The thread for all your reviews and responses.


Missing Planet>>
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Wife Of Rolex

Gimp Gold - Featuring Some Songs And That

Nice cover - made me think of Letting Off The Happiness by Bright Eyes. Putting them together I'm not sure why but great nevertheless.

Track 1 - Slightly less well known track from a famous 90's band. I've never been a fan and while I did find it growing on me after a while, I'm still not going to change my mind and like them.

Track 2 - Sounds like English folk music. Not something I'd listen to.

Track 3 - Like a bad poetry reading. I'd quite happily never hear it again.

Track 4 - I know who this is and I don't like them. I'm probably in a minority.

Track 5 - I have to admit the downbeat nature of the CD really starts to get to me by this point. Terrible, overblown lyrics and singing. Really, really not my thing.

Track 6 - I thought I might know who this was, but a later track proved me wrong. Again, really not my thing.

Track 7 - A nice acoustic beginning but another one let down by the singing.

Track 8 - This says movie soundtrack to me (though not in a Hollywood sense). It's more upbeat musically which I found refreshing. Listening to it on it's own I don't particularly like it, but the slow nature of the CD so far makes it quite listenable.

Track 9 - This is who I thought track 8 might be. An act I've seen live, and as a result I found I liked some of the lyrics but not the music or singing. Being covered improves them.

Track 10 - Different, but again the vocals spoil it.

Track 11 - I hate this band's first four albums, and this is from one of them.

Track 12 - Someone I've listened to for years and have seen live many times. Not the song I'd pick for a CD, but good stuff.

Track 13 - My brain picked the name 'Twee-punk' for this. Not for me.

Track 14 - I'm afraid to say the notes I've written on this just say 'Horrible'.

Track 15 - Famous song by famous band. I don't like it but I'm probably in the minority again.

Track 16 - Nice ambient noises, but again it has vocals I don't like.

Track 17 - I like this. Maybe could've done without the guitar heavy bits, but a thumbs up. Silence and then my ears never wish to hear again .

My main problem with the CD was it's start. For seven tracks I would describe it as 'relentlessly downbeat'. I found it had a slight but noticeable effect on my mood, and I could've hugged track eight when it came along. It was more varied from then on, but over the whole CD I found a lot of the singing varied from 'irritating' to 'hateful'.

Of 17 tracks, I liked 2.

1 out of 8. If this the CD was a planet it would be

Ooh. Brutally honest there, MissingPlanet. I'm glad it'll be a long time before you get to review mine.

Will be reviewing yours sometime after Thursday (I have two 2000 word essays to write before then!)

I hated writing it - my mum taught me 'If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all', but I had to write an honest review. I've only met one person with a taste in music like mine, so what could I possibly know anyway?

Well, you can't say I didn't warn you


The tracks are supposed to get louder and more upbeat as it goes on (and to my ears, they do), which is then repeated in the last song. And speaking of the last song, that heavy guitar twist is, to me, fundamental to the song - it still astonishes me how it can start so quietly and progress to that point and yet the process sounds entirely natural, almost so you don't actually notice it happening. Amazing song.

I'm not lucky enough to have such a lengthy stay of execution. I've already bitten my nails down to the quick in trepidation...

Ade you have nothing to fear. I've heard one of your CDs before and I fully expect there to be some more gems on this new one.

Pre-emptive Looping. Maybe this is the future.


Wife Of Rolex

I Can't Believe It's Not Better - Ade

I share a fair amount of favourite artists with Ade, but the quality of this mix has impressed me greatly. He has also mastered the Acoustica software to create some flawless and inspired cross-fading and mixing.

1. A thunderous track by an in-vogue stadium rock band. The compilation hits the ground running.

2. Jean-Michel Jarre meets Tangerine Dream and keeps up the pace.

3. A nice 80s Prefab Sprout-ish song which I very much enjoyed.

4. It's a shame the weakest track comes so early on, but this western-sounding instrumental didn't inspire me.

5. This soulful, pop track has lovely layered sounds.

6. My second least-favourite, this piano number drones on a bit.

7. The Jazz-Jew is not my usual cup of tea, but this track has enough swagger to hold interest.

8. This stylophone-based track is quite cute and reminded me of The Postal Service without the lyrics. A little too 'light' for the compilation but enjoyable.

9. Well-known 90s band, with a more uplifting sound than usual. A nice surprise.

10. This reminds me of ABC - that 80s keyboard-ballad sound is really nice here.

11. A divine piece of mixing segues into this dark drum 'n' bass interpretation of some of John Barry's finest work. I think I have this somewhere.

12. The typical sound of this spicy four-piece, but a really good tune.

13. Another excellent mix into this dark, soulful electronic version of an Elvis classic.

14. The Jarre/Tangerine Dream sound is back, and very good.

15. Thompson Twins meets Dave Gilmour. More atmospheric 80s sounding stuff. Another great surprise.

16. I'm not big on hip-hop, but this UK artist is brilliant and smashes boundaries with his quality. Fuses superb lyrics with bangra beats for this track.

17. Big-band brass meets Propellerheads. Knowing Ade I'd guess at Apollo 440. Great stuff.

18. Absurd, pretentious, but brilliant fun. I think this might be Patrick Rondat and his new born baby?!

Darker than previous compilations and much better for it, Ade's mix is eclectic yet consistant. This may inspire me to follow up on some of the artists. As mentioned above, the mixing is superb, and goes a long way to bringing the whole mix together into a coherant whole. The tracklist is not flawless, but the entire package makes up for it.

8 Jessops.

Get in!

An honest and to-the-point review as always Mr Adam, and very generous too, thankyou - I never expect a 100% strike rate with any of my compilations, so for only a few tracks to go off-target is a bonus. Bally well chuffed you enjoyed it as much as you did, old bean. I shall type up that tracklist for you right away!

I Know All Sorts Of Things by Wife Of Rolex

First off, great work on the cover design. Very classy. To the music...

1. Opens with a piece of piano that has hints of jazz and early soul to it before it quickly changes to a pop tune that sounds like it is from a classic pop act of the 90s, though I can't be certain. Great, lively opening that gets things off to a great start.

2. Bit more electro than the preceding track. Great beat and synth work which is let down by some uninteresting vocals. A slow-burner of a track that is nice but didn't really strike me after a few listens.

3. Like this a lot. Started out a bit like a Ryan Adams song but changes into a great reggae/ska track with some very paranoid sounding lyrics which are delivered with panache by a female vocalist (I think I know who it is, though I'm not sure) and are perfectly complemented by the frantic music and creepy backing vocals.

4. My least favourite song of the mix. A not especially interesting track that never really got going and was undermined by vocals that I found really annoying.

5. Much better. Reminds me of Super Furry Animals at the start with a gently picked guitar intro with soft vocals. Lyrics are nice, and the chorus builds very nicely.

6. Effects-laden song that sounds really strange and intriguing, shifting quite often and maintains an ethereal air throughout. Not too fussed about the lyrics or vocals, but the rest of the song is great.

7. My favourite track of the mix. Songs grand, sweeping and epic whilst also sounding like a Pet Shop Boys track. Despite its length, the track kept my interest by changing. Very operatic, yet modern. Superb.

8. Starts out like Rabbit In Your Headlights, then a choir kick in and the song reveals itself to be a bouncy, soulful number with some downbeat piano underpinning it. A nice instrumental segment in the middle breaks the track up nicely. An odd gem.

