A brand spanking new thread for your reviews.

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?

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.

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.

Eey! Nice comments make me happy.

I shall sort out sending the tracklist to you asap.

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.

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

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.

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

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!

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.

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.

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.

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?

Really happy with the review, Ade! Thanks very much. Indeed I am partial to the Franz, but the likeyness of the tracks in question didn't occur to me much in the compilation. Tracklist on the way (sorry about the delay - I'm living out of internet cafes for the moment).

The Cats Miow - Wife Of Rolex
Nice shiny cover!

I'm reviewing this on 1st listen.

1. Gaelic(maybe) sounding vocals and slow bad synths. I really don't like this sort of thing.
2. Mellow pop, with some cheesy vocals, but a really good rhythm.
3. Early 80's synth & beats. Reminds me of the soundtrack from so many Spectrum games. ... but with vocals. Best track so far.
4. Indie pop. Reminds me of the Delays. Sounds like the sort of thing I would listen to, or even buy... not sure though,... there something that doesn't sit right with me.... maybe just the singer's voice I'm not used to.
5. Nice simple mellow song this, with a very likable mellody and males vocals. Best song so far.
6. More mellowness to start with, followed by some funky sounds. Not a bad tune, shame about the singing. This starts out as weak pop,... then progresses to strong pop.... then finally strong pop with a few slices of cheese melted over the top.
Not my cuppa char.
7. More pop... but with really nice guitars. .... Sounds a bit Duran-Duranesque. Especially the drums. Also a bit like very early U2.
There's a definite 80's flavour to this compilation.
8. Nice accoustic guitars. Weird amussing lyrics. This could be Flight of the Concords... If not then a similar comedy guitar duo.
9. I had no idea who this was, & was about to type 'This is my favourite tune so far', ...and then the singing started. I'm not really a fan of hers. ...(although she does have a great voice, and there are a couple of her early works I really like), this track, for me, is spoilt by her vocals.
10. Deja vu!.... Great track. I have this. So does Rua, ... it was on his mix!!
11. Nice ska sound. Synthy, brassy and err... beaty.
No idea who, but it sounds great. Fantastically it changes tempo after 3 and a half minutes. ... then speeds back up. Musically this is surely the gem of the album.
12. Mellow cheesy pop again. The lyrics the cheesiest I've heard. ever. In fact everything about this song is cheesy. I'm looking for redeeming features now...
no. ... nothing. The track is like a great big metaphorical piece of cheese. A piece of cheese that is proud to be cheesy. ... and the cheesy cheese has cheesy layers melting on top of it like one big cheesy thing melting in a bowl*.


The Verdict
Nice presentation Wifey. The actually tracks were a bit hit and miss with me. But at least there was some variety, & it wasn't overly long at under 50 minutes.
Overall?

5/10



*A bowl made of cheese.

Fair dos on a first listen.

Just to say, for about 7 years I actually wasn't particularly keen on my first track but then one day I listened to it and I really liked it. I know it's unusual and that it wouldn't appeal to everyone but I just thought it would make an unusual and off beat opening to confuse people. So far...working like a charm!

Nowt wrong with a teensy bit of cheese every now and then.

Oh yes. I do like cheese myself. ... in moderation.

Could you send me a track list?
Ta.

Cheddar,
Stilton,
Wensleydale,
Brie,
Greek Feta,
Parmesan,
Gorgonzola...

...


....




*somewhere in the distance, a dog barks*

Cheese.

Of course. Though definitely NOT the likes of Westlife or S Club 7, who I hate with a disturbing passion.

Tracklist on the way.




SHUT THAT BLOODY BAZOUKI UP!!

A Mix – By Maian (introduced by Phil)

1. I know this song. But it sounds different to me somehow. It must be a cover, either that or I don’t like it as much as I remember. If that makes any sense.

Blues.
Not done as well as I like….. or perhaps remembered.

2. A pleasant slice of Canadian electro from a collective I enjoy.

3. More Canadian (based at least…I think) electro. Think mellow French Blondie. Nice.

4. Unmistakably a number from an underrated & one of the more soulful poets of the hip hop genre. I dig.

5. An enjoyable enough piano driven indie ditty. A little on the M.O.R. side of things,
but the good side.

6. A Hip-Hop & Jazz influenced swirling relentless shoe gazer of a track. I think I know who this is & I really should get round to buying their records.

7. You just cannot go wrong with this SuperFly.

8. Twee Belle & Sebastia-like indie pop, the kind of sound brimming with summer optimism. In a peculiar way the scaling bridge to the chorus reminds me ever so slightly of Punka by Keneckie. Enjoyable.

9. Surfy Shadowsesque type music for Quentin Tarantino movie if ever I heard one.
Shame about the vocals.

10. A very Conor Oberst sounding tune. Loses it’s a way little & ultimately the problem is this song doesn’t know what it wants to be. In saying that this track doesn’t lack in showing what great potential this act has.

11. I know this tune. I like it.
But I will stand by what I thought the first time I heard it.
The swearing takes away from it rather than adding to it.

12. Another Belle & Sebastian influenced tune, with the addition of a Divine Comedyesque rhythm, jaunts one of this locally well known Glasgow groups better numbers along nicely.

13. I’m still undecided about this band & this didn’t do anything to sway me in either direction. Nothing personal against them, it’s just that there really is a lot of this around at the moment.

14. An old flatmate of mine absolutely loved this band. I can take them or leave them to be honest, they’ve never really spoken to me & this track is no different.

I didn’t like every tune, it was a little wet for my general mood & the slow pace did make it become a little dull toward the end, which possibly didn’t do justice do some of the later tracks. I am though, very aware that there are a number of tracks on this cd that have the potential to be growers.

Altogether a charming little mix for a hazy & reflective walk in the park.


6.75 out of 10




edit: Oh & tracklist please. Ta'.

Another fair review. It's becoming increasingly apparent that a last minute rearranging of tracks left the whole thing feeling a bit front-loaded. Still, I'm pretty pleased with the mix and am glad that people have found something to like in it.

JUST TURN IT UP - Rua

Track One
A wonderfully crisp, toe-tapping, hand-clapping funk-fuelled number to begin with that would make perfect party material without any of the silly cheesiness such a label would suggest. A cool backing chorus sends it soaring. An all-mouth and all-trousers opening par excellence.

Track Two
Not too far removed from the opening track, but it's a tad more straightforward, so doesn't set the speakers alight in quite the same way. There's some neat touches (an impossibly deep voice saying the odd "yeah" is so OTT it touches genius), but overall, I could take it or leave it.

Track Three
An interesting opening soon settles into a pretty standard instrumental that is pretty groovy but ultimately goes nowhere.

Track Four
Back into the crazy beats with the title track (sort of) featured originally on a concept album (of sorts). Some excellent Jurassic 5-style rap with a few grin-inducing lyrics. Worth a little noise pollution.

