Musicophilia Blog (by that guy who did '1981') Updates Thread

I've had a couple questions from people asking where I bought the 'Le Tour du Monde' comps, or where vinyl copies can be purchased, or who originally compiled them. So it seems that I've been unclear--anything on my blog (unless noted as a guest blog or full album) is a mix made by me. I'll quote my reply to one such question from the blog:

I didn’t mean to cause confusion with the ‘Le Tour du Monde’ thing–just couldn’t think of a title for the mixes I was making, or concoct a theme other than that they were generally international in selection and from a few certain years. So I made up the ‘Le Tour du Monde’ thing as a flexible catch-all, and the verisimilitude just sprang from there, for fun–a chance to write over-the-top liner notes (original and reissue variety) and have a few in-jokes, make funny old covers.

I hoped it was pretty evident that the covers/"liner notes" were homages to a period and style of effusive, exuberant marketing and design; or at least that they were very faux, as my Photoshop skills are minimal at best. But maybe I'm too much of a geek in finding such stuff funny. I hope I haven't offended anyone, and that the music is no less enjoyable if not actually compiled in 1971 or 1973. The release dates and albums of extraction are accurate, to the best of my knowledge/the information in my collection.

Well you had me fooled. I thought they were genuine 70s cheese. I really like them a lot though, perfect for long car journeys, I've found.

ha, yeah, those would be some miraculously weird comps if they were real! the designs are fun, though. i certainly wouldn't mind having vinyl copies in my collection ...

I think this is all downright funny now that I understand it! Gotta love that cute record shop sticker on the front, too.

the post punk mix interests me. i'm downloading, and i'll check back occasionally. cool!

soundslike, you really are an awesome kinda dude. thank you!

Wow, thanks, Mr. Fiendish.

Nate--I enjoyed testing them on long walks/train rides/bus rides, glad to hear they work well for long drives, too. I'd hoped that at 90 minutes but in four sections, they could be treated as a long mix, or as short mixes to mix and match or listen individually.

Tyler--yeah, I wish I had real vinyl copies. Do you think the ring wear is too much/too bad? Again, weak Photoshop skills. . .

Does anyone mind much that I present them as long mp3s, rather than individual tracks? Somehow it feels slightly more ethical or quasi-legal or something, but also I really like the idea of listening to a mix as a sum-total. In the case of the six-tracks-at-a-time type mixes (like the 'Collide/Coalesce' mix) it'd be impossible to break them up except fairly arbitrarily. . .

Oh--and hope you like what you find, Mr. Keller. Don't miss the '1981' mixes, if you're into post-punk.

i did like it! someone recommended me the homosexuals a while back and i had forgotten.

to answer your question, i would definitely rather you split the tracks up. it would be much easier to keep track of what's what. however, it's your site, do what you want.

haha, the ring wear is great!
i don't mind the tracks being grouped together, but certainly wouldn't complain if they were split up. still it is kind of nice to take the mixes as a whole, which grouping the tracks together forces me to do.

Does anyone mind much that I present them as long mp3s, rather than individual tracks?

the only reason i'd maybe like them split is because i'm spectacularly anal about my last.fm stats. i don't think that's as important as you getting the exact effect you're going for, though -- you must do what you think suits the mix in question.

I like them together. I'd be more tempted to cherry pick if they were separated.

Well, just for the record, I never would have seen what's there as being "ring wear" without being told that's what it's supposed to be. But having said that, it still contributes to the overall art of the sleeve.

I'll be downloading the post-punk mix shortly. Would prefer to have tracks split up, probably.

I like them together. I'd be more tempted to cherry pick if they were separated

this could be easily avoided by presenting the download as a .zip containing individual songs

soundslike, you really are an awesome kinda dude. thank you!

^^^

This post-punk mix is brilliant.

Yep, I enjoyed the post-punk mix as well. Short, sweet and quick. Good fun. There's a few things there I hadn't heard before that sounded pretty good, too.

Thanks, everyone. I appreciate the feedback and response.

Regarding splitting tracks versus having single mixes or "sides"--I think for now what I'll do is continue to post old mixes (including the '1981' stuff) as separate files, when that's how I mixed them; and for all more recent mixes and new ones, I'll post them as single files/sides. The way I've tended to make comps/mixes since the '1981' stuff is with multi-track software, so that I can more easily balance sound, control the flow/segues, overlap tracks, etc. Most mp3 players (software or hardware) don't do gapless playback still, right? So when mixes are intended to have tight flow or segues, I find the gaps off-putting. Plus, I do like the idea of encouraging people to listen to the mix as a sum-total, like back in the days of cassette mixes at least, instead of just contributing more random tracks to hard drives (unless that's the stated goal). Does that seem reasonable?