9. An instrumental that is a great bit of soul that reminds me of James Brown. The whole song is full of fun and is a real joy to listen to.

10. Don't really like this song. Sounds like a really amateurish remix and I just found it really boring.

11. A folky intro gives way to a very upbeat track that I really liked a lot.

12. A good but aimless bit of dance music which I liked but didn't love. It feels a bit long and gets a bit repetitive towards the end. Good, though.

13. Sounds like the same band who opened the compilation, though I can't be certain. A sinister and atmospheric finale that was enjoyable bu felt a bit anticlimactic.

Overall, I liked most of this mix. Some of the tracks were a bit tiresome, whilst the nlast few songs don't really stand up to the quality of Track 7, which does overshadow the whole thing.

7 Maians

Tracklist please.

Thanks for the review. This probably is my most marmitey Loop cd so far so fair dos on some of the comments. Tracklist has been sent.


Wife Of Rolex

Garlic by Sostie.


Knowing that Comrade Sostie has a prodigious record collection, I was expecting something pretty darn eclectic, and perhaps a little intimidating - I was certainly far from disappointed. Suffice to say his compilation prompted me to a big silly grin within the duration of the first few tracks… The CD sleeve also gave me cause to smirk - even if it had not featured his name on the disc, there'd have been no doubt that it was a Sostie mix - that is all I'll say on the matter.


1. What might be considered by some as a throwaway track actually makes for a fantastic intro. Wibbly analogue synths eventually give away the fact we are in TV theme tune territory, an assumption which is not unfounded. Despite this cult show’s considerable following during the early 80’s I never saw it, to my eternal regret – consequently my unfamiliarity with the music completely wrong-footed me. Anyway, despite this fact it drips with nostalgia for me, as my first appraisal was that of a combination of early 80’s era Tomorrow’s World theme tune, with a side helping of CHiPs – once the lyrics finally kicked in I knew what it was. Funky bass guitar with some lengthy synth solos too, marvellous. A canny choice for an intro track, and a personal highlight.

2. Followed promptly by what sounds again like TV theme tune, but perhaps from the late 60’s/early 70’s timeframe. Brass and harmonica, quite catchy, and so irritatingly familiar – I know I’ve heard this before.

3. With a misleadingly eerie wild west whistling intro, the retro feel to the collection eventually continues with a steady paced and irresistibly catchy instrumental track. Undoubtedly the foundation for the theme tune to Futurama, though still very much obviously a late 60’s/early 70’s track, it reminds me of Jean-Jacques Perrey’s ‘E.V.A’ that featured on that Lucozade commercial about 10 years back. Would love to know who this is, I know I’ve heard it before somewhere.

4. Highly influential white boy rap trio who rose to prominence about the same time as Public Enemy. At first listen, it seemed a bit out of place amongst everything else, but after further spins it actually follows the tempo and rhythm of the preceding track almost faultlessly, so I can see the logic behind the choice. The repetitive chorus did start to get on my nerves originally, but I don't mind it so much now.

5. Back to a sparse, easy listening, loungecore kind of sound, with a French female vocalist / speaker. It sounds ‘vaguely modern’, perhaps… it might even be Stereolab? Not especially diverting, but it contrasts nicely with the previous track, and holds a certain charm throughout its short duration.

6. Funky rhythm guitar and bass, bongos, and we delve further into French territory with one of the better remixes of an early single by a certain Gallic duo, possibly mixed by Le Beck du Hansen. Can’t fault this, being a fan and all.

7. More bongos, and a superbly smooth segue into an excellent Santana-esque cover of one of Cliff Richard’s former backing band’s best known hits. Hammond organ flourishes dotted about, this is definitely way more than ‘a patch’ on the original. Sounds like a 1970’s TV theme again, but that’s not meant as criticism. I bloody love it.

8. Same era again (roughly), with another funky instrumental, and one of many tracks subsequently filtered through Mr Norman Cook’s sampler – probably one of his most well-known at that. Short and sweet, and switches without skipping a beat into:

9. Another French female singer meanders through a mostly French spoken 60’s simple, strutting rock number, with a few classic US/UK rock ‘n’ roll lyrical signatures thrown in for good measure. Could well be the same artist as track 5. Much as with that track, this was nothing especially ear-catching to be frank, but more than listenable - I didn’t feel compelled to hit the fast forward button, so it’s all good.

10. Fairly simple drum and guitar stomp from He of the Ultimate Gravelly Voice, I’m assuming. A simple clang of a bell here and there too. This has actually become a firm favourite despite my initial indifference. Another artist I keep meaning to check out.

11. The half-sung, half-spoken lyrics aren’t especially tuneful nor cheerful, but there was something about the storytelling nature of this one that kept me listening. Bit of a Pogues sound to it, but without the whole Irish accent thing. No idea who this could be, but I’d be intrigued to find out.

12. One of greatest male vocalists from the 60’s/70’s era. I bought several of this guy’s albums as a direct result of my first Tape Loop participation, and this is easily one of his best songs – later ably covered by Marc Almond in the early 90’s. It’s blatantly obvious here to see who The Divine Comedy’s Neil Hannon took much of his lyrical and musical inspiration from. Terrific lyrics and orchestral backing, and another highlight on this compilation.

13. Bit of an oddball, noisy rock stomp this one. Could almost be The Blues Brothers, but without the blues and soul angle. It made me smile though, as the gruff-sounding singer seems to lose the beat totally toward the end, rambling all the way through about some amphibious reptile or other. Reminded of Mr Sostie’s “eye gouge/turkey necks” forum signature for some reason. A bit messy, and reasonably fair to say I wouldn’t listen to by choice, but I honestly warmed to it after repeated listens.

14. Although I don’t dislike him I’m not particularly a fan of the King, but this short and sweet (and probably much less well known) number was an unexpected and unalloyed pleasure to hear – I really enjoyed this. Thangyewverrmuch.

15. Catchy, loop sample-based rap. I likes. I would most likely have chosen to precede this De La Soul (?) track with ‘A Litle Less Conversation’ purely for a smoother transition, but in a way I’m glad Mr Sostie didn’t take the obvious route.

16. Umm, indie-sounding male vocal band, for want of a better description (and a better vocabulary). Not sure who this could be – it sounds like a compromise between perhaps The Killers and Elbow, with a few gospel singers thrown into the backing mix toward the end. Not especially fussed with this one, but like all the other ‘okay’ tracks I didn’t find myself reaching. It has a kind of uplifting feel to it, even though it doesn’t really grab me. It does blend nicely into the closer however.

17. An early 90’s band I should have appreciated more at the time, being purveyors of some truly wonderful folk-pop tunes, that they were. One of their more relaxed songs, I’m guessing from what I know of their canon.I really should listen to them more often.


A compilation of two fairly distinct halves, the first of which is my overall favourite.
I’m pretty tolerant with most music so the latter half, although a little more uneven to begin with, certainly improved with repeat plays. I have to say that I did expect something a bit heavier overall, but as it is this disc is nicely varied, with one or two light-hearted (though not unfounded) track choices. It’s rather refreshing to receive a compilation with as much of a sense of fun as anything more serious, introspective or a little rough round the edges. Sorry I haven't phrased the descriptives a little better - hope I've done it enough justice though.

A great start to the loop, says I. ‘Garlic’ is heartily recommended by Dr Ade. One clove to be taken thrice daily with meals.

7.8 / 10

The track listing would be most welcome too, please! Thanks.

