TAPE LOOP REVIEWS, For the, er, reviews Options

[Sostie]

A brand spanking new thread for your reviews.

[Rua]

Ok I'll go first then...............

Wife Of Rolex – The Cats Miow

The cover is a shiny, pretty delight as is the disc itself. Cute as the felines that frolic upon it, but what sounds lurk within?…

Track One – This reminded of that pan pipe with beats chill out album that was advertised on tele a lot in the nineties. This is unfair as there are no pan pipes present on this track but the dated beats & synth are very reminiscent of it. Could have been an interesting track with the vocal, but did nothing for me in the end.

Track Two - Portisheadesque soul infused Trip-Hop laced Merseybeat. I like this girl. I like this tune.

Track Three – A band brought to the general publics line of vision by a certain acoustic guitar wizards cover of one of their tracks. A track in its original form, I have to say, I did not like. The Swedes follow the same formula with this tune as they did the other, this one less grating, though the Cyndi Lauperesque vocals did eat at me after a few listens. It’s not bad, I don’t hate it, but I don’t love it.

Track Four – I used to play this song myself, always reminded me of The Cure. I haven’t heard it in ages. Lovely little tune. I’ve lost this album somewhere along my travels. You actually made me pick up my guitar.

Track Five – The unofficial sixth member of Pulp with a lovely, gentle little pop song. Very sweet.

Track Six – I’ve no idea who this is by, but it bewildered me on two fronts. On one hand it sounds like some former boy band member doing a Peter Gabriel impersonation. On the other, the electronic beat & synth this song begins with after it’s string laden intro, is ever so slightly similar to what a certain Trent Reznor would come out with on a bad day at the office. What starts off like a slightly speeded up, off kilter comedy cabaret version of a certain Nine Inch Nails tune soon descends into what must be a former Take That members solo effort.
I could be wrong, but what I do know is that I didn’t like it.

Track Seven – Ahh my youth. I used to listen to this now all powerful group a lot when I was young. This being one of the tunes off of what must be, arguably, their worst album. Extra points for nostalgia, but in retrospect it’s not that great is it?

Track Eight – A little comedy ditty by what sounds like some Australian duo.

Track Nine – A great tune by a lady who can do little wrong in my eyes. Helped along by a member of 808 State this can’t help but make me feel good about life.

Track Ten – Great just great, which is why it’s also on my mix. Great minds & all that, eh?
People who don’t like this track by the Parisian collective are just not well & had better lie down.

Track Eleven – I know this, but I can’t quite put my finger on who it is. It’s driving me crazy. A cool little instrumental with a nice gentle reggae beat moving along some light funk & organ, which finally reaches a crescendo of accompanied brass. David Holmes would nick this & try and pass it off as his own.

Track Twelve – Oh dear. This isn’t going to be fair on you Wifey. It’s just you’ve gone & found a real distaste of mine with this fella’. Former Irish boyband member gone solo. If this is the album I think it is, then it’s all been made ten times worse as it was written & produced by the spawn of Satan that is Gregg Alexander.

I hate.

Despite a few personal grates I quite enjoyed this little cd. Brought back a few memories for myself in places.

Pleasant.



6.5 purrs out of 10 for The Cats Miow.



edit - Could have a track list please?

This post has been edited by Rua: Sep 14 2007, 12:01 PM

[Wife Of Rolex]

Ooh, quick off the mark. A fair review too given my tendancy to mash rather than blend a mix.

The title, by the way, is a little play on words.

[maian]

Sir Robin The Brave-All Back To His

Track 1: Things start off brilliantly with a song that has a clear Asian influence in its use of strings and echoing sounds. The female vocal initially seemed strange and annoying to me but a couple of listens has revealed to me that it is central to the whole track. Lovely start.

Track 2: Not so much a change of pace as a change of flavour. Still a female vocal, and a very sensual one it is as well, but this time over a jazzy piano piece that wouldn't be out of place in a French New Wave film. Until about two minutes in when we get a pretty decent rap. This initially seemed jarring but I now quite like it, though it does seem really unnecessary since the central part of the song is so strong.

Track 3: Another change of pace. I think this is by a certain modern-day supergroup, but I'm not certain. Whether it is or not, I'm not terribly fussed about this song. The components are very nice; decent, subdued guitar, strings and vocals, but the whole thing just doesn't really spark for me.

