Cinnie said:

Cinnie! Haven't heard from you in awhile. Still listening to the mixes? Unlurk, you!

magnificentsynthesizer said:

Nahhh, Just glad I got some new stuff to investigate,




...

Michael and the Force - If I forego what we theologian types have come to call a personal "hermeneutic of suspicion," the whole notion of a fallen angel come to tell the world that traditional religion is BS and that love is THE way is rather romantic and, frankly, liberating. It's darned Gnostic stuff as it were, but with some qualifications and tweaking, I suppose the baseline idea that love rules sits well with me.

Theological rambling aside, this is easily my favorite track on the mix. That syncopated percussion downright commands me to dance a little wherever I am (an accomplishment... 'cause I ain't one to dance ), and the orchestration -- the synth brass and strings, the backing harmonies -- is so epic that I can't help but create a little video for the song in my own mind. Great opener.

On the strength of this song, I checked out snippets of the Race of Angels Broadcast No. 1 EP. I'm not sure if I like the totality of their work as much as Michael and the Force, but they do have a cool downtempo sound. I'll be watching them.

Galaxy - At first, I was like WTF? But the song evolved into a fun little diddy. As Supa said: What a cute song! If you did lose the twangy guitar, the progression here would be perfect.

Neon - I've only recently discovered the Knife by way of a recent cover by an artist of whom I'm a fan. There's something unsettlingly "trendy" about them, but I kinda, sorta still enjoy them. The lead singer's voice on this track, though, just gives me Adam Sandler for some reason... and it drives me insane. I've listened to your mix several times now, and I could only tolerate this song once all the way through.

Hold My Breath - Love the soundscape, yet if everything Milosh does sounds undiscernably like this, I can see what you mean by suggesting he seek out a producer. This is great chill music,but to keep an entire album interesting, he'd need some vision to differentiate the songs, yet unify their progression. Interesting stuff.

Smile - Love it. Nice chill beat; samples are evocative, but not overpowering; and the lead has a beautifully classic voice.

Internacional - If a guy weren't careful, this song could make him queen out a bit. If I were at home listening to this instead of in a university library, I'd be strutting up and down the main corridor of my apartment pretending to be a runway model. Very fun track, and I've really liked Sabina in everything I've heard her on. I need to pick up some more of this band.

Hold Us Down - No. Just... no. It's not that I dislike raggae/ska-lite, but, like Richard, this track just doesn't do it for me... and that high-pitched, reverbed vocal effect darned near gave me a seizure. And I ain't epileptic.

100% - If their body of work is much like this, I can see why you like Moloko. Based on what I've heard of them, their stuff is not something I could use as "background music," because their sound is quite theatric and often BIG... as here! But this is very invigorating stuff, and I could see returning to them whenever I needed a pick me up.

Too Young - Nice closer. The comparatively less electronic sound of this track feels particularly warm against the songs that precede it. I'm not certain what to make of the lyrics: In one sense, they feel a bit melancholy against the generally peppy tracks throughout your mix, yet lines like "everybody's dancing, oh yeah!" stick out most to leave us with a feel that is still at once joyful... especially given the brisk tempo and early '80's keyboard lines.

Birds of a Feather - This song would have a somewhat odd fit in your mix. I think it was best to make it a bonus. Nice track, though, and, yes, I can hear the Clare Fischer in the strings. Given what I assume (based on this track) would be Herbert's interests in playing with song structure, it might be really interesting to hear his jazz experiments. I'm imagining very free, modal-type stuff, lots of odd instrumentations, breaks, etc.

...Nice mix. What impresses me most is how buoyant it is! Many of the songs we've heard featured in mixes thus far have appealed to our moody side or our affinity for airy dreamscapes and the like. (My mix quite likely will follow suit.) Your songs seem decidedly energetic and awake. They're refreshing.
[Edited 9/24/08 21:30pm]

It's not in the middle of the night, but this evening will do.

Free time: check!
Pinot Noir: will rose do?
Sedatives: Sure, why not!

[*](1) Michael & The Force - A Race Of Angels - Broadcast No.1

Urgency, indeed! Love this track! Makes me happy!

[*]2) Galaxy - Hippiehaus - Stars

Not so sure about the vocals, but that electronic lead line is great. That muffled sound fits the song and the vibe really well.