I was going to wait on posting more of the post-punk 'Miniatures' mixes, but since people seem to enjoy them, I'll put another one up tonight if I can get my computer to stay turned on long enough to make the files and upload, having some real technical difficulties. I hope to have another 'Le Tour du Monde' mix up in the next week; and I'll probably throw another '1981' mix out there, too.

Thanks again!

itunes does gapless playback. fwiw I would prefer individual tracks - at the moment i'm c&ping the track listing into the lyric field for the mix, and having that on-screen while it's playing. I find myself constantly referring back to it to find out what i'm listening to. individually named tracks are just more convenient.

New mix posted this morning:

http://musicophilia.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/various_-_miniatures_post-punk-no-2_small.jpg?w=500&h=500

Miniatures : Post-Punk No. 2 (1975-1983)

[00:00] 01 Liquid Liquid - "Push" (1981)
[01:57] 02 David Bowie - "Breaking Glass" (1975)
[03:38] 03 L Voag - "Bedroom" (1979)
[05:05] 04 DNA - "32123" (1981)
[05:57] 05 Trio - "Tutti Frutti" (1983)
[07:51] 06 The Teardrop Explodes - "Pure Joy" (1981)
[09:36] 07 Raincoats - "No Side to Fall In" (1979)
[11:26] 08 Virgin Prunes - "Fado" (1982)
[13:16] 09 Elvis Costello - "Hoover Factory"(1980)
[15:00] 10 49 Americans - "Glimpse Go By" (1982)
[16:40] 11 Essendon Airport - "Three Against Four" (1979)
[18:20] 12 Dancing Cigarettes - "Mr. Morse" (1981)
[19:38] 13 Captain Beefheart - "Flavor Bud Living" (1980)
[20:37] 14 Matthais Schuster - "Umarmung" (1981)
[22:13] 15 Stick Men - "Mystery Party" (1982)
[23:45] 16 Crash Course in Science - "Kitchen Motors" (1981)
[25:40] 17 Family Fodder - "Dazomo" (1981)
[27:28] 18 Rosa Yemen - "Tso Xin Yu Xin" (1978)
[28:48] 19 Aksak Maboul - "Inoculating Rabies" (1980)
[30:38] 20 Flying Lizards - "Cirrus" (1981)
[31:45] 21 Brian Eno - "Over Fire Island" (1975)
[33:13] 22 Wipers - "Our Past Life" (1983)

Total Time: [34:40]

Check it out, let me know what you think with a comment.

And Nate--

I didn't know iTunes did gapless, as I've avoided using it. . . I've been including the tracklist in the comments and lyrics sections of the mp3s id3 tags. For all non-segued mixes, I'll stick with individual tracks; for those that are, I'll stick with compiled mp3(s). Hope that won't turn you or anyone away from listening. Always subject to revision, but right now I just feel better about it that way.

FWIW, I think that's the best way to go. When I'm listening to your mixes, I just nudge the iPod select button to lyrics. Hey presto: timed track listings!

is 'Breaking Glass' really as old as 1975?

Whoops, no it is not. Argh, I need to be sure to check years when I use my ripper. Sorry : /

sorry to draw attention to the error. this blog/resource is superb anyway.

No worries, Blueski. I clearly missed it, and it's better to have it correct. And thank you, I'm glad you like it.

I hope to post another mix in the next day or two. . .

The last of the 'Post-Punk' Miniatures mixes up this morning:

http://musicophilia.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/various_-_miniatures_post-punk-no-3_small.jpg?w=500&h=500

Miniatures : Post-Punk No. 3 (1976-1983)

