IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE MADE AWARE WHEN FUTURE PROJECTS BECOME AVAILABLE,
THEN PLEASE
NOTE THAT THIS IS NOT A MONEY MAKING EXERCISE
IT HAS BEEN DONE PURELY FOR
THE LOVE OF MUSIC
AND WE ARE HAVING AN ABSOLUTE BLAST
BELOW YOU WILL FIND LINKS TO THE FEATURED ARTISTS ALONG WITH BASIC NOTES EXPLAINING MUSICAL CHOICES AND INSPIRATIONS
LOADED FROM VECTOR TRAP - GUTTERSNIPE
It was always my intention to start off this mix with something difficult and uncomfortable and, of course, the opening track is always vitally important. You need to make it memorable in whatever way possible. I found out about this band whist in the process of creating the mix – they are a good example to cite when people argue that nobody makes original sounding stuff anymore. Actually, the more I hear it the more I hear structure – and dare I say it – melody to this tune.
HEY NOW HERE HE COMES - BELBURY POLY
The thing about streaming music in the 21st Century is that you can hear a tune on the radio or wherever, save it to your library and promptly forget about it. One evening at home I set about pouring through my library to listen to all the stuff that I didn’t instantly recognise. This was one of those tunes. After the chaos of Guttersnipe I really like the rolling patterns of this tune and the way the vocals are delivered electronically. This one lollops along like a drunken cyber rabbit on its way back to the burrow from the pub.
HE WAS A BIG FREAK - BETTY DAVIS
I quite like reading Pitchfork magazine and a couple of years ago they published their Top 200 songs of the 70s. This featured in the list and I had never heard it before. Everything about it is a sleezefest from the lyrics to the guitar hooks. The best thing about the whole tune is her voice – you could strip paint with it in a good way – it’s like vocal sulphuric acid being barfed up over a filthy down-tempo funk review.
JAN HAMMER OF THE GODS - THE BONGOLIAN
I could have picked anything from The Bongolian, it is the sound of contemporary nostalgia which I first came across as the theme to BT Sports cricket coverage. I chose Jan Hammer of the Gods as the title really references Miami Vice, Led Zeppelin, and Thor and what is not to love about that?
It’s Gary Numan – genius.
WILDERNESS OF GLASS - HHY & THE MACUMBAS
This is another one I picked up whilst creating the mix. I really like the brass / electronica juxtaposition and builds like a palace in Minecraft. It’s Jazz I suppose but this is my kind of jazz maaaan!
ARIES THE FIRE FIGHTER - THE ZODIAC
I have never forgotten the line ‘incendiary diamonds scorch the Earth’. I was listening to the Freakzone on 6music and they always have a featured album of the week. The Zodiac was chosen as album of the week as a bizarre psychedelic folly that is actually really good. I could have fallen over when I heard THE LINE. And thus it was that once I knew I was creating a mix this was always going to be on it.
I love the way the guy in this is so serious and I do like the fact that they are talking about the greatest band in Earth’s history. Also, there is a dark menace about the hook. Mogwai are a very compilation-friendly band, you could shoehorn a Mogwai track anywhere in my opinion.
Sounds to me like this whole track is being played and recorded live. It sounds as though the whole thing could descend into a shambolic tangle at any moment but they somehow manage to hold it together to form this maelstrom of a piece. This was my favourite tune of 2017 and it was always going to be a closer, be that at the end of 'side a or b'.
I have only recently been introduced to John Maus but I think his imaginary synth soundtracks are superb. This man should have way more exposure.
INITIALS B.B. - SERGE GAINSBOURG
I read an article recently where Geoff Barrow was asked what is being played on his tour bus. He mentioned this tune so I sought it out. It’s the brass section that does it for me but in addition I am currently enjoying a lot of French music. It was going to be this or something from La Femme. I think La Femme will feature in forthcoming mixes.
JOHN CARPENTER'S HALLOWEEN - TRENT REZNOR & ATTICUS ROSS
Originally I was going to include the Carpenter original. I thought I’d include this version, however in hindsight I’m not sure it really fits in with the vibe I was looking for. Still, a good version.
GAGARIN - PUBLIC SERVICE BROADCASTING
We need to do a Space-based mix very soon. This is just superb – PSB are national treasures in my eyes.
One of my favourite 80s films and possibly my favourite 80s soundtrack – certainly the best tune from the soundtrack.
ATTACK MUSIC - THESE NEW PURITANS
I think Hidden is one of the great albums of the 21st Century and I love Attack Music. Is it a clarinet being played? I think it is and it gives the piece a real singular sound.
What a tune! I heard the boy Tom Ravenscroft play this on 6music, and the band themselves describe it as surf punk jazz – who am I to argue?
FIRECRACKER - YELLOW MAGIC ORCHESTRA
This is a joy of a tune – and from the 70s? It sounds really contemporary to my ears. Perfect ear food for a compilation
…and finally…another tune that I heard only recently. This is pretty much a drone for the first five minutes and morphs into the sounds of communication between a fleet of 50s styled b-movie flying saucers attacking the White House. Astounding!
ALTERNATIVELY, FOLLOW THE LINK BELOW FOR THE 60 MINUTE
APPLE MUSIC 'SOFT EDIT'