This week’s mixtape has some tasty musical treats courtesy of a bunch of diverse artists from all over the world. Kicking things off is our feature track from Cut Copy, followed by the new tune from Dr Dog’s eighth studio album, Swedish folk singer Basko Believes’ beautiful tune, and some garage rock from our very own King Gizzard. Capping things off is some indie-pop in the form of Kate Nash’s new track as well as some tracks from Nadine Shah and Tracy McNeil. Have a listen!
Cut Copy – ‘Let Me Show You’
Well somebody’s been listening to Screamadelica pretty hard. Primal Scream’s ecstasy-fuelled masterpiece looms large over the Aussie electrowave’s first new material in two new years. From the bubble of vintage synths, to its gospel-tinged vocal flourishes, and Dan Whitford’s affected slur, it’s a rave jam hit in waiting. If it doesn’t have you calling your nearest dealer at the end of its throbbing minutes, chances are you’re already there. Now if we can just get this tune in festival-sized widescreen. Time for a tour lads…
Dr. Dog – ‘The Truth’
With eight albums under their belt since 2001 this six-piece return just over a year after 2012’s Be The Void with their latest LP B-Room. ‘The Truth’ is a slow burning soul startler complete with vintage guitar strokes and an undercurrent organ coursing through from to start to finish. Save this one for evening drinks as the sun sets.
Basko Believes – ‘August Makes Me Cry’
This Swedish singer-songwriter sounds more like a Nashville born citizen than a Scandinavian viking. Real name Johan Örjannson, the Swede’s debut album, Melancholic Melodies, is a stripped back country affair. That’s none so more apparent than on ‘August Makes Me Cry’, a delicate acoustic ballad where Örjannson cries repeatedly “I could offer you a million songs”.
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard – ’30 Past 7′
Following on from the first taste of the mighty King Gizz’s third album (and second for the year) – the mind-frazzling 16-minute freakout of ‘Head On/Pill’ – along comes the equally sitar-turated ’30 Past 7′. It’s very much in the tantric vein of the Maharishi-enhanced Beatles, but approached from the garage scamps’ own unique perspective that makes them look like peers not pickpockets. It’s enough to suggest that Float Along, Fill Your Lungs will be the stunning septet’s ‘hippy’ album – and that’s not a put-down.
Nadine Shah – ‘To Be A Young Man’
With a gender-bending title, androgynous croon, and intriguing upbringing (born in the UK to parents from Norway and Pakistan), Nadine Shah already piques curiosity. There’s an unsettling mood to her music, where subtle but harrowing drones drift at the edge of a discomfortingly poignant arrangement. Think latter-day Scott Walker by way of a guitar-toting Tori Amos, throw in the lyrical vigour of Patti Smith, and you’ll get a good idea of what Nadine Shah’s aiming for.
Bastian’s Happy Flight – ‘Hooray’
What’s not to love with a tracks begins with similar sounds to that of Toto’s Africa… Bastian’s Happy Flight seemed to have channeled the 80s in the lead track “Hooray” off their forthcoming EP due for release 16th August. Lead by the smooth vocals of Will Slade “Hooray” has the best sounding 80s guitar solos and grooves that make you feel like the band would all be wearing shoulder pads and have big 80s hair, but you can’t ignore the sweeping and soaring synths and keys that drive the six minute track.
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Kate Nash – ‘OMYGOD!’
‘OMYGOD!’ is the first taste of Kate Nash’s third album Girl Talk, due for release later this year, another crowd funded success story. The tune starts with a fat bass line before a super cool chimey guitar drops in making this track less indie than pop. In true Kate Nash style, she wears her heart on her sleeve lyrically, singing about lost love and that pining feeling of wanting that someone back, something everyone can relate to as some stage in their life. One wonders who she is singing about…
Tracy McNeil – ‘Wildcats’
Taken from her soon to be released album Nobody Ever Leaves ‘Wildcats’ is a country-infused rock ‘n’ roll tune that brings some much needed locality to this mixtape. Recorded and mixed right in Brunswick, the tune follows a classic rock song structure, what sets the tune apart is McNeil’s amazingly hypnotic vocals which are supported by harmonies from her bandmates. A great listen.
