(Click the title to download - to retain track order please create a new playlist in iTunes and drag the file into it to import)
This is a guest contribution from fellow Crouch End resident Andy Jackson, who I have known since his days in The Murder Of Rosa Luxemburg and House Of Brothers.
The gent has impeccable taste and his compilation is beautiful. Here’s what he had to say on his choices…
“Songs that work on a truly emotional level, the ones that either get stuck in the back of your throat or blow your head off, often make good use of layering. Of course, you can argue that all songs, no matter what their genre or production style, have layers. However, I’m talking about a particular type of layering - one where the audience becomes instinctively aware of the songs’ intentional layering rather than simply hearing the song as a whole. I realise that talking about ‘intentionality’ is dangerous given I don’t have first hand knowledge of each and every artists’ meaning-making. And I also realise that I am assuming a certain disposition on behalf of the listener which may not be the case for everyone. However, the songs I’ve compiled appear to occupy a stratum-esque structure where it feels as though their tiers have been glued and stitched together; they can be peeled and picked apart, rather than being screwed and bolted. It is this ‘peel-apart-ability’ that I am concerned with.
Perhaps I am assuming too much. If so, please see this mixtape as a simple experiment; rather than merely submerging yourself in the songs as wholes, attempt to peel apart their layers.
Furthermore, in choosing these songs to occupy the same list, I have specifically tried to capture a combination of particular sounds that I am currently enjoying. I won’t attempt to try and justify those sounds to you. They should be self-evident.
The “talking about music is like dancing about architecture” attitude might very well be a trite and predictable one for artists to have, however I still feel it’s somewhat justified whenever I attempt to talk/write about music. Maybe I’m an incompetent communicator, maybe I feel that talking about sounds can sometimes undermine their artistic substance… Whatever, that’s a different conversation… Go choke on some songs, peel back their layers, involve yourself within them, hopefully get your head blown off.”
1. Tim Hecker - Dungeoneering
2. David Sylvian - Forbidden
3. Alicia Keys - Unthinkable (Physical Therapy Real Heavy Vibe Remix)
4. Johann Johannsson - Theme
5. Cocteau Twins - Heaven Or Las Vegas
6. Sundog Peacehouse - Sometimes I Still Think About You
7. Freur - Doot Doot
8. Infinite Body - A Fool Persists
9. Grouper - Heavy Water / I’d Rather Be Sleeping
10. Arthur Russell - Get Around To It
11. Geoffrey Chandler - Elysium Horizon
12. Bjork - Desired Constellation
13. Tamaryn - Love Fade
14. Aphex Twin - Xtal
15. Max Richter - On The Nature Of Daylight