Ade. Thanks for the review (and the effort put into it). Glad you liked the CD - a 7.8 is a beyond respectable ranking. Thankyou sir. Tracklisting on its way.

No problemo, and many thanks for the tracklist. Several surprises therein, and one or two I'd previously dismissed without really knowing any of their material; I may well be making further investigations on those ones at some point.

And having just spotted a minor oversight on my part, I'd just like to clarify the point I made regarding Track 16 :


I hadn't meant 'reaching' as in retching/vomiting; I'd accidently ommitted the words for the FastForward button. Just to make things clear that I gave all tracks my full attention.

My long over due review of...

Stinkorama - Stinketta


Very simplistic artwork but very charming, I thought.


1. A gentle late 60s sounding lilting start, which has a Beach boys/west coast of America feel to it. A sweet little track to set off a romantic evening with a loved one. Very nice.

2. Contrasts to the first track with its quick drums and flowing guitars. The vocals sound quite incidental to the music and would probably suit a TV advert for a clothing range/store. Again, a nice track.

3. We pull away even further from the opening track with a more urgent sound and sharp vocals to match the lyrics. Away from nice, this a short and interesting track.

4. This is just glorious! A bit of street ragtime from - I hazzard a guess - about the 1940s. Simply fun in every area and very enjoyable.

5. An interesting shuffling start that leads into a half hip hop half bluesy sound, which is played under a breathy MC's vocals. Not sure what to fully make of it but I'm intrigued enough not to dislike it in any way.

6. Late 70s tinged female pub rock from the biker districts of North America. I can visualise the singer at a dark bar somewhere in 1979 wearing a short brown suede jacket with tassles on the front and tossing her long black hair around in time with the music. Funky.

7. Some live mid-60s/very early 70s(?) RnB from America with strong vocal support from the audience. Whoever the singer is he has a great soul voice and has the crowd in the palm of his hand. But the song itself, for me, isn't that mind grabbing, especially with the ending tailing off as it does.

8. This could be the follow up to track 6, except this time it's the 80s and I see the woman on a social club stage with disco lights behind her as she wears a short sparkly dress and her hair is now a fizzy perm. It's softer and less funky than track 6 but a nice track to stick in the background to chill out to.

9. More 70s pub rock with slow drums and simplistic vocals and lyrics. This makes me think of spending Sunday afternoons with my dad at the British Legion/LT Club back in the 80s or sitting with him in the front room playing his records. He'd like this a lot and I like it simply for evoking specific fond memories just from it's particular sound.

10. This, again, makes me think of weekend afternoons in my childhood with its late 70s sloping bassline and easy vocals, but with funkier guitars than track 9. This - probably since track 9 kicked things off in my mind - conjures up memories of sitting in the back of our old Morris Marina as a child. It also brings Ray LaMontagne to mind immediately.

11. This sounds like the darker, more underground side of the 60s British music scene. There was the Merseybeat/poppy mainstream stuff but there was also this slow, pre-pre-punk anti-mainstream sound in the mid-60s that has a timeless quality about it and this reminds me of it. Whether it's actually from then I'm not sure but it's not bad. I rather like it.

12. More 70s tinged rock with the sloping bassline and relaxed vocals. Doesn't quite match up to the other similar sounding tracks from earlier.

13. Gentle guitar but possibly the most annoying vocal on top, almost like unnecessary false angst. Not keen and my least favourite track on the cd.

14. Full on bit of country. As is usual with the genre the guitar is picked and strummed with in a seemingly complex way but done with unfathomable ease. The vocals are soft and lilting and tell their littke story but the song on the whole doesn't appeal. Country rarely does it for me.

15. Back to the 60s, this time for some bloody good Motown. This track will be instantly recognised by anyone who's seen The Blues Brothers film so I won't give away what it is. But what I will say is this...mmm nice!

16. This could be one of two things.

a) A forgotten 60s track that has ludicrously slipped into history unnoticed

or

b) An album/b-side track from the Madchester era...that has ludicrously slipped into history unnoticed.

It seriously could be either as I honestly can't tell. It starts quiet, slowly swells then punches in with some great drums, hammond organ and shaking tamborine along with a mix of gentle harmonies and glorious singalong vocals. I played this 3 times in a row on first listen. Fantastic way to end the cd and my favourite of the mix.


Overall I found the cd to be a pleasant listen, affectionately influenced by mum and dad's record collection in places (totally in a good way) and not at all unlikeable, but at the same time also not especially overwhelming - with the exception of tracks 4 and 16 which had me beaming on each listen.

7/10


Tracklist would be very welcome.



Wife Of Rolex

It is with great pleasure that I use my amateurish reviewing skills on Maian’s “And she curved like a Raymond Chandler simile”. Buggered if I know what it means. Though in the Chandler vein it does come in a nice “film noir” case.

1. Well we open with one of the greatest bands ever doing one of their, sadly, few instrumental tracks. Haven’t actually listened to this one for quite some time, so it was a nice surprise to hear it again. Great opener.

2. If there was such a term as “Badly Drawn Boy-esque” this would fall into that category. And for me, that ain’t a bad thing. Love the squeaky strings like sound in the background. Not sure who this is, but it will be someone I’ll be checking out after I find out who it is.

3. Another track I’m not sure who it is. Reminds of the sort of stuff Terry Hall was releasing after Fun Boy Three…but with Marc Bolan on vocals. A nice little pop track that fits in well with what has come before.

4. It’s Brazilian! And it ain’t Samba! This band’s album was one of he more pleasant discoveries of he year. If Sonic Youth’s Kim Gordon was making funky 80’s electro pop it would sound a lot like this…I betcha. Great track.

5. It’s not that I didn’t like this…it just didn’t grab me. It’s a nice enough little song with, and it fits well in the mix…but just doesn’t stand out. I can’t really go into much detail about it because I’m a little indifferent. Too derivative to be anything more than OK.

6. Now this is more like it. Probably my favourite track form my favourite album of the year. Great vocals, big drums good twangy guitar. Great Australian Country-Goth music.

7. Ooooh this is nice. Lovely acoustic guitars, a glockenshpiel and a smooth female vocal (Ed loves his lady singers it seems). Sounds a lot like Nouvelle Vague’s version of Love Will Tear Us Apart, with added Paul Simon tribute.

8. And the tempo rises. Don’t know who it is….but really want to know. Drums & whistling with a light bass and less than perfect male and female vocals. Sounds like it shouldn’t work. Especially when you take into account the introduction of bongos! It does. Marvellous. Track of the CD.

9. It’s Mr Lives In A Different Time Frame From Than The Rest Of Us. This banjo plucking genius has produced so much stuff in the last few years he must have a 48 hour day. Not everything he does works, but this is one track that does. The piano is a bit Charlie Brown theme..but I like the piano on the Charlie Brown theme. Add to that strings, horns, good vocals, it’s the kind of class track I’ve come to expect from this fella.

10. First few seconds of this and I was already thinking “boring”…then it kicked in . Nice big song that reminded me a bit of The Doves with a big dash of The Cure’s 10:15 Saturday Night. Me likey.

11. This is one of the most overrated bands of the year. Doesn’t meen this track is bad. I like their album..I like this track. The UK version of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs..they sound like so many other things, without being as good as any of them.

12. Aaaah. My youth. Leeds’ finest (along with all the other fine Leeds bands there ever were) playing their finest song. Vocals you either love or hate, superb grinding bass, great guitar riff. Throw away your Strokes records kids..this band shits ‘em. Stone cold indie classic.

