan Stevens | Djohariah
In a way, the complete opposite of the first song on this list, as this one is 17 minutes long and features choirs, horns, drums, guitars, and everything in between. This is brand new as he just released it a couple days ago. While this is a 17 minute long song, but it does not feel like one, which is an impressive accomplishment. I've listened to this about 8 times in the last two days, a high play count for such a long song.
WARMER MIXTAPES #225 | by Jef Barbara
1. Charlie | Spacer Woman
Bernardino Femminielli, who co-wrote Wild Boys, introduced me to Spacer Woman about a year ago. It's been my favorite track ever since.
2. Michel Didier | Comme Un Arc-En-Ciel
This song is a cover of Rainbow Chaser, by UK prog band Nirvana. Michel Didier's phaser-filled version has got string arrangements by Jean-Claude Vannier, who worked on a bunch of Gainsbourg records. And for once, rock'n'roll sounds better in French.
3. David Bowie | John, I'm Only Dancing (Again)
Hobo Cult Records' Francesco De Gallo turned me onto this. I'd only paid attention to the first version, produced by Ken Scott. This reworked funk take, produced by Visconti, should be noted for its dreamy chorus, with this sort of frivolous, la-la landish feel that only Donna or Diana could seemingly pull off.
4. Mimi et les Pop People | Manufacturers
Off the first volume in a recent tribute compilation series to honor DIY forefather R. Stevie Moore, is a French version of Manufacturers. Quirkiness at its best and reminiscent of what could have appeared on an Angela Werner record.
5. Whitney Houston | Greatest Love Of All
I basically grew up wanting to become Whitney Houston. Greatest Love Of All has a combination of elements that clearly define early Whitney. Inspirational message, powerhouse singing, schmaltzy Rhodes and memories of Reagan-era shoulder pads.
6. Stacy Lattisaw | Attack Of The Name Game
Growing up, I was also a Mariah Carey fan. Perhaps even more so than Whitney. This beat was sampled on Mariah's Rainbow album. I discovered it years ago but it just recently got back on my playlist.
7. Teenage Reverb | Where Did The Summer Go? (666)
This track samples a house music track that I'm very familiar with, I just can't put my finger on it. It's weird because I'm sure it influenced my writing at some point. Anyway that's beside the point. This loud-as-fuck beat is sick.
8. Diane Tell | Gilberto
Diane Tell is a genius. Hailing from Quebec City, Gilberto is the song that first put her on the map. It is a tribute to Joao Gilberto, which can be clearly assessed when listening to the way Tell writes her intricate blue-note-filled melodies.
9. Arcade Fire | Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)
Although I don't enjoy listening to Arcade Fire as much as I used to, this song hits it out of the ballpark. Régine channels her inner Debbie Harry quite convincingly on a song that is a departure from what her band's done before.
10. Léo Basel | Larmes de Crocodile
Hearing this one the first time was funny since I sing a similarly-titled song. However Léo Basel's own was recorded much earlier than mine and therefore isn't tongue-in-cheek in any way whatsoever. Racially dubious lyric included.
+11. The Brian Jonestown Massacre | Anemone
+12. Ahsa Puthli | Space Talk
+13. Poème Electronique | The Echoes Fade
+14. This Mortal Coil | Fond Affections
+15. Ludus | Breaking The Rules
+16. Paul McCartney | Check My Machine
+17. Thomas Luck | Kosmos
+18. Prophet | You Really Turn Me On
+19. Planetarium | Man (Part Two)
+20. The Human League | The Things That Dreams Are Made Of
WARMER MIXTAPES #224 | by +Blissed Out+
1. Gucci Mane | It's Gucci Time (feat. Swizz Beatz)
Swizz Beatz is an incredible producer. Kanye calls him the best ever. For this song he samples Justice's Phantom. I think that in two years, rap producers will sample Salem the way Swizz samples Justice now.
2. Salem | King Night
We were at SXSW last spring and Jack took his dick out and casually pissed under the table we all were sitting at.
3. Justice | Waters Of Nazereth
And what we do on Justice is a bit of music, but mainly it's just A&R. We are just A&Ring the project of Justice. It's almost like a boy band you know? It's all about making the right decisions at the right moment. I don't mean that we are making music in a cynical way... We love music, and [our] music is made with a lot of sincerity... But I guess music is more about making decisions than having skills. We are not great musicians. We are not great producers. We are not great songwriters. We are just nothing, but we have clear ideas of what we want to do, and even more what we don't want to do. - Justice
4. Zola Jesus | Night
We are not daytime people.