Track Five
Saucy techno-laced rap with hilarious in-your-face lyrics, which makes it such a shame that it's so short and the end is lost in the mix. The 8-bit blips and bops more than compensate though. A wicked pleasure and perhaps my favourite track.

Track Six
While this shares quite a few similarities with the previous track, it doesn't have quite the same cleverness and catchiness. It's not bad, but not particularly riveting either.

Track Seven
Is that a theremin I hear? I guess it could be a synth-whistle or something. The guitar riff has a subtle galloping rhythm that gives it a Western feel, which is pretty much out of character with everything else the track has to offer, but it works. The vocals are somewhat listless, but the pounding break gives it a twist that sets it apart from others of its ilk.

Track Eight
Waaay! Another track I know and like. I always considered this track the highlight of perhaps this duo's best known album, so it's nice to see it appear here. Listening to it again now, it does seem a little dated, but it fits into the mix pretty well.

Track Nine
And another familiar track by a big dance duo. As much as I love most of their work, to my mind there are far, far better tracks of theirs, so it's a tad strange that this one popped up over the others. Still, it's perfectly agreeable if somewhat sullied by its omnipresence on TV (even after the singer suggests they don't need one).

Track Ten
Chugging simple dance-tinged rock music that sounds like a French version of superb Japanese ladyrock outfit Seagull Screaming Kiss Her Kiss Her. Its fun and naughty, like Shampoo, but in a good way.

Track Eleven
Skipping beats, scrambled interference, and schoolkid-esque singing combine to make perfect dancefloor fodder. Halfway through, it harks back to Track 8's songsmiths, and continues on its merry way right to the end. Really quite lovely.

Track Twelve
Scratching, soundbites and samples mixed about with a heart-warmingly gentle TV theme tune to create a delightfully sublime minute or so.

Track Thirteen
Plus five-minute techno instrumentals seem to appear on many a compilation and I'm still not sure why. I just lose patience with them, as they build and build, adding layers and layers, until they peak and end up back at square one. Unexceptional (except towards the end when it sounds strangely like Coldplay creeping in).

Track Fourteen
Now we enter the guitar rock stage. It certainly has a classic rock vibe, especially the vocal stylings and the prolonged guitar solo. It certainly has energy, but its pretty repetitive.

Track Fifteen
The rock gets a bit harder here, and while it doesn't seem particularly original, the central charging riff is catchy and the backing vocals give it more depth. Certainly doesn't outstay its welcome.

Track Sixteen
A wonderful beginning instantly catches my attention, and the spoken vocals are unusual but work a treat. The chorus seems to overload the sound levels, which is a shame, as there is much to like about this song. Pretty damn good.

Track Seventeen
While the singer's gravelly voice is a bit too 'pained' to take seriously, the tune itself is amiable enough and the chorus takes it up a few notches of fairness. Okay.

Track Eighteen
A big epic rock instrumental that has a U2 feel, but I can't imagine anyone would be able to shut Bono up for long enough for a non-vocal track of theirs to exist (I am undoubtedly wrong on this one). It's grand and sweeping and all but it doesn't have that extra oomph to quite attain the greatness it wishes to convey.


Final Thoughts
Just Turn It Up is a compilation that suggests playing it at a considerable volume, and the tracks are all pretty well suited for that purpose. However, it suffered from being far too much to take in in one go. The interesting genre-hopping's impact was reduced by the lenghty running time, meaning that by the last track, the first was a distant memory. And while the mixing was pulled off admirably some times, it was a little messy other times.

As the compilation consisted of roughly three sections (funk/rap, techno/dance, rock), maybe it would have been better to have just stuck to one genre and followed it through. But this would not be representative of Rua's impressively eclectic tastes, so I would've suggested ditching about a third of the tracks, while maintaining the general mix at large.

Still, there were enough quality tracks contained within to warrant a respectable:

7/10

Another fair review.
I really am beginnning to have a tiny bit of regret as to my shambolic & rushed attitude towards the cd. I really did just play a starting track & immediately threw on the first tune my head told me too & so on. Result, sometimes yes, sometimes no.

Again, on my previously mentioned first listen back, I do hang my head in shame at some of the mixing as it was just sloppiness & nothing that couldn't have been easily rectified with an extra hour or so of attention.

Glad you enjoyed the listen though.



Yeah. Sorry about that. Technically that track hasn't been released yet & though I have tweaked this copy I still have problems with it, particularly when I'm trying to keep volume levels consistent across a whole cd.

This is actually a common feeling regardless of how much time you've taken or how many tracks you've gone through to make the final mix. There's always a track you wish you hadn't put or should've included. But like I've said before, it's about showing what you like rather than trying to impress others. I mean, I'm hardly going to impress many with my final track am I? But I like it.

Track Record - Kick in the Head

Track 1 - Strong mostly interesting music but the lyrics are generic and underwhelming.

Track 2 - I've heard this on the radio before but I couldn't tell you who it is. Nice enough but it's a bit gushy and bad quaint.

Track 3 - I don't like the exasperated delivery or the tiring jaunty sound. Evoking the hedonism of annoying young people. Yet it is quite catchy.

Track 4 - Suggests the influence of Television in the intro and also Gang of Four in the main body of the song. But it's not as good as either of those bands. I recognise the band from the strained vocals. It's ok.

Track 5 - Pleasant instrumental which has a sense of motion about it. Constructed from a variety of intriguing noises.

Track 6 - I'm not a fan of the hurried vocal but this song wins me over with its odd avant-pop. It's like a robotic football chant.

Track 7 - Too much stuff going on. There's no danger or vigor. This song is vigorless! Though I don't suppose songs always need vigor.

Track 8 - Again I find it too busy but I quite like this piece of electronic (?) music. It has a certain insistent charm. I like the contrast between the two different bits of the song.

Track 9 - Slightly boring guitars at the start but the chorus and vocal is compelling.

Track 10 - Excellent use of some kind of flute like instrument. Evocative lyrics.

Track 11 - A bit overwhelming. I'm uncertain whether that's good or bad.

Track 12 - This song conjures the image of John Merrick frenziedly dancing in a deserted disco. Which is surely a good thing.

I can't work this music out, this whole mix. Sometimes I can't stand it and other times I think it's great. It's fittingly high tech and speedy for a motor racing themed CD. Loud cars roar past, occasionally exhilarating, sometimes irritating but ultimately signifying nothing. On it's own terms, as a enjoyable and driven collection of songs, it's probably a success but it's a bit too carefree for my tastes. Still a very interesting listen. Noiseful.

6.9/10

I'd appreciate a tracklist.

All Back To His - Sir Robin The Brave


1. A scratchy and understated opening. The floaty, almost disinterested, vocals add to the down tone of this track. I can feel the atmosphere from it but it somehow just misses my spot. Almost chill out but just a touch too dark in tone to actually enjoy. It's ok.

2. I'm familiar with this track as it appeared on Robin's previous Tape Loop entry (back in its 3rd incarnation). Still sultry. But then it would be.