13. I've heard this because it’s used in a TV ad campaign. If I didn’t know better I might be trawling some Tom Tom Club Cds to see if I have missed this little gem. I won’t though…it sounds just slightly too modern. This suits me down to the ground - a laconic female vocal over an electronic track. Another pleasant discovery for me

14. Meh! The vocals irritate me a bit. Another that I can neither really criticise or applaud..it’s just…meh! Could be grower if it caught me in the right mood, and I can imagine it sounding quite good live. But, meh!

15. I love this band and their singer. But this is probably one of the most boring things they ever recorded. Velvet Underground did the same sort of thing..a story told over a musical backing. Unlike the VU track, the story is very, very dull. Musically it has it’s moments, but as a whole its is not one of their finer moments.

The best part of doing the loop is discovering new gems. No loop, no Sigur Ros or Guillemots for me. And there are quite a few new discoveries on this CD for me to seek out. Overall a very good mix, and when I peaks, it really peaks. Very good CD Ed. I give it

1/2 (that's 71/2 out of 10)

I NEED a track list. Thanks

4/4 by JJJ
I was looking forward to this as I knew it would make an interesting listen for me. Apologies for the lack of music description, but I'm a musical dunce and didn't want to end up using the wrong words and looking like a tool. The cover is a fairly simple affair, which I'm afraid to say I found a little dull.


Track 1
Like many, this has grown on me. It's short, with fairly simple music with sparse choral vocals. Very peaceful, and a good introduction. The bit I don't like is how it ends and goes into...

Track 2
The centrepiece of this track is the bass that remains (too?) prominent and steady throughout. The tune very slowly and gently swirls and builds around it, until about two thirds of the way in when it suddenly stops, leaving just a thudding baseline for far too long, and I find it gets boring. The tune whirls back before the end, and it goes back to being good again.

Track 3
I first heard this about two months ago on a different tape loop. Another one that starts off quiet and slowly builds; it only 'kicks in' after about half the song is already over. This one doesn't really hold my attention, though I do like the second half.

Track 4
A song by a more well-known group, and I rather like it. There are two singers, both with ethereal and quite unusual voices that I like.

Track 5
I'm over half way through this 10-minuter, and my main thought is 'Is that it?' I mean, it's nice, I suppose, but dull. Things do get a bit more interesting later on, but I find it fairly boring and repetitive. I'm probably not doing it any justice by listening to it in my office, mind.

Track 6
Erm, what? I don't get it. Just a seemingly random collection of warbling music and vocal samples. Its brevity and oddness act as a counterpoint to the previous long and rather earnest offering, but other than that I can't say it has any point whatsoever.

Track 7
I can't be sure whether I already know this one, or just think I do because it's my favourite on the album and I've listened to the disc quite a few times. It's a bit darker than the rest of the album.

Track 8
Too drum & bass-ey to me, just find it very, very repetitive. It's over nine minutes, but I'm not convinced it's not the same minute of music repeated eight times.

Track 9
Much better. Calming, quiet, and a bit like a musical hug. Again, the office is probably not this piece's natural habitat; I imagine that would probably be lying in a warm bed in your lover's arms while rain rails outside. There's not really a lot to listen to here, but somehow it demands that you do anyway.



I think my overall feeling is still one of 'Is that it?', although not as much as when I first heard it - some tracks, and the album as a whole, has grown on me. Although my two highlights are in the second half of the CD so are the lowlights, so all in I'd probably pick the first half over the second. This is the bleeding edge of my musical tastes, so it was always going to be hit and miss.

Tracklist, please Adam.




If you look very closely, you'll see he's jolly excited about being used in a messageboard-based scoring system.

Thanks for the honest review, Alan!

I imagine the mix will be just as difficult to listen to for some others members of the loop, but I appreciate your efforts.

Hmm. I was unsure about putting this one on in the first place. It was a last minute filler if I'm honest.

Tracklist on it's way very soon though.

Also review of MissingPlanet's mix v soon.

The title of this reviews thread has just reminded me that I really wanted to put something off of Bjork's last album, which featured a lot of Eskimo Throat Singing, on my mix but forgot to in the end. There's always future loops...

Well I'm not particularly into the genre it comes from so it wouldn't really appeal to me anyway, but that doesn't mean someone else won't like it. The beauty of the Tape Loop is that to one person's ear a song could be a cotton bud while to another's a corkscrew.

And I can't believe I called *** ******* 'Pub Rock'.


Wife Of Rolex

Here - finally - is my review. Sorry for how long it's taken me. More to do with my lack of confience in writing reveiws than anything else.

I have the universe surrounded – MissingPlanet

Track 1 This one sounds quite familiar, but I’m not sure how. Not my usual cup of tea, but I like it and it’s an atmospheric start to the compilation.

Track 2 This one also sounds a bit familiar, but in a rather generic way rather than a good way. Not offensive to the ears by any means, but a bit forgettable.

Track 3 Kind of annoying, high pitched vocals, but they suit the song which is quite a sweet little upbeat tune. I like it a lot but don’t think I could put up with more than one song with this guy’s voice on it.

Track 4 Ah, this is one I have not heard in ages! Good to be reminded of this band which I have always had a fondness for but never got round to buying any albums.

Track 5 Pretty song sung by an Irish man and woman that I know I know, but can’t put my finger on it. Very listenable but not remarkable despite the lovely vocals.

Track 6 I like this one. Catchy, enjoyable Indie. Just the right length to keep me wanting more.

Track 7 Don’t like this at all I’m afraid. Don’t mind a bit of electronica type stuff now and then, but I feel this is just badly done. Bad rapping. Sounds very dated to me.

Track 8 Not a bad song, but sounds like any number of mediocre American Alt Rock bands to me.

Track 9 Was 99% sure I knew who this was when the song started but then as it went on I became much less certain. Anyway, I like it – good lyrics. Builds up nicely at the beginning, but then ends up sounding a bit too Celtic to me.

Track 10 This is a cover of a great song. Heard it a few times before and because it’s so well written it’s still an enjoyable song, but there is no beating the original!

Track 11 Pretty, sort of bland ditty. Very simple, just vocals and guitars with nice lyrics. Pleasent and not overlong at around two minutes.

Track 12 Nice, strong guitar driven start. Not overly keen on the vocals – typical American whine again, but I do like the lyrics and the bleepy noises.

Track 13 Some pleasant harmonies, but rather repetitive lyrics that didn’t really grab me. The melody reminded me a bit of one of The Feeling’s songs.

Track 14 This is a bit of change. Very chilled out and would make good background music. Not much there to hold my attention though.

Track 15 Hmm. Similar vocals to track number nine but this is more my sort of thing. Lovely lyrics and the song as a whole reminds me a lot of Eels who I like. It does go on a bit though. I’m bored by the end but that might just be my short attention span.

Track 16 This one just completely bypasses me I'm afraid. Another Irishy sounding one. Boring guitars seem to go on forever at the end! Not a strong end to the compilation.

Overall view A very unobjectionable collection of songs, but I think it could have done with something a bit more objectionable to fire me up at least! I think a lot of the songs were quite samey and towards the end it could have done with some more upbeat songs to keep me awake! Still, there's some rather nice ones on here too so I'll award it:

5 out of 10

Don't worry about it. What you've written is fine as I'm sure it will be again with future reviews.