Track 4: One of my tracks of the mix. Hugely atmospheric, wonderful vocal, enigmatic lyrics and a spinetingling chorus, what's not to love? Reminds me of Hope of the States and Interpol, and that's always good in my book.

Track 5: I'm not a fan of this guy's solo work, despite my love for his earlier stuff, but I rather like the way this track has been done. I'm assuming it's a remix since it's not as boring as I remember the original to be.

Track 6: This sounds like it might be by the people who I though did Track 3, but again I can't be sure. However, this time around I really like the track. The fastly picked guitar, quiet hammond organ, spooky backing vocals and performance of the lead singer, whose performance manages to be both quiet and subdued and mildly threatening, is really fantastic.

Track 7: I'd recognise this guy's voice anywhere, though I'm not sure if it's him on his own or as part of his more successful double act. Either way, this is a classy piece of hip-hop/soul with an infectious, hyperkinetic energy that I absolutely love.

Track 8: A very different pace to the previous track as I am treated to a mellow track comprised of birdsong, wood instruments and strings, which slowly builds until the echoing vocals kick in, which is when the whole thing really hits home with gently tinkled piano. A layered and soft track that I really liked. In fact, it's my favourite track on the whole mix.

Track 9: Sounds a bit like the Heroes theme tune to begin with before some synths and drumbeats really assert themselves. More ethereal vocals, more good stuff.

Track 10: Wind chimes start the track before guitars come and the whole thing becomes a largely acoustic track with strong vocals. Not a terribly strong ending to the mix, but a nice gentle ending to a mellow mix.

Overall I really liked the songs on this mix and really enjoyed the mix as a whole. The mix maintained a mood throughout yet still managed to have a few stand out tracks. Not everything works, but when the mix is good, it's very good. Sir Robin, I award ye:

8 out 10

A tracklist would be most appreciated.

This post has been edited by maian: Sep 17 2007, 08:11 PM

[Sir_Robin_the_br...]

Eey! Nice comments make me happy.

I shall sort out sending the tracklist to you asap.

[Kick in the Head]

NOW THAT'S WHAT I CALL THE BEST MUSIC MIX (BY JON 79) IN THE WORLD...EVER! - Jon 79

Track One
In with a bang, a quick blast of dirty, sweaty rock and roll. Some unusually good lyrics aside, it's pretty standard stuff, but not unwelcome anyway.

Track Two
Another short sharp rock track, but of a different ilk. The vocalist sounds familiar, but I don't want to jump to (incorrect) conclusions. The scrambled digital interference sound effects set it apart from the pack, but it falls just shy of genuine goodness.

Track Three
The faint horn of background traffic signals some Schifrin-esque drumbeats that begin in a rather moody fashion, but the tune becomes groovier by the second. It doesn't bubble over at any point, and it's all the better for it, maintaining a slick smoothness throughout.

Track Four
A peculiar mini-filler; a Lemon Jelly style loop that fades in, stops, starts again, then fades out. More of a bridge between tracks than an actual track methinks.

Track Five
An interesting beginning soon evolves into a pleasant laidback piece of fluff that floats in one ear and out the other. It's a little long, but by no means a waste of space. It's simply too easygoing to really praise or criticise.

Track Six
Pounding and pumping electronic beats that would happily accompany an invasion of giant robots from outer space. The vocals aren't entirely successful, but the mad excess of the rest of the track more than compensate for this. Swell.

Track Seven
As trippy chillout instrumentals go, this one's pretty unexceptional and sounds dated. Not bad, just a little 'meh'.

Track Eight
I could be wrong (I often is), but I sense garage band. Not necessarily a bad thing, as it sounds pretty much like what all the indie 'kids' are up to in the charts today. A good instrumental break midway through takes it up a few notches, and by the clap-led climax, it won me over and everything that went before seems to fit together a lot better.

Track Nine
Back into electronic territory. It starts off kinda funky (like backing music for a chart rundown), but it ultimately covers little ground in its plus 5 minute running time. Better tracks on my Sky TV Guide screen.

Track Ten
A tiny electronic filler even shorter than the one before. Like a particularly tuneful and pleasant space signal.

