First listen!

http://hamsterhuey.muxtape.com/

Plotting An Escape

artist // song // album

Valgeir Sigurðsson // A Symmetry // Ekvílibríum
PJ Harvey // The Wind // Is This Desire?
Colder // Confusion // Again
Broken Social Scene // Feel Good Lost Reprise // To Be You And Me EP
The Cocteau Twins with Dead Can Dance // Alice // Volaine Single
Antony & The Johnsons // The Lake // The Lake EP
The Knife // We Share Our Mothers’ Health // Silent Shout
Nina Hagen Band // Naturträne // Nina Hagen Band
Røyksopp // What Else Is There? (featuring Karin Dreijer) // The Understanding
Radiohead // The Amazing Sound Of Orgy // Pyramid Song Single

I am very curious about the other mixtapes. Mine became much more a mirror of my soul than I ever intended. My mixtape is a reflection of my often melancholy, solitary moods. When I am in one of ‘those’ moods, I write, play music or I just listen and zone out.

When I started distilling songs out of my favourites playlist, I found myself going for a weird mix between punkish rock songs and detached electronica that often help me get through these moods. So besides the fact that these songs are all on my favourites list, there is, to me at least, not a big difference between punk and electronic music, as often they seem to have a same drive to me. Even if that might puzzle people ("why did you put PJ Harvey on there?"), the thing to me is, these songs sound GOOD together.

The song that became the pinnacle of this collection is Nina Hagen Band’s Naturträne. The oldest song featured here (the only before the 80's), Naturträne will be a hard sell to most native English speaking music fans. But in a way, of all the songs I consider ‘mine’, this one probably is a true reflection of how I view life; I see beauty in stuff others think horrid, am a bit melodramatic, but in the end I chuckle like a chicken. Perfect.

I will post the lyrics underneath. Even though no translation could do the poetry justice, at least it gives you an inkling about what it is about.

ON COMPILING

I started gathering certain kinds of songs, but I am, like most of you, rather particular what kind of song goes with another, so loads of first choice-songs were booted just because I could not fit them between the songs I wanted to keep.

And I was limited in many ways by first losing my external harddrive, containing my 55.000+ collection of MP3’s, then losing my computer with my editing program, or this would have become a totally different mixtape. I love finding songs that go well together and mix the outro’s and intro’s (just pay attention to the outro of the one to last song and the intro of the last song), so it all becomes one big trip.
But now I was limited to just putting songs together in a certain way. I considered many songs, had them on the list, but rejected a lot of them, as they just did not fit well with the others. Underneath a little list of songs considered and booted.

And then I just pushed and shoved until all the songs were in the right place.
First song to go on the list was Naturträne by the Nina Hagen Band, latest addition was The Wind by PJ Harvey.
Songs that got on the list and never left were The Lake, Naturträne and The Amazing Sound Of Orgy.
After hearing A Symmetry by Valgeir Sigurðsson, it replaced original opening track Retina by Ellen Allen & Apparat, whoms album has never left my iPod since loading it.

I am very surprised that no Joy Division songs made it on my list, but, as I was compiling, I realised I did not want ‘easy’ choices, so no Prince, no Tori Amos, no Joy Division, no Björk… and then I just went for the sound of the compilation.

A song I could not get rid off was Confusion by Colder, which was funny, as even though I like Colder a lot, I never became hardcore collector of his music. But the song found it’s way onto my mixtape and stood it’s ground. So that was the biggest surprise.

The biggest doubts on here is What Else Is There? by Røyksopp, which features Karin Dreijer, the singer of The Knife, so she is featured twice.

Broken Social Scene is also a funny choice. Came to me via Aksel, and I like some of their stuff, but not all. But this song went onto my Pure playlist of which I distilled much of this mixtape. It booted Anne-Sophie Mutter’s Mozart concerto, as Feel Good Lost Reprise was much more fitting.