Wife Of Rolex

Cheers for the review - the really objectionable stuff slowly got pruned off. I didn't think there was any point putting stuff on that I was sure would be universally hated. In hindsight I should've left The Jesus Lizard and Big Black on it somewhere.

I've been listening to JJJ's mix all afternoon. It's everything I was hoping it would be.

I've given Stinketta's mix quite a few listens over the last few days, it's been the soundtrack to my revision this week, so here is the review.

Presenting Helen's Splendid, Spectacular (and Stenchy?) Stinkorama! by Stinketta

1. Nice gentle beginning to precedings with great harmonies, gentle guitar and some sweeping strings. Builds beautifully and is a real joy to listen to. Great start!

2. Things pick up with a nice slice of vaguely-indieish pop with some nice synths thrown in. I'm fairly certain I know who this is and it's always nice to hear his solo stuff, as opposed to the stuff he does in his 'other' band, which I find formulaic. Things are progressing very nicely so far.

3. Sounds like a bit of modern rockabilly. Works really well thanks to the manic vocal performance from the singer. The only problem I have with it is that it leaves me a bit breathless every time I hear it!

4. Makes me want to go to a church and start preachin'! Love the vocal nuances of the choir sound and the storytelling style is really nice.

5. Didn't really like this track since it always seemed on the verge of being interesting. Never quites get going but it seems to be teasing me about the possibilities of it starting up properly. A frustrating track.

6. Much better. Very bluesy guitar and a sensuous vocal performance. Sultry and swinging.

7. A decent enough slice of soul that seems a bit too aimless to me. There's a great track in there somewhere, but it seems to be lost in the cacophony. Still, nice enough.

8. Sounds familiar but I can't place it...More sultry vocals with a great repeated refrain. A tad repititious and the music is a little bit bland and uninteresting but it fits into the mix very nicely.

9. Great band but one of their weaker songs, in my opinion. Bit too formulaic and dull.

10. More soulful vocals but more restrained and controlled. Great song that I found really great fun to listen to.

11. Sounds very much like Ian Dury, though I can't be certain. It has a nice, swaying jazzy style to it and it's a nice break in the mix.

12. Not too fussed about this track. Vocals are a bit flat and the music doesn't really strike me.

13. I really like this guy, though I prefer the electronica album he released at the same time as this. A very sweet lament. Not one of his best sweet laments, but still better than a lot of his contemporaries.

14. I have quite a penchant for old-school bluegrass so I really like this track.

15. A really great song but I've heard some faster versions of it which I think are superior. Not that the slower pace of the track detracts it, just that I'm so used to the overly energetic version that this seems a bit tame in comparison.

16. Ethereal vocals and vocals that remind me of Track 1, so there is a nice symmetry to the whole mix. A really energetic track surrounds those vocals, and the whole piece works wonderfully. A really strong track to finish on.

I really liked some of the stuff on this mix, but some of the stuff just didn't really make an impression on me, though there were no tracks I disliked so much that I would skip them. The mix is consistent and flows well, there are just some times when there are lulls that drag the mix down.

I award it:

6.5/10

Tracklist please

Ha! Up yours Gimp! Only joking fella.

Glad you like it, Oh Planety One.

4/4 by JJJ

Over the years I've listened to a lot of electronic music but I've never known much about what I was hearing, so Adam's CD is the one I've been looking forward to most in this loop. He did not disappoint.

1. A mellow opening with excellent choral vocals. It sounds like it was recorded on a sunny day at sea.

2. This one has an excellent bass line that keeps my head bobbing all the way through. It's never left on it's own and so the track never loses my attention.

3. This track starts deceptively quietly - listening to it through headphones there is a lot more going on than you might think. It could almost be two tracks as it really kicks in after a few minutes, but the two sections compliment each other well. I especially like the cymbals (or electronically generated cymbal-like sounds) in the second section.

4. The only track I don't like. There's the bare bones of a good track here, but it sounds like it's been worked over by a 'hitmaker'. The vocals (both make and female) grate especially.

5. This one sounds familiar in the sense that I may have heard something they've done before in the dim and distant past. It's 10 minutes long and doesn't get boring for a second. I found it was best appreciated through headphones so you could hear the minute detail. Excellent vocals as well.

6. This one sounds familiar as well. If it's who I think it is, then they've done stuff that I'm yet to hear. I love tracks like this - short and filled with ambient noises. It could be described as filler, but in the sense that the contents of my favourite sandwich is filler.

7. Fried gold. My favourite of the lot. The makers of track 4 could learn a lot about good vocals from this.

8. I usually find that drum and bass is too mindless for my liking, but this is an exception. There's always something else going on to hold my attention and the vocals fit like a glove.

9. A beautifully chilled ending. Like being hugged through your ears.


I love this CD. Not only are the individual tracks (almost) flawless, but Adam's obviously put a lot of time and effort into the running order and mixing it all together. The tracks segue naturally to the point that you sometimes have to check to see if the track has changed or not. I will be making copies of this before sending it on as I want to keep one and I have friends who'll like it even more than me.

7/8 (one point docked for track 4). If this CD were a planet it would be

Tracklist please.

Cheers Alex, I'm glad you liked it. Tracklist on the way.

Gimp Gold: Featuring Some Songs and That

(I like the cover artwork. Reminds me of Alan's shirts)

Track 1 This track starts off rather eerily, and then the vocals kick in and I realise who it is. A good, if rather downbeat start.

Track 2 Hate this one I'm afraid. I do like folk music, but not this sort of thing. Reminds me of bad, religous TV programmes at Christmas time. Annyoing voice, annoying vocals, annoying flutey thing.

Track 3 Agree with MissingPlanet on this one. Like an awful poetry recital set to piano music. Slightly more listenable than track two however.

Track 4 Pretty sure I know who this is - that's a distinctive voice. Not sure if this is with his band or it's solo stuff, but I do like it. It's not quite as dark as some of his other stuff, which I can find overwhelming.

Track 5 I bought the album this song is from last year, because I'd heard so much good stuff about the artist. I found it impossible to listen to the whole thing and am trying to get rid of it. Just about bearable for the duration of one track.

Track 6 A pretty but unremarkable song. The vocals sound very familiar, but the song overal does not sound typical to me of his band. That is if it is who I think it is.

Track 7 Another voice I recognise, but I cannot for the life of me place it! It's a nice voice anyway, as are the lyrics. A simple song with a little guitar, trumpet and a lovely melody. It ends too soon though!

Track 8 A band I really like, but a song I'm not that familiar with. Reminds me that I definatley should own more than one album by them. This is one of those bands that never fail to make me smile.

Track 9 This is who I thought track six might be. I like this one much better though. More uptempo, and generally more catchy. Love the lyrics.

Track 10 I can see you're trying to go somwhere different here, but I don't like it! Just not my cup of tea. It's not terrible, but not upto scratch of the previous few tracks.

Track 11 My favourite band when I was eight. Don't listen to them much anymore, but it's always a pleasure to hear them again. This isn't one of my favorite songs, but I really should have this album. It's a travesty.

Track 12 Annoying vocals (American whine), but they work with the song, which is pretty catchy. Goes on a bit though. Would have worked better being a bit shorter and snappier I think. Reminds me a little of Ben Kweller.

Track 13 Crap rip off of the Ramones. Shit lyrics and is far too long for a punk song. I actually find this one quite offensive, but not in a good way.

Track 14 Another ninties band. One I've never felt particularly strongly about either way. This one goes in one ear and out the other for me.