3. A kind of ragga-cum-ska track with a particularly familiar vocal, though whether it's the electronic primates it sounds like I'm not sure as I still don't have either of their albums. If it is them, it doesn't quite appeal like their other tracks. Like track one, it just seems to miss the vital area of 'Things I Like' in my mind. I don't dislike it either, though.

4. It's not Suede, it's not Brett Anderson either, but I recognise the vocals...I think. This has more vitality than the first 3 tracks with the snappy drums, dash of tamborine and play along claps. It enduced a bit of swaying in my head and shoulders. First track to actually get something within me going.

5. A version of a very well known track from the Modfather. It's pretty much the same song with added beats and bops. I like this song anyway and while the tweakings don't especially add to it, neither do they take anything away.

6. This has a feel of the down tone heard earlier with, I think, the same vocalist of track 3. It has for most of it a simple melancholic melody until towards the end it turns into a clunky, thrown about mash. Doesn't really do anything for me.

7. Very recognisable vocals and production tells me who this is. Almost carrying on where track 6 ended this is very clunky and for the most part actually annoyed me.

8. More of the chill out mould and this time working as chill out. Gentle violins, soft beats and tinkering bottles. There's a mix of N-Trance's Set You Free which sounds quite similar to this (on the 1994 cd single if you ever come across it). The vocalist sounds very Ian Brown. Nice.

9. I know who this is and, in the absence of Jessop in this loop, it's nice to hear the soft electronic soundings of this fella. I think this may be on the album I can't seem to get my hands on, though, so this is a very welcome nugget for me to rip. Favourite track of the mix.

10. Very soothing little guitar ending - was this in an advert? Wispery harmonies and tinkley chimes make for a pleasent outro to the mix.



Overall, this was a bit too down beat for me. Apart from the odd track, nothing seemed to hit my mood and I was left feeling that something was just lacking in this mix. So much so I struggled to say much about the tracks individually while not much had me feeling I needed to seek it out further.

5/10


Tracklist would still be appreciated, though.

Oriental Emporium by Beatoswald

Track 1: Things start off well with this off-kilter number that has a whimsical air to it that reminds me very strongly of visiting the seaside as a childhood. Changes frequently, at one point resembling the seaside town equivalent of 'New York, New York'. A fun start to the mix.

Track 2: An instrumental witha strong Eastern influence in keeping with the title of the mix. Intriguing, but I found it grated on me after a few listens.

Track 3: Another instrumental, but far less striking. Sounds like the backing track to a much more interesting song or something that would soundtrack a montage in a film. Nice, but not particularly interesting.

Track 4: A bluesy number which seems to maintain the nautical theme of track 1 with just a guitar, a growly dog and some infectious handclaps. One of the highlights of the mix for me.

Track 5: More upbeat this time with some strong piano, surf guitar, a slightly mad delivery and some very funny lyrics. I think I know who this is, and I do rather like it.

Track 6: Another instrumental with some great guitar riffing and drumwork, all of which is marred by a really irritating laugh that plays near the end which reminds me of Janice from Friends. Even without the laugh, though, it's a pretty slight track that didn't particularly strike me.

Track 7: A jauntier tone now with some bouncy piano, fun vocals and guitar. Quite repetitive and another one of those tracks that just didn't grab me however often I listened to it.

Track 8: A harmonica and guitar-based track that conjures up images of the Dust Bowl, The Depression and delapidated shacks. Quite sparse, something I really like. Good stuff.

Track 9: Pounding piano to begin with that then gives way to a wry vocal and some silly lyrics. Funny and likeable.

Track 10: Starts out sounding like the music they play whenever cricket is on TV, then reveals itself to be by one of my favourite bands. The usual mix of inspired/crap lyrics with a manic delivery and great playing by whoever was playing with him at the time.

Track 11: More film score type music with a jazzy edge to it. Perfect music to be chased down the street to whilst being pursued for a crime you may or may not have committed.

Track 12: More electronic than the rest of the album with some fun vocals and catchy chorus. Good but forgettable.

Track 13: We seem to have fallen into the 15th century to end the mix, with medieval instrumentation and that strangled style of singing you only seem to hear in period dramas. Strange, not least because of the spoken word bits over the top and the sudden switch to electric guitars and bells at the end.

It's taken me a while to write this review for two reasons. 1) Delaying the post-out date played into my natural laziness and allowed me to put it off, and 2) because I really didn't know what to think of it. It's a very consistent mix that sets a tone and maintains it throughout, but sadly it's a tone that I found really quite dull. Almost none of the tracks on here stood out for me and all in all I didn't really like it. It was nice to have on in the background, but other than that it really didn't grab me apart from the last 4 songs. Varied and well put together, but ultimately it failed to interest me.

5/10

Tracklist, please.

Oh well, you win some...

At least I've got the memory of all the nice things you said about my last mix.

Tracklisting on it's way, right now.

Hearing Ade - Ade

This review is a little bit scattershot due to it being written while listening to the cd and just jotting my thoughts about each track as it popped into my head. Right then, off we go:

Track 1: We open strongly with an electro tinged tale of mundane everyday occurrences. I like all the little sounds thrown into the mix and the delivery of the lyrics is spot on. It’s one of those little tunes that just has that something which makes me want to listen to it again when it finished. Excellent start, got me quite excited about the rest of the mix.

Track 2: A nice little segue via some crowd noises takes us into a bouncy off-kilter party hip-hopesque…thing. There are a lot of styles mismashed into this tunes, but mostly it’s a party song and a very fine one at that. The lyrics are a tiny bit Jamiroquai but a lot less annoying. Nice, although it does get a bit silly towards the end.

Track 3: I think I watched the film this song appears in recently. I know it from somewhere anyway. Not really the sort of thing I would normally listen to but as 50s style rock ‘n roll ditties go it’s not half bad.

Track 4: We are thrust back to earth with a thud with a piece of downtempo beat driven electronica, something which is much more my area of expertise. There is a nice dark element to the bass which compliments the rather exhausted sounding female vocal. I did enjoy this one although I’ve heard a LOT of this style of music which is better. It’s a workmanlike addition.

Track 5: A fairly straightforward rocker with some nice guitar work in places and quite standard in others. I liked the way the groove built in peaks and troughs, there should be more instrumental rock in the world I think. It does go on a bit though.

Track 6: I like out there electronica that uses weird noises in an interesting way. Ergo I like this track. It made me bounce around in my computer chair while trying to type, which was hard but fun. I look forward to finding out who is behind all this wonderful noise.

Track 7: I don’t think I need to be told who this artist is though. Unsuprisingly this is nicely produced and rather funky. I assume it’s one of his newer tracks, yes? Not much to say about this one other than I liked it, especially the trumpets.

Track 8: A fantastically imaginative tune this one. It goes all over the place musically but never feel like pretentious noodling as this kind of music often can. A highlight of the mix so far, for definite.

Track 9: The singer sounds a lot like Beatles era McCartney (at least at the beginning and towards the end) and the song itself is – alright. I don’t know, it just never drew me in that much. Then it was over. I didn’t want to listen to it again. Hey ho.

