MikeMatronik said:

Thanks for all your answers! This project, and this mix specifically should tell you one thing. That you are respected in this forum. I am very positive that you probably have experience people who don't take your musical sensibilities very seriously because of your love of pop music but you were the first person I turned to when this mix got off the ground.

Without you I wouldn't have had the bridge to my mix (Siobhan) and while I don't always have the time to respond to your threads (prolific!) I do pay attention to what you're recommending because this mix is just proof that you have a good head on your shoulders when it comes to music and that you have a lot to offer by sharing with us US orgers things that we aren't exposed to. Like I thought Robyn dropped off earth but she still had a career in Europe.

Never stop sharing with us because our musical worlds are only enriched by your presence here

Interesting that you tried to impress us with the first mix. I appreciated them both, but I found this one a considerably more personally expansive, even as it's more danceable, which often obscures artistic merit.

A Pain That I'm Used To - Claustrophobic is correct! I can't recall if I've ever heard the original, but DM rarely moves me. This Goldfrapp remix is interesting on its own merit, though. The vocal effects and synth lines make for really interesting layers to wrap your brain around

Nobody's Diary - Not my cup of tea, but the female lead's voice is fantastically rich. Almost reminds me of Linda Perry from 4 Non Blondes. I'd like to hear more from her.

Electricistas - No idea what the words are (I know embarrassingly little Spanish), but I love the vibe of this song. It's got a really driving sort of drone, and the fact I don't understand the words almost liberates them for me into a meditative, motivating chant of sorts. I would return to this song to work, drive or study.

Driving You Slow - The most interesting thing about this track is the amazingly androgynous voice of Sonia on lead vox. I had to read your notes before I was confident this was a woman. I like this song as I listen to it on Saturday at noon in my in-laws' family room, but I think it'd shine best late night, headphones on... and perhaps in a lush studio version. Very interesting stuff.

You Belong - With him having gotten quite a bit of attention in this mixtape cycle, I've just now decided I simultaneously love and hate Antony Hegarty's voice. Somehow, it's so irritating, but I find myself drawn to it... like a moth to a flame. That said, not much more about this song measures up to his intrigue for me.

Rippin' Up the Disco - I don't know much Kylie stuff, but this may be the most immediately likable dance track I've heard of hers. If this had been my introduction to her, I may have taken more time to explore her catalog.

Slave to Love - I love this! Such ease and sophistication in Murphy's voice, and I love the electronic reworking of this Brian Ferry track. (That bridge is killer!) And, yes, I do hear the apathy in Murphy's voice that you speak of... though given the lyrical content, I read it more as resignation. Very effective.

Lose Control - Just didn't do much for me, although it's got an interesting syncopated beat. The other layers just seem forgettable to me. THIS is the sort of stuff I think of when I think of Kylie... and it's lost on me.

Dream On - I haven't yet decided whether I really like Robyn or am perpetually annoyed by her. Sometimes it seems she tries so hard to be cool, thinking, interesting; other times she just is. This is an example of the latter, I think. I love the beat, LOVE the strings and other orchestration, and like the lyrics. I gave a listen to Robyn's latest self-titled album and only moderately enjoyed it. I don't recall this track, which would have been by far the most interesting thing on it. (I heard it in Canada, so I wonder if it was an international version that wouldn't have had this song.)

Craving - Owing to their initial press, I'm inclined to react negatively to t.A.T.u. But I have to say I enjoy this song very much. The lead vocalist's voice is light as a feather, and she's got an impressive range. Love the eastern percussive embellishments and while I initially thought the male Hindi backing vocals were gratuitous, I think what they did at the end of the track was brilliant.

My Faves:
1st - Roisin Murphy, Slave to Love
2nd - Robyn, Dream On
3rd - t.A.T.u, Craving

Lammastide said:

Seriously????! You really don't know Alison Moyet???

Lammastide said:

Thanks for your feedback. I'm so happy you liked Roisin's cover!

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

I'm an aging father.

Seriously, though, I've known the name for years, but I've never actually heard her.

Lammastide said:

SURELY you have heard these songs and just didn't know it was her.

"Situation"



"Don't Go"



"State Farm"




She also did stuff with Tricky:

"Make A Change"




Then there is her most recent album Hometime




She has the ability to be a master chameleon. From pop hammer to underworld stealth candidate to refined class.

I think she does suffer from the fact that people have not known how to approach her voice. Some of her solo stuff isn't all that but when there is writing and production to back her up, she is fucking tops!