[*]3) Neon - The Knife - The Knife

The Knife, another band that's not new to this org-exercise. Nice, I think I will listen to more of them... I don't know why, but I expected a lot of guitars on this track!

[*](4) Hold My Breath - Milosh - III

I think this track is closest to the vibe I think you're going for. Floating, twilight zone-ish, dark, hypnotizing, impending, dreamy. Sweet!

[*](5) Smile - Dzihan & Kamien - Freaks & Icons

Nice song, I feel the flying aspect of the song. Cute song. Laidback.

[*](6) Paper Areoplane - Angus & Julius Stone - Hotel Costes X

One of two songs of your mix I knew. Great song. Although most of their songs are slow, they are very captivating. This is the obvious single. Instantly accessible.

[*](7) Internacional - Brazilian Girls New York City

Nice to hear an upbeat track again. It adds an extra spice to your mix, whilst keeping in line with the insomniac vibe! Oh, I looked up Ali Kahn, yeah he died in '97...

[*](8) Hold Us Down - Rae & Christian - Nocturanl Activity ( Sleepwalking Remixed)

Nice, little tune. Nothing too special, I guess.

[*](9) 100% - Moloko - Statues

Wow! I never played the statues album more than once, but this track is gooood! Indeed, the horn-arrangement is amazing! I don't think Roisin's solo work is less than Moloko's. Like them both quite equally.

[*] (10) Too Young - Phoenix - United

The second song I knew. Funny trivia, Phoenix started out as a Prince-cover band and every now and then they play a Prince track. They have two albums, the first (United) is the better one. It's a shame that for every good track they have to add some weird punk or psychedelic track. Venture into this first album of theirs, there are equally good songs on there. 'If I ever feel better', for a start!
As far as the mix, I think it works nicely, a bit of fresh air. Wakes you up, just enough to let Herbert take you away again!

[*] (11 Bonus track ) Birds Of A Feather Herbert - Scales

Great ending, love this, put it on list of music to investigate! Love the music in between the song itself and the mixing of genre's.



I know exactly how that feels!

A race of angels as my fave!

magnificentsynthesizer said:

That is one impressive mosque! Look at the size of that man in comparison! Hotdamn!

Lammastide said:

Like a Lucid Dream!

Sander said:

That's a person standing up there?

whoa. this stuff is GOOD. not that i'm surprised or anything. but it's really good

I'm setting time aside for this mix on Friday evening. It looks like it has evolved a little since it was first posted.

sextonseven said:

what? everything is exactly the same.

magnificentsynthesizer said:

Was the bonus track there when you first uploaded? Also, I don't remember the liner notes looking so organized.

sextonseven said:

yes, the bonus track was there and there were no liner notes until Lammy requested them. i was trying to be punk rock, but it didn't work out.

magnificentsynthesizer said:

I'm sorry I requested that you betray your mystique. The notes did benefit my own experience, though.


... And I won't ask you to comment on your mixtape's title.

Having my first listen right now.

That was great! My favorites are "Michael & The Force", "Hold My Breath", "Internacional" and "100%". I'll post a full write-up tomorrow.

sextonseven said:

Looking through other pictures of the mosque it probably isn't a man, since the mosque isn't that big.

I am confused, since they seem to have two similar buildings in Isfahan:

Left is Naghsh e Jahan. Right one is Masjid e Shah. In Isfahan.

And slightly different names are given as well:


Small, big, one or four, they look beautiful:

Sander said:

I see now. Yes, that would have been some eighth-wonder of the world-type architecture if that tiny thing was a man in the earlier photo. Still very nice structures.

Lammastide said:

Yo, that's deep.



Michael and The Force is definitely my fave off that album.



it is the perfect progression! i wish i had more time, i would've found a way to edit out the guitar.



HUH!? Wow. wasn't expecting that, but... i find her voice intoxicating. she seems as if she knows something that we don't and shouldn't know. i'm intriqued by that.



i shouldn't have downplayed him so much, his music is a lot of fun. nice chill background music, especially at night.




Check 'em out. i think their sound is really sophisticated. come to find out Sabine has been on the scene for a long time. i did some digging and she actually collaborated on a jazz album with someone, i forget his name. unfortunately, it was out of print and the sellers were asking for big $$$ for it.



