Cheers. Sorry about the delay, should another turn up, please forward it to Fuctifano with a strongly worded letter.
As an experiment in memory, I am going to attempt to recognise these without checking the playlist, then correct my comments.
1. 'I never made you mix tapes'... Picked electric guitar with finger clicking and a female vocalist. Great start.
This is In/Planes aka Inaiah Lujan and Desirae Garcia from the Haunted Windchimes, who are my favourite band I have never seen. This collaboration in more classic pop based than the blue grass of their other band.https://inplanes.bandcamp.com/QV
http://www.listentoblanktaperecords.com/ and
https://www.hauntedwindchimes.com/Correct. Easy one to start.2. South American? female singer with brass and cool drums. Good fun.
This could be Lila Downs or Juana Molina, but I think it's off a Songlines mix from this year. I tried to keep current. Banzeira by Dona Onete. Those Songlines CDs give me loads of fodder for my ears. Right now I have two unread issues to delve into. I speak very little spanish, other than a few words I have picked up from Manu Chao songs, but I love these rhythms.3. Sparks? I like this one a lot. Is this from their latest album?
Yes. About a year ago I saw them at the Barbican. Front row, thanks to someone's returns.
Lovely people, playing an ace show.
The Kids have nothing like this. A Little Bit Like Fun by Sparks from their wonderful and fabulous album,
Hippopotamus4. Sounds like Angel Olsen or PJ Harvey. Another great track.
Probably Jen Cloher from her eponymous album - my #1 of 2017. She is Courtney Barnett's partner and some of the album is about separation of distance when your other half is a rock star touring the world.
Also has a connection to track one, since Milk! Records that they run together is a label that has introduced me to acres of of new and lovely music. More of that later. Damn, not only is that wrong but I have failed to place Jen Cloher on this mix. How odd. I heard this singer on Cerys Matthews show, and someone pointed out she has a new album soon.
Are You Free by Pieta Brown5. No idea who this is either but it's a top tune. Reminds of The Cure if they were fronted by a woman.
Oh maybe this is Beth Arzy.
It is. Late night Gideon Coe has become my winding down session and while "everyone" was watching Twin Peaks Strikes Back, this popped up, leading to a load of bands Beth has been in and discovering we share an interest in non-league football and horror films (comes from being a Birmingham City fan in my case)
Laura Palmer by The Luxembourg Signal6. The guitars on this one are a bit OUT and the vocal is a bit John Lydon-ish. This didn't do much for me.
Erm. I don't know. Ah, Mope Grooves. the band who gave this mix it's title "Moon Mope". I heard this on the radio and thought it reminded me of very early Camper Van Beethoven. So I liked it a lot.
Joy by Mope Grooves7. Japanese girl rock. Good fun but not on repeat listens.
Otoboke Beaver. I heard this late one night on Gideon Coe's 6music show and it woke me up and became my go to wake up music for much of the autumn. Yesterday I used it in an emergency when I got into a mope listening to She's A Star by James - who knew that such an outwardly cheerful song could bring on a mope? Love is Short by Otoboke Beaver. (your computer may pick up a lyrics booklet that I inserted into this mix. Maybe not)8. South American or African female singers over a marimba? led song. Like this.
See #2 Ah, an oldy but goody. Another Songlines one but also regular on Cerys's show. The colombian sound is very african isn't it?
Homaje a Justino by Grupo Socavon9. Love this a lot. The singer sounds like a less insane Bjork.
Either Hachiku or Eivor. Or Fever Ray. Comment to follow. Hachiku who is on Milk! records and has the loveliest videos you can see. I also spotted an Icelandic sound to her voice.
Moon Face by Hachikuhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6RdEYwJnrk10. A band wearing their 80's influences on their sleeve. I can hear early U2 and some Adam Ant style drumming. Didn't take to this at first but it grew on me after a few listens.
I can think of so many bands like this in my collection. Oh that's not what I'd say. Saw them in the desert evening and they're very post rock. And young. very different influences that I picked up.
Oceans Ocean by Tribesmenhttps://tribesmenmusic.bandcamp.com/album/oceans-ocean (I hear the U2 thing now)11. This like a cross between Madness and Blur. Barmy lyrics. Like it.
Hmmm, watch this space> Camper Van Beethoven. Ska influences are contemporary with Madness. Blur's better stuff must have been tinged by the first generation of CVB.
Included here as a slight bit of politics.
Might Makes Right by CVB12. This guy wants to get high and loves his mum and dad. Nothing wrong with that but not keen on this one.
You make it sound like Surrender by Cheap Trick. Included because of the other F Word.
F Word by Baby Bird.13. Is this Teardrop Explodes? Not familiar with it - thought it was okay.
I don't think so. I may have put a Julian Cope solo track on here. This was his big hit from the early days of 6 music. When he was still doing pop records. But not as lovely as his first few solo albums - the Syd Barrett off Acid days. Ironically, since JC was definitely ON acid at the time.
I Come From Another Planet Baby by Julian Cope.14. Chirpy instrumental.
Tweet Tweet. ... which opens a brief section themed around space. The final frontier. This is Clint Boon from the inspiral carpets with his popular organ sound.
Philip Glass: Astronaut by CBX15. Another instrumental with Tubular Bells-like intro. Like this.
Two slightly distorted guitars? Another CBX but this one is ColourBoX. Often segued with their (un)Official World Cup Theme, but I like this to stand alone.
Philip Glass by Colourbox16. Distorted electric guitar leading into a slightly wonky acoustic guitar with a strange folkish female vocal. Another good one.
I like the sound of this, cannot wait to find out what it is! Oh yes, another late night wake up tune. Superb bunch of songs that I subsequently downloaded. And you've just prompted me to check her bandcamp to find a Harry Nilsson song. Swoooooon.
Names of the Stars by Weyes Bloodhttps://weyesblood.bandcamp.com/17. Spoken word mentioning Andromeda and Orion's Belt. Wondering if I missed a theme going on through the mix...
This dialogue is from Slow West, the Greatest sp-Haggis-etti Western ever made. Orion's Belt spoken by Jay Cavendish (It's a lovely soundtrack album too. Has Lone Pigeon on it.)18. Beautiful female vocals with crickets in the background.
Incidental music from one of my fave TV shows of 2017, Legion. It is the song that represents respite from the crazy world of (an actual Xman, kids) Legion.
They realised it's power by creating a 2 hour version :-D
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSqTwDtU2Fw
Choir and Crickets by Jeff RussoLOOK EVERYONE ! AUBREY PLAZA commands you to listen!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-_soD9R0io19. Drone pop with a female vocal. Reminds me of Explosions In The Sky and Leaf Library. Quality finish.
Might well be Leaf Library. I am seeing them later this week. City in Reverse by Leaf Library.Glad you liked much of it and hope it inspires tangential leaps of associated listening and things to watch.