Individual track history

Valgeir Sigurðsson // A Symmetry // Ekvílibríum
The most recently added track on this compilation came to me via my music-addicted brother-in-law; he knows my taste and will share stuff he thinks I will like or he thinks I should hear. The album features vocal input by Will Oldham and some peeps I have to check up on. The entire album is a must-have if you like Björk or Sigur Rós.

PJ Harvey // The Wind // Is This Desire?
I like PJ. Her records have that journey feel I like so much in the older Prince, Joni whenever or Björk. I like most of her work, whether it be kinky stuff with Josh Homme, introverted White Chalk stuff or brazen fish in the water stuff. Never dull, always intense. And I love her more since she admitted she likes to dance to Joy Division.

Colder // Confusion // Again
I hate no longer working at the record store. Not only did I lose my guest-list privileges, but I also lost the chance to check out kewl stuff. The cover of this album made me want to put it on and when I did I immediately bought it.

Broken Social Scene // Feel Good Lost Reprise // To Be You And Me EP
Aksel said I needed to listen to this band. Even though I could not oblige him by becoming a completist fan, I still loved this track so much I immediately transferred it to my Pure playlist.

The Cocteau Twins // Alice // Volaine Single
This is one of the artists my first bf hipped me to before he passed away. So, like most of the music I came into contact with becuz of him, I feel a deep emotional connection with this band and this singer, being Elizabeth Fraser, who most know as the singer of Teardrop by Massive Attack.

Antony & The Johnsons // The Lake // The Lake EP
I had never heard of Antony until he showed up for a gig at a fashion event here in Holland and blew me away. I hunted down some of his stuff and I became not only a completist, I will even defend his part on Lou Reed’s The Raven.
This track made me cry. And it still can, if I am sufficiently emotional.

The Knife // We Share Our Mothers’ Health // Silent Shout
Some tracks just seem to have a way to imprint themselves onto your soul with the first time you listen to it. This is such a track to me. I got hipped to them by David, a guy I wish I could fall in love with cuz he is sweet and too cool and he has an amazing taste in music.
Again, a band I am completist for; like all their four albums and everything they do, photography, video’s, the works. The live concert was quite something. It transported me to The Roxy, Amsterdam’s most celebrated club in the 80’s, when I was able to trip. The concert seemed to whip that feeling outa me.

Nina Hagen Band // Naturträne // Nina Hagen Band
Nuf said already. But this is one of my brother’s albums I just took with me. It totally sums up growing up in the family. It throws me back to my little bedroom, where this music, and stuff like Laurie Anderson, would sound from my brother’s attic room.

Røyksopp // What Else Is There? (featuring Karin Dreijer) // The Understanding
I like Røyksopp and love Karin Dreijer’s voice, so this was a good mash-up. I kinda held out on Røyksopp, as I found them hyped a bit too much. I get suspicious when too many gay people hip something to me… but I like them enough. But this song is great.

Radiohead // The Amazing Sound Of Orgy (non album track) // Pyramid Song Single
Radiohead came to me too early. When their rockier earlier stuff became big, I got this horrid Pearl Jam feeling. ~shudders~
But then Okay Computer was released and I was blown away. Amazing album.
But then personal stuff happened and I did not follow up. Which I told IstenSzek, who then played THIS song to me.
Like I earlier said about We Share Our Mothers’ Health; some songs jump onto you and never let go; this is one of them. It made me delve into them deeper and I am now completist and totally swayed. I still like their work post-Okay Computer best, though.

Some booted songs;

Pixies // Pink Stream
Ellen Allien & Apparat // Retina
The Cocteau Twins // Evangeline
The Fiery Furnaces // Oh Sweet Woods
Teddybears Sthlm // Yours To Keep [with Paola]
Massive Attack // Teardrop [featuring Elizabeth Fraser]
David Bowie //Andy Warhol [edit without intro]
The Fiery Furnaces // Waiting To Know You
David Sylvian // I Surrender
Mozart’s K 216 - 1. Allegro violin concerto by Anne-Sophie Mutter
Tori Amos // Black-Dove (January)
Waldeck // Northern Lights


Naturträne lyrics

German’;

Offnes Fenster präsentiert
Spatzenwolken himmelflattern
Wind bläst, meine Nase friert
Und paar Auspuffrohre knattern

Ach, da geht die Sonne unter:
Rot, mit Gold, so muss das sein.
Seh ich auf die strasse runter,
Fällt mir ein Bekannter ein

Prompt wird mir's jetzt schwer ums Herz
Ich brauch' nur Vögel flattern sehen
Und fliegt main Blick dann himmelwärts,
Tut auch die Seele weh, wie schön!

