I made an initial mixtape that was somewhat dark and when playing it back I remembered that my entry for last year’s Mix Tape Project was a rather gloomy affair as well, so I immediately stepped up and put something together that is not so gloomy. It’s a bit trippy and fun. Just to please you.

I selected some songs around a song I eventually took off the tape and, like the gloomy mixtape, this compilation is all over the place, except that there’s something of a groove going on. Not so many guitars. It’s beat.

http://8tracks.com/hamste.../play-pill



01 ”Cavern” by Liquid Liquid, from their 1983 EP ’Optimo’.


Liquid Liquid were ahead of their time, but got immortalised by the fact that the samples their work provided made rap big. You know exactly which songs I am talking about.

I love the sparse quality of it all, they are not so far removed from some of my all time favourites, like Joy Division.

02 ”Laundry” by Anti-Pop Consortium, from their 2000 album ’Tragic Epilogue’.


After Liquid Liquid “Laundry” sounds right. Not only the bass resonates from 1983, but their old-skool attitude is something I like. But I love the fact they are not afraid to pour their old-skool flows into new forms; just check out the Four Tet remix of their “Volcano” single.

03 ”Gabe’s New Joint” by Antibalas (Afrobeat Orchestra), from their 2002 album ’Talkatif’.


This made my summers in Paris even more summery. Antibalas is a band that understands where a groove is at and then milks it. Live performances are highly recommended. Hot. Sweaty.

04 ”Lovesick” by Lindstrøm featuring Christabelle, from their 2010 album ’Real Life Is No Cool’.


‘Lovesick’ was issued as a 12” in 2009 and was a highlight of the year. I love Hans-Peter Lindstrøm’s work solo or with Prins Thomas, but this is an entire different thing. Christabelle makes his work sexier. The laidbackness of this track tied in with the next song.

05 ” Nipple To The Bottle (12'' Version)” by Grace Jones, from her 1982 single of the same name, re-issued on the superb double album compilation ‘ Private Life: The Compass Point Sessions’, which compiles some of her best work.


Grace Jones. Goddess. With a great band, some outfits and some props she totally blew us away with her performance last year. And still touring. She’s is older than Prince, but understands what her fans want and delivers; the tour was initiated by her latest album, which not only featured Wendy & Lisa, but just gave us Grace Jones like we like her. Slammin’.

This song is straight from her Sly & Robbie hey days. It’s mellow, yet groovy. And fucking sexy. And overpowering.

06 ” Bring Your Love Down (Didn't I)” by Yazoo (known in the US as Yaz cuz there was another band no one ever heard of with the same name), from their 1982 album ’Upstairs Ar Eric’s’, also featured on the very hot, remastered compilation called “In Your Room”, which features all their studio work and MORE.


Yazoo is synth-pop, true. But it’s sublime synth-pop and I still play it lots. This song is funky and groovy and just fit the compilation. Actually, I gathered the rest of the song around this song, as my first idea for a ‘happy-happy-joy-joy’-mix tape fell through. It’s the last song featured on the album it came from and to me is in no way worse than their single releases.

07 ” Eye Know (The Know It All Mix)” by De La Soul, from their 1989 single ’Eye Know’, re-issued on the special edition double album ‘3 Feet High And Rising’ (2001).


When rap was still moving, De La made a huge impact worldwide and there’s a reason for that. They took a style and made it their own. To me, rap is mostly old-skool, as back then the rappers seemed to have something more to say than just money and ho’s.

I was not surprised that this song fit so well with Yazoo’s previous song. But I was really happy it did.

I owe the next two songs to Olli, he’s really knowledgeable on what is out there.

08 ” Funky Music (Is A Part Of Me)” by Luther, from their 1976 album ’Luther’


I knew Luther Vandross; I still love his early work; but I thought that started with his 1981 album ‘Never Too Much’. But he made two albums in the 70’s with some other people (Anthony Hinton, Diane Sumler, Theresa V. Reed, and Christine Wiltshire). They made two albums, this song is from their first album. The group was dropped after their second album.