Track Eleven
I was wondering when he was going to pop up . Just so happens he's my all-time favourite artist too, and this is a gloriously good instrumental from one his best albums. A perfect choice for the mix.

Track Twelve
A lovely unfussy twangy indie number. It's pretty tricky putting my finger on exactly what's so right about it, but it pretty much nails it on the head without making a big song and dance about it. It's just really nice to listen to.

Track Thirteen
An intro that wouldn't sound out of place in Flash Gordon leads into something far more New Romantic. The tinny echoey vocals are interesting but a tad irritating after a while. The elements are all in place for me to enjoy this track, but it didn't quite gel as well as I had hoped.

Track Fourteen
It has to be said that I'm a sucker for a synthesiser, so I liked this track a lot more than perhaps I should. Little else to add really.

Track Fifteen
I would have described this track as sounding a lot like what it actually is until it turned into what it actually is. If that makes sense. It's certainly a different version of the one I've heard before. A cute addition, but, it doesn't really work in the greater context of the mix at hand.

Track Sixteen
Another song from a motion picture and a return to a previously featured artist in cover version form, though not the version from the soundtrack. Phew. It's an inspired take on a classic, and a lovely album closer, though it's a tad too familiar now to be completely effective.


Final Thoughts
Jon 79 has fashioned an accomplished mix that has it's faults, but mostly rises above them. At first, I was concerned about the number of tracks, but the mix didn't outstay its welcome, as among these were multiple short instrumentals linking everything together; handy considering the genre-jumping electicism. Overall, it serves better as a bit of backing music than an intense listening experience and, bar a couple of odd inclusions, fit together nicely.


7/10

A tracklist would bring me incalculable joy.

[Jon 79]

Just Turn It Up - A Tape Loop by Ruaidhri Ward

Much thought has gone into this. ... particularly when it comes to track order, I think; Each song mixes into the next, and the whole album goes subtley through the genre spectrum of Rua's varied tastes in music. From funk, through chilled beats, electronica, dancey music... err... big beat.... progressive ... er blah blah... pop...thingy...um doodah music... stuff that sounds a bit, yer know... to err.. Rock & Indie. (yep, I know my music genres, and no mistake )

The Tracks:

1. Slow paced funk. Cool.
2. Faster Funk. Cooler. ...Funkier. I like this. There's a guitar that reminds me of Wonder's Superstition. Funk is a genre that i love to hear in clubs, but would never really buy or listen to at home (I'm the same with drum n bass).
3. More funky bass in this track, but i don't think this instrumental would fall under the Funk genre. Not sure what you'd call it, but it's chilled beats with synths and I like it.
4. Something about this song made me want to turn it up louder. Again my genre knowledge is probably out, but i hear this as funky chilled rap. Good song, but not my sort of thing. For me, I guess it comes down to the artists voice.
5. The female vocals put me off this otherwise pleasant & simplistic electronica.
6. hmmmm ... I'm gonna describe this as electro/RnB. ...no? Again, not realy my cuppa cha. ... Male & female vocalist .... ( the guy reminds me of Snoop Dogg)
7. This is the first track I recognise. ...I've no idea who it is or what its called, but I recognise the section of the song that sounds like someone playing a saw (like the music in One Flew over the Cukoo's Nest) ...possible sampled from something else? Some nice dance beats in this.
8. Ooh, I've got this one! Great dance track... Very nicely mixed in from the previous track too.
9. I've got this too. Cool track. another one that falls under the wide spectrum known as dance music. I don't listen to these guys enough.
10. A bit different this. Dancey bassy euro pop/rock, with 2 french female vocalists. A bit annoying but there's also something cheesy and fun about this track.
11. The chords in this remind me of a beatles song if it were remixed by daft punk. The vocals a little tiresome, and the bass a little too breakbeat for my liking. An ok song, but I wouldn't want to hear it for a 3rd time.
12. I've never heard this before, but it's almost certainly a Ninja Tunes song... and features the tune from Call My Bluff!
13. Progressive Dance. This reminds me of Benni Benansi's Satisfaction.... it has that sound that sounds like sweep (from the Sooty Show). Nice. Sounds good.... It does seem to go on though. -(it is well over 7 minutes!)
14. Yeah! ...another song that I have, & a not-so-subtle change now, with some classic rock from 1969!
15. Slightly heavier rock. ... Not too fast, but maybe too heavy guitar for my liking.
16. Indie pop/rock. I've no idea who it is.... but the music (& lyrics) reminds me of early Pulp, & the vocals on the chorus sound like Belle & Sebastian. The verse has a deeper european sounding vocalist. I like this song.
17. More indie, but mellower. Sounds a bit like the Smashing Pumkins or Interpol. In either (or probably neither) case: It's fansastic music, but I don't like the sound of the vocalists too much. Some great guitars though.
18. Ooh, I like this. Chillout guitars, slow paced drums. Nice Bass. A great track to end on. No idea who, but it's just been voted Track most likely to be listened to, over again by Jon79. ... Very nice.