Natur am Abend, stille Stadt
Verknackste Seele, Tränen rennen
Das alles macht einen mächtig matt
Und ich tu' einfach weiterflennen..
Aaaahhhh....

English translation;

Through the open window I can see
The tiny clouds hovering in the sky
The wind is blowing, my nose is freezing
... a few exhaust pipes are spluttering.

Ah, the sun is going down
Red and gold, as it should be
I look down to the street below
And see a friend standing there

Suddenly my heart feels heavy
I just need to see birds fluttering
And my eyes turn up to the sky
How it hurts my soul - how beautiful!

Nature in the evening, a peaceful town
Tormented soul, the tears flow
It all makes me feel so feeble
And makes the tears flow even more
Aaah....!!

First!

As I predicted, I imagined at least 6 of the artist you would put on your mixtape.

I found strange that u didn't include Mother stands for confort from Kate Bush.

I had The Lake (discovered the song thanks 2 u!) on my mixtape. Guess it's time to omit it.

Nice 2 see that Tori Amos // Black-Dove (January) was in an earlier config. It's a superb song.

Once again about the aborted song.

David Bowie's Andy Warhol is a great song, but Hunky Dory has better songs like my personnal favorite Quicksand.

Matronik said:

LoL
And if you know my music taste as intimately as you do, I can see how easy it would be to at least know what direction I'd turn to.

Even though there are some well-known artists here, I went for less-known songs. As I explained, often to me the pinnacle song to why I became fan of these artists.

HamsterHuey said:

I know mate. Your one of my music guru's.

The Radiohead b-side was something I expected. Still I would have choosen I Will (Los Angeles Version) or even the now studio album track True love waits

Matronik said:

It took me a week to weed out the songs out of my 600+ MP3 favourites playlist, then I looked at songs people HAD to hear. As Naturträne became the IT-song, it became easier to drape other songs around it.
It took some weeks to get it right, find the right songs to go with eachother, and then put them in the right order.

Even putting them in the right order made me chuck songs out and invite new songs in, as I am quite particular.
And even though there is no Joy Division, I think their music reverberates from my playlist.

I have found myself playing it often; I am really happy with this one.

Matronik said:

PURRRR

But like I said; this is the song Isten used to trigger my interest. First time I heard Amazing Sounds it just drove it hooks in me and never let go.
Even when I listen to it now, after so many spins, it still has the power to stretch time and make me forget it is just 3.37...

HamsterHuey said:

Making a 10 song mixtape is the most painful exercise I ever done. I have 5 potential mixtapes to choose.

The stronger candidates are my LGTG themed and my infused with sadness and suicide vibes mixtape.

Matronik said:

Hehehe, I knooooow.
I had alotta songs of my fave Bowie album low on the mixtape. But it was too easy.

I also juggled around alot of Brian Eno. Baby's On Fire was on there for some time, as was Radiohead's version of the song.

HamsterHuey said:

I planned to include some Passengers...but I ended not doing so.

I guess my main problem would be some criticism of me trying to be poser versus what people see has my musical taste (camp pathetic gay songs)

Matronik said:

Try pushing a baby into the world.... lol

I must admit, to me it was fun and exciting ans not as hard as I thought. I mean, I make LOADS of playlists, the only thing that was weird was that there was a limit.

But I had amazing fun to put it together.

HamsterHuey said:

For me it was pain.

The fact I could find a perfect mixtape drives me mad. In real life I'm like that. Not happy with anything I do. There's always something missing.

Matronik said:

I do not know what other people will think of it, as most these artists are an aquired taste. But I am happy with it and that's what matters.