[00:00] 01 Wire - "Another the Letter" (1978)
[01:09] 02 ESG - "Chistelle" (1983)
[02:57] 03 British Electronic Foundation - "Music to Kill Your Parents By" (1981)
[04:19] 04 MX-80 Sound - "Train to Loveland" (1977)
[05:59] 05 Orange Juice - "Breakfast Time" (1980)
[07:57] 06 Simple Minds - "Cacophony" (1979)
[09:36] 07 Buzzcocks - "I Love You, You Big Dummy" (1976)
[10:53] 08 Phantomband - "Trapped Again" (1981)
[12:00] 09 Debile Menthol - "Tante Agatthe"(1981)
[13:59] 10 Devo - "Timing X" (1979)
[15:07] 11 Pere Ubu - "I Will Wait" (1978)
[16:50] 12 Pyrolator - "Cassiopeia" (1981)
[18:33] 13 Ludus - "Redress" (1982)
[18:50] 14 Diagram Brothers - "Litter" (1981)
[20:23] 15 The Feelies - "Fa Ci-La" (1979)
[22:21] 16 Dalek I Love You - "You Really Got Me" (1980)
[24:20] 17 Bauhaus - "Scopes" (1980)
[25:55] 18 Suicide - "Speedqueen" (1976)
[27:04] 19 XTC - "New Town Animal in a Furnished Cage" (1978)
[29:00] 20 Dinosaur L - "#2 (No, Thank You)" (1981)
[30:17] 21 The Go-Betweens - "Arrow in a Bow" (1982)
[32:13] 22 Swamp Children - "Samba Zippy (Part 1)" (1982)
[32:56] 23 Weekend - "Midnight Slows" (1982)

Total Time: [34:55]

Hope it starts your weekend right. And hopefully no dumb errors this time : \

Download it from here

you're the best

the only reason i'd maybe like them split is because i'm spectacularly anal about my last.fm stats.

What he said. Maybe you could add a cue file to the download?

Thanks, Mr. Keller. I'm just a messenger, to be sure. But I'm glad you like the music.

Mr. Dods-- how does one do that? How would it work? Sorry, I'm ignorant on cue files, beyond having heard of them vaguely.

i have to say: so am i.

soundslike: i very much enjoyed "complicity", too: thanks for sharing that.

i ended up downloading most of the songs & making my own 42 track post punk mix with gaps in between the songs & added a bunch of material not on these mixes.I prefer individual tracks but the mixes are all fantastic & if nothing else make me seek out & discover or rediscover lots of great stuff.Like i'd forgotten how much i like Dalek I Love You & i'd never heard of the Dancing Cigarettes so regardless of how you post them it's a winning situation

if nothing else make me seek out & discover or rediscover lots of great stuff.

Even though I do really try to make mixes that stand on their own and present something unique at least in terms of context for those who already know all the music therein-- getting people to further/deepen their addictions, seek out new-to-them stuff is always my ulterior agenda. Always happy to hear when it works! Did you add more <2min. tracks?

i very much enjoyed "complicity", too: thanks for sharing that.

I guess it was a little underhanded of me to post that, but I figured most people wouldn't download (which has been the case) but a few might like it. Thank you!

yep i added a bunch of sub 2 minute tracks & maybe a few just over 2 minutes.Maybe i'll post that mix as a comment in your blog.

Hmmm...I didn't know about this "Complicity" thing before, but I'm curious to hear it, downloading now, thanks!

Sadly I have not gotten around to the 2nd and 3rd post punk mixes yet. In due time...

New mix posted this morning, a very brief but hopefully not very slight mix featuring heavily segued and intertwined music in an attempt to create a sense of an enveloping environment and a sense of movement.

http://musicophilia.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/00_various_-_gloaming_1731-2005_cover-small.jpg?w=500&h=500

Various - 'Gloaming' (1731-2005)
Sensory Replication Series #2

[00:00 - 03:50]
01 Tangerine Dream - "Sequent C" (1974)
02 Tony Conrad & Faust - "The Pyre of Angus Was in Kathmandu" (1971)

[03:30 - 05:35]
03 Wolfgang Mozart - "Adagio for Glass Harmonica" (1791)
04 Artist Unkown - Arabic Chants {modified} (Unknown)

[05:20 - 07:40]
05 Chicago Underground Trio - "O Sino" (1999)
06 Matt Anders - "Heathering Blues" (2004)

[07:30 - 10:20]
07 Iannis Xenakis - "Akrata" (1965)
08 Keith Jarrett - "I'm Through With Love" {modified} (1999)

[10:15 - 14:20]
09 Penguin Cafe Orchestra - "Harmonic Necklace" {modified} (1981)
10 Cluster - "Fur Die Katz" (1971)
11 Steve Reich - "Nagoya Marimbas" (1994)

[14:00 - 15:00]
12 Alan R. Splet - "Space Travel with Changing Choral Textures" (1983)
13 Sylvie Courvoisier - "Tourine" (2003)

