July 4th weekend is prime Backyard BBQ time and this mix would probably make for an interesting soundtrack to your next grill session. If not exactly the most patriotic. Nothing says AMERICA like Pulp and Yello. Cover art this week was a joint collaboration between my girlfriend Tammy who took the pictures and came up with the concept and me, who aided a bit in the execution. The direction of this mix was a definite result of Tammy’s song request for this mix which you can read more about down in the liner notes. Have a great long weekend, folks!
Tracklist:
1. Yello – Bostich
2. Ladytron – International Dateline
3. Washed Out – Amor Fati
4. Althea & Donna – Uptown Top Ranking
5. International Music System – Dancing Therapy
6. Soft Metals – Voices
7. Selebrities – Time
8. Pulp – Babies
9. Ford & Lopatin – Joey Rogers
10. Out Hud – How Long Has it Been?
11. John Maus – Head for the Country
12. Imagination – Just an Illusion
13. Junior Boys – Itchy Fingers
14. My Tiger My Timing – I am the Sound
15. Memory Tapes – Offers
16. New Order – Face Up
To listen to this mix on shuffle would be un-American. And probably unpatriotic for whatever country your from if it’s not the good ole U.S. of A. Liner notes after the jump.
1. Yello – Bostich
One of the stranger art project/bands of the last 30 years. Their early records were on Ralph Records — also home to the Residents — and frontman Dieter Meier was an industrialist, professional poker player and member of the Swiss national golf team. (He was also born rich.) Best known for “Oh Yeah,” Yello’s early records are genuinely weird. But catchy from the get-go, “Bostich” was Yello’s debut single.
2. Ladytron – International Dateline
From 2005’s icy, masterful Witching Hour. Even though I know they’re from Liverpool, I still think of them as being from Sweden. Ladytron have a new album on the way — Gravity the Seducer, due in September.
3. Washed Out – Amor Fati
Chillwave may be dead but the best of that scene have carried on to outlive it. This is from Washed Out’s debut on Sub Pop
4. Althea & Donna – Uptown Top Ranking
A #1 UK hit in 1979. I first learned of this song after Pop Will Eat Itself sampled it on their song “X, Y and Zee” and have liked it ever since I heard the original we have here. Toby featured this a couple weeks ago on his podcast, then this past Sunday it was used on Treme as a song in the fictionalized version of Momofuku. Keeping the zeitgeist going by including it here. It’s an awesome song.
5. International Music System – Dancing Therapy
This was Tammy’s request, because she “wanted something you wouldn’t know.” Mission accomplished, Tammy! This is from 1983, actual Italian made Italo-disco… I think. Very Arthur Baker. Tammy heard about it from “a Polish guy who works at a video store in Greenpoint.” Video store clerks have the best taste.
6. Soft Metals – Voices
And straight into nu-Italo-Disco from Portland. This is from the duo’s new album which is out any minute on Captured Tracks. I like the aloof vibe here, but the melody pulls you in anyway.
7. Selebrities – Time
My favorite part of this song from Brooklyn’s Selebrities is the little “shrrrriiiinng!” noise that you get when you flick the strings of the guitar above the headnut. I haven’t seen this band play yet but I really like the EP which you can download for free from their Bandcamp site. There’s some power, corruption and lies in its grooves.
8. Pulp – Babies
Pulp’s classic tale of coming-of-age voyeurism. (“I opened up the wardrobe…and had to get it on.”) Jarvis is a master of flippant rock exclamations (“Allright!” “My God!”) as can be heard here. Pulp, why won’t you come do your reunion in the U.S.? You know New York loves you.
9. Ford & Lopatin – Joey Rogers
This Brooklyn duo make anywhere they play feel like Miami. Yacht Rock Electro? I think so.
10. Out Hud – How Long Has it Been?
This band shared members and co-existed with !!! who became more popular, leaving Out Hud to disband. Too band, I kind of liked them better. Think it’s the vocals of Molly Schnick who now makes very different music as Jean on Jean.
11. John Maus – Head for the Country
John Maus is kind of like folk art synthpop who is getting his moment in the spotlight with his new album We Must Become The Pitiless Censors Of Ourselves that’s out now via Domino. (This song reminds me of Naked Eyes.) His live shows are basically karoake (or lyp-synched depending on who you ask) but no doubt Maus puts 100% effort into it.
12. Imagination – Just an Illusion
When I first moved to NYC I was obsessed with cable access television and spent countless hours watching some of the weird crap that aired on Manhattan Neighborhood Network. One of the shows, whose title escapes me, used this track by early-’80s synth-soul band Imagination as its theme song. Loved it but never knew what it was until I bought The Perfect Beats, a great compilation of Regan-era electro. Then YouTube hit and I saw the video which is scary-amazing.
13. Junior Boys – Itchy Fingers
What I like about Junior Boys is the way they sound chill and nervous all at the same time. This is from JB’s new album, It’s All True, out now on Domino.
14. My Tiger My Timing – I am the Sound
I put a song by MTMT on a mix last year and had sort of forgotten about them until I got a PR email announcing their new album. There’s a very human, organic sound. You can just tell that they’re probably a good live band.
15. Memory Tapes – Offers
More dance music made not entirely on laptops. The drums have a very live feel which elevates Memory Tapes new album.
16. New Order – Face Up
One of New Order’s greatest-ever songs. Why was this never a single? One of the great f-off dance anthems this side of “I Will Survive.” Who’dve thought “Oh how I cannot bear the thought of you” could sound so joyous?
Been keeping up with the summer mixes Bill, great job as usual. Babies is my favorite Pulp song and Face Up is one of my all time favorites from New Order.