Please note that the zip file has a password: QCOMPS.BLOGSPOT
Download mix from http://www.mediafire.com/file/br466zoqsjki1r8/Q120.zip/file
Q's Compilations
Vol #120 – June to
July 2018
Greetings!
I’m writing these notes on a plane returning from the UK back to New York
having had a nice two week holiday. Went to two Del Amitri gigs (Edinburgh and
London) and in general spent too much time drinking. Most of the songs on this
mix are fairly new to me, either from shows or recent press releases. I hope
everyone is enjoying their summer!
01)
Valley Queen – Supergiant: I was a little stuck for an opener this time around
but having gone through a bunch of press releases this seemed to fit the bill.
It’s not the most blistering of tracks in the world but it’s got a lovely sense
of melody. This is the title track to the LA quartet’s debut album, out via
Roll Call Records.
02)
Terra Lightfoot – No Hurry: One of my favourite bands, The Posies, are
celebrating their 30th anniversary this year and most recently included a show
at the Bowery Ballroom with the Frosting on the Beater line-up. The next two
songs feature tunes from the opening bands at that show, Terra Lightfoot played
a nice power trio / bluesy set.
03)
Valley Lodge – All of My Loving: WFMU’s Dave Hill heads up Valley Lodge, a
tongue in cheek powerpop act who unbeknownst to me at the time, provide the
theme tune for John Oliver’s show. This is an unabashed catchy triumph, tongue
in cheek or not. Go to see them live if you get the chance and feel like some
deadpan humour to go with your 90s rock.
04)
Frigs – Talking Pictures: It seemed like the best acts at this year’s Northside
festival were all Canadian, these Torontonians released their debut album,
Basic Behaviour in February and I caught them on the Brooklyn Vegan showcase
that included Corridor, Protomartyr, Deerhoof and more, the post-punk guitar
tones on this track really stood out and the rhythm section are no slouch.
05)
Corridor – Demain Deja: Montreal’s Corridor are one of those bands I’m amazed I
hadn’t heard of until last month, from the dueling guitars to the busy drums
and punchy bass, there’s little more I could want in a band. The outro is just
about perfect.
06)
Protomartyr – Wheel of Fortune: Protomartyr have a pretty poor record in terms
of the amount of times I’ve listened to them and seen them play to the number
of mixes they’ve ended up on… you may recognize Kelley Deal’s backing vocals on
this track.
07)
Mourn – Over the Wall: Barcelona’s Mourn are on Captured Tracks and while I
haven’t heard their latest album yet, their Over the Wall EP is very good,
which and this is the Echo and the Bunnymen cover/title track to that, a fairly
faithful rendition all things considered.
08)
Gang Gang Dance – Lotus: Having been away for seven years, GGD returned with
all of their classic trademarks on this tune, the lead single from their new
record, Kazuashita.
09)
Clipping – Shooter: My buddy Felix had sent me a raft of recommendations a
while ago that I’m still working my way through, but this one jumped out, I
love the way the song builds, simple but inventive. This track is on their
Wriggle EP from 2016 which was released on Sub Pop. Rapper Daveed Diggs is also
an actor and currently stars in the movie Blindspotting which is getting a lot
of praise at the moment.
10)
Sammus – Comments Disabled: Don Giovanni records have certainly been
diversifying more recently, and Sammus’ 2016 record, Pieces in Space, is one of
the best rap albums I’ve heard in recent years.
11)
Shana Falana – Cool Kids: I saw Shana Falana open for Follakzoid at Rough Trade
a couple of months ago (a lot of opening bands on this mix…), the live
experience is a little more soundscape/psychedelic than this track (which was
played), there’s an impressive amount of layering for a two-piece.
12)
Wax Chattels – It: New Zealand trio Wax Chattels label themselves as
“guitarless guitar music”, which isn’t a bad way to describe them, there’s an
intensity to their self-titled debut record that feels like a rock band. In
their native homeland they are signed to the legendary Flying Nun label, while
New York’s own Captured Tracks distribute the US.
13)
Wand – Perfume: This is the title-track to the band’s latest EP, which came out
in May and seems to combine all the band’s changing styles to date in one
release.
14)
Men I Trust – Tailwhip: It seems like this kind of chill-wave-ish music had
died a death a few years ago, but I saw this band opening for Ought at Market
Hotel last month and it seemed like a refreshing throwback (albeit only a
throwback of a few years ago…).
15)
Phantastic Ferniture – Uncomfortable Teenager: Phantastic Ferniture is a
Sydney-based side-project which includes Julia Jacklin, and their self-titled
debut album cuts loose from all the members’ regular bands. There’s a
spontaneity to the material and it seems like everyone is having fun.
16)
Peaer – I.H.S.Y.A: This year’s Northside Festival was definitely on the low-key
side of things compared to previous years, but I still managed to hit something
each night. Peaer opened up for Weaves at the Knitting Factory and I enjoyed
their mix of math rock, slowcore and even some Weezer-esque melodies.
17)
Jonathan Coulton – Ikea: I’ve seen Jonathan Coulton twice now, both times
opening for Aimee Mann, this time was at Prospect Park for a free show which
also featured Superchunk. This track was his set closer and displays his
typical wit and humour.
18)
Del Amitri – Before the Evening Steals the Afternoon: This was a b-side from
the Not Where It’s At single, and also appeared on the b-side compilation Lousy
with Love. Needing to fill around 2:30 left on the mix, it seemed apt to use a
Del Amitri song given the shows this month. Alas, they did not play this rather
delightful tune (the only b-side on offer this tour was The Verb to Do).
19)
Lola Kirke – Born to Die: I just love the production on this track, those
bright acoustic guitars get me every time. Lola’s album, Heart Head West is out
in August. For the classic rock nerds out there, Lola is the daughter of Bad
Company / Free drummer Simon Kirke.
20)
Dusk – Eyes in Dark Corners: It seems like Dusk’s debut album has been a long
time coming, I saw them at Saint Vitus back in 2016, and you should know Amos
Pitsch’s work from the band Tenament. Their self-titled debut was released on
Don Giovanni records in June and it’s an at times excellent country-tinged
record.
21)
Hand Habits – Yr Heart: When I heard this track I instantly knew it would be a
mix closer, with that wonderful lullaby-esque sway, as close to a sunset in a
song as I can think of. Meg Duffy has spent time in bands such as Mega Bog and
Kevin Morby’s band, the latter of which is definitely in this wheelhouse
(though I think this is better than anything either act has written).
And
that’s it, these notes are a little unresearched for my liking so apologies that
these are bad but I had to just get the mix through the line, it’s amazing how
bad one’s memory can be without the internet to fill in the gaps these days!
As
always, Peace and Love
Q
Please note that the zip file has a password: QCOMPS.BLOGSPOT
Download mix from http://www.mediafire.com/file/br466zoqsjki1r8/Q120.zip/file