Also from the Hometime album:

1 - Depeche Mode / A Pain that I'm used to

Starts out very 'around the world in a day'ish! Love the vocals and the progression in the chorus. Wow, moody, moody. Great song!

2 - Yazoo / Nobody's Diary -

80s galore! I must admit, I know of the name Alison Moyet, but have nothing to connect it with. So perhaps I'll check some of those youtube vids...

3 - Fangoria / Elecricistas

Nice to hear the guitar and then have those electronic elements peak in. When the beat comes in, I'm lost though. There is a nice tension that the synth bass brings, just not my cup of tea.

4 - The Gift / Driving You Slow

I was gonna write that this song was a departure from the 80s sound. But eh, the chorus just came on... I like the sound of this song, weird organ like synths, good chorus. Good pop-song. Yeah, could/should make it to the radio!

5. Hercules and Love Affair / You Belong (Radio Edit)

I like the early 2000's sound, the bass is kinda funky. That chorus is just wrong though! I don't think they were serious about that chorus, that second voice is too funny!

6 Kylie Minogue / Rippin' Up The Disco

YES! Hard-hitting dancefloor filler! Tongue in cheek like only Kylie can. Love the Dum-Dum-Dum. This could/should have been a single. Or Rihanna can take this song and make it big!

07 - Roison Murphy / Slave to Love

I really like Roisin, but here it doesn't grab me. I guess I don't like Bryan Ferry. The sound is too stale, the melody a bit too shallow. Even the guitar doesn't really bring much to the song...

8 - Kish Mauve / Lose Control

Good song! Round about now, I think I have a pretty good idea of your musical preferences!

09 - Dream On / Robyn

Agreed with Supa, good to see her back in the light! I actually liked some of her singles from way back. Her new album is okay too! That 80s haircut has to go though!

10 - T.A.T.U. / Craving

Wow. Don't like t.a.t.u. much. Singles didn't move me, attention seeking only made matters worse. This song, on the other hand, is pretty good. It seems sincere, love the beat, celtic ambiance works well too. Good melody. Yes, pretty awesome!

Depeche Mode as my fave!!!

Nope, I changed my mind! Scratch Depeche mode. T.a.t.u. as my fave.

I can't believe I just wrote that!

MikeMatronik said:

OK, this is WAY delayed reaction but:



That's a woman??! OK, this is going to show you how big a freak I am. The fact that this is a female totally changed my perception and feelings about the song. I LOVE women, and men for that matter, with androgynous voices. I do not gravitate to male voices very often but LOVE unusual female voices. I'm turned on by this now

MikeMatronik said:

Well, what do you know! She actually did release some albums every now and then. Even though I'm in Europe, they totally went by without a sound! And I work in a record store!

Sander said:

Working in a record store doesn't mean you know about music. I've had some fun moments confusing some more so called "musical experts" clerks that work in musical stores...

MikeMatronik said:

That's a reality show I wanna see!

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

I once made a girl burst into tears. I felt sorry for her, but her indie poser atitude and the fact she made a face when I asked with they had Prince's Gold Experience made me lose it.

MikeMatronik said:

Um. That's kinda uncalled for.

Unsolicited explanation: The mainstream market leading record store didn't stock her albums. Point being, even mainstream Europe didn't pick up on Robyn between 2000-2007.

Sander said:

Not if she was being an evil stupid dumb bitch

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

It is when replying to me saying I work in a store.

Why are you stating Mike's case?

Sander said:

I think his comment was more about her than you

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

OK, I feel significantly more cool. I DO know those songs!! (Well, at least the Yaz stuff.) One day I may have to give more respect and time to early '80s club fare. I totally diss it, but there are singles I've known and loved for years without actually giving them much second thought.

...And this marks yet another Tricky cut that I love on first listen. I really need to check out old boy.

Thanks for this, Richard!

Regarding Slave to Love.....

One thing I love most about this song is that it is produced without hot sounding claps or beats. The beats are there but it's not so loud that it overpowers everything else. A lot of electronic music suffers from this. I love that it's taken down a couple notches for everything else to shine through.

Um...

Lammastide said:

1 - Depeche Mode / A Pain that I'm used to - What a great way to kick off the mix! This song is dark, creepy and very atmospheric. I like these robotic like vocal effects.

