Playing.

what a shame Hammer Horror was not a disco number

HamsterHuey said:

I always love mixtapes due to two main reasons; the first is that it can introduce you to new artists, the second is that it can re-introduce you to artists you already know, but from another perspective.

I loved the theme. Which was easily achieved, as Ian and first clicked over our shared love for a certain musical era. Also, he chose artists I know and love (Eurythmics, Numan, Kim Wilde) with nostalgic tracks (OMD, Human League) and artists unknown to me, or artists I know the hits of, but no other material.

So I like this one a lot, Ian! Thanks for Kano and Bagarre (indeed great) and giving me a new angle to Berlin and Siouxsie (wow).

Did you start with the theme or did one song jump up at you and did you arrange the other songs around it?

HamsterHuey said:

Thanks, Goo! I started with the theme, but built the mix around "Step on the Beast". My bro and I have actually brainstormed over 60 tracks for possible inclusion on an expanded version of this!

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

Genius is right! Eurythmics have SO many great B-sides, and some of the best ones were unfortunately left off of their boxed set.



I only really know the 2 Tubeway Army albums and the first 2 Numan solo albums, but they're all ace!



Enola Gay was the name of the plane that carried the Hiroshima bomb.



It's one of the hidden standouts on Dare!



I doubt that! Practically nobody knows anything about this group, and the vinyl of the album goes for like $90!



They are so, so, sooooo worth investigating!

Thanks for your comments and your attention!

Moonbeam said:

I kinda knew that, but just wanted it confirmed. Well done; it was a great listen.

1) Eurythmics- “Step on the Beast"- I love the groovy beat to this. Sounds like it comes from some obscure 80’s soundtrack. Very cool. Very fun. I love it. I like the trumpets half way through. Nice touch.

2) Gary Numan- “Metal"- Always wanted to check out some of his stuff. In general, this early 80’s synth heavy new wave pop has been in vogue and all over top 40 in Europe/UK for more than a few years now. It sounds very modern anyway. Not too fond of the track mind, but I would enjoy the instrumental though LOL.

3) Kano- “It’s a War"- Ok, never heard of this artist before. I love the bass and guitar licks on it. Very funky. Again, like Numan, this would make a killer instrumental. This track is awesome though, even if the plink plonky keyboard line reminds me of gameboy games (I know this is before Nintendo gameboys, but just sayin’). The synths on the bridge are great. Unfortunately the tune is too long LOL. An edit would be cool though.


4). Berlin- “The Metro"- I would like to get their mid 80’s stuff, but I can’t get into this track much. Again, it sounds very modern, but the production is abit too thin to me. Not bad though, and one of those songs that will probably grow on me on each listen.


5) The Associates- “The Affectionate Punch"- Don’t like this much. Sorry.


6) Kim Wilde- “Water on Glass". I do have one of her mid 80’ albums somewhere? Never listened to it though LOL. Also, she appears on a few soundtracks in the 80’s I’ve noticed. I guess they tried hard to break her in the USA after the hit "kids in America" (and later "you keep me hanging on'"). This song sounds like I thought it would LOL. Simple, but good fun new wave pop. Never liked her voice much, but this is a cool enough track.

7) OMD- “Enola Gay". Wow, the synths cover you like a blanket LOL. Not sure if I like this or not, but its very interesting regardless. Love the production, and the poppy synth line. Cool song!

8) The Human League- “Seconds". I remember the lead singer saying they played synths because they thought it was too hard to learn to play a guitar LOL. At least he is honest. Again, like Kim, I would probably enjoy their more commercial albums in the mid 80’s. Not too fond of this.


9) For Your Pleasure-"Bagarre". Ok, the intro dialogue is quite funny, but it goes on for abit LOL. Then she starts singing and her voice is pretty weak LOL. Weak is fine if your backed up by loads of production, but in this case…. Still, I don’t hate, and I do like parts of it, just not the lead vocals much. Again the bass (synth bass) is really cool. Nice touch. Pretty weird track though. A bit long too.

10) Siouxsie and the Banshees- “Israel" I assumed I would not like this. I was not wrong LOL. Just abit too punky or whatever.

So, I love a few of the tracks, which is more than enough to warrant a decent mix tape. So well done. Particually as I don’t really dig much outside my limited music taste. Great atmosphere this mix has aswell. Upbeat, but also quite depressing I find. Particually the last track, with its weird male church choir or whatever it is. That’s a nice touch to a song I don’t like much LOL.

Moonbeam said:

Funny.

I wonder if you separate Horror from Gore?

