Its 4/20 man! This mix has little to do with that unofficial holiday, but I suppose it would be a good soundtrack for chillin in the afternoon as one does.
00:00 Alias feat DoseOne - Opus Ashamed
04:55 Tortoise - C.T.A.
10:00 Sybarite - Sun With Teeth
13:40 Mark Van Hoen - Since Tomorrow Will Come
18:53 The Telescopes - Italian Air
24:00 Bruce Springsteen - State Trooper (Trentemoller Mix)
28:33 Echo Park - Innocent X
33:03 Richard Thomas - Echo-Locator2
36:31 Andy Votel - Hemlockd
40:02 Bedouin Ascent - Composition C for Neutral Space
42:33 Pram - Strategies for Success Boxes
48:01 Mark Franklin - Release to the System (Original Mix)
56:31 DJ Food - Aerosolilique Pts 1-3
61:44 Creature - Stuffed Hostage (The Ambient Western Orb Mix)
Big fan of Tortoise and all their associated side and solo projects. Back in college, "Millions Now Living Will Never Die" was my go-to study music. Even now, every time I hear that album it brings back memories of late nights writing papers, studying, and doing everything I could to survive working full time, being a teacher, and getting a degree, oh yeah and still having a social life while living with two bartenders and a tattoo artist. Those were wild times.
This mix poses the question what if they reissued "A Lazarus Taxon" today with two discs of additional rarities/comps/remixes? Well, here is what I'd imagine that might just look like, collecting up all the odds and ends that didn't wind up on that original release, "A Digest Compendium of The Tortoise's World" or the "remixes" album.
I had planned on using the track "Closedown - Bliss" in a mix and saw this track included on a recent Slow Poof mix from Pol Inate, so I decided to switch things up and spiraled into a hazy swirl of shoegazey bliss of my own.
00:00 Plumtree - Scott Pilgrim
02:59 Cryogeyser - Sorry
05:42 Aurore Rein - The Placebo Kiss
11:31 Ozean - Fall
15:54 Caspian - Sad Heart of Mine
20:00 Aerial - Time is on Fire
26:56 Closedown - Skywards
31:19 Bill Wells Octet - Olympic Material
35:15 Big Thief - Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You (Tucson)
The next two mixes are also from that same stash of unearthed mixes from 2006. This one however has been modernized somewhat. What I found was a mix that had about 8 or 9 artists with two tracks, and about 6 more artists with only one track. I figured I'd update this a bit, so I could have two separate mixes with one track from each of these artists. I really wanted this to work out where it would be the same order of artists on both mixes, but the tracks just didn't flow that well together. There are a couple anomalies between these two mixes, but I don't think it matters that much in the grand scheme of things.
This is kind of a grey area as it relates to my previous "supergroups" post. This time I tried to focus on more side projects and one album collaborations between some artists. There are certainly some loose interpretations of this theme here, still a great selection across these three mixes.
This first one is focused on dark ambient, industrial, and neofolk music.
Mix 1:
00:00 Les Joyaux De La Princesse & Regard Extreme - Jetzt Aber Tagts
03:22 Zu93 (Zu & Current 93) - Confirm the Mirror Emperor
07:55 Nurse With Wound & Larsen - Rock, Baby, Rock
12:53 Hypnopazuzu (Youth & Current 93) - Sweet Sodom SingSongs
17:42 Melvins & Lustmord - Toadi Acceleratio
20:20 Scorpion Wind (Death In June & Boyd Rice) - In Vino Veritas
24:39 Nurse With Wound & Aranos - Mary Jane
30:49 Lustmord & Metal Beast - Open Towers Emerge (Version)
35:12 Les Joyaux De La Princesse & Freya Aswynn - Wolf Rune 1
41:07 Hank & Slim (Rapoon & Nocturnal Emissions) - Suitcase on the Highway
44:29 Wolf Pact (Boyd Rice, Death in June & Der Blutharsch) - Murder Bag
48:53 Nurse With Wound & Faust - Lass Mich
61:53 Tony Conrad & Faust - The Death of the Composer was in 1962
65:02 Stereolab & Nurse With Wound - Exploding Head Movie
Call this part two of the "Air travel" mix from a couple days ago, as it is more tracks that were recollected based on the Mojo "Pigs Might Fly" compilation. Always love the Jane and her husband collaborations. Included a mid-late period Can track off Saw Delight, an album I don't listen to as often as their earlier more iconic works. Mummy Dust Trippers is a leftover track from when I compiled the Unexpected Gamelan series. Ulan Bator is a quirky fun post-rock group from France. I'd had this track sitting in a folder for years waiting for the right mix to include it in. Josefin Ohrn is an artist I came across via that Mojo comp and started seeking out whatever else I could find from them. Orthodox is a doom metal band, but here they're somewhat less heavy and more psychedelic - I like to think of this song as a doom laden free jazz version of "The End" by the doors; maybe that's a stretch. Larsen is a group I'd not have paid much attention to if not for the Nurse With Wound collaboration. I tend to find a lot of music through that kind of association. The Quickspace track is from an old krautrock/motoric compilation I made about 10-15 years back, and reused it here. Pretty sure I have those old mixes slated for upload soon so it'll be duplicated there. I came across a "demos and rarities" version of James Plotkin's "The Joy Of Disease" and refamiliarized myself with the wonderful music there. Ending with a track from that Mojo comp with ties this up nicely.