And I hope I can hip people to some bands. Already had one hit with The Knife on the demo mixtape. I hope to raise more Knife lovers by including my favest Knife song on here.

Matronik said:

That's the greatest thing about growing older; you learn to put some of that stuff that holds you back to the side and become a better person for it.
And a better mixtape compiler.

I agree big time on the point about missing working in a record store. I miss my Music days because it isnt the same now, being out of it since 2006, not getting to see every single thing that comes out, not getting the samplers, or advances, though i still have label friends that get me into shows and parties that they know i would want to be at, it still isnt the same. And just the fact that places like Tower are gone there really isnt any music retail that you can go look around in that has a wide range of everything from all countries and genres.

lastdecember said:

True, but the internet make hunting for new stuff fun too.

Just take www.cokemachineglow.com
I found some of my latest musical loves from that site. Without them I''ld never heard of Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins or Iron And Wine.

HamsterHuey said:

True but the internet is limiting, mainly because it shuts alot of people out of the process. I mean i have talked to alot of people that used to shop with us and they say they dont even care about music anymore, they dont try the net because they dont have a good computer speed and have no patience to sit there and wait for something like a download of a sample and then have to download the book and the lyrics and the artwork.

HamsterHuey said:

And I clicked on that one first.

Cinnie said:

Silly git.

HamsterHuey said:

So basically this is the soundtrack to Herman: Life of a Drama Queen, eh?

I'm joking. I'm about to listen to your mix tape, but this is already a really rich endeavor. You obviously put a lot of thought into this, and it's fantastic to see what makes you tick... and the detail you've given the project is wonderful! If the other mixtape orgers follow suit, this could turn into a real org high point in the years I've been here. Good work setting the standard, man!
[Edited 7/5/08 6:37am]

Lammastide said:

Basically, if you are going to label it a drama queen mixtape, you'ld not even be too wrong. Heh. I admit. I would have used 'oversensitive, highly emotional homosexual individual', but what the heck.



And thanks, mr. I do not know what the standard is for mixtapes. I just had loads of fun compiling mine. After everyone listened to it, I am very curious about the reactions; 'what will the English native speakers make of Nina Hagen?', 'What will everyone think of the somewhat weird mix between punkish songs and the electronic songs?' etc.

And you do not have to worry about the other mixtapes; I am sure the rest will be as rich as mine. Sometimes the music is enough, ya know?

You are listening to my tape naked?

HamsterHuey said:

Have listened to most of it, halfway through there seems to be a glitch. Could be just my internet. First song! OMG. Brilliant.

OK...

It's always a treat to sample the tastes of a person whose musical scope is broader than mine -- and I'm really enjoying your mix, Herman.

Of the artists you've picked, I knew of all but Colder, but what work I'd heard of those I knew had been very, very limited. Your mix particularly makes me want to check out Sigurdsson's solo stuff and Broken Social Scene. But I think the biggest take-home lesson here is I MUST explore more Cocteau Twins (who, being a fan to varying degrees of a good number of 4AD acts, I've no excuse for not knowing better).

I like some of the stuff I've heard by the Knife, but Karin Dreijer's voice sometimes wears thin on me ...as Antony Hagerty's would, I suspect, in doses of more than 1 or 2 songs at a time. He's fascinating in a novel kinda way here and on Volta, but I won't anytime soon be filling the better part of an evening with this man.

And Nina Hagen... What can I say? That voice is amazing! But I think she scares me.
[Edited 7/6/08 15:45pm]

And why did you call it "Plotting an Escape?" Or shall you keep quiet on that and leave us to ponder it?

Lammastide said:

She is fierce. She was part of the German/Dutch punk scene that famous Dutch rocker Herman Brood also frequented, with other peeps, like Lene Lovich.

But this song came to me as a youngster; my brother had the record and I learnt how to listen to it without knowing German, so my first love for it was totally from the sounds, the melody.

When I grew older, I learnt some German and found out how beautiful those words were... I am still amazed by them...