Seasonal Tunes Mix Series Vol. 9 "perfect pair"

HAPPY SPRING! (well, in Chicago... sorta) Despite my feeble attempts to craft a happy, much less moody mix than January's "new-fashioned" here we are again with something similar. However, I must say that even the deepest of tracks on this mix still sound to me like sprouts of life desperately working to break the surface and catch the long awaited early spring sunlight. Lots of inspiration for this mix: Next weekend The Pickled Tomato is going on tour! Last year, my good friends Emily & Andy left the NYC grind to find themselves in the middle of the Washington D.C. restaurant scene. Lyon Hall is a bustling French brasserie with an Alsatian focus, housemade charcuterie & baked breads, traditional sausages and carefully procured meat/fish all with a strong focus on seasonal ingredients. Chef Andy & Emily have invited me to join the team in hosting this month's Farm dinner featuring a favorite spring ingredient: STRAWBERRIES! Saturday night (4.16.11) I'll be djing at Lyon Hall and Sunday I'll be doing the wine/beer pairings for the dinner. Stay tuned to hear more about the event I'll be posting all about it later this month! What better to pair a strawberry farm dinner with than some great spring tunes! (and maybe some old riesling & some chenin, oh and some Bugey!) Check it.


Psychedelic-pop Kiwis Connan Mockasin open things up under Erol Alkan's breezy exposé. LOVING this tune right now, I had to mix out of it halfway because the original remix is a monster 10 MINUTES. I almost let it go because it never gets old but I had to be fair to all the other tunes. Moving right into the young Swede (babe) Lykke Li's "I Follow Rivers." I can't NOT sing along to this song, and the drums (!) and the organs (!). I make sure my roommates aren't home when I'm in the shower belting out this anthem. Also just below the surface creeping it's way through the dirt and "perfectly paired" up is new material from Burial, Four Tet, & Thom Yorke. "Mirror" definitely has a more Burial feel to it while the flip (TEXT10) "Ego" leans more towards a classic Four Tet sound. Amazing collab nonetheless, they were destined to make a record together. Heads up for the new Burial stuff on Hyperdub too particularly "Stolen Dog"...feeling it! Holy Ghost! sees full length release on DFA. "Bizniz" from Tune-Yards makes me think of my friend Marisa and I romping around a dancefloor (watchout). 
Holy shit: Daedelus. Floating Points. Mike Milosh. Three of my favorite artists all working together. You guys freaking killed me with this masterpiece. I had to let this one play out: the fingersnaps, Milosh's warm lull rushing by, Sam Shepard's (aka Floating Points) analog keys and shuffley tambourine , and no small amount of bass... all add up to 7 minutes of enveloping  joy. The Weeknd has become something of an internet phenomenon self releasing "House of Balloons" with plenty of nods from indie critics and mainstream heads alike. "What You Need" is dark, moody, sexy, and serious all at the same time. NEW BIBIO ALBUM! One of my favorite artists Bibio has released "Mind Bokeh" recently with much anticipation. It's not as folky as Ambivalence Avenue but much more textured and while he finds himself exploring many new musical paths it is still distinctly BIBIO. It took me forever to pick a song off the new album there's so much unique stuff on it I had trouble finding a way to fit something in. I think "Light Seep" serves well as a progression from Mux Mool's take on Take into Charles Bradley's "I Believe in Your Love." Chuck, a breakthrough voice from the past follows suit with an album full of modern soul sounds (a la Daptone) much like classic cohorts Lee Fields & Sharon Jones. In an increasingly turbulent America, more and more I keep hearing classic soul sounds popping up with lyrics and feelings that all sing true. "Keep Putting Soul Up..." because it sounds so good right now. Finishing things off much like other mixes (ahem James Blake) Zoo Kid proves that these brit yoots are really on to something.


CHEERS,
HAPPY SPRING.


DOWNLOAD HERE (...right click, save as)


tracklist:


Connan Mockasin - Forever Dolphin Love (Erol Alkan Rework)
Lykke Li - I Follow Rivers
Burial, Four Tet, & Thom Yorke - Mirror
Jamie Woon - Lady Luck
Holy Ghost! - Do It Again
Tune-Yards - Bizniz
Dodos - Sleep
Dimlite - Loins
TOKiMONSTA - Cigarette Lust (90% Wake Mix)
Daedelus - Tailor-Made (Floating Points Remix)
The Weeknd - What You Need
Flying Lotus - Archway (Teebs Remix)
Take - If We Don't All Go Insane (Mux Mool Remix)
Bibio - Light Seep
Charles Bradley - I Believe In Your Love
Nostalgia 77 - Simmerdown feat. Josa Peit
TV on The Radio - Will Do
Zoo Kid - Out Getting Ribs

(oh, and happy bday seasonal tunes! 1 year strong!)