00:00 Jane Weaver - Electric Mountain (Andy Votel Analogue Mountain Instro)
The third of his questions. Songs that evoke happiness and fond memories.
His Name Is Alive's track is kind of my spiritual anthem when I am out in nature and feel that meditation-connectedness and bliss as if I'm part of everything. This Godspeed You Black Emperor is a little long, but has such a powerful climax and impact on me; I can't do anything but smile - this is purportedly a reworking of Henryk Gorecki's Symphony No 3 Op 36 (Symphony of Sorrowful Songs). Seefeel are an electronic/shoegaze band and this is my favorite from them - brings such joy everytime I hear its hypnotic sounds. Broadcast, easily my all time favorite artist, I had a very hard time selecting one song. Psychic TV's The Orchids is such an out of place track for them (most of the members were the first industrial band Throbbing Gristle). The Sundays are my guilty pleasure, and I absolutely adore this song. This Devendra Banhart cover of Townes Van Zandt is very special, it's the song I sang both of my daughters to sleep with. Lastly is Bright Eyes, and this song hits so close to home it could've been written about my group of friends in the 90s.
00:00 His Name is Alive - We Hold The Land in Great Esteem
03:52 Godspeed You Black Emperor - Moya
14:24 Seefeel - Spangle
21:33 Broadcast - Come on Let's Go
24:41 Psychic TV - The Orchids
27:36 The Sundays - Here's Where The Story Ends
31:23 Devendra Banhart - Colorado Girl (Townes Van Zandt)
This next set of four mixes I made for my friend Mark S, also from around 2010. We used to swap mix tapes a lot (I will have some of his uploaded in the near future), and then I moved on to CDr's and he did not. I made this set of four for him as I have a tendency to overwhelm people with music. This one is still one of my favorite mixes I've made. In hindsight I'd likely swap out just a couple tracks, but overall its one I'm proud of. Lots of garage, punk, pop-punk/alternative, and touching on shoegaze. Back when I was more on top of sneaking dialogue samples into mixes.
00:00 Slapshot - Coaches Speech
00:46 Moonhearts - I Hate Myself
03:59 Soul Asylum - Broken Glass
06:16 Shock Headed Peters - Four Your Love (live)
08:20 Ned's Atomic Dustbin - Throwing Things (live)
11:31 Skywave - Wear This Dress
14:12 Legendary Pink Dots - Super (Neu!)