2 - Yazoo / Nobody's Diary - I like the contrast of her heavy voice, with the bouncy simple music. I mean this in the most complimentary way, but this song sounds like it should be playing in a John Hughes movie


3 - Fangoria / Elecricistas

I remember when you had that Fangoria picture as your avatar...I looked them up online and oddly enough I had downloaded this song so I already loved it! Its dark, its fast, but it very melodic as well. I still haven't been able to track down one of their complete albums in stores, so I will prob just order it when I order Naty Botero's

4 - The Gift / Driving You Slow

I couldn't figure out if this was a man or woman singing, but I got past that and I really enjoyed this track too! I like the steady beat and the digital effects going on. The lyrics are cool too...simple, straightforward and positive.

5. Hercules and Love Affair / You Belong (Radio Edit)

Damn! this song started and I'm tempted to really start boogieing here in this coffee shop what a beat! I'm loving this, OMG!

6 Kylie Minogue / Rippin' Up The Disco

Whoa! I so want to a hit a dancefloor with a big ass posse of gay men
Kylie is working it out...I haven't heard her sound this 'hard' before!

07 - Roison Murphy / Slave to Love

Folks on the org have been raving about her for a while, and I've been too lame to just go ahead and look her up...This is another case where I kick myself now for missing out for so long! I really like this song, and her voice is awesome, and sounds like someone I've heard before! I need this album too now!

8 - Kish Mauve / Lose Control

Oh la la, now this is hot! How do you find these awesome artists? This is nice, and those echoing creepy voices are really a nice touch! This is too good (I'm trying to replay it right now )


09 - Dream On / Robyn

Haven't heard anything from her since Do You Know, and Show me Love! Wow, her voice sounds just as good, but the music is totally different. I like this song, but its my least favorite here. She sounds a little young, and thats a tad annoying, but this still isn't a bad song

10 - T.A.T.U. / Craving

Okay yeah, TATU are one of my guilty pleasures so I kinda knew I was gonna like this song, but I haven't heard this mix before. Its pretty cool! I like the music a whoooole lot. I can't resist swaying to the beat which is attracting alot of attention right now from my fellow coffee drinkers


WOW Miguel!! I LOVEEE this mixtape! I'm so glad that you got to make another one, cause I forgot how much I enjoy your taste in music. I knew I definitely had to come back to yours and I'm only sorry that it took me so long.
I thought I pretty much had my favorite org mixtapes picked out, but now this change everything, cause honesty I loved every song on here and put nearly all of these albums on my shopping list

Great use of upbeat, electric, but still pretty dark songs

A Pain That I'm Used To (Goldfrapp Remix) Depeche Mode

Wow. I really like this one. I'm not familiar with much of DM stuff, I know they had a lot to do with the electronic music movement. I definitely can hear
Goldfrapps touch.

Nobody's Diary (Extended Version) Yazoo

I keep thinking of Laura Branigan when I hear this song. I like if only for it's retro feel. The synths reminds me of stuff from Thomas Dolby's Golden Age Of Wireless.

Electricistas Fangoria

Nice electro tune. The chorus reminds of Roxy Music/Brian Ferry.

Driving You Slow The Gift

Not really my thing. Ok tune, nothing special. Though it does fit well within your mix.

You Belong (Radio Edit) Hercules And Love Affair

This group seems to be the new hype. I'm really digging the song and I thought that was Antony singing on here, but I kept saying to myself, naw he only sings on melancholic songs, this can't be him. he did a lot for this track. I was actually able to hear this album all the way through and liked most of what I heard.

Rippin' Up The Disco Kylie Minogue

I know she gets love here on the org, but nothing I've heard from her really stuck to my ribs. I'm it's sounds bangin' on a club system.

Slave To Love Roísín Murphy

Hmm. As much as I love this girl, she should've left this one alone. everybody should leave it alone.

Lose Control (Kish Mauve Extended) Kish Mauve

Another one I can appreciate why it made it onto your mix, but still doesn't move me.

Dream On Robyn



Craving (I Only Want What I Can't Have) (Bollywood Mix) t.A.T.u.

This is really different from the music I've heard from this group. Cool track.

Nice electro mix Mike, though it would've been even better with some Moloko.

Thanks for ur review magnificentsynthesizer!

I'm glad u liked it!

MikeMatronik said:

No problem Miguel! you have superb taste!
I've actually added several of the musicians you mentioned to my list of albums to get

thekidsgirl said:

YOU.

HAVE.

2.

B.

IN.

ROUND.

2

magnificentsynthesizer said:

This is my second favorite song in the entire project

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

well, as long as someone likes it.

The orginal is sacred to me and i don't like anyone taking liberties with it.