Track 10: A really catchy blend of what sounds like two (or perhaps three) guitars playing with, and across, each other. I was absorbed throughout, especially as it built to a crescendo. Excellent.

Track 11: A pleasant slice of unpretentious pop. Nicely constructed and zips through the ears with the required effect.
Track 12: Music for Spaceports on this track. The constant shifting of the music between the speakers of my computer made my head do funny (but pleasant) things and the beats are very nicely constructed. Nice to hear some old skool 303 noises rubbing up against what sounds like a futuristic jazz flute as well. Groovy.

Track 13: Excellent spearing of the pointless life of a very minor celebrity, set to a great driving piece of modern rock. The lyrics made me laugh but they are very clever too. I’d really like to know who this is song is by.

Track 14: Another offbeat tune about the death of a rock ‘n roll icon. All I need to say is I liked its playful tone. Good tune too.

Track 15: There is a epic tone to this song but it never feels forced. It just is. Fab rolling drums and guitars and great lyrics well delivered. You can’t really ask for more really can you?

Track 16: Heavy, clunking beats and brooding strings dominate the last track of the mix. It’s rather familiar and the female vocals are a little similar to those of track 4. It has a pretty good melody and is a solid way to bookend the mix. Not much more to say about this one.

So it's score time. I'm going to cut straight to it and award a mark of:

7.3 from 10

A mostly strong collection of varied music, this hit the mark a fair bit more than it misses. Some tunes I'll definitely be following up on when I receive the tracklist.

Good work sir!

Cheers Sir Robin! Glad you enjoyed it sir.

I'll get the tracklist over to you shortly - I think you might be in for one or two surprises! Maybe.

Yeah, sorry about that. It's just the way the tracks fall sometimes. You can hurl knives at mine if you like.

All Back to His - Sir Robin The Brave

Am I sitting comfortably? Then let's begin...

1. Slips straight into a smooth Trip Hop track with a huge Tricky influenced sound. This, I like.

2. Keeping with a smoke filled chilled environment, enter a handsome Trip Hop Jazz tune from a model Hip Hop collaboration album, laced throughout with the unmistakable voice of Arklow towns finest (only?) export. I like this number but have always had a problem with some of the rather cliché lyrics. A great tune nonetheless.

3. Keeping with the tempo but now on the off beat. I don't dislike Dub. I don't love it either. This however is watered down plastic Dub from a man who on occasion, talented as he is, in my opinion delves into areas of music he should leave well alone.

4. This track really does owe a lot to Suede, Bernard Butler's guitar stylings in particular & Brit Pop in general. No bad thing.
It just didn't fully grab me though, I've a funny feeling it may grow on me. At the moment I certainly wouldn't turn it off, though I can't imagine putting it on either.
Perhaps in time.

5. A remix by, (if I'm right), a great band or maybe a member of a great band of a decent track by a well known Mod.
Should've left it alone.

6. I'm going to get in trouble here.

I've heard nothing of this group to like. I don't care that it's almost music taboo not to like them. In all honesty I find this latest venture to be over indulgent, pompus garbage that probably would've been panned if it had been released by an unknown quantity & not sycophantly backed by those in the know.

7. Another overrated super group I have less & less time for, the more of their output I hear. This could be an R Kelly track.

8. Is that Golden Tonsils I hear?
Na'.
Very similar vocal production though.
Now folk are probably going to laugh at me when I mention this, but, this track certainly does owe a lot to Bill Withers Lovely Day. Personally I could take it or leave it, I mean it's not bad I just feel it 's over earnest in it's intent to have the listener emote.

9. There is absolutely no substitute for the sound of true genius. A track from a man who often puts music back in it's true perspective.

10. Very, very, Elliot Smith. But most certainly not him. I like this. A nice farewell song for the cd.


A pleasant enough mix for a smoke filled late night/early morning.
Some stand out tracks & some I personally just didn't like, but mainly the music lost my attention & faded into the background.


5.5 out of 10


edit: A tracklist would be most appreciated. Cheers.

THE CAT'S MIOW - Wife of Rolex

Track One
Monasterial-sounding chants and synth strings, cheesy dance beats come in, diddle-daddle for a bit, and then back to square one. Sounds a bit like a video game level set in a church. A bit silly.

Track Two
Music of a more moody and mysterious kind now. A thrilling 60's flavour adds flair to the cool vocals, and, coupled with the sharp caustic guitar and groovy beats, it's a winning track in pretty much every way.

Track Three
Pounding techno and warped vocals would usually be enough to seal the deal for me, but ultimately this track adds up to little across its short running time - it just needs a bit more of a kick really.

Track Four
Back to the mid-nineties for a bit of jingle-jangle pained folky rock. It featured on a well-known movie soundtrack of the time, but as such just sounds rather old hat. I didn't really care much for this song then, still don't over a decade later.

Track Five
At first, this sounded a bit plinky-plonk and twee for my tastes - but it didn't irritate me like I thought it would. Amiable and gentle and wrapped up with little fuss. Not bad.

Track Six
String sweep, then into electronic twiddling before it's clear we're in 'chart single' territory. My knowledge of pop is patchy at best, but I'm pretty certain who is singing, and while he's far from the most offensive pop idol out there, this kind of music leaves me cold. And George Michael done it already.

Track Seven
Rumbling percussion breaks into perfunctory stadium rock that simply doesn't grab my attention.

Track Eight
An antipodean acoustic comedy number that fails to tickle the funny bone.

Track Nine
Wibbly wobbly electronica from one of the most distinctive voices in music. Some stuff of hers I love, others I can't really connect with. This is more towards the latter in that I feel pretty much indifferent to it.

Track Ten
Unfortunate to have two compilations with the same track, especially as it's not one of their best-known tunes. I still like it, but it still sounds very much of its time.

Track Eleven
A peculiar but pretty likeable track, this one. It has a ska mixed with jazz feel, with some rock organ thrown in for good measure. There's even a slow-tempo break leading into the upbeat brass-led climax. Odd, but nicely so.

Track Twelve
Uh-oh. It sounds like the backing track for some kind of inspirational corporate video or sporting competition montage. Super-cheesy enough to sit comfortably next to "Up There", Satan's song from the South Park movie.

Final Thoughts
Really sorry to say this, but The Cat's Miow was hard to get through. A couple of nice tracks, a few awful ones and a lot of 'meh'. I listened to it all the way through twice, but by the third time, I ended up skipping pretty much every song. Only tracks 2, 5 and 11 held my interest, and even then, track 2 is perhaps the only one I'd stick on regular rotation. Kudos for the album art though...

3/10

Can I still have a tracklist, please?

With the pattern continuing as it is I expect a big fat 0 from Ade and then minus points from Beatoswald onwards.

It all sounded right on the day I mixed it. Maybe I was just in a funny mood at the time and it's all collapsed in a heap since then. Nevermind.

Now That's What I Call The Best Music Mix (by Jon79) In The World ...Ever!!!


