Last year I listened to an awful lot of music but, looking back through my posts I don’t feel like I wrote much to reflect that fact. I suppose it’s quite a tough proposition to write meaningfully about albums that you’re currently playing, there are so many variables involved. I’m always mindful of the back story of the bands who recorded such brilliant albums but don’t want to get unduly bogged down in providing an in-depth bio as I find it can often distract from what you’re actually listening to. Then of course, you have to tread a very fine line between simply describing the sounds that you’re hearing and lapsing into clumsy, ponderous metaphor.
So, in a bid to tackle such issues in a more helpful and ultimately useful way for you, the reader, I have decided to lovingly craft a handy mix of tracks that have been in heavy rotation here at Unsubscriber Towers in the recent past. This way, you’ll be able to download a carefully chosen sequence of sonic nuggets to play in the privacy of your own home and review it for yourself rather than have me blather on about some music you can’t actually hear. I’ll attempt to create a new audio sequence each month for you to download and possibly even enjoy.
This month’s mix contains sixty six minutes of wilful oddness, brooding ambience, free jazz freakouts, post-punk flourishes, vocal gymnastics, prog-rock manoeuvres and a cracking psychedelic punk cover version to close the set. Bands featured are as geographically diverse as Hungary, Israel, Germany, Italy, Greece, Japan and of course the UK. I’ve decided not to include tracklist for these sequences as I sometimes create my own edits, remixes and loops in addition to utilising sounds or sources I have recorded myself. It can get a little messy at times highlighting what I’ve used and where. Let me know what you think of this decision in the comments, if you feel such a lack of information detracts from your listening pleasure then I’ll certainly think about changing my approach over the coming months.
So, hit up the link below and throw the resulting file into your computer or MP3 player of choice before sitting back to bathe in an hour of pure sonic stimulation. Your feedback is more than welcome so please drop me a line and let me know what you think.
You might also enjoy my Rural Weird mix from last year which is rather strangely enjoying a bewilderingly high degree of success in Uzbekistan according to my latest stats. See what all the fuss is about for yourself!
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Oh, I like this very much, Mr. Scriber. I’m glad to see a new form of the mixed-tape is alive and well!
Playing catch-up, as usual, I’ve downloaded and I’m currently listening to Rural Weird (how could I resist that title?). Lovely to hear some I recognise (and know well) and some things completely new which I’ll enjoy researching.
Thankyou very much indeed!
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Glad to hear that you’re enjoying the fruits of my labour, a timeless tradition brought bang up to date thanks to the humble MP3 file and Apple’s rather spiffing GarageBand home recording studio. Feel free to let me know how you get on with these first two mixes, I’ve not included any track notes but am happy to spill the beans if you’d like to know more. I’m hoping to produce one of these mixtapes each month so there’ll be plenty more music coming your way. All the best my friend and keep on listening.
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I’ve finished listening to Rural Weird. That was brilliant . . . right up my boulevard. Strong approval from Mrs. Nash too! I love the continued echo of birdsong throughout and the use of Numbers Stations is inspired. Really enjoyed the poetry of the Shipping Forecast too.
Two questions, if I may.
What is the Donovanesque piece of psychedelia which comes after the sweeping Morricone track (the one they used in Nighty Night)?
And what’s the orchestral piece which comes two tracks after the excellent Buffy Sainte-Marie?
I’ve downloaded the next mix too and shall be listening over the weekend.
Really excellent stuff, Mr. Scriber. Thanks very much indeed!
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Wonderful to hear that yourself and Mrs Nash enjoyed Rural Weird so much, thanks for the kind words. Most of the birdsong is taken from my archive of field recordings whereas the shipping forecast portion has actually been subjected to a Burroughsian style cut-up treatment to make it sound even more nonsensical despite its poetic beauty. Extra marks are awarded to you for recognising the Morricone track as being the theme used for Nighty Night – a rather brilliant and overlooked series don’t you think?
The tracks you wanted identifying are as follows; The Donovanesque piece of psychedelia is called English Sparrows by US musician Paul Parrish. It was taken from his notoriously difficult to find 1968 LP The Forest Of My Mind which has only ever been reissued once since release. The orchestral piece is by enigmatic Polish composer Andrzej Korzyński and is titled Birchwood Landscape. There have been several recent compilations of his music and film scores, notably by UK label Finders Keepers.
I hope that you enjoy the January mix as much as Rural Weird, feel free to let me know what you think or if you want more track info. I’m tinkering with a rather wonderful psychedelic/prog rock mix just now which I’m sure you’ll thoroughly enjoy once I’m happy enough to upload it. Thanks again for the feedback Mr Nash, I’m so pleased to know that my humble tinkering has resulted in an enjoyable listening experience for you.
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Wonderful, thanks for the information. Andrzej Korzyński, I only know his work from his score for the incredible 1981 film Possession. I shall look into more of his. Googling Paul Parrish now.
It’s all very exciting!!
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You’re more than welcome my friend. Korzyński’s Possession soundtrack was issued by Finders Keepers in 2014 so should be easy to pick up, the Paul Parrish album is almost impossible to find though and I only have a couple of tracks. Happy hunting Mr Nash!
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