5. White Ring | IxC999
Disaro is killing it. Kendra's slightly inaudible vocals keep us coming back to this one. The basement is haunted? I don't know I watched the Ring last night and though it was a good soundtrack.
6. Gatekeeper | Slow Walk
We played with Gatekeeper last week at Glasslands in Brooklyn, New York. They put on the most amazing live performance I have ever seen. Lights and fog that are controlled by a visual effects team that they brought with them. Truly an inspiration.
7. Drake | Up All Night
I'm about whatever, man. Fuck what they be talking about. Their opinion doesn't count. We the only thing that matters.
8. Pearl Harbor | California Shakedown
Los Angeles is our new second home. We will be there for a while at the end of September. We were there in June and played on the side of a mountain overlooking the city with Sun Araw, Foot Village, and Run DMT. The highlight of this project so far.
9. Pink Priest | Seance
Best art direction in the realm of cassette labels. Pink Priest has been holding it down for the last year calling shots over at Bathetic Records. They just put out their first 7 inch. Blissed Out and Pink Priest have some serious collaborative things in the works.
10. Pictureplane | Goth Star
Pictureplane is one of the realist out. While everyone was nerding out on the beach and chill wave he was already talking about getting dark. He coined the term witch house and truly is an innovative artist. We will be at his house, the Rhinoceropolis, in Denver on October 8. Thrilled about that.
WARMER MIXTAPES #223 | by Monty Cooper of Clubfeet
1. Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti | Beverly Kills
Beverly Kills the freaks with her golden arrow...The house prices don't go down yet all around I see the underground. I know a guy used to ball in the league, yeah, he's dancing in the street...The perfect summation of lost promise and dreams gone awry. It's Ariel Pink's ode to himself. Aging drop outs crushed and unable to pay their rent, the aspiring hopefuls and washed up ball players clinging on to what's left of their hopes, being left behind by the real world. You can't stop the press.
2. Peter Gabriel | Red Rain
Well hell we all know a red rain is going to fall, but it's nice when it's wrapped up in poly rhythms and massive 80s toms.
3. Blur | This Is A Low
Well everyone has their obsessional adolescent band, and this one was one of mine - which I guess might help explain away my haircuts. At the time I didn't know much of anything about the Kinks, or David Bowie, but I knew that when Graham's guitars swirled in This Is A Low and Damon sang the results of the British Shipping report over the top I had never heard anything so perfect...
3. Yeasayer | O.N.E.
Most flaming track of the last 12 months, just saw them play at a festival and lost our shit to this track. It's also soundtracked a road trip through the Klein Karoo in South Africa - I think it dropped when we hit the snowy peaks of the Schwartberg Pass.
4. Depeche Mode | Useless (K&D Remix)
This whole sound has been murdered by chill out and cafe del blah but Sessions was the definitive downtempo record - a mix of blunted jazz, dub, Brian Eno, and Austrian tycoon. I got given this on tape (I think I was playing in on my $4 Panaphonic cassette deck) on the shore of Lake Titicaca in Bolivia when I was 18 and it stayed in the deck for 4 months on repeat... When Dave Gahan's Echoing in myyyyyyyyyyyy.... mind first hit I almost lost my insides with joy. Even my old man was fond of a bit of the Kruger.
5. The Go-Betweens | Cattle And Cane
The Go-Betweens were the Australian Fleetwood Mac - two couples in a band together, oscillating from art school pretense to pop aspiration, from a small sunbaked Australian city to London squats and squallor, trying to keep the ends from fraying too badly. This song captures it all.
6. Jonathon Boulet | A Community Service Announcement
This is a ray of pastoral sunshine from a Sydney drummer/skate-rat who recorded it all in his garage and ended up getting hunted down by Kanye West for a man hug.
7. Bob Dylan | Mozambique
When Bob gets all hazy and wistful, makes me want to be in Africa with a linen suit and a cocktail named after a Victorian explorer.
8. Dr. Dog | Heart It Races (Architecure In Helsinki Cover)
Genius version of a genius track. It's a summer day swilling Sangria and splashing in the kiddie pool.
9. Phoenix | Too Young
We had to smoke about 30 packets of Camel cigarettes to get into a Camel-only Phoenix gig at the Bowery Ballroom in 2006 and it was worth every *cough* one.
10. Tame Impala | Solitude Is Bliss (Canyons Remix)
Two of the best Western Australia acts get super psychadelic and blissed out together in a big custardy MDMA bathtub.