[14:55 - 18:20]
14 John Cage - "Prepared Piano Concerto, Part III" (1951)
15 Bjork - "Ambergris March" (2005)
16 Antonio Vivaldi - "Double Concerto, Largo G Minor" (1780s)

[18:10 - 19:30]
17 Brian Eno - "Lizard Point" (1982)
18 Low - "Untitled No. 2" (2001)

[18:55 - 22:20]
19 Matthew Herbert - "About This Time Each Day" (2001)
20 Holger Czukay - "Boat-Woman Song" (1969)

[22:15 - 27:34]
21 23 Skidoo - "Shrine" (1982)
22 Einsturzende Neubauten - "U-Haft Muzak" (1983)
23 Johann Sebastian Bach - "Air (For Organ), BWV 1068" (1731)

Find it at the usual place

bach next to einstürzende neubauten. on paper/screen it looks pretty audacious. it would have been even more shocking to have the neubauten at the end though...

Not next to--they're actually mixed together. Everything that's listed under the same brackets is intertwined, and the sections are usually segued, too. If I remember correctly, I think it does technically finish with the Neubauten : )

A little of the mumbling from the blog:

Whereas more recent mixes I’ve attempted in this vein have involved sometimes upward of five simultaneous tracks coalescing around a central track of emphasis, beat-oriented tracks combined with ambient tones and sound effects, remixes, dub versions, etc.—this mix was an intentionally simpler affair. The emphasis is on tone, melody, texture, and rhythm is subtle. Most of the sections of the mix are comprised of duets or trios, often with each element equally featured on the sound stage, as in the case of Bjork’s instrumental “Ambergris March” and Vivaldi’s “Double Concerto, Largo G Minor,” which pull together and spin apart. At other times, languid, liquid melodicism is countered with abrasion—for example, the sweet simplicity of an organ-based rendition of Bach’s “Air” with the percussive rancor of an Einsturzende Neubauten track far off to the right, its low, steady heartbeat-like bass elements adding a bit of menace. On the whole, the sound tends toward the beautiful—this is not difficult listening. But as with a sunset viewed alone, far from anyone else, even as one admires the brilliant color and light, one knows there is darkness not far off.

Hope you dig it. . .

A mix from the '1981' box set posted this morning:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3042/2988481177_0e8cee6c34.jpg

1 9 8 1 | Convertible

01 Young Marble Giants - Final Day (1981) [1:43]
02 Orange Juice - Poor Old Soul (1981) [2:29]
03 Martha & The Muffins - This Is the Ice Age (1981) [4:06]
04 Altered Images - Happy Birthday (1981) [3:01]
05 The Church- Too Fast For You (1981) [3:33]
06 Scritti Politti - The Sweetest Girl (1981) [4:09]
07 Romeo Void - Myself To Myself (1981) [3:46]
08 Barracudas - Don't Let Go (1981) [3:28]
09 The dB's- Black and White (1981) [3:09]
10 Go-Go's - Our Lips Are Sealed (1981) [2:45]
11 Magazine - The Honeymoon Killers (1981) [3:39]
12 Suburbs - Spring Came (1981) [3:18]
13 Marine Girls - Tonight (1981) [1:22]
14 Pretenders - Message of Love (1981) [3:07]
15 Necessaries - More Real (1981) [2:48]
16 The Teardrop Explodes - Falling Down Around Me (1981) [3:08]
17 Squeeze - Is That Love (1981) [2:31]
18 The Go Betweens - Your Turn, My Turn (1981) [3:03]
19 Robyn Hitchcock - Love (1981) [4:34]
20 The Stranglers - Golden Brown (1981) [3:28]
21 The Ramones - It's Not My Place (1981) [3:23]
22 XTC - Respectable Street (1981) [3:40]
23 Pylon - Crazy (1981) [3:13]
24 Elvis Costello - Strict Time (1981) [2:42]
25 REM - Radio Free Europe (1981) [3:49]

Posted as originally released, with separate tracks (even though there are a couple. . . cheats, shall we call them, in considering all of it to be released in 1981). This is the "poppy" disc, the sort of stuff that often flies under the radar of our concepts of "post-punk," but the mix is a fave of mine. I hope you'll enjoy.

Check it out at Musicophilia.