18:27 Los Plantronics - John Wayne drunk again
19:50 Las Robertas - Ballroom
22:00 The Fresh & Onlys - Waterfall
25:02 Nerve City - Sleepwalker
27:04 Outrageous Cherry - Tracy
29:54 Have A Nice Life - Trespassers W
35:34 The Prids - The Problem
37:42 Crocodiles - Mirrors
43:03 Man Ray - Interview
44:05 Dum Dum Girls - There Is A Light That Never Goes Out (The Smiths)
48:14 Lush - Mannequin (Wire)
50:37 Scarling - Wave of Mutilation (Pixies)
53:28 The Gaslight Anthem - The Queen of Lower Chelsea
57:03 Mazzy Star - Blue Flower (live) (Slapp Happy)
60:39 Readymade - Maryland, That Means Good
61:06 Me You Us Them - Big Time
66:35 Piano Magic - The End of A Dark, Tired Year
71:27 mewithoutYou - Everything Was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt
Next chunk of my all time favorite EPs, presented in no logical order. Meat Beat made the cut again, because while their albums are amazing, I think they really shine in the EP format. Mr Jack Dangers has such a creative knack for making something completly new when he self-remixes. The Now remixes here are simply wonderful, and the inclusion of Love Mad a non LP track is one of the highlights from this era. The closer is a live excerpt called Children of the Beloved and is a wall of noise with the familiar dialogue (from Storm the Studio) on top. Next up is DJ Wally who I featured recently in a two part overview. This is the track that drew my to him from the great Headz 2A compilation on Mo Wax. To my ears, there isn't any difference between that "Nitty Mix" and the one from this 12". The title track Mustard Plaster was such a fun tune back in the 90's, and holds a lot of great memories for me.
Moving along now to the Yellow Magic Orchestra and The Orb's remixes. I came across these on the YMO tribute/remix album "Hi Tech - No Crime" which is a bit dated now, yet has several timeless tracks like the two from the Orb. I loved those so much, I spent quite a while tracking down this three track EP featuring different mixes. I believe there is a promo 12" that has two other mixes, but I've never come across that. I love the groove the Orb makes on all of these, and this EP has such a flow to it, I think it works well as one long 30 minute adventure as opposed to individual remixes. Then there is Aphex Twin in an early remix EP for their single On. All four tracks on here are in stark contrast to each other, which is what I love about diverse artists on a remix EP. This u-Ziq remix has that fun tape squelch at the beginning that I love how the artist said he thought it added character and left it in. And things like that are non-existent in the now digital recording age.
I've asserted my fondness for the track "Semi-Detatched" from Orbital before, having found it on the Trance Europe Express compilation. Here is the superb peel sessions version where it is paired up with a stunning version of Attached. I agree with one of the commenters on Discogs, this is likely the best thing Orbital ever recorded. Following that epic track with one of the best surprise 7" I ever bought. His Name Is Alive in their 3rd appearance in my Top lists. This one is a fun little 7" on Friendly Science records, and they reinvented their sound again for this doing a fantastic dubby pop style that works so very well. I've included the full side here as there is a good minute or so extra that didn't appear on their CD-R "Rare Tracks in the Snow." For the longest time, I thought the two sides were titled Brazil/Loins des Sambas as that was about the only information listed on the labels. Now according to Discogs, the track is called "Sound System Wants it Sweet" and "Cinnamon Sound System is the extra bit at the end... however on "Rare Tracks" this is clearly called Cinnamon Sound System. Whatever, they can do what they want.
Now the apex of this mix, "Moya" from Godspeed You Black Emperor! Goodness, this is a monster of a jam and a reworking of the third symphony of Gorecki. I've turned many friends on to this band and in return a good friend took me to see them live a few years back. And yes their live shows do live up to all the hype and reviews. This two tack EP is still the highlight of their catalogue for me, probably because it was the first I'd heard, and my dog ate my copy of Lift Your Skinny Fists... before I had a chance to listen to the whole thing. No clue why I never replaced that copy. This is followed by some mellow stylings from Piano Magic. This track was one of the first I'd heard from them on the Seasonally Affective compilation, and the style and lyrics really resonated with me. The B-side, "The Canadian Brought Us Snow" is equally great earning this a spot in my best EPs ever.
Scorn's early years are my favorite, though I do hold a great appreciation for their work in the post-NJ Bullen age. This EP in particular really highlights some dark dark dark illbient and ambient works. Their use and choice of samples in superb, and this minimal mix of the title track has this chill groove and creepy ambience to it. Years after I bought the 10", I got the CD version which appends the "Lick Forever Dog" EP and one out of place remix. I do like the Ninj remix, it just doesn't fit at all with the rest of these songs. Lastly is The Residents with their opus, "Santa Dog." Either you know it and love it, or you avoid it like the plague (my wife is in the latter category). Say what you will, The Residents hold a special place in the history of art, music, and culture.