The Verdict:
A well thought out album. Though it was 18 tracks & 73 minutes long, it was varied enough not to drag. .. toward the end of the album the style started changing a bit more drasticly.
A lot of the songs mix into the next. Sometimes it didn't seem to work very well, though more often than not - it's well done.. (especially the beat-mix between tracks 7 & 8).
Overall?

6.5/10


This post has been edited by Jon 79: Sep 19 2007, 08:43 PM

[Rua]

I just listened back to it myself last night & it's a fair cop I rushed through this & some of the mixes are, well, downright careless. I really did just throw it together, more so because once I start tinkering I never stop & wanted to get it sent out in time.

So I hold my hands up on this one, glad you enjoyed some of it.
If you don't put the love in, it won't come out.

This post has been edited by Rua: Sep 20 2007, 09:21 AM

[beatoswald]

Hearing Ade - Ade

Track 1 - This is an excellent first track. With the alarm/siren beginning and sporadic hoots of electronic owls it sounds like getting up early and going to work. I'd never heard this song before but I remember Ade mentioning it on the forum. Very evocative, conjuring a feeling of modern drudgery.

Track 2 - I'm not sure what to make of this track of unreserved merriment. It's too upbeat and positive for my tastes but there is some great lyrics such as being born to pillow fight with lovely ladies and I think the music exhibits the influence of Zappa, which I like.

Track 3 - This song, which I assume comes from a certain soundtrack, is great. Fast paced rock 'n' roll which is obviously just well made. I like it's simplicity and momentum.

Track 4 - A pensive electronic track. The wispy female vocals protests that it's not all bad but this seems redundant to the listener after the previous track.

Track 5 - This is the track I liked the least from the CD. It starts intriguingly with acoustic guitars being opposed by electric yet it becomes a too conventional rock song, which nevertheless displays evident skilled musicianship. Sporadically interesting but it did not excite me.

Track 6 - This track on the other hand does. A potent joy. It's like being stuck in one of the earlier Mario games. A highlight of the CD.

Track 7 - I recognise the very distinctive artist but I don't think I've heard this song before, which is unsurprising as I don't follow his music. Regardless, this is a enjoyable song. Great tight but adventurous instrumentation. I particularly like the trumpet sounding thing.

Track 8 - This is another highlight. A wonderful melodious yarn from a guy whose music is frequently great.

Track 9 - I'm pretty sure I've heard this song before but I can't put a name to the noise. The track has a kind of Beatles inflected sound, it's nice and has original lyrics.

Track 10 - This is certainly a nice song but as with track 5 I suspect I'm not digging the virtuosity quite enough to be really taken with it. Yet it is engaging.

Track 11 - This is an interesting piece of melancholic West Coast pop and the singing is great if the pronounication grates a little, yet it's kind of fitting.

Track 12 - A fun electronic song which I imagine robots might listen to as they go about their work in high tech cities of the future. As usual I 'm unsure who made this music.

Track 13 - A quite dark and barbed picture of the grim debauchery of a minor celebrity. Entertaining lyrics and driven music. Good.

Track 14 - Continuing the welcome irreverent tone from the previous track comes the man from track 8 with a song about the death of the King. Great. Affectionate and ridiculous.

Track 15 - A pleasing, sprawling bout of anarcho-religiosity. Imaginative, personal and epic. It's buried itself into my head and occasionally emerges when least expected. It grows ever more on me. Superb singing, and song generally.

Track 16 - While I'm not entirely enraptured with the song it is an apt concluding track which ably draws this fine selection of songs to a close.

I've enjoyed listening to this CD. The unfamiliarity and excellence of the majority of the tracks made for a stimulating and pleasant experience.

