pop log: Mixtape: Love Cry

I’ve already been exposed to such great music this year and it’s not even been a full two months! And now that I am home for two weeks I’ve caught up on a lot of music as well as posts I’ve been falsely promising for months. Oops! Anyways, by far the best LP I’ve heard this year is without a doubt by the wonderful Four Tet a.k.a. Keiran Hebdan, the Londonite who perfected his album while having residency at Plastic People. His first single “Love Cry” remains one of my favorite songs released last year and on his recently released LP, There Is Love In You. So, this mixtape is named after the awesomeness that is Four Tet but is not fully composed of Four Tet themed music. This mixtape is full of everything, the Balearic, in a sense. The lo-Fi hip-hop goodness of Gonjasufi all the way to the classic tunes of Billy Idol. As with all my mixtapes, it’s gonna make you groove =)

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Download: ATM’s Mixtape – Love Cry

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Playlist after the jump!

Download: ATM’s Mixtape – Love Cry

Playlist:

01 Major Lazer – Pon De Floor (Diplo’s Mixmag Redo)

I never got into Major Lazer despite the fact that it’s composed of two amazing producers Switch and Diplo. I knew this single was huge but never once felt the need to hear it for some reason. And when I did, I realise this is the song that’s been everywhere, in the clubs, in the sets of some pretty amazing DJ’s that performed at Montréal’s Igloofest. It was the song I heard the most being dropped. It is pretty awesome. It is a crowd pleaser. I listened to the mix that Diplo did a few months back for Mixmag and it’s a nice shorter version of the original.

02 Amanda Blank – Something Bigger, Something Better (Diplo’s Mixmag Redo)

I love Amanda Blank. Fierce woman, even truer live. This song is a mix of instrumentals of “Pon de Floor” and Blank’s fast vocals. I wish redo existed in a longer version. It is aweeeesome!

03 Massive Attack ft. Martina Topley-Bird – Psyche

Another great album of the year. Heligoland doesn’t live up to old school Massive Attack but it remains an amazing album nonetheless. Definitely doesn’t fulfill the hype of this album, especially since it got pushed back every single year…but ugh! Still worth the wait! This is my favorite song off the LP. Check out my other post on them to download this track!

04 T.T.C. – Quand je claque des doigts

The 3 MC’s: Teki Latex, Tido Berman, and Cuizinier make up this super popular French rap group. I love French rap because lyrically, it’s much more political, the flows are fucking smooth, and the beats aren’t filled with auto-tune and washed out techno beats like American rap tends to be these days. Though T.T.C. isn’t all that political nor are their lyrics anything to aspire to as they are ridiculously misogynist, their beats are incredible and their rapping style is dynamic and their flow compliments the beats so well. They also have many collaborations with Modeselektor! This is one of my favorite songs off of their third album 36 15 T.T.C.

05 Tinie Tempah – Pass Out

His real name is Patrick Okogwu. This young South Londoner is an MC and a rapper since the age of 16 and made it pretty big not too long after. He had this amazing single “Wifey” back in 2005 which gained a lot of hype underground but after a few months, with no more songs made, the grime artist that everyone thought would make it big totally didn’t…yet. Five years later he comes out with “Pass Out”, a towering of a song that moves away from the historical soundscapes of hip-hop and grime and dips the production into a mix of house, grime and dubstep…it sounds AWESOME! He is to release his FIRST album THIS YEAR! called the Disco-Overy. Meanwhile, check out his two tracks! I reaaaaaaaaaaally hope he makes it big after the album drops!

06 Die Antwoord – Whatever Man

07 Die Antwoord – Jou Ma Se Poes In A Fishpaste Jar

If you haven’t already heard of these guys…you must be living in a box. Or living with no internet. Which these days, is pretty much a box. Sad, I know. Anyways, they randomly popped up from NOWHERE and as they say, are taking over the interwebs with two AMAZINGLY produced videos and songs called “Zef Side” and “Enter the Ninja”. This South African group is composed of DJ Hi-Tek (not shown in the pic), Yo-Landi Vi$$er (left) and the COOLEST NAME EVER, NINJA!!! He is so badass. I personally think ninjas are better than pirates. Ahem anyways, Die Antwoord is Afrikaans for The Answer. This song’s title is “You Mom’s Cunt is in a Fishpaste Jar”.Their forthcoming album $0$ is AMAZING and is STREAMING on their website! I feel like they are the Ali G version of Juiceboxxx. With crazy personalities, unconventionally awesome tattoos equipped with ballsy Pink Floyd boxers, mad hair, mad style, catchy South African vernacular, aaaaaaaaaaaaand incredibly well produced beats along with videos that are a total mindfuck, it’s no WONDER these guys got on every single blog in under a month. Eff, I love these guys. TURN IT UP!

08 J Dilla – In the Night While You Slept (I Crept)

I love Jay Stay Paid which was released last year. This year, a mixtape came out called DILLmatic which is pretty much J. Dilla beats mixed with one of the most classic albums of all time, Nas’ Illmatic. It is SOLID.

