Summer Afternoon Mix

Here are some tunes to throw on while you tidy up the apartment, wash the car and have a
summer seasonal.  It's full of acoustic guitars, choir-like harmonies and carefree sentiments.

Enjoy

1. Beach House – Zebra (Teen Dream , 2010)
2. Dolphins – Galaxy Train (Galaxy Train EP, 2011)
   Australian surf rock. Nice!
3. Jacuzzi Boys – Bricks or Coconuts  (Bricks or Coconuts 7”, 2010)
   I jumped the gun and put this on a mix for friends during the winter, but it didn't really go well with the below 40 temperatures.
4. M. Ward – Get to the Table On Time (The Transfiguration of Vincent, 2003)
5. Vetiver - Everyday (Tight Knight, 2009)
   Tight Knit is one of my favorite albums ever.  It reminds me of driving to different surf spots at the Jersey Shore in our '83 Mercedes wagon.
6. De La Soul – Eye Know (Three Feet and Rising, 1989)
   Sampling Steely Dan, Sly & The Family Stone and Otis Redding in one song is ok with me.
7. Oregon Bike Trails – High School Lover (High School Lover, 2011)
   Keeping my eye on this kid.  Buy it for a buck here.
8. Vetiver - Can't You Tell (Errant Charm, 2011)
   Released last week.
9. James Yorkston - Someplace Simple (Someplace Simple EP, 2003)
10. Washed Out – Eyes Be Closed (Within and Without, 2011)
    I don't hold my breath for follow up efforts from acts like Washed Out because their first albums tend to be their most genuine but his new album is seriously impressive.  Perfect for driving at sunset. Free download (via SubPop)
11. Subskrpt – We’ll Be Fine (Throwing Stones EP, 2010)
12. The O'Jay's - Use To Be My Girl (The Essential O'Jay's , 2005)
    And now for a completely different type of feel good dance music... If this doesn't get you to move then you might not have a soul.
13. The Sea & Cake – Everyday (Oui, 2000)
    Proper acknowledgement goes to the Lost Art of the Mixtape for some recommendations.

image: hasisi park

Dubai Blackout

In 1991 there was 1 skyscraper in Dubai.  By 2009 there were over 400. It's tallest building is twice the size of the Empire State Building.  Only 20% of the population is native.

Now imagine this millenium-age behemoth of a city losing power.
Dark skyscrapers. Pitch black streets.
The highways are still there, but most people choose to stay in.  
Striving for silence and solitude in the world's fastest growing city is still possible.

Go for a drive.

Deadmau5 - Lai (At Play Vol.3, 2010)
Say what you want about Deadmau5 and his current offerings, but he has always been skilled at blending popular dance music genres.  I have always a fan of his more introspective tracks.
Sascha Funke - Mango (Special Berlin Calling Edit) (Berlin Calling: The Soundtrack, 2008)
Makes me feel like I'm driving out of Vegas as the sun rises in an old red Mustang after robbing a bank.
Ellen Alien & Apparat - Jet (Orchestra of Bubbles, 2006)
Song title says it all.
Crystal Castles - Magic Spells (Crystal Castles, 2008)
Paul Kalkbrenner - Azure (Berlin Calling: The Soundtrack, 2008)
More beauty from Kalkbrenner's DJ flick Berlin Calling.  Watch the trailer here.
Aphex Twin - Xtal (Selected Ambient Works 85-92, 1992)
Dawn.
Tony Lionni - This Feeling (This Feeling 10", 2009)
Efdemin - Acid Bells (Martyn's Dark Mix) (Acid Bells Martyn's Remixes, 2009)

If you liked this check out Jovencitas.


image: Sebastian Opitz

Happy Friday

 

Happy Friday, folks.  You don't get too many 69 and sunny days in western Oregon so today a group of us will be jetting early from work, snagging some trail mix and climbing the hillside above (Hamilton Mountain).

I have setup an elaborate soundsystem in the forest so every hundred yards their is a new speaker with this playing:

Robin Pecknold - Derwenwater Stones
and this



You can download the rest of Pecknold's solo 3 song EP here for FREE.

The Long Run.

image: Luciano

Marco Carola - Resident Advisor Podcast 252 (April '11)

I get a kick out of listening to laid back house and tech-house dj tracks when I'm on a relaxed jog.  The type of dance music that doesn't make it to the top of the mainstream charts is heavy on the groove rather than lyrics, gimmicks or tempo changes every two seconds.  Tracks by themselves may seem simple and stripped down, but in the hands of a good dj they can be expertly placed and instruments can be muted or distorted so that the overall tension is stretched out over the entire set with subtle yet meticulous changes in the flow. 
   The rhythm is always there and the occasional peaks and valleys keep you intrigued.  And this is why it can be great when set to a long run.  When you're on a long run you're not really in a rush, but rather trying to cover mileage so the mindset is very similar to a dj set: warmup, set the pace and provide a peak here and there to make sure you keep up, but don't play the latest Gaga, because the goal is endurance not speed.

That brings us to Mr. Carola.  This is one of the better and more accessible Resident Advisor podcasts that I have heard.  Carola is a globe-trotting, superstar dj from Napoli.  Go here if you want to skip around in the mix. I didn't spend the time to figure out which tracks these were, but some highlights are at minutes 13, 18, 35, 53 and 1:00.  At minute 35 especially the groove fits liiiiiike a glove.