8.4 out of 10

[Ade]

Wowsers. A very generous and articulate review Mr Oswald, I am really pleased with that - glad you enjoyed it.

I totally agree with your comment about the segue from Track 3 to 4... it was the one track I had real difficulty placing in the running order, and while I wasn't totally happy where it ended up, it was kind of dictated by where all the other tracks had to go. I think I over-compromised by dropping a few darker tracks in order to keep the running time down to a tolerable duration - maybe I should have left them in after all. Ach well, it's an evolving process, live and learn - duly noted.

Again, thoroughly pleased you found much to enjoy - I shall forward you a tracklist right away, squire!

[Sir_Robin_the_br...]

Oriental Emporium by beatoswold

Before I start, please forgive my lack of eloquence during bits of this review. I haven't reviewed anything for a long time and I seem to be having trouble getting my thoughts into words. I have given it the best shot I could though. Anyway:

Track 1: It’s an offbeat start to the mix. This track starts off rather wistfully and I was happily swaying away to it when the tempo suddenly changed. Then it changed again. This could have felt rather jarring but it actually works very well. My favourite parts were the slow piano (and later brass) led bits and the lyrical work of the singer (he sounds really familiar, I really need to know who it is) makes it all work very well. A great start.

Track 2: This tune matches with the cover of the cd and the title almost perfectly. It’s very oriental but there is also a very electronic and organic feeling to the instruments used. The flute near the end is rather lovely.

Track 3: An upbeat bit of jazz with flute, piano, drums and harmonica combining nicely to create a melodic ditty which floats through your mind pleasantly. Mmnn.

Track 4: This may be a live or studio recording, I can’t quite tell. It’s mostly acoustic with the odd hand clap here and there. I’m not actually sure what kind of music this would be classed as, it sounds a bit bluesy but it’s very up tempo and catchy. I like it but I still have no idea what it is.

Track 5: Bouncy. That is the only way to describe this song. Big bouncy drums, what sounds a bit like surf guitar in the background and rather manic lyrical work combine with what almost sounds like the Benny Hill theme tune to create something and madcap as it is enjoying. The best track so far in the mix, and I do like the way it builds up to a crescendo at the end. Once again I can’t really describe it very well but I love it.

Track 6: This is really cool. A mostly instrumental track (will some slightly scary laughing) which rides on a great bit of guitar work with a very catchy riff which seems to keep on shifting throughout the song. Nice little breakdown at the end as well. Cool man.

Track 7: The drums in this song are mixed quite loudly and the vocals are often pushed into the back of the mix. It actually works very well and gives the whole song a very lo-fi feel. Good piano line again and even though I couldn’t actually make out half of the lyrics it really didn’t feel like it mattered.

Track 8: Not my thing I’m afraid. I kept skipping it and eventually gave up.

Track 9: A bit repetitive really and although it was quite a catchy tune I was getting a bit bored by the end. Nice piano though.

Track 10: Aah this is better, very funky stuff. The lyrics are a bit punk sounding and although I’m having a bit of trouble actually describing what I like about the song, rest assured that I do like it. Sorry that was a bit of a rubbish review there wasn’t it?

Track 11: This has a rather freeform jazzy beginning and the lyrics are buried underneath the instruments, which are all layered over the top of each other rather effectively. The piano does trample over the rest of the tune somewhat but this is very interesting stuff. I’d be intrigued to know when this was originally recorded.

Track 12: This is extremely 80s sounding, featuring a lot of elements which I love. There’s a lovely electronic buzzy noise which wobbles throughout the tune, coming to the front every now and again. The singer sounds very familiar, another song where I would really like to know the artist. Another keeper.

Track 13: A quirky close to the mix, I really don’t think I can find the words to describe how bizarre this track sounded to me. By the end I was rather getting into it but I have no idea how they managed to progress from one sound to another so many times without losing the flow of the track. I don’t really know where I’m going with this so I’ll stop now. I did find it quite charming though and a fitting end to an eclectic mix.

Overall this is a very good (see?) mix which has made me want to track down the work of some of the artists I have heard, which surely proves it to be a success. It is as eclectic as I was expecting from Mr beats and there were only a few tracks in the middle section which I didn't like.

8.6 from 10

I await the tracklist eagerly.