00:00 Meat Beat Manifesto - Love Mad (Now)
03:26 DJ Wally - My Bloody Valentine (Mustard Plaster)
08:38 Yellow Magic Orchestra - Tong Poo (Green Herbage Mix) (YMO vs The Orb Tong Poo Remixes)
17:11 Aphex Twin - On (u-Ziq mix) (On)
25:45 Orbital - Semi Detatched (Peel Sessions)
33:49 His Name Is Alive - Cinnamon Sound System (Friendly Science)
38:29 Godspeed You Black Emperor! - Moya (Slow Riot For New Zero Kanada)
49:17 Piano Magic - There's No Need For Us To Be Alone (7")
An essential part of my teen and college years. I had shared an unpopular opinion with my friend group, that I preferred Fugazi to Minor Threat, and that was unthinkable to them at the time. Ten years later every one of those friends came around and agreed with my position.
00:00 Waiting Room (Fugazi)
02:51 Bad Mouth (Fugazi)
05:25 Burning (Fugazi)
08:03 Margin Walker (Margin Walker)
10:33 Provisional (Margin Walker)
12:48 Promises (Margin Walker)
16:44 The Word (20 Years of Dischord)
20:54 Turnover (Repeater)
25:09 Repeater (Repeater)
28:10 Merchandise (Repeater)
31:05 Sieve-Fisted Find (Repeater)
34:28 Reclamation (Steady Diet of Nothing)
37:48 Nice New Outfit (Steady Diet of Nothing)
41:12 Long Division (Steady Diet of Nothing)
43:22 KYEO (Steady Diet of Nothing)
46:17 Cassavetes (In On The Kill Taker)
48:32 Facet Squared (In On The Kill Taker)
51:14 Great Cop (In On The Kill Taker)
53:04 Public Witness Program (In On The Kill Taker)
The Brainwashed.com website is quite likely the first website I ever visited on the internet in the late 90's. It was originally an information repository for Meat Beat Manifesto, including the bones of a sample list, discography, and related projects. The site quickly grew to host many other artists, and had a weekly zine called The Brain, which covered obscure record reviews. This was very influential on my budding music exploration and exposed me to countless artists I may not have found otherwise. Then there was the superb "Brain in the Wire" 3 CD sets given away through the Wire monthly subscription. The Otology series (and CD) and the Brainwaves concert / CDs. One of my favorites was "The Eye" a frequent video interview and concert footage program of the hosted artists. I believe most of those episodes are on YouTube now, however I still have all the DVDrs on my shelf. Can't forget to mention the V/VM 365 project or how they used to have all their albums for download on the site. So much excellent music, and was on top of the game for nearly 20 years. The site is still around, still posting record reviews, but all the artist pages are sadly neglected.
This is part 1 or 2 showcasing the artists I fell in love with via Brainwashed. Its a long mix because there are so many freakin amazing artists on the site to cover. For whatever reason at the time, I didn't finish part 2 until months later (Its Mix #199, so be patient and it will arrive in due course).
00:00 Meat Beat Manifesto - Brainwashed This Way - Zombie - That Shirt
05:28 Coil - Either His Or Yours
08:12 Throbbing Gristle - 20 Jazz Funk Greats
10:47 The Legendary Pink Dots - As Long As Its Purple And Green
16:40 Kid606 - Dropkick (Matmos Theme For A Biker Movie Starring Kid606)
22:07 Bowery Electric - Fear of Flying (3rd Eye Foundation Mix)
30:49 Hirsche Nicht Auf's Sofa - Als Der Morgen Kam, Was Es, Als Sei Nur Eine Nacht Vergangen (side B)
34:42 Volcano The Bear - Wooden Sailus
36:30 Fridge - Robots In Disguise
40:27 Tortoise - Glass Museum
45:43 !!! - Feel Good Hit Of The Fall
50:25 Merzbow & Christoph Heemann - Eagle
54:52 Current 93 - I'm The One
59:35 Nurse With Wound - Ketamineaphonia
64:16 Coil - Glowworms/Waveforms (Obsidian Monarch remix by Thread)
70:40 Cyclobe - Replaced By His Constellation
78:09 Antony and the Johnsons - Soft Black Stars (Current 93)