The old-school Gore genre has its ruler in the great...



...Herschell Gordon Lewis


Will check out the mix this weekend.


Music for adventurous listeners


tA

Tribal Records

Step On The Beast

You KNOW what this song does to me! I had been a fan of Annie Lennox and some of Eurythmics' bigger hits for most of my life, but when you got into her whole back catalogue during your senior year, it was truly a revelation, particularly their early 80's stuff. So when Scott and I went in search of all of their non-album material, it was with total delight and a little bit of hidden agenda to make you as sickly jealous as possible. Of course, it didn't hurt that we were on large quantities of illegal substances at the time. Songs like this still give me serious flashbacks!

So when I took you driving on country roads to share my discovery with you and put on "Charlie Cat" and this song back to back, your reaction was one of the most priceless memories I have of you. "What is this? Tell me now! I can't stand myself! If this is my band, you better fucking tell me!"

I think people forget how truly subversive, deranged, experimental and wacked out her early work is. She was truly the successor to what Bowie revolutionized in the 70's and just as dynamic in her approach. This song is a perfect example of everything I love about early Eurythmics and it's truly a crime that it hasn't been represented in their remastering somewhere. The EP version with Grace Jones (?) toasting over the intro is really interesting too. There are so many things to love in the mix, but nothing can match the percussive sound effect that actually sounds like stepping on a beast! SO EVIL! That captures the fun element of horror better than just about anything I can imagine. You wanna be scared!

Is it weird that I've been listening to this song non-stop for the past month? Hmmm...

TRON said:

Sits in front of inbox... and waits....

step on the beast reminds me of body language (queen).

Thank You Moonbeam. You've opened up memories that i never knew i had. You would like my sister as she loved this type of music and she played this all over the house. I was born in 1973 and there's stuff here i have not heard since the year it was released. Some i've never heard and some i didn't knew i knew. Water On Glass takes me back to a roadtrip i went on with my family way way back. I even remember the places we stopped at from relistening to that song. So many great memories..Thank YOU!

TD3 said:

Sorry I missed this reply! I'm glad you enjoyed my mix.

TRON said:

Yeah, I had "Monkey, Monkey", "Grown Up Girls", "Lentils" and "Le Sinistre", but hearing all of those others was so eye-opening.

I was jusy going to get around to listening to yours and Harley's mixes - but the site's down!!!

TRON said:

Totally and completely agree with this. If I had to choose one period of one artist that means the most to me, it would be early Eurythmics.

OMG, I am listening to this and LOVING it so far I'll post a better review, but very cool compilation

I'll need to finish up my response to Harlepolis and then get to this soon, Moonbeam. School can be such a distraction.

Fun set. Cool concept.

Especially like the Horror Film connection.
I saw many of the Hammer Studio releases (Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing, etc) in a theatre when I was a kid.

My favorites of the set were the cuts by Kano & The Associates.

The Human League track reminded me that I have their Fascination! EP somewhere around here.


Music for adventurous listeners


tA

Tribal Records

1 - Step on the Beast:
Ooh lala! I am such an awful person for not knowing much about the Eurythmics besides the obvious songs, but I am liking this. There is not a lot to it, but I love the feeling of the song, and I don't mind the horn part toward the middle-end.



2 - Metal:
I like this. It does not grab me, but it is working with the theme you have.



3 - It's a War
Oh yummy, I'm loving everything about this. I actually had to get up and dance during this song I love the different things going on with the music, the synths are on fire, and his lazy vocals sound perfect in comparison.



4 - The Metro:
YES! I want this. I want Berlin now. Must find more Berlin music.


5 - The Affectionate Punch -
I am really loving the music here more that the vocals. The music would fit well in a movie I think.



6 - Water on Glass -
I really LOVE this!! However, it doesn't seem to fit as well with the theme of the mix (though I can totally see why you picked it), but this is pure delicious 80's goodness.



7 - Enola Gay:
Nice song. this fits well with the whole new wave vibe. this one didn't leave as much of an impression on me, but it works well.



8 - Seconds:
I like how this song starts out. There are several Human League songs that would go nicely in your mix. This one is not one of my favorites of theirs but it is not bad. I just wish that it was a but less anti-climatic.



9 - For Your Pleasure:
Gotta love an 80's song with some girl blabbering/singing through it. I'm not really liking this one much, but for some reason I didn't need to skip it.


10 - Israel:
Wow, what a transition from that last song to this! I really do adore this song. I need to get remastered Kaleidoscope so I can have a proper version of it.


