After months of going back and forth on different themes, I FINALLY decided on this one: an Alice in Wonderland theme. What is real & what is fantasy?

http://8tracks.com/moonst...iting-desk



Tracklist:

1. Swamp Thing by The Chameleons (UK) from the album, "Strange Times" (1986)


I wanted to start out with this one because to me, it sounds like falling down the rabbit hole or into a dream state. You can feel the swirls in the music. It always makes me feel as if I'm in the clouds.

2. Elephant Woman by Blonde Redhead from the album, "Misery is a Butterfly" (2004)


When Alice became too tall to get through the door, she wept a river of tears. The pulsing in this song made me feel tears. "Elephant Girl it was an accident unfortunate..." This is the first album, I'd ever heard from Blonde Redhead and instantly fell in love with Kazu Makino's otherworldy voice.

3. Sapphyro by Vas from the album, "Sunyata" (1997)


Persian singer, Azam Ali has one of the most beautiful voices I've ever heard. If you like what you hear, check out her group, "Niyaz." Wow. Vas consisted of Azam Ali & percussionist Greg Ellis after they met while attending UCLA in California. To go with a popular visual from Alice in Wonderland, this track had the feeling of being in a daze, mesmerized by smoke a la The Caterpillar.

4. Kitten Pig by Pentaphobe from the album, "Sawdust" (2007)


Pentaphobe is a collaboration with renowned belly dancer & musician, Rachel Brice, Alexis Moriarty, Keili Olson, Hambone, and Daniel Tosello. Kind of an experimental carnival mixed with the Old West sound. In the story, Alice goes into the house of The Duchess where the cook is throwing dishes about while making soup. When Alice is handed the baby, it turns into a pig. This song captures the clanking and disaster going on inside as well as the eerie image of the Cheshire Cat.

5. Hertha Strubb by The Tiger Lillies with the Kronos Quartet from the album, "The Gorey End" (2003)


In my opinion, The Tiger Lillies are the epitome of "mad." This song has the liveliness and absurdity of a "Mad Tea Party." The album consists of the writings by the late Edward Gorey. Apparently, he was fond of the group and sent them some of his writings in hopes of a true collaboration; however, passed away before that could happen. The Tiger Lillies are a three-piece cabaret-style London based band. This is one of their tamer tracks.

6. Ecce Gratum (Club Mix) by Qntal from the album, "Illuminate" (2004)


If the lyrics sound familiar, they are from Carl Orff's "Carmina Burana" fifth movement. I first heard of Qntal from looking to see what other projects German musician, Ernst Horn had besides Deine Lakaien. This track is after he left Qntal to concentrate more on Deine Lakaien and later start a new group (equally amazing), Helium Vola. This track sums up the end of the story of Alice in Wonderland. It has the royal feel of playing croquet with the queen to the rush of the trial and the falling deck of cards to awaking to reality.

7. Little Bleu Cherry Girl by Tara Vanflower from the album, "This Womb like Liquid Honey" (1999)


This track will now take us "Through the Looking Glass." Entering the "other" world again, but this time seeing it familiar. In the mid-1990's, I stumbled upon a magazine called, "Carpe Noctem" and in their music section were a bunch of groups under the Projekt label. I was immediately drawn to Lycia. Tara Vanflower had such an interesting voice to me and their sound was different than what I was used to. Tara later went solo and her albums carried the dreamy-ethereal sound to them.

8. Merry Go Round by The Candy Spooky Theater from the album, "Living Dead Spooky Doll's Family in the Rock n' Childs Spook Show Baby!!" (2007)


Crazy, zany, and slightly scary... this song had The Tweedles all over it. There are parts that sound like taunting children. Mad, indeed. The Candy Spooky Theater is a Japanese goth rock band. In the 1933 movie, Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum looked a little scary, but yet a little bit like H.R. Pufnstuf. lol

9. Abadou by Zap Mama from the album, "Adventures in Afropea 1" (1993)


This is one of my favorites songs by Zap Mama. These women are amazing with their vocals. So many layers and language. The human voice is such an instrument! In this track you can even hear a vocal that sounds like a horse! In relation to Alice, there is a point where she is with the White Queen in a row boat where the White Queen turns into a sheep and starts speaking of things that do not make any sense to Alice. Confusion and nonsense, yet a calmness.

10. Moonlife by Dali's Car from the album, "The Waking Life" (1984)


Ok, this song is not relating to one of the books, but to the Tim Burton movie where Alice must prepare to slay the Jabberwocky when she's older. "Tell me of the child you see, teach me to prepare..." It's still the feeling of being in a dream, yet more serious and extremely important as well as the lazy grogginess of awaking. There's also the feeling of responsibility, duty, and loyalty. Dali's Car was Peter Murphy (after leaving Bauhaus), Mick Karn, and Paul Lawford. Peter Murphy has the perfect haunting voice.


