This Mix Doesn't Exist - Vol. 1

New feature! I shall talk briefly and at length about various tracks that I have recently come across and enjoyed, but, at the risk of making these posts worthless, I won't be offering any actual music because I am a lazy boy and I'm not 100% on the legality of such a thing, (or even on the possibility that anyone would find out and prosecute me for it). But you will find the band names link to their myspaces or last.fm pages, where you can usually find some of their stuff, if not the actual track I'm banging on about. The label names will link to the label websites where there might also be some music hosted.

This Mix Doesn't Exist - Vol. 1

1) "Modern Leper" by Frightened Rabbit from The Midnight Organ Fight on FatCat Records from 2008

A leper is used as a metaphor for a social leper. It's about not fitting in, feeling other from scoiety. The music is played in such an uplifting euphoric way, it leaves you with a sense of triumph about feeling this way, about feeling fucked up inside but being able to deal with that, and finding whatever silver-lining you can from it.

2) "Right Hand On My Heart" by The Whigs from Mission Control on ATO Rcords from 2008

Sweaty rock, chiming notes and churning riffs and powerful rhythm section with a catchy chorus. All more nuanced than you might assume, I would say "intelligent songwriting" if I could be sure of what I meant by that.

3) "Precursor (Feat. Quadraceptor)" by Amon Tobin from Supermodified on Ninja Tune from 2000

Brazillian born electronic artist, mixing hip-hop, drum and bass, jazz and shit. The album is imposing and heavy, but somehow I still find it really accessible. This track's molested jazz is different to the rest of the album in sound, but the spirit is definitely the same. The scat squeaks run through my head at unexpected moments during the day.

4) "Way Out" by Ellen Allien & Apparat from Orchestra Of Bubbles on BPitch Control from 2006

Really exciting electronic/techno stuff. The album is a mixture of textural glitches and fragments married to over-arching melodies and overt pop sensibilities. Allien's vocals don't appear often on the album, and although she can be great at singing, you don't really miss it because there is so much going on in each track you never get bored.

5) "Brief Candles" by The Zombies from Odessey And Oracle on Repertoire from 2008 (expanded anniversary edition, original album released in 1968)

Brilliant album, a psychedelic, folky, r 'n' b, British Invasion sound with some of the most sublime melodies . This song feels like a partner to The Kinks' "Waterloo Sunset", loneliness in the prettiest sense.

6) "The Swimming Song" by Vetiver from Thing Of The Past on FatCat Records from 2008

This song is originally by Loudon Wainwright IIIrd, from 1974. I Love the lyrics, about being in a bad way, but pulling through, empowerment. Softer and better recorded than the original.

7) "Ohio Heat" by Super Furry Animals from Love Kraft on Epic/Sony BMG from 2005

I Picked up this album for cheap (£1.99 brand new), presumably because it didn't sell as much as the record company expected. I probably wouldn't have bought it otherwise because SFA never really interested me. But it is a really solid album, playful and interesting. Great chorus here, and overall atmosphere.

8) "Move On Up" by Curtis Mayfield from Curtis on Rhino from 2000 (a reissue)

The contrast of his sweet falsetto smoothness and the busy funk filled track is brilliant. The horn hook slays, I never get tired of hearing it. What really propells this track is the percussion, bongos on a rapid pace, with drum kit and a latin feel to it all.

9) "Screaming Hand" by Jay Reatard from See/Saw 7" on Matador from 2008

Bit of an odd transition, but there is a similar propulsive energy, I feel. He has previously done garage rock/punk stuff, but it didn't really grab me. But a new 7" series on his new label Matador have been distinctly more pop oriented. Love the twanging chiming guitar near the end.

10) "Colorado" by Grizzly Bear from Yellow House on Warp from 2006

Strange ephemeral feel, slippery and hallucinatory. Beautiful, in it's way.

11) "Opened Space" by Grouper from Cover The Windows And Walls on Free Porcupine from 2006

This album has knocked me out. It seems like guitar-based solo songs, electronics and tape manipulation are used. Basically, a shit-ton of reverb and/or echo is used to layer notes so that they merge and slide about each other, with the vocals so indistinct as to be wordless chanting. Yet the emotional core of this solo-songwriter guitar music makes it's ghostly way through the murk, unsettling and lulling.

12) "Jesus Walk With Me" by Club 8 from The Boy Who Couldn't Stop Dreaming on Labrador from 2007

Swedish duo making soft pretty and bittersweet pop music. While I can't support the specific lyrical message, I can the jist. The line "Well if God made me/Well then Jesus saved me" is delivered brilliantly.

13) "Cigarettes" by Russian Red from I Love Your Glasses on Eureka from 2008

Spanish singer/songwriter who sings in English with a country twang which makes her voice sound a little like Joanna Newsom. Fragile and powerful song.

14) "No Need To Cry" by British Sea Power from Do You Like Rock Music? on Rough Trade from 2008

This is by secondary songwriter Hamilton, who is brother of main songwriter Yan. I usually prefer Hamilton's voice and songs, not sure why. This is buried near the end of the album, but it is one of the best songs. I think it perhaps gets over-shadowed by the crashing brashness of the front of the album, but some of those grandiose songs leave me cold. There is a strange soul influence to the music of this song, and a great late night under water production job. Lovely and weary.