1 - American sounding, energetic indie-rock opener. Reminds me a little of Ash with perhaps the slightest of hints of Dylan in the vocals. Jon will hate me for suggesting it, but the structure reminded me of some of the Manics' more punky workouts.
Good stuff.

2 - Another upbeat number, sounding for all the world like a blend of Weezer and Queens Of The Stone Age. Not bad at all, and growing on me more with each listen.

3 - The first of more than a few instrumentals, and probably my favourite of them all. Sounds like a snippet of a soundtrack from a film that never was, somewhere between 'Bullitt' and 'Get Carter'. It's got a funky bassline to it, and touches of flute here and there work nicely along with the sounds of passing traffic every so often. But it sounds a little underdeveloped to really grab the attention.

4 - Extremely brief, Lemon Jelly-esque loop, and quite pleasant at that. Shame it doesn't vary, let alone develop any further.

5 - Smoky, electro-soul-jazz intro with echoey vocal samples, gives way to a reggae tinged number, with vocals that could quite easily be UB40's Ali Campbell (I suspect it isn't though). Quite pleasant actually, one of my personal highlights of the disc.

6 - This indie-electro number starts off sounding like an aggressive Goldfrapp, before lapsing more into a Kaiser Chiefs kind of melody. Ending quite abruptly, it is one of the more interesting tracks on the disc.

7 - Back to more mellow instrumental territory again, and while it doesn't really change a great deal, it doesn't outstay its welcome. Would be keen to find out who this is, as it is very much the kind of thing I like to listen to on occasion.

8 - Reminds me a little of The Jam, this. Not especially diverting though.

9 - More non-descript electronic noodling, along similar lines to the kind of mellow grooves that Silicone Soul or Fila Brazillia knock out. Much more my cup of tea, as it has a bit more happening. Not groundbreaking, but quite listenable.

10 - Another extremely brief instrumental by one of my favourite bands. Very short, very sweet, but all too fleeting.

11 - Really nice up-tempo instrumental. It reminds me a little of Roxy Music, although there is something else familiar about it that I can't put my finger on. It has an ethereal quality to it, but it's all too brief. A distinct highlight for me, this one.

12 - Slow-tempo, guitar-led vocal track. Lovely melody, and I do like the olde worlde synths that drift in towards the end.

13 - Perpetuating the retrospective mood, with some wibbly analog synths that lead into the beat from an 80's Pat Benetar classic, soon accompanied by some echoed and distorted Belle & Sebastian-style vocals. While it's not a brilliant track (it doesn't really develop beyond a certain point), it keeps me listening. The chords remind me a little of Air's soundtrack to 'The Virgin Suicides'.

14 - Gorgeously simple, Moby-esque synth chords, with subtle key/chord changes that strike me in mind of the lush textures of Vangelis' score for Blade Runner. It would have worked beautifully for the closing track of this compilation, and it seems a shame to be then disrupted by another track (which in my opinion would have been served better by being placed elsewhere in the running order).

15 - That said, it is a rather jolly, upbeat and quite enjoyable cover version of a very familiar track from a film soundtrack (itself the 'closer' in that respect). Surely then, this would signal the end of the disc?

16 - Confounding the 'ideal closer' moment a second time, our closing track is another cover version, again of a well known track, by a distinctively
well known artist at that. An acoustic guitar with the vocals delivered in another language. A nice enough version, but it seemed a little tacked on
after the previous track.


I enjoyed the last compilation of Jon's I heard from the first Tape Loop, and so I expected something of similar variety. I was a little disappointed then, that despite the seemingly eclectic array of styes, this disc initially didn't seem to boast any songs that really stood out individually from the pack. Still, it wasn't an unenjoyable listen, far from it - the first half is by far the more interesting in my opinion, but from then on it felt merely consistently 'good' rather than excellent, with maybe a few too many individual songs that just didn't fully 'blossom' on their own merit, ultimately failing to really stand out.

Since it works better as background soundtrack, and didn't really demand my attention very often, it has still been a decent compilation to drive to and from work to over the past few weeks. I know that may sound a tad harsh, but I have grown fond of several tracks in the process, despite my initial indifference. A track list would still be most appreciated.

My overall rating: 6.2 out of 10.

Oriental Emporium - Beatoswald


1. Ahh, the original 60s originators. Distinctive vocals and lyrics with their unique sound always a joy to hear. A pleasant little tune to roll your head and feet from side to side to. This track in particular, mainly due to the subject matter, made me think of a day trip to Shoeburyness I had when I was about 8 and sunburnt my back to fuck. Still a lovely day, though.

2. Almost by default, after thinking about family days out as a kid, this indian/middle eastern style sound conjured up memories of sitting in the car and travelling home along the motorway just as the sun came down at the end of the day. That golden glow you get in your eyes as the sun disappears behind the hills and you have that feeling in your tummy that you've been out for an adventure.

3. It's 1962 and black & white, but you can still tell Miss Applegarde is walking around central London in a pristine yellow jacket with matching skirt and white gloves. She skips across the road and enters a boutique where a female assistant smiles politely at her from the counter. Miss Applegarde smiles her pure white teeth and enquires about an order she has made. The assistant reaches down and from under the counter produces a large black hat box. Miss Applegarde tries on the hat inside and admires in the mirror along with the assistant, who nods enthusiastically. After careful wrapping Miss Applegarde then leaves and walks down High Holborn with her hat box gently swinging from the string in her hand. At the stroke of 2 O'clock she arrives back in the small office where she works for Mr Pairnbourne in accounts.

Gorgeous.

4. With 60s London still in mind I couldn't help but imagine the singer sat downstairs of a routemaster, on one of the side seats, singing this to the passengers. A fun clap along tune.

5. More from the 60s funsters of track 1. One of my favourites and always gives me visions of the vocalist wiggling and jumping about in the middle of a busy roundabout with black cabs circling him. Love it.

6. A bit of funk from, I'd hazard a guess, the early 70s. It makes me think that a man is driving his car and intermitantly looking in the rear view mirror to watch a couple having some fun on the backseat and he's a bit jealous. But then right at the end he crashes into a ditch because he wasn't concentrating on the road enough and kills the woman. Possibly karma for that laugh. No idea what the guy says at the end, but I like.

7. Thumping piano, chunky drums and bitty guitars with rousing vocals. I like this a lot. It's almost like a football chant. Like just after an underdog team has got through to next round of the FA Cup and the fans come together in the pub.

8. It's gone a bit country. This is the first track to not appeal too much, but I'm loathe to skip it as it would break the flow of the mix. And it's not like it's terrible anyway.

9. Quite a simplistic track with its heavy piano and just a couple of percussion instruments. Slightly jangley and only half decipherable lyrics with the down tone vocals. It's ok.

10. This sounds very late punk era, possibly early 80s and actually too late to count as punk. Usual guitar, thumpy drums and shouty vocals for the type of song it is but quite enjoyable really.