WARMER MIXTAPES #222 | by Joseph Calamusa [LAY BAC]
1. Daft Punk | Voyager
Daft Punk is one of my favorite musical acts ever. Every song on Discovery is filled with my dreams about space exploration, cyborg love and neon nights. Voyager contains the most beautiful bass tone I have had the pleasure of hearing. Plus I'm a sucker for groovy basslines such as this. Daft Punk got me interested in using samples but a part of me actually wants to keep the origin of this song a unknown to me.
2. Michael Jackson | Rock With You
Everything about this song is great. Off The Wall is such a great album and is my personal favorite from MJ. Every time I turn on Rock With You I feel very intimate and I just wanna lay back and feel my heart beat. I really like how calm yet passionate MJ sounds here.
3. My Bloody Valentine | Swallow
I like alot of MBV's work, but I have to say this is by far my favorite song by them. To me Swallow sounds like shoegaze from the middle east and I can picture myself somewhere like Cairo, baked in the Sun. I'm in a palm tree pool trying to communicate my attraction towards a cute native girl but I'm taking my time, slowly.
4. Wings | Arrow Through Me (with Paul McCartney)
I really wish I was twenty years of age during the 70's. I never grow tired of this song. Arrow Through Me goes down real smooth with Paul's cool, almost raspy vocal cords. This song is perfect for getting down and intimate to. Sounds like McCartney is doing a Stevie Wonder cover. So so so so so so sexy.
5. The Whitest Boy Alive | Courage
Nowadays you don't ever hear music like this. It has everything I love about disco, a pulsing bassline, syncopated synths (Rhodes?) and a steady beat. Courage also filters out everything that made disco cheesy. I always feel so classy and attractive when I blast this.
6. Deerhunter | Vox Celeste
Vox Celeste absolutely kills. I really became enamoured with Deerhunter when Cryptograms came out but when Microcastle came out I was a little bit disappointed. Thank God for Weird Era Continued. I love the whole extra album and I consider it the true follow up to Cryptograms. This song sounds exactly what I imagined Deerhunter evolving into, a nu My Bloody Valentine at their most poppiest. Every time I turn it up in my car and speed off with the windows down.
7. The Beach Boys | Don't Worry Baby
The guitars in this song pluck my ears so nicely. The Beach Boys are spot on in Don't Worry Baby, the voices all come together so perfectly. The melodies are catchy and they do a good job keeping my attention. I want to walk down a beach with this stuck in my head. Only the best of moods are guaranteed.
8. Snoop Dogg | Let's Get Blown
I'm going to talk about sexy basslines again. This song has some really cool production and I really like the call and shout action between Pharell and girl. Snoop Dogg is my self conscience à la Brad Pitt/Edward Norton in Fight Club. He's telling me that I should stop beating around the bush and ask this girl out tonight.
9. Earth, Wind & Fire | September
September gives me a celebration of visuals in my mind. Fire works, dusk and dawn in the city. This song is just so groovy and it's impossible for my mood not to be lifted when I turn it on. Good times will happen when you turn this on loud at a party.
10. Klaxons | As Above, So Below (Justice Remix)
Justice did an excellent job making this song a classic remix. The beat sticks down into your legs and you just have to dance. The main sample is spliced up perfectly with the drums and voices. For some reason it reminds me of the chemical level in Sonic The Hedgehog 2 for Genesis.
WARMER MIXTAPES #221 | by Autre Ne Veut
1. Marvin Gaye | Third World Girl
This song is one of the all-time great grooves. Off Midnight Love. He's just riffing, then overdubs. Brilliant and broken.
2. Etoile De Dakar | Thiely
An old roommate left an unmarked CD-R behind and this was the opening track. I was in shock.
3. Stevie Wonder | Creepin'
More proof that Stevie's a freak.
4. Whitney Houston | So Emotional
As good an example as any of Whitney's unparalleled combination of vocal chops and almost-inhuman restraint.
5. Kate Bush | Houdini
Fairly certain that this song describes the sexual euphoria that women experience while giving birth. I don't understand it, but I've been assured that it's a very real and very complicated feeling.
6. Holger Czukay | Persian Love
On par with Touch Of Grey for feelgood factor. And frankly, I don't know what either song is about.
7. Nancy Nova | The Force
Heard this for the first time recently; a Disney-witch sound for the dance floor. Just dark enough.
8. Lubomyr Melnyk | Niche/Nourish
Was introduced to him last fall in concert with Blue Gene Tyranny. Recordings don't come close to the live experience. The slight delay between the piano and the PA didn't hurt a bit.