OK OK OK... i'll admit it was filler, but it seemed to work well after Internacional. i like it though. And i'm not a fan of reggae-lite! i'm all about roots reggae.




check your notes in a day or two.




Glad you liked it. I think Supa described my intent the best when he compared it to a "lucid dream"


.
[Edited 9/26/08 18:00pm]

Sander said:

makes me wish i was over there with you having a glass!

i hoped it helped.

Sander said:

thanks for the pics. i really don't have much knowledge on the entry portals besides what i read in a art book. i think each building serves a different purpose, sleeping, eating, meditating/prayer. the entry portal i posted was for the prayer building.

Sander said:

Now this is the track/group i thought no one would know. surprise surprise.



DAMN!



You only played Statues once?!



Wow. i thought this would be another unknown! i'll give United another chance. not surprised to hear they're Prince fans. i thought i heard a little when you were mine in there somewhere.

.
[Edited 10/10/08 10:03am]

Michael & The Force - A Race Of Angels - This song is awesome! The synths float in and out in an otherworldly fashion, but the whole song is grounded by the 4/4 beat. I wanna dance to this song in a club!

Galaxy - Hippiehaus - I thought this song was going to be some kind of Southern rock thing from the opening notes. Fooled me! It quickly turns into a light spacey piece of work. Not bad.

Neon - The Knife - I love The Knife's Silent Shout, but that's the only album of theirs I have. The earlier stuff like this song is more lighthearted, but no less quirky. I do prefer the later, spookier Knife though.

Hold My Breath - Milosh - Repetition in music is underrated. The way the melody loops back onto itself repeatedly really grabs me here. Including this song in your mix was a mistake? It might be my favorite so that's a happy accident. I'm seeing how the name of your mix was chosen now. All songs so far have a dreamy feel to them.

Smile - Dzihan & Kamien - Kinda lullaby-ish at first then the hard beats come in for the chorus. Cool.

Paper Areoplane - Angus & Julius Stone - I love the instrumentation on this song. It's like riding down a dirt road in the countryside on your bike on a sunny morning.

Internacional - Brazilian Girls - I used to have a Brazilian Girls 12" but sold it because I didn't like the remixes. I don't know why I never got into them because, except for those 12" mixes, everything I've heard by them including this track is very good.

Hold Us Down - Rae & Christian - There's a slight reggae beat here and I'm not a fan of reggae at all although it's more dub really I guess. I don't care for the vocals either so this is the track I like the least.

100% - Moloko - The best part is the bridge in the middle. The song gets raised to a new level at that point which surprised me. Although by this time in the mix, I'm not in the quasi-dream state that the other songs suggest. I'm wide awake now!

Too Young - Phoenix - Here's another wide-awake song! I feel like I was just slipped some espresso. I like the late 70s/early 80s sound of the synths. It's very happy.

Birds Of A Feather - Herbert - This song is more in tune with the ones at the beginning of the mix. I love how the music chuggs along like a toy train. And there are lovely strings in this one too. You can never go wrong with strings.

I agree with your assessment that the last song doesn't fit only in terms of song order. It makes more sense to me to end with the peppy Phoenix song. Nevertheless I'm glad you included "Birds Of A Feather" as that was one of my favorites. "Michael & The Force" narrowly edges out "Hold My Breath" for the top spot though.

OMG!!!!!

My indie radio station is playing Internacional - Brazilian Girls!!!!!

I heard the beginning beat and I'm like I know that song! and then goddamn I'm like it's from the Narcolepsy thread!!!!

I just have to share that "Michael and the Force" is OWNING me this week! You're gonna make me mess around and spend some money I don't have, magnificentsynthesizer.

Lammastide said:

Wow what a good mix! you were really consistant with your theme as nearly all of the songs had that space/ dreamy/ electric vibe to them.

This mix made me imagine walking alone through the streets at night looking to the sky counting the stars

It was for the most part mellow, but never boring. 100%, Internacional, and Galaxy were stand out tracks to me (especially since I'm already a fan of Brazillian Girls)...However, Michael and the Force was a phenomenal song! great sound, lyrics, music, I love it!

Great job magnificentsynthesizer

thekidsgirl said:

Someone else actually listened!

Come on KG let's put on our headphones and go count the stars together!

magnificentsynthesizer said:

I'd like that