11. Back in central London, but more Soho way in 1958 around the coffee bars. A man in a sharp tonic suit is skipping down the middle of Berwick Street in time to the beat and as the vocals kick in passersby start dancing in a group routine. I can't help but roll my shoulders along to this. Favourite track of the mix and I wish it was longer than its 2 minutes.

12. I think I know who this is. While it's not bad it's the only track of the mix I can't conjure an opinion for. But like track 8, I'm still loathe to skip it while listening to this cd.

13. Finishing as we started with the purveyors of pop for people who like it different. Although Steven doesn't like sport much, I'm sure he's a triumph at the shirt event. I'll repeat that, the shirt event. I'll repeat that, the shirt event. I'll repeat that, the shirt event. I'll repeat that, the shirt event. I'll repeat that, the shirt event...


I really enjoyed this, not least because there were generous dollops of the former bingo caller at the Kursaal and his fellow bandmates. While there were 2 or 3 tracks that just missed the spot, for the most part this was bang on and I think I've played the cd itself more than any previous Tape Loop mix that's come my way since I've been doing it. I liked the artwork too. Matches the left of middle feel of the mix.

9/10


Tracklist and necessary album titles would be much appreciated.

Sorry I forgot to send you the tracklisting matey. It will be in your inbox in a few moments...

And so it was.

Cheers sir.

A Mix - By Maian.

1. A very nice bluesy number with a really nice bass. I'd never listen to stuff like this, but I like it.
2. More great bassy sounds, but this time it sounds like the electronic music of the 80's... though i suspect it's more recent than that.
3. More electronic sounds... with a great deal of depth. Very nice. A female vocalist that I like the sound of (which is rare with me)... could be Cerys Matthews.
4. This sounds familiar. It's possible I have this song... From the vocals I'd guess it was Gnarls Barclay... or if not... then err.. someone who sounds like them. Good stuff.
5. Some really nice piano chords. Then a not too unpleasant female vocal. Not really my thing, but not bad. Could be that Lily Allen.
6. Some very interesting music. Not too keen on the vocals, but the music I'd describe as interesting, inventive, experimental, & really well produced. I find it hard to pin this one down to a genre.
7. Nice. Chilled funky jazzy funk, with some really nice jazzy funk guitars, funky beats and funky chilled-out, jazzy brass.... with a funky chilled-out jazzy funk edge to it.
Nice vocals too. Nice.
8. Some up-tempo female vocal jazzy pop. I little to shiny & happy for my liking, & the worst on this album for me so far. Not a bad sounding vocal for a girl though. Could be that Tunstall woman.
9. Guitar. Deep vocals. The music reminds me of the faster surf tunes from Pulp Fiction. Has a mexican sound to it. Not bad.
10. Up-Beat indie sound. Reminds me of the Libertines (especially Can't Stand me Now),... but with more comprehensible lyrics. I'm not sure I like his voice. Otherwise it's a good piece of music.
11. Some lovely slow synths to begin with, then the female vocal kicks in and ruins the song. Well produced. (but then what isn't these days)
12. A church organ turns into what could be a Killers' song... until a female vocalist (who sounds worse to my ears than the previous track) starts up.
13. Some nice piano chords, accompanied by some loud male vocal. He sounds familiar, but I can't quite put my finger on it. I could be Razorlight... or maybe that bloke from the Smashing Pumkins. ... Either way, it's not bad, but it's not so good either. I think if I listen to this more, it would grow on me. (though I'm not going to let that happen).
14. Nice slow, end of the evening cocktail-bar piano. Accompanied by subtle strings, slow drums and a very mellow relaxed male vocal. A great closing track. Of the entire album, this is the song that I have been most unlikely to own or even listen to, but have enjoyed the most. Good stuff.


The Verdict:
An excellent eclectic mix. A few songs I wouldn't want to hear again, but many more that I would.
For the most part, each track has something in common with the 2 that surround it... so, a well thought out album.
Overall?

7.5/10




Could you tracklist me please?

Track Record by Kick in the Head

Track 1: While the drums and bass guitar plod along in a slightly dull way, the rest of the track has a lot more oomph (love that word) and the vocalist isn’t bad. I like the wibbly synthy bits as well. Not the worst start.

Track 2: Continuing the indie rock theme with a rather forgettable slab of – well -indie rock. Goes on for a bit and then stops abruptly which is probably for the best. Me no likey.

Track 3: This (indie rock?) band are annoyingly familiar, they’ve got a rather endearingly shambolic approach to signing with several vocalist cutting over the top of each other. It’s nicely upbeat and a little quirky. I liked it.

Track 4: When this track began I though it was going to be an instrumental rock track. Having listened to it I wished it was, because the appalling lyrical delivery ruins what would be a good, raw instrumental track. Never mind, the guitars and drums were good.

Track 5: This is a rather lovely, bouncy track. There are little chimes and bits of fluttery flute over a funky electronic drum and baseline. What’s not to like?

Track 6: This next track reminds me a bit of a track on Rory’s previous loop cd with everything thrown into the mix. I like electronica with a sense of humour and lots of funny noises. This is a fun little ditty.

Track 7: I think this my standout track of the mix here. I can’t quite say what genre of music this would fit into but it is insanely catchy, has a wonderful female lead vocal and a bit of crazy rapping. Top stuff.

Track 8: Quite a pleasant track this one, without being outstanding. It has a nice, warm electronic sound but is a tiny bit dull in places. Overall it’s pretty good though and I can sense it might be a grower.

Track 9: Now I like this track with it’s driving guitar and solid lyrics. It has a sound that is very familiar for some reason but I’m not sure why. Good stuff and a great improvement on the first few tracks which had a similar sound but were nowhere as good. We’re on a roll now.

Track 10: Slowing things down again, we have an intriguingly quirky and slightly folksy track. I liked the offbeat lyrics and delivery and the way the track was mixed. Good stuff again.

Track 11: I had noted in another person’s review of this cd that they drew a parallel between this track and the work of The Go! Team. I can certainly see where the comparison comes from as this track shares that chaotic approach by throwing all kinds of instruments into the mix. It’s pretty good although a little grating at times.

Track 12: It was only on the second listen through that I recognised these very famous lyrics which is testament to the rest of the track, which is a bit OTT to say the least. It is a fun little bit of poppy techno stuff though and I was bopping along to it by the end.

After a decidely shaky start I found a lot of tracks I liked and a couple I really liked. A solid score is in order for this mix I think.

6.0 out of 10

I await a tracklisting with interest. There are a few artists I'm eager to know more about.

Hearing Ade by Ade.

Track 1: We open proceedings with a chameleon of a track. It starts out like a hyper-charged Elastic track with guest vocals by an owl, then it shifts into a low-key electronica track that seems to be feature Billy Bragg on singing duties. A bit disorientating on first listen but subsequent listens made it into a favourite. Very good start.

Track 2: More electric sounds, this time in a more uniform fashion. A squelchy track with decent vocals and a catchy chorus. Not as striking as the first track, but still pretty good.