Another '1981' mix up, and it's one of my top three or four:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3217/3019111928_f7102d44cc.jpg

1 9 8 1 | Brain

01 Art Bears - Truth [2:55]
02 The Birthday Party - Cry [2:41]
03 Glenn Branca - Structure [3:04]
04 Klaus Nomi - The Twist [3:06]
05 Ex, The - Weapons for El Salvador [2:43]
06 Flying Lizards - Hands 2 Take [4:06]
07 Negativland - Dearmary [1:49]
08 New Age Steppers - Crazy Dreams & High Ideas [2:58]
09 Lemon Kittens - Kites [3:29]
10 Trio - Kummer [2:40]
11 Pere Ubu - Lonesome Cowboy Dave [1:52]
12 The Residents - Would We Be Alive [3:20]
13 Matt Johnson - The River Flows East In Spring [1:33]
14 Eyeless in Gaza - The Decoration [2:45]
15 Einstürzende Neubauten - Abstieg & Zerfall [4:28]
16 Fire Engines - Candyskin [2:54]
17 Section 25 - Hit [2:50]
18 Crass - Bata Motel [3:28]
19 Liaisons Dangereuses - Aperitif De La Mort [1:37]
20 Crash Course in Science - Factory Forehead [3:00]
21 Foetus - Thank Heaven for Push Button Phones [4:26]
22 Cabaret Voltaire - A Touch Of Evil [1:52]
23 Chrome - Planet Strike [2:25]
24 DNA - Blonde Red Head [1:52]
25 Clock DVA - 4 Hours [3:52]
26 Homosexuals - Nursery Chymes [2:40]
27 Wim Mertins - Multiple 12 [1:00]
28 This Heat - Makeshift Swahili [3:54]

[Total Time: 79:20]

Darker, weirder, wittier, artier stuff this outing.

Musicophilia

New mix up this morning, covering post post-punk tunes:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3239/3034075426_d1bcfa85df.jpg?v=1226926519

Various - 'Post Post-Punk' (1983-1994)

01 Liquid Liquid - "Scraper" (1983) [3:41]
02 Camberwell Now - "Daddy Needs a Throne" (1984) [3:24]
03 ESG - "Erase You" (1983) [4:08]
04 Ex - "Machinary" (1983) [2:57]
05 Mark Stewart - "Jerusalem" (1983) [3:45]
06 Disco Inferno - "In Sharky Water" (1994) [4:40]
07 Biting Tongues - "Compressor" (1987) [4:52]
08 Trio - "Girl Girl Girl" (1983) [3:30]
09 Special AKA - "House Bound" (1984) [4:12]
10 Neon Judgement - "Please Release Me Let Me Go-Go" (1983) [4:34]
11 David Thomas - "Big Breezy Day" (1985) [3:24]
12 Thick Pigeon - "Dog" (1983) [2:21]
13 100 Flowers - "Horizontal" (1983) [1:06]
14 Blackouts - "It's Clay Again" (1983) [6:17]
15 Arthur Russell - "See-Through" (1986) [2:10]
16 Dog Faced Hermans - "Volkswagen" (1994) [5:35]
17 Creatures - "Weathercade" (1983) [2:48]
18 Death Comet Crew (ft Rammellzee) - "Exterior Street" (1984) [4:32]
19 Sonic Youth - "Shadow Of A Doubt" (1986) [3:32]
20 Cybotron - "Clear" (Edit) (1983) [3:21]
21 Colin Newman - "But I" (1986) [4:54]

[Total Time: 79:43]

musicophilia.wordpress.com

This one is upped as individual tracks, since that's how it was originally put together. Hope you guys like it. Flimsy as the premise may be, it's a nice listen, better coherence and flow than one might expect.

If an admin or moderator reads this:

Would it be possible to change the name of this thread to something like:

Musicophilia Blog (by that guy who did '1981') Updates Thread

Or something like that? Because I guess that's really what this has become. . .

Thanks!

looks cool! i'm still catching up -- haven't had time to listen to "the gloaming" mix, but looking forward to it. keep it up!

Tylerw -

'The Gloaming' and the other heavily mixed ones like that are my favorites--but I don't think many others agree. Hope you like it. Thanks for continuing to check them out.

got yer thread title change

The ‘Collide\Coallesce’ mix a while back was awesome I might add, I have much of the stuff in it but still couldn't sort it out all the time. I will check out the Gloaming mix next.

Pashmina--

Thanks for that! Just seems more accurate, it's no longer really an announcement of a new blog.