Earth Day Playlist

via panopticamx

Spring!
Keep it light. Keep it hopeful. 

It's Earth Day. 

By all means go outside and do somersaults.  This playlist was meant for just that.  

 If you have a second, read something - here and here to make sure you stay in the know. 
Ride a bike.
Support your local CSA or Farmers Market.
Make a Meatless Monday plan.
Donate one dollar.
Write a letter.

But like I said, do some somersaults too.

1. Windsor for a Derby - Melody of a Fallen Tree (We Fight Til Death, 2004)
2. Tycho - Costal Brake (Coastal Brake 12", 2010)
    Pay attention. Everything Scott Hansen touches turns to gold.
3. Fat Freddy's Drop - Roady (Based on a True Story, 2006)                                                                      Fat Freddy's Drop is a New Zealand powerhouse of soul, reggae, dub... you name it.
4. The Dining Rooms - Cosi Ti Amo (Numero Deaux, 2009)                                                                      You know those movies where the little league players aren't working together, but you know they have so much heart and could be great if they just played naturally?  Then there's an inspiring speech by the unlikely leader of the group and all of a sudden there's a montage where they're catching fly balls, hitting homers and laughing while leaving the field... yeah this is the song for that scene.
5. Benoit & Sergio - Boy Trouble (Boy Trouble 12", 2011)                                                                      Really more of a summer jam, but maybe if you start playing it enough now, by mid-summer it will be the jam.  For open air parties where your friend of a friend brings his fog machine so you're worried about the cops, but it ends up being a great night.
6. Lemonjelly - The Staunton Lick (Lemonjelly.KY, 2000)                                                                 Lemonjelly gets trashed on, but this is just so feel good I couldn't resist.
7. Bibio - K is for Kelson (Mind Bokeh, 2011)                                                                                               As noted before.
8. Paul Simon - Rewrite (So Beautiful or So What?, 2011)                                                                      Paul Simon's new album came out this month.  This song is so clever that it was published in the New Yorker.
9. Air - Ce Matin La (Moon Safari, 1998)                                                                                              Classic.
10. Sugar Minott - Oh Mr. DC (Oh Mr. DC, 1978)                                                                                      Some ace Studio One reggae to finish it out. 

Phoenix Salon

image: Luis Beltran

So you just moved to Phoenix to open a hair salon.  You're pretty excited about the potential especially since you landed a small spot in the cool part of town.  You want to be different than those other clunky places.  Maybe you could serve cocktails?  Have a choice magazine rack and show old films? You know you want to attract the hip, younger crowd so before you start playing the newest Buddha Bar over a boombox - get a legit soundsystem, wash the windows, and put this on.

1. Thievery Corporation - All That We Perceive (The Richest Man in Babylon, 2002)                                No messing around.  We're starting this off right away.  This is my go-to if a friend has some serious speakers.
2. Wax Tailor - Que Sera (Tales of Forgotten Melodies, 2006)                                                                   Crisp intro.  He gets points for sampling Doris Day singing in Hitchcock's The Man Who Knew Too Much.
3. Thievery Corporation - Amerimacka (The Cosmic Game, 2005)                                                             I hate to post two tracks from the same artist so early on, but Thievery Corporation has this sound down.
4. Dusty Springfield - Spooky (Dusty Definitely, 2001) 
5. St. Germain - So Flute (Tourist, 2000)                                                                                               Business is picking up...
6. Affkt and Felipe Vargas - Meilan (2 Years Cecille, 2010)                                                                       LOVE the breakdown.  A patient groove.  I see this going over well in Majorca.
7.  The Chemical Brothers - Lost in the K-Hole (Dig Your Own Hole, 1997)                                     
8. This is where I would put Chris Joss -Atomic Tape                                                                         (Terraphonic Overdubs,  2008) but I could not find an mp3 version.  You might question it at first.  Wait until the private eye guitar kicks in.
9. Ralph Myerz and the Jack Herren Band - A Special Morning                                                              (A Special Album, 2008)  The reverb on the whistling makes this sound so surreal.
10. Nujabes - Kumomi (Metaphorical Music, 2003)                                                                                     If you pick up one artist from this mix make it Nujabes.  Modal Soul and Metaphorical Soul are essential listening.
11. Red Astaire ft. Erykah Badu - Rollin' Stone (Nuggets for the Needy, 2007) 
12. Lemon Jelly - Come (Lemonjelly.KY, 2000)                                                                                       After putting in a solid day of hard work.           

Bicycle Commuting Through Smog.

Imagine bicycle commuting in Los Angeles.  Warm weather.  Cracked asphalt.  Gliding passed gridlocked cars on two wheels for miles and miles.  The very act of pedaling might seem revolutionary. Highways were built for a reason.  Problem is, that reason is now unreasonable.
Matthew Leutwyler's Jovencitas provides a crisp backdrop that is patient, calm and persistent. It gives off the impression that this is the way things are and there is very little we can do about it.  Luckily, for us, it has an optimistic vibe as if to say 'Hey it's not all bad.'

Mathew Leutwyler - Jovencitas

image: Jeremy Ahay