Track 3: A bit of honky-tonk piano to change the mix's direction. Stomping piano, urgent vocals and guitar all add up to a hugely enjoyable rock and roller that probably exists solely for 50s teenagers to get rambunctious to.

Track 4: The mix shifts yet again to a more mellow track. Gentle, subdued electric sounds and wispy vocals underlined by languid beats all add up to a nice, if not particularly memorable, track.

Track 5: Now it's time for some guitar. It's essentially a four-minute long solo which makes for a nice instrumental. Not something that I would listen to outside of the context of an album but the virtuosity and verve of it all make it enjoyable.

Track 6: Back to the synths and drumbeats, this time with a playful mix of sound effects to mix things up a bit. Playful and entertaining and fun to listen to. I like.

Track 7: I figured this fella would show up somewhere. The man's a genius and this is no different; soulful vocals, an underlying groove that keeps things going, and all wrapped up in a glorious pop package.

Track 8: Another instrumental, this time reminiscent of Mark Ronson's last album; it sounds like it could be a real song that's been done using intriguing instrumentation. Whether it is or not, I really rather like it. Sounds like the theme tune to an 80s computer games show/chat show/cop drama crossover. It saddens me that such a show (probably) never existed.

Track 9: This song amuses me greatly. It's a clever reworking/homage to a rather famous song by a rather famous band. Despite the familiar chords cropping up everywhere, the band make it sound fresh with fine vocals and heartfelt lyrics.

Track 10: A flamenco-inspired guitar-based instrumental showcasing some wonderful skill from the player and creating an exciting, mysterious tune. Haunting and delightful.

Track 11: A gentle, poppy number with some nice slide guitar, tambourine and sha-la-las. Not one of my favourite tracks on the mix, I tended to skip it after a few listens, but still rather nice to listen to.

Track 12: A long instrumental number that flows very well in the context of the mix, being quite heavily dance-influenced and bearing a passing similarity to a number of tracks elsewhere on it, but not something I could envision listening to too much otherwise. Having said that, it's a very good track that managed to keep me interested for the entire 7-minutes plus of its duration.

Track 13: A darker shift in tone on this song with cynical lyrics, crunching guitar, throbbing electro and a surprisingly catchy chorus. My favourite track of the mix.

Track 14: A rather daft and mad tribute to the man known as The King from one of the daftest pop maniacs to ever grace the pop charts. Delightfully whimsical and huge fun.

Track 15: Witty and laconic song that continues the darker direction of the previous tracks. Huge sounding guitars and organ perfectly counterbalance the literate lyrics. Sounds a bit like Jarvis Cocker, though I don't think it is. Interesting; I'd like to hear more of this fellow/band.

Track 16: The beginning of the end is ushered in with the gentle sound of raindrops that quickly give way to gentle beats and a beautiful female singer. I love the orchestration on this track and the general ambience of it. A big, bold song to finish on that perfectly rounds off the mix.

There wasn't a single track on this mix that I didn't like. Even those that I was a bit dubious of initially grew on me after a few issues and the mix as a whole works very well. Some of the tracks I found myself skipping after a while, but I still found listening to the whole mix to be a fun and surprising journey.

9/10

I need a tracklist, Mr. Ade.

Gadzooks, that's a generous review Mr Ed, thankyou! Glad you enjoyed it.

I shall attend to the tracklist immediately.

A Mix - Maian

Track One
A pretty straightforward blues number about how great Jesus is and how the Devil isn't. It's got soul, but there's precious little else to it beyond that.

Track Two
Minimal techno with uninvolved vocals that doesn't offer much and delivers precisely that. So far, so yawnsome.

Track Three
A bit more upbeat now, and my attention is finally grabbed. It's not too much of a jump from the previous track, but it has a far more interesting central riff, better vocals and builds to a satisfying conclusion. Methinks the compilation has just begun in earnest.

Track Four
While I'm no rap expert, there are certain examples of the genre I'm quite privvy to. Unfortunately, this isn't one of them. Nothing I haven't heard before, with very tired lyrics and an anonymous 'tune'. Claptrap.

Track Five
Now this would have fitted better straight after track three. A simple piano-pounding beat rocks at the core, and it plods along rather well. Some strange radio-play-esque sound effects at the end too. Fine.

Track Six
A track I actually have now - my word! It's only been a recent discovery of mine, buoyed by uniformly excellent reviews from the music press and the recommendation of my very favourite artist. It's hard to categorise, but there's just something about this track (and the album it came from) that just takes a hold of you and doesn't let go. Unconventional music, and not for everyone, but it intrigues me every time I hear it.

Track Seven
A cool soul/funk number familiar to me from a movie soundtrack, but not actually the movie that it came from, so there you go. Hard to fault really.

Track Eight
It's sparkly, shiny indie-pop that should by all intents and purposes slap a big grin on my face, but the tinkling and sing-a-long "bah bah bah bah"s all feel a bit deliberately quirky, and as such, it all seems a bit contrived. Nice, but not all there.

Track Nine
A countdown en espanol, but then into what sounds like surfer-rock sung along to by a German/English-speaking Serge Gainsbourg. A peculiar mix, but an entertaining one.

Track Ten
A slice of over-produced indie-rock with heart-string-tuggingly formulaic lyrics. It's not too bad, but it's earnestness is a little misplaced.

Track Eleven
It's Billie Piper via post-Fever Kylie if she'd been allowed to swear on the radio. Take away the expletive, and you're left with something functional but unexceptional.

Track Twelve
Not a million miles away from track eight, but not especially better or worse. There's a bit of organ and orchestral strings to give it a sheen of polish, but it floats in one ear and out the other.

Track Thirteen
Pounding percussion and an anthemic chorus, but ultimately fails to leave any impression, despite the passionate vocals.

Track Fourteen
Laidback lounge music that builds in grandeur thanks to the backing strings. Unfortunately, it just kind of meanders about for six minutes, doing very little of interest. And the vocalist sounds distractingly like Brain from 'Pinky and the Brain'.

Final Thoughts
Though Maian's compilation offered nothing that could be branded offensive, it instead offered a lot I was massively indifferent too. That's not to say everything needed to be groundbreaking or stretching the boundaries of their respective genres, but very few tracks held my interest. It's a bit sad to say, but it was just a bit "meh". Ultimately, A Mix warrants a distinctly average:

5/10

A tracklist would suit me to a t.

Hearing Ade - Ade


1. A punchy start with horns and electric drum beats, but then spins out to a slow rhythm. Strangely, I was thinking of trains in snowy eastern Europe before such things were mentioned. I reckon I know who this is and after initial misgivings this has actually grown on me a fair bit, to the point of swaying and singing along.

2. An equally punchy track, though it keeps that feel throughout with added soul-funk. It keeps a frantic pace with almost urgent yet fun vocals. Despite its obvious good points, for some reason this doesn't quite hit me like I feel it should.

3. Ahh, pure fun jazzy funk from one of the movies of the 80s. The most fun you can have wiggling in your chair pretending you're dancing the jive.

Just me, then?

