Q's Compilations: Adelaida

Showing posts with label Adelaida. Show all posts

Thursday, 4 June 2020

Q#131 - April to May 2020

Please note that the zip file has a password: QCOMPS.BLOGSPOT

Download mix from https://www.mediafire.com/file/htw1gr33t1nhsai/Q%23131.zip/file

Now with added Spotify playlist at end of notes - NOTE that METZ, Bailter Space and Del Amitri are not on spotify.

Q's Compilations

Vol #131 – April to May 2020

I’m not going to be able to say anything profound about the pandemic that is still a worldwide problem, I think I’m writing these at the start of week 11 of our “quarantine” in New York City, although I have been getting out for exercise, I think many of us here (and in the UK) forget that a lot of countries put down much tough restrictions. So many have suffered and are continuing to do so

01) METZ – Slow Decay: To help musicians out during the Covid-19 crisis, Bandcamp are doing a very nice thing by waving their revenue share on three days (1^st of May, 5^th of June and 3^rd of July), while scouring for some things I wanted to buy, it dawned on me that METZ had a record that I did not own a physical copy of (albeit Automat is a compilation of non-album tracks), and while I was at it I purchased their new 2-song release digitally, and it’s hard not to open with it.

02) The Reflectors – Act a Fool: LA powerpop act The Reflectors might sound like they’re from the 70s but debut album First Impression is a hoot. Bright and shiny melodies with breezy vocals, it’s hard not to love. You can get this on Burger Records in the US.

03) Savak – Vis-à-vis: During the lockdown I’ve been doing some “On this Day” posts on Facebook since I’m a bit of a saddo and have kept a spreadsheet of all the shows I’ve been to (which will have an impact on other songs on this mix), I was actually at Savak’s first ever show on the 20^th of May 2015 at Cake Shop (I do miss that place). The band have just released their fourth album Rotting Teeth in the Horse’s Mouth and it’s another fine record, and they’ve probably got one of the low-key best local discography’s in the last four years or so, although they’ve all played in some excellent bands over the years, so you’d expect it!

04) Virginia Trance – High: I had forgotten that I used a Virginia Trance track last time around (Hello Lou Reed), but this one has a bit more BPM to it, the record Vincent’s Playlist is well worth your time.

05) Mike Polizze – Revelation: Purling Hiss mainman Mike Polizze is due to release his debut solo record, Long Lost Solace Find, on the 31^st of July, and it’s the kind of solo shift you want to see, being fairly far removed from the shredding and feedback heavy solos of Purling Hiss. If this tune is indicative of the rest of the album then I’m excited to hear it.

06) Harkin – Mist on Glass: Harkin’s self-titled debut came out at the end of April via Hand Mirror Records. She has played an excellent supporting role over the years, playing as a touring member of Sleater-Kinney, Kurt Vile and Courtney Barnett to name a few. The album doesn’t invoke any of those artists, having more of an 80s goth-pop tinge to it with enough modernity for it to be it’s own thing.

07) Field Music – Money is a Memory: Another recent bandcamp purchase was Field Music’s latest record, Making a New World, which is their seventh album and was released in January. It’s their first concept record and is about the after-effects of world war one. It’s a pretty coherent piece and rattles through pretty quickly with 19 tracks only taking 42-mintues in total. This tune is classic Field Music, with that XTC snap in full effect.

08) Madness – Embarrassment: I had tickets to see Madness in May which was obviously postponed (until 2021), so I thought I’d just throw this classic on the mix.

09) Gum Country – Somewhere: Kean ears may notice the sound of The Courtneys in this tune, that’s because ½ of Gum Country is Courtney Garvin of The Courtneys, the other half being multi-instrumentalist Connor Mayer. Their new album, Somewhere, is coming out on the 19^th of June.

10) Pure X – Fantasy: Austin, Texas band Pure X return with their first album in six years, and their self-titled comeback is the sort of easy-going, desert breeze that we could all probably use, filled with tunes that feel like a weed halo is above you.

11) Bailterspace – Concrete Square 3: Speaking of comebacks, New Zealand greats low-key threw up some new tracks (their first in seven years?) on bandcamp, hopefully there’ll be a new record!

12) Mint Field – Ella Se Queda: Another recent bandcamp purchase, I loved their 2018 full-length Pasar de las Luces and wanted to support them further so purchased their latest EP, 2019’s Mientras Esperas, which has a bit more drive to it. They put out a single in April so hopefully a new album beckons. Having previously been based in Tijuana, they now reside in Mexico City.

13) Adelaida – Mundo: You should all know I love Chilean bands, this act appeared back on Q#103 (August/September 2015), hailing from Valparaíso, which is a coastal city about 75 miles north-west of Santiago. Their latest album, Animita, was released in April.