Track 15 One of my favorite songs by my favourite bands. Dark, twisted, perverted. I put it on a compilation for a boyfriend once. It freaked him out. Mwa ha ha.

Track 16 Quite atmospheric, this one, but not really my thing. I'm bored by the end, but am still wondering who's voice that is.

Track 17 Don't like this. Unmemorable apart from the bad guitar in the middle and goes on for fecking ages.


Overall view I have quite mixed opinions on this really, but I respect Gimp for putting some songs on here which will obviously be quite divisive. It manages to flow well as a compilation while never getting too dull and samey.

5.5 out of 10

Tracklist please.

Phew!

And she curved like a Raymond Chandler simile by Maian.


Knowing that Ed listens to a fair few artists I don't really identify with, I was delighted to find this compilation more accessible than I'd expected, especially since all but the final track were by artists I don't know - so it was every bit the mystery disk...


1. A gentle, tempered piano-led instrumental - reminds me a little of Badly Drawn Boy. Nice start.

2. A nice airy breeze of a track with male vocals that follows up the opener nicely.

3. Chirpy, poppy little number - sounds for all the world like a subtle hybrid of El Presidente and Scissor Sisters. One of my favourites almost straight away, although the repetitive closing refrain does go on just a little too long. Still jolly nice though, and probably the closest to my terpsichorean sensibilities of all the tracks here. I'd love to hear more from this group.

4. Simplistic 80's-sounding synth riff, coupled with a basic drum beat and female spoken vox - not especially diverting or varied enough for my taste, but I enjoyed it nonetheless.

5. Jolts to a halt a little bit here, as the next track is especially sedate - female vocalist and guitarist whose voice is quite pleasant to hear, but I have to say that the song itself left me a little...'meh'. Not a bad song, just a little....bland, I'm sorry to say.

6. Another female vocalist/guitarist, but with more of an immediate sound, this sounds like a grubbier and grungier Sheryl Crow, and without the country edge. Not half bad at all, I'd certainly be keen to hear more of this artist.

7. Still perpetuating the more sedate pace, and not the kind of thing I would normally seek out very often, is yet another female vocalist (no bad thing), and sounding like a less nuanced Suzanne Vega - accompanied by acoustic guitar and an occasional sprinkling of xylophone to sweeten the mix. It's possible it may be the same singer as Track 5, but it probably isn't, as by total contrast I really like this track.

8. The pace and mood both pick up again with this whistly little number. Male and female vocalist pasing the vocal duties baton for the verses, and sharing the harmonies for the chorus. No idea who this is, but I rather likes it. Simple arrangement, which gets even better with the bongos and shakers. Mild jolliness.

9. Another song that jollies along quite happily, again with male and female vocalists. I thought at first that this was Belle & Sebastien until Ed duly informed me there was no Belle & Sebastien on his compilation! My second guess was that it may be Kings of Convenience, though I'm really not sure about that either. Anyway, the fact is it sounds a fair bit like both of them, and I like it. It bears a similarly jaunty sound that of Badly Worn Hat's first album, and has a great wonky time signature which is probably what won it my favour in the first place. Again, not my usual scene, but it's darned uplifting and I jolly well love it - another highlight.

10. I also rather enjoyed this upbeat number. Puts me in mind of the style of James Dean Bradfield's solo work, structurally and vocally (with his vocals cross-spliced with those Elvis Costello and the bloke who used to sing for Enigma). Another firm favourite this, I'm very keen to find out who this is.

11. Sounds like Siobhan Fahey of Shakespeare's Sister on vocal duties, with a sound not unlike that of the Sleeper/Elastica variety. Not bad, it's energetic enough but it doesn't have enough of a hook to really grab me.

12. This is what The Proclaimers might sound like if they toned down the accent a fair bit, and joined forces with The Wonder Stuff to form a punk group. Sort of. I'm not really struck on the vocals, but the guitars and energy make up for that to an extent. Like the previous track though, it doesn't really hook me in enough to warrant further catalogue exploration, although it's possible I could be slowly convinced otherwise after repeated listens.

13. Pitch perfect step into a slower, solid strut of a song with female spoken vocals. I don't often go for this kind of thing very often, but I think that I could happily tolerate, and even enjoy this once I get used to it. I like the early 80's synth backing that creeps in every so often, though it does sound like some current indie band or other. Not bad at all actually, especially after several listens. Switches without missing a beat into...

14. ...what sounds a little like Placebo jamming around the melody to The Smith's 'This Charming Man' - not bad. One of the better songs among the closing salvo.

15. Slightly awkward jolt into the closing track; a string-backed monologue by one of
Sheffield's finest exports. I'm not sure though whether this is band or solo material, but my money would be on the latter, if not a b-side I missed out on. Far from his best efforts whichever the case, but being a fan I found this mildly amusing since I usually enjoy his spoken meanderings, though it is far from his usual quality level. A subtle bassline and rhythm kicks in every now and then, which makes it marginally more interesting than the relative mundanity of the monolgue itself. Not terrific by a long chalk, but a previously undiscovered number for me, so it doesn't lose quite so many points.


Overall, a compilation of complete unknowns for me (barring the final artist), which is great, since the whole purpose of the Loop for me is discovery as much as entertainment. Any album or compilation dips and peaks, and after the first listen I initially felt that after the first four tracks things plateaued briefly before it got going again, but after more listens I didn't mind this so much. Generally consistent enough to maintain my interest.

While I wasn't especially blown away by very many tracks, there were still a few tracks I enjoyed without going into raptures about, but I'm still interested to find out who they are by. Without wanting to pigeon-hole Ed's music taste too much (and running the risk of showing up my general ignorance of musical genres), I would probably sum the disc contents up with the word 'indie'. Ed, feel free to cast any single word insult my way that fits the bill.

Anyway, a tracklist would of course be gratefully received, please.

7.2 / 10

Cheers for the review, Ade. Looking back on it, the mix isn't as varied as I would have liked. The avant-garde electronica got shoved out at an early stage and things all got settled fairly quickly into the current configuration, which does have a lot of indie stuff on it. I'm also rather regretting my choice of final track, but never mind.

Ach well, not to worry - I was chuffed to hear it for the first time... and it's growing on me in any case.

I Know All Sorts Of Things - Wife Of Rolex

First off, great packaging. Very impressive.

Now to da muzik...

1. We open with a frantic guitar pop track by those happy hairy wife swapping Brit Pop chaps that seemed to always churn out something toe tapping. Nice start.

2. This reminds me of the sort of stuff Simple Minds were churning out when they were “cool” and before they went “arsey”. For what is a pretty minmilist track I did quite enjoy it.

3. Was a bit worried when this started…sounded like The Police. I hate most of the stuff they did. Then a familiar voice is singing and some Hammond-esque organ and it all becomes clear who it is. One of the leading bands of the 2-Tone movement. Nice bit of ska. Not their best, but good nonetheless.

4. Some may find it hard to believe, but for a few years in the 90’s some of the best music in the world was coming out of Scandinavia! This is a remix of one of the best tracks from that time, from probably the best band. The mix doesn’t have the punch of the original, a bass heavy piece of metal funk that the Red Hot Chilli Peppers can only dream of making now. Makes me wish this band made more than the glorious 2 albums they did, and long for the return of MTV Europe.

5. A man, a guitar and a large empty venue. That’s what this sounds like. Very Doors-ey when it comes to the chorus. It’s alright.