09 Gonjasufi – Ancestors

10 Gonjasufi – Candylane

Before, he was known as Sumach. He lived in a caravan close to Las Vegas. He came from the ghettos of LA and his singular and unique voice sounds of dispirited frustrations, the tales of the streets, and the history behind his knowledge. Gaslamp Killer came into contact with him after hearing some unreleased tracks and brought him to LA, in contact with Flying Lotus as well as Mainframe. And eventually, Sumach became Gonjasufi. He is to release his album on March 8th called A Sufi and A Killer. I managed to get my hands on it to give it many listens beforehand and it is aaaaaaaaaall that people thought it would be after hearing the killer track produced by Flying Lotus, “Ancestors”. It is an amazing album, filled with deep, dark, and disturbing beats with lo-fi realities and psychedelic sound experimentation. It is an album to chill to. All thoughts just leave. Each track works together to create an indescribable emotional soundscape. It is by far one of the best hip-hop albums of the year for me.Taken from lastfm: In 2009 a voice will materialize from the windswept void of the California desert. At once haunting and oddly welcoming, it’s not your mind playing tricks on you, it’s Gonjasufi. Combining international psychedelia and the new-school beat diaspora, Gonjasufi’s dark songwriting, affecting vocals and street-mystic vibe will leave an indelible mark, as witnessed so far on collaborations with Flying Lotus and Gaslamp Killer.

11 MillionYoung – Chlorophyl

He’s from South Florida and released his first EP just last year called Sunndreamm. This is one of my favorite electronic (dream wave) albums of last year. I can’t find anything else on the guy nor can I describe his music and his art better than this (taken from lastfm): MillionYoung hypnagogic, late night, loping pop loops bloom in the shadows of delirious dream territories; Mike Diaz’s aching, arching, always overhead vocals floating lonely above an effervescent, imagined coastal paradise of found tribal drum snippets, syrupy synth rushing and brilliantly colourful, drawn-out circular guitars that just absolutely refuse to fade or break, shading braincells in never-lived nostalgia; making stomachs shift with strange sickness in a beautiful, unshakeable way.Wow.

12 RjD2 – Games You Can Win

No need for a long introduction for this DJ veteran. Best known for his single “Ghostwriter”, RjD2 started up his own label, RJ’s Electrical Connections, last year and released his 2010 album, the Colossus, last month. It’s not a super creative album like I expected it to be, it took me about 2 listens to start to get really into it. It’s not a bad listen but nothing special either. It’s a great chillout album and this is one of my most liked songs on the LP.

13 Billy Idol – Eyes Without A Face

One of the classic artists of all time! My favorite song of his, yes, more than “Rebel Yell”. This is one of his first singles back in 1984 and can be found on his famous LP Rebel Yell. Love love love love love!

14 Black Moth Super Rainbow – Colourful Nickels

Who this band consists of, no one knows. It’s mysterious, like their music is. They go by aliases: Tobacco (vocoder), who does most of the writing and production, Father Hummingbird (rhodes piano and monosynth), The Seven Fields Of Aphelion (monosynth), Ryan Graveface (bass and guitar) and Iffernaut (drums). Sweet. They released their latest album last year called Eating Us. I la la la looooove this band and this album is such a go to ambient chill out album for me. Their music is filled with weaving synths and shroomed out psychedelia…”Deep in the woods of western Pennsylvania vocoders hum amongst the flowers and synths bubble under the leaf-strewn ground while flutes whistle in the wind and beats bounce to the soft drizzle of a warm acid rain. As the sun peeks out from between the clouds, the organic aural concoction of Black Moth Super Rainbow starts to glisten above the trees.”

15 Lady Gaga – So Happy I Could Die

Ugh I can sense some of your faces contorting and already dismissing this entire playlist for having Lady Gaga here. There is a strong love hate relationship for her…and me, I personally LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE Lady Gaga. I didn’t know who she was until she got super super famous. I kept hearing all these songs on the dance floor and everyone went wild for them and I somehow knew all the words to the songs despite having heard them a few times each and STILL didn’t know who sang them. Seeing her perform on SNL just last year sealed the deal for me. I saw her perform live on award shows and I admired her performance, her lack of fear in wearing whatever she wanted in whatever way she wanted to make a statement, personal or otherwise.Her emotional investment in her fans, her openness of her sexuality, her support for the LGBTQ community, and her appreciation of how she came to be Lady Gaga, are strong, true, and genuine. She is unafraid to make people talk, think, and gasp. She reminds me of Madonna circa the 80’s and early 90’s. Her voice is incredible and there is no doubt that “Poker Face”, “Paparazzi”, and “Just Dance” are incredible pop songs, songs that brought pop BACK! “Bad Romance” is a KILLER pop track and I catch myself just humming “Rah-rah-ah-ah-ah! Roma-Roma-ma-ah! Ga-ga-ooh-la-la!” and I hear others doing this too on the streets too! Whether or not you know it, whether or not you want it, you will be affected by the Gaga.