Vandross bought back the rights to these albums and he never allowed them to be re-released, so this is an LP only song. And it rocks. Ermm, funks, I mean. The entire album is great, btw.

09 ”Dirty Love” by Mandré, from his 1977 self-titled debut album.


Mandré (André Lewis) was a kewl cat, but never broke though to a big audience. His stage persona always wore a helmet and he presented himself as from outer space. Daft Punk paid notice very well.

Another song from an album never re-issued on CD and you ask yourself why when playing this. It’s naughty, dirty funk and it’s got barking on it. So I love it. It fits well in between Luther’s suave funk and the upcoming early house track.

10 ” Break 4 Love (Radio Vocals)” by Raze, from the 1987 12”, best re-issued on the "Mastercuts Classic House Volume 1" album.


Early house. I love it. This track got big in the clubs in 1988, especially at my favest Amsterdam club Roxy. I requested it often and never got refused. Cuz it’s just too damn’ great. Then I forgot about it. I was too under the influence and forgot many of my then favourites due to, well, partying too hard.

So when Mastercuts released their Classic House Volume One, it was a joy to rediscover a few of my late 80’s house faves. And it’s great to leave you with.

Enjoy!

If any of you want the MP3's, I can deliver. I got a handy DL-link for the peeps that want to burn this for the car! Just ask!



.
[Edited 5/2/10 8:43am]

HamsterHuey said:

PIRATE!!!!

abierman said:

Look who crawled out from under the woodwork...

HamsterHuey said:

just to bug you!

abierman said:

As always, you are doing a remarkable good job.

I can still BURN the Pavement tix. So be good.

Thank you, Herman! This is awesome.

Lammastide said:

Co-sign. Nice mix.

Timmy84 said:

Thanks, fella's! I found myself playing it lots of times the last few weeks.

How'd you sneak in?

TRON said:

Supa was slated for this week, but he's been really busy. Our dear Hamster man stepped up to fill in for him.

TRON said:

Don't listen Lammastide! I had to perform service!

HamsterHuey said:

Hey Huey! Great tunes!! BTW, that version of "Break 4 Love" is special it was the version with the original girl on the track. When it was released later on, Columbia, they used a different girl to do the vocals.

shorttrini said:

Thanks, mate! I love this song. I did not even know there were later versions, I just know the two 12" versions with the male vocals. Or do you mean the lady moaning in the background?

HamsterHuey said:

There are so many different versions of this song, done in different languages.

shorttrini said:

heh, I just saw the huge list of releases.

This is the only one I know, though. So.

Thanks for taking my place! You have no idea how crazy time and space are right now

Listening

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

Welcome. Hope you are doing good.

HamsterHuey said:

I'm doing GREAT! but man, haven't had much spare time laying around Almost done with my first year of school!

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

It just means you have to do a mix tape outside of the season later on, that's all.

HamsterHuey said:

No, I am set on my tracklist. Just put me at the end

Yer quite a handful.

Thanks Herman! Enjoyed listening to it from beginning to end.

Poiple said:

You're welcome! No stand outs for you?

HamsterHuey said:

Really dug "Funky Music" and "Nipple to the Bottle." Never listened to Grace Jones too much (I was a bit young in her heyday), but I can see me buying her music in the future. She scares me a little bit.....Loved the funky beat and horns on "Gabe's New Joint." "Lovesick" is a song I'd really like to have sex to.

I like 'Laundry'

HamsterHuey said:

eventhough 'Break 4 Love' is a classic track, I can not listen to it without being reminded of one of the worst tracks of the late 80's.....that is:

Poiple said:

Start with the double album compilation called ‘Private Life: The Compass Point Sessions’, which has all the classic tracks and some extended versions. This album covers her best period (to me at least), which has her work with Sly & Robbie.

Poiple said:

Their Afrobeat is too funky for record, but when it comes to their studio albums, you can't go wrong with Talkativ.

Poiple said:

Wait til you hear the entire album. I had never heard of Christabelle before this album, but I always get Lindstrøm's albums as they always move me.

Poiple said:

It's a good make out album, true.

abierman said:

I will play the entire album for you. It's ace.