6. I’m pretty sure this is a member of a certain internationally successful Brit beats ‘n’ guitar band. Can’t remember the name of the follow band he had, but this may well be them. It’s OK

7. If I was the sort of person that liked to spend his weekends in a club in mainland Europe, with my top off dancing away with loads of other half naked revellers , I may well like this track. I’m not. It’s trying to be A Clockwork Orange but the only two words that spring to mind are “Euro”, and “House”. Except it never really takes off. A four minute intro, a spell of being a bad attempt at a John Carpenter soundtrack, then back to the intro. Not for me.

8. I nice piece of lounge soul that from the soundtrack to one of the best British Films ever. Very good.

9. Hammond organ, brass and handclaps - the recipe for a good instrumental. Would fit perfectly in a Blow Up compilation, but you can tell that it is truly vintage stuff here, and not the usual library stuff that appears on those CDs. A oldie & goodie.

10. This may well be from one of the Nine Inch Nails remix CDs. Or Aphex Twin. Both acts I love…but not so much this. Old skool experimental industrial stuff - it works sometimes, but sometimes, as in this case, makes me want to skip it.

11. Woooooo-hoo. CAJUN!!!!! Well that’s how it starts, and I love a bit of Cajun. Then it turns into something a bit more conventional. Sounds like its by someone who loves Paul Simon’s Gracelands album. The cajun bit was more interesting than the rest. Jaunty, if a little forgettable.

12. Starts off like I should be taking my top off with those Europeans again., except this one at least ups the tempo. Very familiar, its sounds like Underworld on too many happy pills.

13. I do believe this is those scamps from track 1 again, but a little more downbeat. Good of course.

Well eclectic would be an understatement. I admit that from track to track I had no idea where this CD was going. The choices I knew, were good, but of the rest there was little here, except maybe one or two, that I would investigate further. Still, I doubt anyone would listen to the CD and not have a couple of tracks they liked. A track listing would be most appreciated. I give it...

1/2 :

Eclectic is my middle name.


Oh alright, it's Ann. But eclectic is spot on.

A fair assessment given that, in truth, this is probably my weakest offering for Tape Loop so far but glad you liked the artwork. It's the first one of mine you've actually had! But is there a smiley face missing or a sad one?

Tracklist on the way.


Wife Of Rolex

Rating amended accordingly. EDIT: then put back the way it was because it was getting a bit confusing!....its 5 1/2 out of 10

Thanks for the tracklist - a few in there that proves I should take more time listening to what I have already - namely tracks 6 & 12 - two bands I adore and probably have everything they ever done in some form or another!!

I can finally deliver my review of...


I Have The Universe Surrounded – Missing Planet


1. Haunting start. Something of the goth about it with dark tones and intertwining slow male and female vocals. I actually quite like this with its relentless pounding beat. Poor monkey!

2. Another dark sound to start with then it lifts into a more uplifting song than the intro initially suggests. I like the rolling guitar riffs and slapping drums. A strong start so far.

3. A hint of Seattle rock or possibly a tinge of Canada. This could be something off the soundtrack of a Farrelly Brothers movie that has a happy little melody, if slightly whistful vocals. Bouncy, bobby, beaty and a stark contrast to the start of the mix.

4. I could be totally wrong but this sounds like a British act that has a bit of everything and perhaps aren't as big as their sound. With only scant awareness of them I've not really taken to them in a big way but this could be a good proper intro for me. A big, sweeping and jaunty track that holds my attention throughout. If it's not who I'm thinking of then it's a good introduction to whoever it is. Come to think of it, it might actually be an American bloke that I also have peripheral knowledge of. Oh gawd...WHO IS IT??!!

5. Instantly recognisable as a bit of Irish folk, with more male and female intertwining vocals - but very much the opposite of track 1. I feel I should watching this act performing in an alcove as I stand in a pub in Temple Bar, Dublin, with a swaying crowd. Gentle and lovely.

6. Still in Temple Bar, but across the street in a slightly more rowdy club venue. This time the crowd would be bouncing up and down. Short but sweet, and who doesn't like a banjo?

7. We go more break beat and early 90s with a slice of dance-indie crossover. Reminds me of Pop Will Eat Itself. Is it them? Most early 90s dance-indie stuff appeals, and there's always something I haven't heard, so this sounds pretty good to me.

8. Tinny-tappy start that slides into a rolling American indie track. Sounds alright but there's nothing really remarkable here. Fairly forgetable.

9. We're back in Ireland again with a more dark story. A cutting male vocal with atmospheric violins and bodrums make this an intriguing listen. The build up to the final chorus gives it a last push and makes for an almost anthemic singalong finish. After a couple of more listens I'm sure I'll be belting the words out and claiming my Irish roots (my great great great grandmother on my dad's side).

10. Now, I've head this before. The thing with this track is that there's a cult figure doing a cover of a classic Britpop hit. It should work. It really should. It should probably be 'cool'. But for me it doesn't work. It just doesn't sit comfortably on my ears. I've listened to it once and once is enough.

11. A man, his guitar and whistful vocals about a monorail(?). I've been on a monorail. It was at Chessington World Of Adventures in 1987. It was very memorable. Unfortunately I've already forgotten this track.

12. This sounds like that Uncle Kracker guy (< is that his name?). He and this track - even if neither are actually connected - are a bit meh.

13. This is more like it. Simple bit of piano, simple drumbeats, simple shakey tamborine and melodic vocals. Not bad.

14. The music starts like an average 90s boyband album track and then a female vocal kicks in which is nothing short of unnecesarily tight and annoying. It sounds false. This track saves track 10 from being my least favourite of the mix. I couldn't even give it a full listen.

15. Mysterious beatsy intro that leaves you wondering where it's going to go. The male vocals are almost like track 14 but sound much more soft and natural. In the end it rolls on for a fairly pleasent 5 minutes and is quite inoffence. Something to put on in the background.

16. Moody and angsty sound with accompanying vocals (and another monkey reference!), which is heard elsewhere on this mix. While not bad it doesn't especially grab me like other tracks and its almost 6 minute duration feels a bit longer - maybe too long - because of that. Great guitars, though, regardless.


Over all the mix had a dark feel to it with the odd dashes of bouncyness. Quite eclectic in some places, which is always a plus for me, and just managed a couple of more hits than misses.

7/10


Tracklist would be muchly liked.


Wife Of Rolex

Gimp Gold, Featuring Some Songs And That - Gimp


Ah, someone has a proper printer! Nice cover design.


1. Starts with a well known 'Britpop' contributing act -though they'd been around a good while before said scene. This is one of their lesser known songs but pretty much of the quality of their much bigger tracks. Having said that it makes for a low impact opener and suffers for it as it gets forgotten.

2. We're in the court of Henry VIII! Flutes and a lone female folk songstress abound in a strange little tune that has olde worlde connotations. Sweet in its own way but something that probably only really works at certain times/venues rather than something to stick on the cd player in the car while on a juant. Reminds me of that M&Ms advert from a couple of years ago.

3. So far it's been a fairly melancholic affair and this takes it further down that route, but with an extra twist of depression. I've heard this kind of thing done before but in parody form. I was waiting for this track to reveal itself to be one such parody, however, it's actually done quite seriously and lasts an excrucitating 6 minutes. I want them back!

4. We keep the low beat, but thankfully more barable that track 3. A male vocal ponders over the woman he loves, though you'd think he was singing it to her while she lays in her coffin waiting for the lid to be screwed on. I think I know who this, but not sure.