[Ade]

Track Record - Kick In The Head


I'm fuzzy on the whole genres thing, so forgive any repetitiousnessness.


1 - Mid tempo chugging indie(?) number, with a nice monophonic anaolgue synth riff. The vocalist sounds like an amalgam of Divine Comedy's Neil Hannon and the Franz Ferdinand's frontman, while the musical style resembles neither of their respective bands' sounds, yet still seems naggingly familiar. Growing on me steadily, this one.

2 - Another mid-tempo indie(!) vocal number, with an Eastern strings backing riff that strikes me in mind of The Chemical Brothers (if the Chemicals had 'gone indie'). In fact it's not altogether unlike 'Setting Sun', the CB's collaboration with Noel Gallagher, only substituting Gallagher with the singer from Elbow. Not bad, not bad, although it doesn't especially grab me. Again, it's a bit of a grower, and doesn't outstay its welcome.

3- Arctic Monkeys styled frentic energy here, though it's not said Monkeys. I like it though, it's more upbeat than the previous two songs, and much like the Arctic Monkeys, engagingly catchy (even if the vocalists aren't especially "all that"). Also, short and sweet, and just right.

4 - Sounds like Franz Ferdinand with a different singer. In fact it's so eerily like the Franzies, that it must be them. But I'm pretty sure it isn't. Not especially tuneful, but I quite like its raw, FranzFerdinand stylings. Less struck on the vocals though, and less so than I am on those of FranzF (which is occasionally 'not very struck at all'). I'd be very surprised to discover that Rory doesn't like Franz Ferdinand.

5 - This sweet little instrumental marks a definite middle section of this compilation which also turns out to be my favourite part of the disc. Sounds like The Go! Team on sedatives, but no less joyous for it - I love this track. The weedy anaolgue synth notes and the flutes add a fine dose of lovely to the mix - just my cup o' tea.

6 - Heehee. Reminds me of halcyon days, twatting around with a Yamaha Portasound keyboard with my brother, revelling in the naffness of the rubbishy percussion pads and 'orchestra hits'. This however, is by far more structured, melodious and fun to listen too. Something of a highlight, in a cheesy, lighthearted sort of way. Again quite short, but good fun. I likes.

7 - Another highlight for me, this sounds to me like a French folk version of Moloko or something. Female vocalist singing English lyrics, with hints of tinny, milk bottle percussion. I like the brief, slightly Flight Of The Conchords-y rap segment too. Would be very interested to find out who this is. Another good 'un.

8 - By far the best track for me. Another 'nice' instrumental, with crunchy synth bass notes and lead riffs. Sounds quite like Daft Punk but without any hint of their disco and bass-heavy techno stylings of old. Builds harmonies nicely, before mellowing out with warm, fuzzy chords. Need to know who this is immediately - I'm hooked!

9 - Swinging back into the third act in much the same vein as the first four tracks, this guitar and female vocal-led song, the guitar backing again reminds me of The Chemical Brothers (more specifically Push The Button's closing track 'Surface To Air'). A poor descriptive I guess, given it's really not all that similar, and somewhat more angsty, but it's a good track and I quite like it.

10 - A slight slowing down of pace. A little more folky, little more hippy-y. Not amazing, but it's amiable enough.

11 - This is more like it. Again, very similar style to The Go! Team, though a touch more 'minor key'. I like it, and have grown quite accustomed to it, it's really quite lovely. Another one I am very keen to find out the artist responsible.

12 - Daft Punk meets Sigue-Sigue Sputnik and filter the vocals through an IBM speech processor. This makes for an intriguing, upbeat take on a famed crooner's bittersweet classic (and staple karaoke number). My initial reaction was amusement, and while it's not an unusual stylistic choice for the closing track, I felt that it would have worked better earlier on in the mix. But that minor niggle soon gave way to unalloyed enjoyment - it's quirky and daring, and just might be my preferred version now.


A nice little compilation this, one that has engaged my interest more with each listen. The central four tracks are easily the standout section for me,
but while they stand out from those either side, they all tie together nicely. Which is why I'm giving this disc, a rather jolly: 7.9 out of 10. Cool.

A tracklist would be grand, cheers.