9. Lime | Babe, We're Gonna Love Tonight
Found this track on a budget-label disco compilation CD during the Tower Records liquidation sale.
10. Erasure | Always
Those measures in the hook are in 5/4. It really is the little things.
WARMER MIXTAPES #220 | by Scott Milton [The Present Moment]
1. Unison | Outside
A 2 piece from France that is capable of creating such sonic majesty that I've been slighty obsessed with after my first listen. Great songwriters.
2. Led Er Est | Port Isabel
Robert Disaro turned me on to them a few weeks back. Great synthbass riffs, infectious beat, low verb vocals, uplifting chorus, just love this track!
3. Grace Jones | Corporate Cannibal
This came out a few years back, and let me tell you Grace has not lost her edge one bit. The video alone should give you nightmares for weeks. Lyrically I love everything this song has to say, powerful! I cannot get enough prey... Pray for me!
4. Fever Ray | Seven
In love with Karen Dreijer. anything she does is gold to me. She has the power to transform and hypnotise me as a musician, visual artist and vocalist.
5. IAMX | This Will Make You Love Again
Huge I am X fan all 3 of his albums are rock solid. This particular track hit me at a time where I was in a pretty vulnerable state, def a song for those arriving at a crossroads point in their lives. A truly beautiful song!
6. SALEM | Frost
Totally original, no one like them, period. On first listen it changed the way I looked at electronic music and composition haunting classic track!
7. Light Asylum | Shallow Tears
Beautiful sad song about being born out of this world, but at the same time lined with such hope for the future, and love in general to conquer all. A classic to me!
8. Mater Suspiria Vision | Exorcism Of The Hippies
Man, first thing I have seen/listened too in the longest time, that literally had me glued to the computer monitor. Didn't know what the fuck I was experiencing. All I knew was that I liked it alot. Trippy, creepy, psychedelic, strange and brilliant!
9. CROSSOVER | Dark Blue
Hey, ma and pa... We're comin' for your kids, better lock those doors up, we're breakin' in...A song that can scare the shit out of your parents, is an instant classic in my book!
10. VALIS | Exiges
Was building a dj set up recently and a freind of mine upon request send me a few tracks. I just think they are one of the best new bands around, they create so many different sonic elements in a 4 min song that I think trump alot of what I hear out there lately!
+11. //TENSE// | Cash In
Great floor stomper, reminds me of the golden years of WaxTrax done with such bravado, killer live band from what I've seen on YouTube. Album available now via Disaro/Desire.
+12. Cosmetics | Soft Skin
Icy cool as a song can get... Love it!
+13. Soft Metals | Cold World Melts
Another amazing track, great sythlines...Yes, I am a sucker for a good hook, and this duo supplies them with sugar glass vox of Patricia Hall, wonderful, addictive traxx, love 'em!
WARMER MIXTAPES #219 | by Neil Sanzgiri of Soft Cat
1. Rita Lee | José (Joseph)
Unbelievable song by the queen of Tropicalia. I was introduced to Tropicalia starting with Os Mutantes by a good friend in high school and tried to dig up every memorable album of the genre. Most of it has faded for me, but this song has always stood out. Soft Cat has definitely been influenced by the sound of the production and use of strings and vocals; I just think we need more organ.
2. The Incredible String Band | Air
Like I said, I wish I had more organ in my songs! This is one of my favorite Incredible String Band songs. The progression is so simple and comforting. It wraps around you like a strange quilt. I remember buying Wee Tam on vinyl my senior year in high school and hating it, but I think that’s how some of the best things in this world are introduced.
3. Jan Johannson | Visa Från Rättvik
I found this album last summer and it will never cease to comfort me. Literally translated as Jazz In Sweedish this album really introduced me into a wide variety of jazz related music stemming from my interest in medieval and baroque sounds. Some of the tones and notes remind me of Eric Satie, but Johannson’s unique twist on jazz and the emphasis of upright bass make this triumph as a gem over Satie. Someday I would really like to experience this album properly in the Sweedish country side.
4. Donovan | Legend Of A Girl Child Linda
I didn’t think anyone else knew about Donovan except my friends, my mom and I until I got out of high school. Looking back on it now, I’ve realized how much I romanticized Donovan and that whole era. It is sort of hard for me to listen to this stuff now with my conflicted political views (maybe responsibilities is a better word?) and how to deal with moving on past the romantic and on to the real. It is a hard road to travel but one I feel well worth the effort when examined correctly. Excellent production on this song though.