4. Complete change of pace. Although it talks of the outside, the images that spring to mind are an empty grand house in sepia and large white billowing curtains. I can see the female vocalist slowly walking around in a long flowing blue dress and veil. This is sultry, sexy and gorgeous.

5. Pure rock guitar and drum thrash out. While I like a bit of rock occasionally, this is a bit sailing montage on Inside Sport, or something similar, and the only track I had to regularly skip after the first listen before it drove me mad.

6. Fun electronica with miscelleneous beats and sounds coming together to make an enjoyable and playful track. It makes me think Jarre with its rhythm pattern. I like a lot.

7. I long held the notion that I only actually liked maybe 5 songs of this fella, but it appears there's a 6th. And this is it. While it almost slips into pretentious territory towards the end it just pulls back, keeping its infectious beat throughout. Funky.

8. If India had its own version of Starsky & Hutch then this must have been its theme tune.

"Calcutta Cops. BBC2 at 6:30, this Thursday evening.
See Radio Times for details."

9. This sounds very Beatlely and with its deceptive lyrics I'm not sure if it's just their sound or an actual parody. I can't fathom whether I like it or not. I just know I neither love or hate it.

10. Who doesn't like a bit of flamenco, I ask? Let's salsa!

11. This is sitting at the back of a Cadillac, swaying side to side and clicking your fingers along to the tune. It sounds like 50s influenced 80s pop, which quite frankly you can't go too wrong with.

12. An electric harpsicord and then a sort of tumbling beat and sliding rhythms that just manages to keep my interest. Slightly suffers from being heard out of context, but perfect to slip into the middle of a larger set with more of its ilk.

13. Moving away into a more rocky sound, though of a jokey nature. Telling the story of a rock & roll star who's success has turned him into an arsehole. Funny and has a touch of the Beatlely sound of track 9. Same act?

14. Another humourous track, this time about Elvis. Both a piss take and affectionate, it's a fun little number.

15. A track that juxtaposes between a quiet rolling lyrical sound and a roaring aggressive melody. The latter wins out and storms into a whole different track towards the end. T'is good.

16. Starts slowly but builds up with breathy vocals and dramatic violins. You're always going to get me with a dramatic sound such as this. A sweeping track to go out on and a beauty.



On first listen I must admit I didn't really get large chunks it, but most of it did click a couple of plays later. While not the most immediate mix and losing its momentum a couple of times, when the right tracks come along they hit with a sizeable splash.

8/10


Twacklist pwease.

Now That's What I Call The Best Music Mix (by Jon79) In The World ...Ever!!! – Jon79

Track 1 - This abruptly loud track makes for a bold start to the mix. There's a few too many rock clichés but it gets by because of its not entirely straight face.

Track 2 - Slightly unexceptional rock. Has a welcome degree of ominousness.

Track 3 - A host of familiar sounds come together to make a pleasant whole, with an undercurrent of funk.

Track 4 - An electro reverie. A nice short track.

Track 5 - Languorous epic of a song. The mellow saxophone is particularly good.

Track 6 - I like the build up at the start of this song but I'm not sure if the vocals work and the song is generally too straight forward.

Track 7 - Somewhat forgettable ambient track, coming from such a tired genre it doesn't do anything to distinguish itself.

Track 8 – This indie sounding track didn’t excite me.

Tack 9 - Sitting listening to this song it doesn't really capture my imagination. My foot taps along but my thoughts drift off.

Track 10 - After the length of the previous track the brevity of this piece of electronica is much welcomed. It enters, does it plaintive thing, and leaves.

Track 11 - A fine song.

Track 12 - I like this despite it being slightly leaden. Sense of loneliness and the passing of time.

Track 13 - Great track. Adventurous and heart felt. Best of the mix.

Track 14 - Sounds a bit like something from Blade Runner. Beautiful and contemplative.

Track 15 - With this track the mix takes quite a shift in tone. Rather unfortunately in my opinion as I enjoyed the preceding period and this track, which seems to be a homage to a well known sixties film, is jarring and throwaway. The sampled film dialogue doesn't work very well.

Track 16 - A nice concluding song which I suspect would've been better served without the track before as it fits well with the mood of the final stretch which is interrupted by track 15; an aberration which doesn't go anywhere but rather loosens the rapt hold the CD has on the listener.

It's a very well produced mix, with tracks segueing nicely. Track 15 undermines the effect of the excellent last third which evokes a wonderful nocturnal urban malaise. The artwork is a bit overcrowded and basic. Yet conceptually apt as the featured music often sounds like it belongs to another past time which gives the mix an otherworldly feel.

7.4/10

I'd appreciate a tracklist.

Oriental Emporium - Beatoswald


1. There is something quite Eric Idle about this whimsical little number. A lovely little number to have in your ear as one strolls along the seaside. I don’t know about loving 15 year olds though, but I do know I like this.

2. I am an utter ignoramus when it comes to the World Music section, particularly anything with an eastern lilt. Well, that’s a slight over statement of fact, but I wouldn’t listen to tracks like this normally. It did very little for me, though it did feel like it would set a scene very well for something visual.

3. A fluttering flute introduces a quite lovely instrumental track which conjures up all kinds of retro imagery. Colourful & thoroughly pleasant. Music you can see.

4. I gotta’ play something for Charlie before we have that round of drinks.
A Delta Blues sounding little ditty, punctuated by what sounds like the performers own hand claps in-between some great old fashioned guitar playing. Fantastic.

5. Madcap 60’s musical nonsense. The best kind. This track pogos it’s way along at a great pace leaving you with the wish that it went on just a little bit longer. Masterful.

6. Some fantastic musicianship on this light funk instrumental, but ultimately that’s all it is. This tune is hollow. More wankery & showing off went into this than any love. I don’t feel it at all.

7. I’m still unsure as to whether I like this or not. Bumping drums led by a repeating piano lick melt into some Lynard Skynardesque guitar with chanting lyrics. The more I listen the more I think I’ll end up bugging people to listen to this track…… or maybe not. Man, I am torn on this one.

8. A folk number with a hint of country from, I think, Dylan’s main influence. Good stuff.

9. Avant Garde piano driven track from a guy whose work I respect more
than I actually like. The track never fails to make me smile as the piano riff in it sounds like it’s from Danger Mouse.

10. Silly Post Punk poetry from one of Manchester’s finest. You know it makes sense.

11. Cool Jazz piano track warning all and sundry to lock up their daughters from a true great.

12. Birkenhead’s finest knocking out another Brit Pop blueprint.

13. Sometimes you can be a little too experimental. This is definitely one of those times. Though the track ends well, medieval sounding music has no place on this Earth outside period dramas, the Theatre & theme restaurants & even then it’s pushing it.

Like Maian it has taken me a while to review this as I didn’t know what to make of it at first, but once the mood of whimsy grabs you it’s a nice listen.
Although a few tracks didn’t grab me at all, most of the numbers were enjoyable.

7 out of 10

Tracklist please as I think you’ve turned me on to a new act or two.