16 Breakbot – Baby I’m Yours (Siriusmo Remix)

Alright, so you know that tingly feeling you get in your stomach when you see that perfect match? you know, love at first sight? well that’s feeling that Breakbot will give you. the “baby, i’m yours ep” is your latest crush, and believe me, she won’t let you down. TURN IT UP!!!

17 James Pants – We’re Through

I recently discovered this guy and got his album Welcome which was released in 2008. His music is tough to categorize as his influences range from electro boogie, disco, funk, soul, aaaaaaaaaand a bit of rap. This is one of my favorite songs because it is ooooh sooo funky!

18 Fax Yourself – Sunshine (Hercules and Love Affair Dub)

I couldn’t find a picture of these guys let alone a little blurb as to who they are. All I know is that they’re a group from the 80’s. And this makes sense because H&LA is aaaaaaaaaaaall up on that 80’s disco funk. Renaissance, a British club brand that has hosted massive club names like Eric Prydz, Steve Lawler, Hernan Cattaneo, Sander Kleinenberg, Danny Howells and James Zabiela, recently launched a new compilation series called Sidetracked.I’ve seen Andy Butler spin a few times in Edmonton and this compilation is exactly like his set, super old school disco, funk, and amazing house loops. What I like a lot about Sidetracked is that the first side is the DJ’s mix, and the second side are the original songs…so it’s great to hear the original track and the alterations in the mixed set.Sidetracked is a great compilation that can be put up there along with Body Language’s Compilations. The entire H&LA Sidetracked is amaaaaaaaaazing and this is one of my favorite songs.

19 Four Tet – Sing

I’ve already said a lot about Keiran Hebdan. Check out my many other posts on the guy. There is no doubt that There Is Love In You is my favorite album so far in the year. Chilling, haunting, yet overwhelmingly heartwarming. Please please by this LP, better yet buy it in vinyl! “Sing” is one of my favorite songs on the album. Also! Check out a great interview of Four Tet here!

20 Gramophonedzie – Why Dont You

Marko Milicevic (Gramophonedzie) has been working as a DJ for over 15 years. GramophoneDzie samples the 1940’s Peggy Lee track called “Get Me Some Money”. Reminiscent of Parov Stelar, the production blends some funk, tribal, and nujazz elements in making one of the catchiest dance tracks of this year. This is by far his most popular track and he’s shooting to the top of DJ sets as well as electronic charts. “Why Don’t You” is an infectious dance track…TURN IT UP!

21 Ellie Goulding – Under the Sheets (Jakwob Remix)

Taken from lastfm: Ellie Goulding is a British female singer-songwriter. Born in Hereford, she grew up in Kington, Herefordshire and currently lives in London. Touring since 2008 she released her debut single Under The Sheets on November 16th 2009. The track was produced by Starsmith, who she has been working with since the very beginning of her career. Her debut album will be released on the 1st of March 2010 and is named Lights.I can’t find much info on Jakwob but this remix is killer compared to the original.

22 Annie – Songs Remind Me of You

I love love Annie. Check out my previous posts for more songs and biographical bits. This is still one of my favorite dance tracks to start off my nights in 2010.

23 We Plants Are Happy Plants – Apollo

He is from Budapest. His name is Peter Bergmann. This track is epic. EPIC. In all senses of the word. This is perfect music for cruising in your car at night, going through tunnels and past nightlamps and speeding through the road, speeding through life and escaping whatever it is that you need to escape from. I think We Are Binary explains it best: This song is perfect for a night drive when you’re alone in your car. Just driving out to meet some friends at a bar in Hollywood feels like you’re on your way to save the world, or maybe to save a beautiful girl. You know what its like. You see/meet a girl/guy, and all of a sudden knowing them is the ONLY thing that matters in the world. Thats what music like this is really for.

24 Shane Koyczan – Atlantis!

OOOOOOOOOOO Shane Koyczan. He is a Canadian slam poet. He’s won tons of awards and if you watched the opening ceremonies of the Olympics (Oh god it was horrible—and I also hate the olympics), you have already heard him. He was the best part of the ceremonies with his spoken word. He released his only “album” in 2007 called A Pretty Decent Cape In My Closet and it is filled with some of the most conscious, political, clever, and heartfelt spoken pieces I have heard in a while. I am a big fan of Poetry Slams and attended the huge annual Slam at the Bowery Poetry Club in New York not more than a month ago and heard from huge names but none of them, to me, rivals his Performance.Taken from Writers Festival: Shane Koyczan is a spoken word performance artist whose stage presence is legendary. He is where poetry, philosophy, social and political commentary, stand-up comedy and raw emotion come together. He takes audiences from pin-dropping silence to howling laughter to wild applause and cheering, and back again. This is poetry for people who think they don’t like poetry.

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