14) Flores Silvestres – Born From Dawn: Another Chilean band, this time from Santiago, “Silver Flowers” just released their first album in April and it hits that classic (I think the scene has been going long enough to call it classic) Chilean psych rock sound. The record is called How the Story Goes.

15) The Men – Children All Over the World: One of New York’s finest, The Men released their eighth album, Mercy, this year, and it generally mixes between rockers and delicate folk tunes, basically doing whatever they want, like they always have. This tune has a big 80s feel to it for sure.

16) Red Lorry Yellow Lorry – Talk About the Weather: During my “on this day” flashbacks I was reminded that I hadn’t really thought of Red Lorry Yellow Lorry much since I saw them back in April 2008, their music still holds up and I just had an urge to throw this song on.

17) Counting Crows – Children in Bloom: Another OTD-inspired song, I saw Counting Crows on the 15^th of May 1997 and it was a really spectacular show that still seems very vivid. For those first two records they couldn’t really do much wrong, I remember this song in particular from the show and it always stuck with me.

18) Sleater Kinney – The Swimmer: All Hands on the Bad One turned 20 on the 2^nd of May. What a great record, again, just something I felt like throwing on.

19) Aimee Mann – Deathly: Another record that just turned 20 (also on the 2^nd of May) is Bachelor No. 2, so naturally I just felt compelled to use a track.

20) Del Amitri – Just Getting’ By: Probably the best news in a very trying year so far is that Del Amitri have just recorded a new album that will be released in January 2021, it will be their first album since 2002’s Can You Do Me Good, which this song closes, so I just felt like using it.

As always, Peace and Love - Q

NOTE NOT ALL THE SONGS ARE ON SPOTIFY!!!!

Wednesday, 30 September 2015

Q#103 - August - September 2015

Please note that the zip file has a password: Q103

Download mix from: http://www.mediafire.com/download/j60gtfuesj51rt3/Q103.zip

Q’s Compilations

Volume #103 August – September 2015

As I write these notes, summer is officially OVER, and yet it’s still over 20 degrees C, but Autumn is possibly the best time to be in New York, and I’m looking forward to another change of season.

01) Alex G - After Ur Gone: I’m not entirely sure why Alex G’s catchy lo-fi indie-pop tunes generally fly under the radar where someone like Mac DeMarco has become a superstar (don’t get me wrong, I like him just fine). This track opens his album, DSU, released last year, but he’s also fairly prolific, with a slew of releases to date. His next album, Beach Music, will be released in October.

02) Young Guv - Kelly, I'm Not a Creep: Young Guv is Ben Cook, guitarist in Fucked Up, but his solo project has a much sunnier disposition, with hints of Big Star and Cheap Trick. Sometimes you can look into deeper meanings or messages in music, but I just love the sound and pop sensibility here. The album, Ripe 4 Luv, is out on Slumberland Records. “wouldn’t it be nice if we could go back”

03) Expert Alterations - A Bell: I recently saw this band supporting Literature at Cake Shop and thought they stole the show. Their live sound was a big fuller than this recording, but I picked up their self-titled EP, and wasn’t too surprised to find out that it too, is also a Slumberland Records release…

04) Royal Headache – Carolina: Australian bands always seem to attract a crowd in New York, it must be the ex-pat thing. On the surface, the band sound like a fairly standard garage rock band but frontman Shogun has a raspy, soulful vocal that sets them apart from a lot of acts at the moment. With uncertainty over whether the band will continue, there may not be much more of where this came from. I saw the band recently at Saint Vitus and they put a lot of energy into their performance. “She’s been waiting for the train down by the bus”

05) Nada Surf - Whose Authority (live): There’s little I can say about Nada Surf that I haven’t said before, they are one of the most important bands in my life, in many ways they feel like my band, like I have a personal investment in them. They are set to release a live album via pledgemusic called Live at the Neptune. This song is originally from 2008’s Lucky. I’m excited to be seeing the band again in November. “How do you stay where You most want to be? Where'd you get the patience, Did it come easily?”

06) Tenement - Feral Cat Tribe: Of all the great bands who played Don Giovanni Records’ annual showcase back in February (Priests, Brick Mower, Screaming Females, etc), I was most impressed with Wisconsin band Tenement. The band recently released a double LP called Predatory Headlights, and it’s certainly one of my favourites of the year. “I don’t care for the way it was before, anymore”

07) Vuelveteloca – Sharks: Regular readers/listeners should know of my love for Chilean bands in the last few years, and I’ve got a bunch for you on this mix, starting with the latest offering from Vuelveteloca. Pantera is the groups fourth album and sees the band going back to a rockier sound, after the more Stone-Roses-ish Dias de Calor.

08) The Ganjas - Twisted River: Possibly the first band of the recent wave of Chilean psych bands of the last decade is The Ganjas. After Dark is the their first album since 2011’s The Resistance, and was released on BYM Records (their first on the label).