5. There is an unescapable air of despair about this mix and this dividing Mercury Music Prize winner just adds to it. Though, this particular act's saving grace is that they just - just - err on the side of beauty. But you really do have to be in the mood to appreciate it fully.

6. We take an upturn! But still within the confines of melancholy. I know who this is and usually like a lot of their stuff but this, after what's come before, just adds to my flatlining mood. Although, the last 90 seconds go some way to make up for that.

7. A cheery bit of guitar!! This sounds like a musician hailing from Southend (don't have their album though, so can't be sure) and is so far the first track I can tangibly enjoy. Shame it's not longer as, despite it still being on the slightly down side of things, it's very melodic and a pleasant listen.

8. Another notch upwards. Soft drums, gentle violins and vocals to match that gradually sweep up into a warm and finger-clicking tune. I know who this is and can't think of a track of theirs I don't like, so this is no different. Very good.

9. Same act as track 6 with a well known track about unrequited love. Have always loved this track and it never loses it's sparkle.

10. Woah there! Where's this come from? Completely different style of track altogether and a very welcome change too. Still has the, now expected, moody aspect but mixed with more electronic beats takes on a more fresh appeal.

11. Another well known act from the days of 'Britpop' who actually pre-dated it by a few years and became one of its main acts. This is them being more poppy than their later more darker tinged sound and is another welcome track after the more lowbeat first half of the mix.

12. I bought this single back when I was at school - though it doesn't have that intro - and, like track 9, have always loved it. A big piano-based feelgood song that adds to the increasingly lighter and fun mood of the cd.

13. A funny little poppy guitars thing with unserious vocals and lyrics. Has me thinking of John Kettley Is The Weatherman by the Toffs. Very fun.

14. A very slightly pre-'Britpop' slice of indie from some skinny northerners who had great success but sort of dwindled away before the 90s were out. This is typically them with swirley sounds, thumping drums and jangling guitars. They did better, though.

15. Very, very, VERY well known track from a very influential act of the late 60s/early 70s. Simple use of the electric guitar creates an effecting sound along with the striking male vocals.

16. I really don't know what to make of this track. It's got a bit of old fashioned electronica with sharp female choral vocals but it's got an air of pretentiousness about it that just stops me short from enjoying it.

17. This starts ambient then slowly - very slowly - moves into a soft then heavier rock out track. Far far far too long for a Tape Loop mix and really not worth its length.

17b. Well you had to, didn't you?



This is a mix of 2 halves. The first half is very downbeat - almost to the point of despair - while the second half really picks up. Sadly it comes a little too late to save this mix from being far too melancholly to be particularly enjoyable. Only about 4 tracks truly appealed and there was nothing new here to spark my interest to investigate further. What I did like I pretty much knew already. There's a sense of just cramming what came to mind onto a disc rather than being discernable and going for a more tangible mix.

4/10


Tracklist still wanted, though.


Wife Of Rolex

Track nine was a little nod to the Threshers Debacle.

What is it, the Terminator theme-tune?

Yo, J-man....I hunger for a review.

Fine, whatever:

'Garlic' by Sostie. John Peel lives!

1. Is it an electronic funk piece? Is it a crazy 70s theme tune? It’s both! A fun start.

2. I’ve heard this on a typically eclectic Tom Middleton compilation, and I like it.

3. Well, it’s the Futurama theme tune...isn’t it? Keeps the upbeat, quirky vibe going.

4. More funky, party feelings with the Beasties.

5. Short, French and forgettable, but it still fits well.

6. The funk factor is still high, and the Gallic flavour - or should that be Garlic - remains with this remix.

7. This wild west/brass band sound is familiar and enjoyable.

8. One of Fatboy’s samples in its original context and less annoying.

9. The French lady is back, covering a 60s pop anthem here but not inspiring me...

10. My least favourite track on here, this bluesy, shouty number wasn’t much fun.

11. Leonard Cohen meets Nick Cave for a great quirky american-sounding record.

12. Pompous and epic, this is a classic with a great sense of humour.

13. I disliked this quirky rock number.

14. Fabulously fun rock and roll from The King.

15. De La Soul-esque sounds here, with a funky hip hop tune.

16. The feel of a 90s anthem, something like My Bloody Valentine in a good mood with a wall of sound and a gospel finish. One of my favourites, unexpectedly.

17. The closer sounds like Cocteau Twins with a male vocalist and jangly guitars. There’s a 80s/90s film theme-tune feel about this which, of course, I enjoyed.

The John Peel eclecticism of this compilation made for an enjoyable journey. Although no single artist stood out or inspired further listening, I would return to this mix to play at a party. Tightly themed and very well mixed with Acoustica, this CD showcases Sosties’ sense of humour and diverse record collection.

6.7 jessops

Which was...?


Wife Of Rolex

Thanks Adam. Sorry, wasn't trying to sound pushy. It's taken 3 (or is it 4) Loops to get one of my CDs to you before the dreaded Loop Collapse, so I'm well chuffed with a 6.7.

Want a tracklist?

Only joshing you big gay.

Yeah, I'll take a tracklist.

Stinker, review me!

I'll send one to you when I get home.

Ade's I Can't Believe It Not Better

1. Incredibly sucessful stadium rock band. I've only heard one song by them that I like, and this isn't it. There's a bit of Tarantino soundtrack in here along with an iota of Europe's Final Countdown, but mostly it reminds me of Queen. Look in the dictionary under 'pompous'

2. - Sounds like Harold Faltermeyer for the new century to me.

3. - Music sounds like Billy Ocean. Inoffensive 80sness.

4. - More Quentin Tarantino soundtrack fodder.

5. - Unique voice from my youth. I was never a fan, but it doesn't offend my ears.

6. - Lounge music

7. - Nice and soulful but not my cup of tea.

8. - Enjoyable stylophoneness.

9. - Inoffensive. I'm intrigued to find out if he's really greeting a pontiff.

10. - More inoffensive 80sness.

11. - I like this. See Adam's review for what it actually sounds like. I'm not lazy - just not knowledgeable enough to correctly catergorise it.

12. - Inexplicably mega-successful band. I don't actually mind some of their music but the singer sounds like he has no mouth.

13. - Familiar but not great. I believe it's an Elvis cover which probably why it sounds familiar.

14. - Pleasant electronic plinkiness.

15. - Back to the 80s again I think. Does nothing for me.

16. - Music great but vocals not. I don't know what I'd replace them with, but I would listen to an instrumental version.

17. - Sounds like it's from a Bond movie.

18. - Dumb metal with dumb vocals. A weak finish.

This was a difficult CD to review, and not just because I couldn't play the 2nd half on my PC or in my car. There's nothing on it that offended my ears too much, but nothing that made me sit up and think 'I have to hear more'. The last CD I heard from Ade had 'Glastonbury Revisited' by Cosmic Rough Riders on it, and I'm eternally grateful to him for introducing me to it. Nothing on this one comes close.

3.5 out of 8. If this CD were a planet it would be , but before all the water froze or evaporated away (planetary marking doesn't lend itself to half marks).

Tracklist please.

Bugger. Sorry you didn't enjoy this one as much as my last collection, dude. Can't strike it reasonably lucky every time I guess, but not to worry. I'll get a tracklist to you as soon as!

I promise to do the two reviews I'm due by the end of the week, otherwise I shall cut my gentlemen's agreements off and post a bit to all of you.