Mix-tapes are fun. Mix CDs even more so. Mix mp3s? Dunno. Thought I would give it a try. Before packing my stuff ( yes, I am going back to Hyderabad. Jan 1st. What a cool way to start the New Year!) , I chose, not so randomly, 13 tracks that rocked my world in 2005. The attempt was not just to select “favourite” tracks, but also to get some kind of a cohesive listening order out of the playlist, to make it seem like it’s an actual mood CD. Truth be told, the music does not stick to a particular mood, but I like to believe that there is a…umm…pattern to the selection. No, nothing trivia/funda based. Had to leave out a lot of tracks that would have sounded great as standalone tracks, or maybe in another mix, but were not in sync with the theme of this compilation. Not all these songs were released this year, it’s just that I heard them this year, and heard them quite a few times – mostly after 1 AM in the night.
A zip file of the thirteen tracks can be downloaded here, and the individual tracks are here.
The best way to listen to the tracks would be in order, so I would really advise you to download the zip file, unzip the lot, and enqueue in your favourite player. If you are wondering why there are no ID3 tags or titles to the songs, that’s just my way of handling individual prejudices. But yeah, I will give out the tracklist and the artistes sometime soon.
By the way, Pandora.com says that I like music with mild electronica influences, subtle use of vocal harmony, mild rhythmic syncopation, a vocal-centric aesthetic, and horn/woodwind passages. I am kind of upset about the words “mild” and “subtle”, guess I can never be an extreme kind of a person. *sigh*
have downloaded, will add to pod this evening, sir.
merci.
Downloading, thanks!
you are going ?
you are leaving bangalore ?
it seemed liked you belonged there and would be there forever, more than other pathetic defenders of the soil and word and what else!, like premier, like mtr, like corn with the green chutney ….
damn!
strange, i am miles away where like in physics we say assume this rigid body to be a point, and yet i feel sad.
Hmmm. Never heard this sort of stuff before. Let me see if it grows on me :)
Thanks dude. I have always enjoyed your music reviews including that of Swades, Rang De Basanti and the new artistes (Japanese artist)…
this came at perfect time.. downloading right now.. hope to have good time listening ! :)
did i tell you how much i love you. well.
I like! A lot! :)
Welcome back
Hey, I downloaded it the instant I saw the link… and Have just started listening to it. Nice choices :-)
Btw, when did you get to Bangalore? It seems that the minute I left Bangalore, everybody I know decided to move there!!! *sigh*… pity we could never meet up. But hey, now you have a chance to come meet us in London ( just get your company to send you here :-D )
Once again, thanks for the music.
Mat jaa, yaar. Mat jaa.
Delectable
Track 1 – had me thinking it was a lounge-types composition initially, with the slightly out-of-synch, looping riffs/arpeggios. But, as I reach the end, I’m leaning more towards an actual band playing out the music because there seems to be so much synergy between the various tracks/instruments/musicians. I’m guessing some kind of big band that meets up occasionally like the Brussels Jazz Orchestra.
Track 2 – Seems to be very soundtracky. I’m guessing it’s from an OST. I wonder which one. But the track itself is somewhere between the B52s and that transition Motown + Latin Percussion music that was around towards the end of the 80s (complete with foley noises!). I love the vocal harmonies… very delicious.
Track 3 – Sounds like an instrumental cover of a very familiar vocal song by someone else… Hmmm, dammit.’
Track 4 – More Jazz! Sounds very Bruce Hornsby-ish. But, it’s not him I think. I didn’t know you were so much of a jazz fan.
Track 5 – Again sounds like it’s out of an OST. Great classical guitars and violins. It’s sparseness like this that I love. And there’s something about the accordion that gives me goosebumps… not to mention the FX towards the end.
Track 6 – Again very OST. Is that the theme with all the songs?
Track 7 – This one is the pick for me! Fantastic. THere’s many ways to integrate western and asian influences. This attempt is very interesting, somewhat on the electronic side of what Konarak Reddy tries with his acoustic material. I have to know who this is.
Track 8 – I’m beginning to be surer of the OST theme. Very ethereal and tinkly. Reminiscent of Enya is some ways, but done way better in my opinion.
Track 9 – The beginning reminds me of the synth experiments that some jazzmen (like Herbie Mann, what’shisnametheguywhodrummedwithLsubramaniaminBombay etc) went through. Very very cool. Definitely OST material.
That’s as far as I got so far. I hope to put down initial reponses to the others as well. But, I have to say, this is one superhit mix tape. Thanks.
Re: Delectable
I always felt you were effeminate in your choices of music :), no matter how much you parade your love for rage against the machine. guess pandora proves me true. bawahaha!
7 is susheela raman?
9 is david holmes, something from ocean’s twelve maybe?
Re: Delectable
Me? Effeminate? Or did you mean that about Beatzo?
Re: Delectable
of course, beatzo. sorry for the cross fire. :)
Re: Delectable
Heh, non worries :)
Not that I have a problem with my music taste being described effeminate. Just wanted to make sure whom you were addressing :)
Re: Delectable
it’s not surprising that beatzo’s music is ost-tinged.
nice collection..
thanks for sharing :)
you left?
sms me phone number, pl.
also, that track 2 is groovy, who’s it?
Downloaded! :)
And,
Thanks!
One round completed. Only you could tie Julie Delpy and Yoko Kanno together, one after the other. :)
Yoko Kanno is a fanboy touch-up, Is it?!
As I reached the “Before Sunset” song, I wondered.. “Did Mr.Beatzo created all this build-up for this song alone?!” :)