Well, that's about it. I had a lot of trouble narrowing it down to just 10. Anyway, I hope you enjoy listening as much as I enjoyed putting this together.

chile,this is very awesome of you!

Christopher said:

Thanks! Hardest part was narrowing down the songs. Glad to be a part of the project.

i frekkin love the candy spooky theatre

peggy giggles rules!!

GREAT choice in opening tracks. Love the Chameleons, and "Swamp Thing" is one of their best

baroque said:

Me too! A dj friend of mine played "DeVlish Kidnapper" at a club night some years ago & I fell in love with that kooky carnival sound! Peggy definitely rules! Kinda hot too!

NoVideo said:

Thank-you! I agree. This is my favorite by them and will always get me on the dance-floor when played. It's amazing how this song started out by just a jam session, I think. I haven't heard any of the recent music by them, but heard they toured not too long ago.

Moonstar319 said:

my favorite song from them is nightmare..

[Edited 5/12/10 7:33am]

Swamp Thing Nice opener. Very pleasant sounding. I am not familiar with these guys, although I'm sure this is on the White Music best list. Don't ask about White Music, it's too long to splain



Elephant Woman I don't have time to listen to the mix again to get to this song Maybe I will get mail



Saphyro It's always interesting listening to music with non-english lyrics. Causes me to listen to the music and think about what is being said on that level. Oh yeah, this song is LLLLLOOOOONNNNNGGGG



Kitten Pig I was hoping for words to this but I love this track. Reminds me of hidden rooms in a fun house. This also reminds me of the Oompa Loompas.



Hertha Strub I SO want to eat the food at this festival! She turned into a crow!



Ecce Gratum Interesting, I thought this was going to take a totally different direction than it did. I guess that fits the theme



Little Blue Cherry Girl Love that hypnotic pulse throughout the track. Then the wolf yell that turns into a woman's call. This song is crazy. Interesting all the elements but I could not focus on the lyrics



Merry Go Round Dracula lives! Techno style WTF?



Abadou How interesting. Never in a million years would I envision Zap Mama on the Alice in Wonderland train but she totally fits here!



Moonlife



Seriously, what a FANTASTIC idea for a mix This would be the perfect soundtrack to a fabulous costume party. My friend did an Alice and Wonderland party once and you had to climb through this small door inside a mushroom to enter the party! How creative this mix and the thought behind it. I see your name on the board but this is the first time I really feel that I have met you

Oh yeah, thank goodness for the qualifier on the mix because I took one look at that title and thought what the hell is this woman's problem?! But brilliant really. Great job

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

Swamp Thing Nice opener. Very pleasant sounding. I am not familiar with these guys, although I'm sure this is on the White Music best list. Don't ask about White Music, it's too long to splain Elephant Woman I don't have time to listen to the mix again to get to this song Maybe I will get mail Saphyro It's always interesting listening to music with non-english lyrics. Causes me to listen to the music and think about what is being said on that level. Oh yeah, this song is LLLLLLOOOOONNNNNGGGG Kitten Pig I was hoping for words to this but I love this track. Reminds me of hidden rooms in a fun house. This also reminds me of the Oompa Loompas. Hertha Strub I SO want to eat the food at this festival! She turned into a crow! Ecce Gratum Interesting, I thought this was going to take a totally different direction than it did. I guess that fits the theme Little Blue Cherry Girl Love that hypnotic pulse throughout the track. Then the wolf yell that turns into a woman's call. This song is crazy. Interesting all the elements but I could not focus on the lyrics Merry Go Round Dracula lives! Techno style WTF? Abadou How interesting. Never in a million years would I envision Zap Mama on the Alice in Wonderland train but she totally fits here! Moonlife Seriously, what a FANTASTIC idea for a mix This would be the perfect soundtrack to a fabulous costume party. My friend did an Alice and Wonderland party once and you had to climb through this small door inside a mushroom to enter the party! How creative this mix and the thought behind it. I see your name on the board but this is the first time I really feel that I have met you Oh yeah, thank goodness for the qualifier on the mix because I took one look at that title and thought what the hell is this woman's problem?! But brilliant really. Great job

Thanks for listening! As you can see, I have a pretty eclectic taste in music. Perhaps, in my crazy mind it was so obvious, but not to others. LOL The title of the mix is actually from Alice in Wonderland. That is a riddle that the Mad Hatter asked Alice. Little Bleu Cherry Girl has been a fave of mine since 2002 and I STILL can't focus on the lyrics! hahaha I knew throwing Zap Mama would trip somebody out. Seeing their name amongst the others is kinda like WTH??? Thanks again for taking the time to listen.