09) Wand - Self Hypnosis in 3 Days: Due to association and a similar sound, the mention of Ty Segall is rarely far from Wand’s name. However, their album, Golem, may just be better than anything Ty has released himself! I’m looking forward to seeing the band again in November, having seen them at Death By Audio this time last year (RIP), though I did see singer Cory Hanson play a solo acoustic set in June.

10) Survival Knife - Tropic of Chaos: I’ve become pretty enchanted with the band Unwound, thanks to Numero’s incredible reissue efforts, and two members of the band, singer/guitarist Justin Trosper and original drummer Brandt Sandeno (who left Unwound in 1992, replaced by Sara Lundt), formed Survival Knife in 2012. This song is taken from the band’s EP, Suvrivalized.

11) Trementina - Fall Into Your Bed: I used Trementina back in July last year, and the Chilean band go from strength to strength, this tune keeps with their My Bloody Valentine influence but just sounds so pretty. I think it might be my favourite song on the mix.

12) Evans the Death – Sledgehammer: Another band that has appeared before on this series, I used Telling Lies in September 2013(Q#91) and the band have since released another album, Expect Delays, which isn’t quite as immediate as the self-titled debut but with a little perseverance the songs are starting to seep in. They’re playing at CMJ this year so I’m looking forward to getting a chance to see them.

13) Adelaida – Holograma: Another Chilean band! This group recently recorded in New York at Rubber Tracks, although I’m not aware of any shows they played. The quartet are from Valparaíso, to the west of Santiago on the coast.

14) Mark Lanegan Band - Harvest Home: I’m a big fan of Mark Lanegan, but despite Phantom Radio being released last year I only just got round to buying it, but it is certainly of his usual high standard. “Happy that I'm made of stone, To grieve that I cause is my cause to a tone”

15) Miss Garrison – Playas: This is a newer tune from the Chilean trio, who album DeAab, was released in 2012. The band did record a couple of tracks at New York’s Rubber Tracks studio in 2013, which is when I managed to catch them live, and have been following keenly since. Hopefully they make a return soon. This song has a bit of a Radiohead vibe to it.

16) Toy - You Won't Be the Same: I managed to see Brighton-band Toy at Glasslands (RIP) last January, their first NYC show, I think I might have reviewed it for My Social List (RIP), but can’t quite remember, maybe I won tickets. I was impressed with the bands driving krautrock rhythms but only just bought the album, Join the Dots, recently in a sale.

17) Surf Rock is Dead – Anymore: This duo, by way of Melbourne and Chicago make very pretty and shiny indie-rock. There is a little C86 in there, of course, and general pop sensibilities, I saw the band play at some kind of free block party where of course, no-one was paying attention, but they played really well.

18) Sharon Van Etten - I Don't Want to Let You Down: Fellow Ditmas Park resident, Sharon Van Etten (I still haven’t bumped into her, though), released I Don’t Want to Let You Down a few months ago, and this is obviously the title track. It doesn’t stray too far from what she’s known for, and I felt the need to play it whilst feeling bad about myself and eating ice cream. It’s that kind of release. “Decompress, Calm your head, Teach you not to rush, Turn them out to see your words”

19) Wilco - Taste the Ceiling: Wilco surprised everyone in August by releasing their ninth album, Star Wars, for free digitally, with a CD release later in the month (vinyl to come in October). It has all the usual Wilco qualities to it, and this song was co-written with Tweedy and Scott McCaughey, who people should recognise from Minus 5, Young Fresh Fellows, and of course, an extended member of REM. “I know why you don't really know me, I don't think you can call it home, All alone I couldn't taste another thing”

20) Alfonso Lovo - La Bomba de Neutron: Nicaraguan guitarist Alfonso Lovo got the Numero treatment in 2012 with his record, La Gigantona, to much success. Surviving a plane hijacking, where he was shot in the hand and torso multiple times, Lovo recovered after several surgeries to continue making music.

21) Robbie Fulks - Rock Bottom, Population 1: My friend Brian is a huge fan of Robbie Fulks so I wanted to see what the fuss was about, I’m not usually much of a country guy but Fulks has the knid of inclusive quality that goes beyond a genre. He can mix up sad and funny songs at the drop of a hat which is a rare quality I admire.

22) What Moon Things - Sun, Where's the Fire: New Paltz, upstate New York, is where this trio are from, and I saw them make the trek into the city to open for Viet Cong in January. The groups quiet-loud-quiet template and sound reminded me a little of Cymbals Eat Guitars, and I happily picked up their record after the set.

I’ve rushed the notes a little but that’s par for the course these days, I’m pretty busy at the moment and everything just seems to be hectic beyond control. It’ll be 2016 soon enough I guess! As ever, please do contact me about the mixes, I love to get feedback.