5. Bill Callahan | Too Many Birds
This song, along with Lambchops’ Slipped Disolved And Loosed, directly influenced my song Blackbird. The beat of the drums fits so well and Callahan really paired every instrument down to what it needed to be instead of being too excessive with his arrangements, unlike I do sometimes. The revealing of the phrase If you could only stop your heartbeat for one heartbeat word by word building upon itself is pretty genius.
6. Bridget St. John | Song For The Waterden Window
The strings on this song far surpass any I’ve ever heard. Bridget St. John is pretty Nico-esque but I often prefer her for how genuine and uninvolved with anything else she is. It's hard following in someones’ footsteps like that. I found this one on some british folk-rock comp years ago and still listen to every song on that album. Sometimes I wonder what it would be like the son of a beautiful, legendary female folk singer like Bridget St. John or Sibylle Baier. I would probably hate this shit.
7. J. Tillman | First Born
J. Tillman is my favorite. Far superior to his band Fleet Foxes, this song has some of the best moral content. I was lying on my girlfriend’s bed one time listening to this and gathered every ounce of the song I could at the moment. I think I might have regurgitated a lot of this into Soft Cat, which is definitely a good thing. My boy Abacus just recorded a song with him and the flute player from Fleet Foxes. That shit is wild.
8. The Microphones | I Felt Your Shape
I’d rather not say too much about this song.
9. Scott Walker | In My Room
This song started Soft Cat in a really strange way. I was doing a really terrible alter-ego project for a class and came up with a mock personality called Nick Winter who followed the same life paths as Scott Walker… Anyway I eneded up recording Silver Babies Sun somehow trying to imitate the stylings of this song and ended up far from it. I really wish I could write progressions like this.
10. The Kinks | Waterloo Sunset
Still the best song of the 70’s. This song will never grow old. A girl put this on a cd for me once in like 8th grade and it has stuck with me ever since. It’s so straight forward. As long as I gaze on Waterloo Sunset I am in paradise. I often find myself staring at sunsets and nothing else crosses my mind other than the face I am looking at a sunset, and I feel really dumb that I can have some large epiphany that coincided with the sunset. This song lets me know that’s alright.
WARMER MIXTAPES #218 | by Adam O'Reilly of DUZHEKNEW
1. Void | Condensed Flesh
It's nostalgic at this point for me, but I still listen to this all the time. I bike by the kids in the skatepark and hope they know - pass the young punks under the trees in the park and hope they know too. (I am sure they do/dew).
2. BARR | The Song Is The Single
I know this is old too, but I pulled it out again earlier this year and easily listen to this every other day. Brendan is a real/reel special guy. The intersection between his art and songs are really great, this single is more of conceptual art piece then it is just a pop song.
3. Ariel Pink | Menopause Man
Ariel stepped up his game with this new record, it’s fantastic, and this song is a gem/jem. Reminds me of the records my dad put on as a kid, listening but not really understanding what was going on. He used to play Yes and Rush all the time, I love it now but at the time it just seemed magic/confusing.
4. Kurt Vile | Invisibility: Nonexistent
I saw him play late last year without having heard any of his music prior. I knew I was watching something very real/special/honest/fantastic.
5. Arthur Russell | The Platform On The Ocean
AR is one of my favorites, but this song in particular I think is really terrific. I live near the ocean, so i really like the imagery and image-scape he creates.
6. Arif Sag | Osman Pehlivan
What a riff! It reminds me that I really love playing guitar with a wah.
7. Beat Happening | I Spy
I listen to Beat Happening alot, it’s no lie/lay. I met Calvin last year, I bought a record from him and told him I was a fan, which was a huge understatement, the whole thing was very uneventful, but I will never forget it.
8. Blackbeard | I Wah Dub
This is a whole album, but I think of it is a one long thought, the production is so good/gewd. Blackbeard (Dennis Bovell) also produced some Post-Punk bands in England around the same time, including the Slits.
9. Women | Eyesore
I was excited to hear the change in focus on this new record, it was worth the wait/weight.
10. Long Long Long | Tell Me It Isn't Your Blood
Local Halifax Prodigies/Perogies/Friends, they are great guys and real cute too!
+11. Blurt | Dog Save My Sole
1982, Ted Milton, Sax/No Wave/Art Rock, this whole album Red Flame is worth a listen.
+12. Sarah Mangle Buys A Bear | Kori
I’ve recently taken to covering one of Sarah’s songs at almost every show, she’s a huge inspiration, and her brother Aaron plays in DUZ.