Great mix moonbeam!!!
This whole mix made me think of great campy 80's movies (not just horror) I am ready to play it again really. Very light and fun mix!

minneapolisFunq said:

Stop reading them. It's a project certain Orgers have undertaken and are sharing, and it's not a new thing here on the Org.

Simple rule: If you don't like it, skip it, instead of coming into a thread to bitch. A lot of folks love the mixtapes and express a lot through them.

TRON said:

OMG OMG OMG! I collect Gossamer stuff! I love him. He's my favorite.

i've listened to this mix several times and I enjoy it greatly... terrific concept and a musical era right up my alley

1) Eurythmics- “Step on the Beast"- Obviously a huge favorite. I have the "Cassette" version also, but I prefer this mix. Twisted and uncompromising - their early stuff in particular is really unique and far more inventive and experimental than most casual fans think. They were far from commercial. Thanks for giving this rare gem some nice exposure.

2) Gary Numan- “Metal"- You know its funny, as much as I love synth-pop/rock of the early 80s, i've never been a giant Gary Numan fan. This is one of his tracks that I do really like, and it fits the concept here perfectly. Have you heard the NIN cover?

3) Kano- “It’s a War"- This was a new one for me - thanks for exposing it! Love the vibe. I feel like the keyboard riff should burst out into Funkytown, heh

4). Berlin- “The Metro"- A stone-cold classic - killer tune. Always loved it, from the first time i saw the video on MTV when I was a kid. So cinematic, and just, well... cool. Great song.


5) The Associates- “The Affectionate Punch"- Good choice. I picked up a bunch of old Associates CDs back when Tower Records was going out of business for really cheap, including this one.

6) Kim Wilde- “Water on Glass". I like Kim Wilde to a certain extent, although i've never been a big fan. This was a new track for me... like it. Bit of a Blondie vibe, for sure.

7) OMD- “Enola Gay". Another classic from the synth-pop/rock era. One of OMD's best tunes, for sure.

8) The Human League- “Seconds". Ahhh... Dare. Love The Human League, adore this song. I actually did a mix very similar to this one called "I Am The Law", featuring the Human League song of course. Great choice.

9) For Your Pleasure-"Bagarre". Another new one for me.. funky groove, works well in the context. Love the bassline. Kinda reminds me a bit of Gina X, ever listen to her?

10) Siouxsie and the Banshees- “Israel". Can't really say much about this one - just a stellar, classic tune from one of my favorite bands. I can blast this one and never get tired of it.

Great job on this mix - - I've enjoyed it immensely, and it's made a home on my ipod

Playing catch-up here on these mixes. Loving yours a bundle! I just want to dance, dance, dance! Perhaps it's due to me being "stuck" in the era since the only clubs I go to play these types of sounds.

Step on the Beast - My first time hearing this song. Always loved Annie's voice. Y'know, The Eurythmics have always had that in your face startle you, but I have my big girl panties on sound. I am really digging this.

Metal - I LOVE Gary Numan! I'm still bummed that circumstances have not allowed me to see any of his shows. His voice has that robotic eerie sound. Great pick!

It's A War - WOW! This is really great! I'm loving this tune. It has a familiar sound to it, but I can't place it at the moment. I like that get down funky vibe it has. Very 80's. So funny how these songs of war, impending doom, etc have such danceable beats! Also has that early video game sound; like it could've been on an NES game.

The Metro - One of my all-time fave songs ever! Every time it's played at the club, you best believe I'm out there dancing. I always said if I were ever in a band, I would cover this song. Definitely has that horror sense to it.

The Affectionate Punch - Don't think I've ever heard of The Associates before. Thanks for introducing them to me. I'm ashamed because I really dig post-punk groups and don't know this song. I really need to get a copy of this. I like the vocals towards the end where they are all singing together "The Affectionate Punch." Kinda creepy sounding, which I dig.

Water on Glass - Never really got into Kim Wilde much besides "Kids in America" being real catchy. I'm really enjoying this song. You can definitely hear the Blondie influence.

Enola Gay - Ah! Another fave of mine! I love the opening keys that continue through the song. They sound so swirly. The instrumentation could lead you through a dizzying labyrinth itself! Another song that disguises the horror of war.

Seconds - This is a darker sound to OMD. Very political. Not used to it, but I can definitely see how it fits in with the theme you have going here.

For Your Pleasure - LOVE this! It's got me hella in a groove. Woo! I love when the woman flips the switch like that. Kinda sexy.

Israel - Siouxsie is my girl! One of my faves from her. Great choice!