[Wife Of Rolex]

A Mix - Maian


1. A smooth soul-funk-jazz opener to kick things off. This sounds like something you'd hear in a cellar club somewhere in the inner-city with little round tables frequented by the cool cats of town. Very pleasant.

2. Chunky shuffles get overtaken by synth slaps and whispy vocals. In contrast to the first track, this is one for a small off the main street venue for open space shufflers and bar propping. Head bobbingly enjoyable.

3. Still in the small but atmospheric venue of track 2, this keeps the semi-minimal electronic sound but with added guitars and drums. The female vocal has a slightly off kilter feel but works for this song. Although, as it continues it becomes a bit less engaging.

4. Moving away from the small venue to a more mainstream bar in the high street, this is from the higher end of the R&B/hip-hop scale. Most of what comes out of this genre tends to bypass my radar but I've heard this before (I think I know the guy's name) and it's alright to have in the background while I sip at my cola.

5. It's back down the road, but rather than take a right it's a left to the club under the railway arches. Thumping drums with hard hitting piano to match and quite a sweet female vocal. One to stand in the crowd with and bounce heads in unison.

6. Rather than a venue this could soundtrack your walk around town on a Saturday night. Its disorienting sound and vocals could match the blurry views of street lights above, a couple of blokes squaring up to each other on the left outside Brannigans, a group of young women laughing and slightly pissed going by on the right, a policeman talking to someone by the side of a car as you cross the road and a woman shouting, 'Gary, I didn't mean it like that! Stop being a dickhead!' and all other swirls of sounds you hear as you make your way through the streets. An interesting and unusual track.

7. Up a flight of stairs to a small orange painted salsa dance club hosting a soul-funk music night. A funky brass and bongo driven track lead by some soulful male vocals. This is hugely fun and even enduces a bit of hip rolling.

8. A quick nip round the corner to the pub that has live acts 3 Saturdays out of 4 on its mini stage. A fun little toe-tapping (all?) female act with a jaunty little number to enjoy with a drink and friends.

9. Back to the railway arches to hear some more thumpy drums with added brass and wise male vocal to give a strangely Johnny Cash air to an otherwise poppy tune.

10. Walking slightly out of town and heading for the arts centre for a bigger sound needing a bigger stage. Dramatic in feel though quiet on impact, it's actually quite quickly forgotten once finished.

11. Returning to the small off street club venue for a bit more soft electronica and sweet vocals. Sharp lyrics but they're delivered with fun and make this one to enjoy while leaning back and soaking up the atmosphere.

12. Another one for the railway arch club. A very enjoyable song from a south coast female act who probably don't get that much airplay. This being an example as this is the only track of theirs I can say I've actually heard properly on either radio or TV.

13. Popping back to the arts centre for that more dramatic thumping piano and drum sound. but again, like track 10 and despite the urgent vocals, it has the opposite effect on me and has little impact.

14. To finish the mix (and with a certain tinge of irony given the venue to venue sound this cd has had) this is like a very well equiped busker you pass in a subway on the way home. A bit depressing for a clossing track with its slow tempo and almost mournful vocal, but still has a hint of sweetness about it thanks to the simplistic instrumentation.



As you will have gathered this mix sent me on a bit of a tangent after the first couple of tracks, but it was a pleasant one. Not every track raised an interest but those that did made for an enjoyable listen and sent me on a little self imagined journey.

7/10


Tracklist please.

[maian]

A fair and balanced review. I was genuinely quite worried about this mix since I went out the way to make it more varied and unlike my last two so to get a positive response is very much appreciated. I had initially thought of trying to make a mix that was sort of like a strange night out set to music but didn't think it worked out, so to hear that it sent you on some sort of journey is very nice to hear.

Tracklist on the way.

[Wife Of Rolex]

A fair and balanced review. I was genuinely quite worried about this mix since I went out the way to make it more varied and unlike my last two so to get a positive response is very much appreciated. I had initially thought of trying to make a mix that was sort of like a strange night out set to music but didn't think it worked out, so to hear that it sent you on some sort of journey is very nice to hear.

Tracklist on the way.

Ahh, there you go. That was more intuitive than I realised, then. The first track pretty much set the idea of a night out from the off.


Eta...

Oh, track 12 isn't who I thought it was. Why on earth did I think it was The Pippettes?

This post has been edited by Wife Of Rolex: Sep 25 2007, 06:11 PM