Sonderangerbot--

I'm glad you liked it--definitely the mix I've worked hardest on, thought out every tiny detail. 'Gloaming' is more low-key, but probably the fullest experience relative to length of mix (it's only 28 minutes long) of anything I've done. I'll be curious what you think.

I'm right now putting the finishing touches on six new mixes in the style of the 'Le Tour du Monde' mixes, created via the seemingly popular 'Miniatures' approach. . . Also another "full-sized" 'Le Tour du Monde' should be finished this week, and another 1981 volume or two will probably go up, along with another full album.

So keep your eyes peeled, some really great stuff coming in the next few days.

Starting a new series today that combines the 'Le Tour du Monde' musical territory with the short-and-sweet tendencies of the Miniatures Post-Punk mixes:

http://musicophilia.files.wordpress.com/2008/11/les-miniatures_volume12_front_small.jpg?w=500&h=500

Various Artists - ‘Les Miniatures’ Volume 12
(10″ LP, Musique du Monde, France - 1975)

Side A:
[00'00"] 01 PEOPLE - “Prologue” (1971, Japan)
[01'45"] 02 FAUST - “I’ve Got My Car and My TV” (1972, Germany)
[03'00"] 03 Henry COW - “Arcades” (1974, England)
[04'50"] 04 Curtis MAYFIELD - “Junkie Chase” (1972, USA)
[06'20"] 05 SEESSELBERG - “Eintrachtkreis-Paranoia” (1973, Germany)
[07'15"] 06 Kevin AYERS - “Two Goes Into Four” (1974, England)
[08'50"] 07 Sun RA - “Wurlitzer & Celeste” (1972, USA)
[10'35"] 08 Serge GAINSBOURG - “Ah! Melody” (1971, France)
[12'20"] 09 Joe UFER - “Drums on Phasing No. 6″ (1973, Germany)
[13'30"] 10 Paul SIMON - “Hobo’s Blues” (1972, USA)

Side B:
[00'00"] 01 Milton NASCIMENTO - “Saidas E Bandeiras No. 1″ (1972, Brazil)
[01'20"] 02 Raymond VINCENT - “Mouvement pour Arcet” (1973, France)
[02'30"] 03 Sly & THE FAMILY STONE - “Mother Beautiful” (1974, USA)
[04'15"] 04 Erkin KORAY - “Korkulu Ruya” (1974, Turkey)
[05'45"] 05 Orchester FRITZ MALDENER - “Wild Luck” (1973, Germany)
[07'20"] 06 Gil SCOTT-HERON - “Billy Green is Dead” (1973, USA)
[08'45"] 07 Sammy BURDSON GROUP - “Electronic News No. 3″ (1973, Germany)
[10'00"] 08 Lou REED - “New York Telephone Conversation” (1972, USA)
[11'30"] 09 Franco BIXIO - “Dog’s Heart” (1974, Italy)
[12'00"] 10 Robert WYATT - “Muddy Mouse (A)” (1975, England)
[13'15"] 11 John CALE - “Days of Steam” (1972, Wales)

[Total Time: 29'55"]

Rough translation, back cover text:
“Continuing the tradition, ‘Les Miniatures’ Volume 12 brings more amazing sounds from around the world–all speeding to you in less than two minutes! Whirl your way through the hippest sounds of the today, from France to the United States to Germany to Italy to Wales and even from Turkey. The world is moving faster than ever–so we present to you the very best music, in miniature! But don’t worry, all the beats, the strings, the voices and the keyboards are there in full size. It’s ‘Les Miniatures!’”

Notes:
Following the recent reissues of some of the long-lost, highly sought-after ‘Le Tour du Monde’ compilations, we bring you another discovery from Musique du Monde, the French label known during the 60s and 70s to taste-makers the world over: Volume 12 of the ‘Les Miniatures’ series. Originally released as “miniature” limited-edition 10″ LPs, the ‘Les Miniatures’ discs bring all of the sounds we loved from ‘Le Tour,’ and with similarly international flair, but it does so entirely with tracks befitting the diminutive LP format–all under two minutes in duration! For their brevity, there is no skimping here–all the string flourishes, brass punches, heavy bass lines, and sample-worthy beats are here, along with the upper crust of the singer-songwriter world from 1971 to 1975. And as with ‘Le Tour,’ Musique du Monde refused to see barriers or genres, weaving together the post-funk, the delicate, the experimental and concrete seemingly without effort. You’ll find both old favorites–Sun Ra, Kevin Ayers, Faust, John Cale, even Paul Simon and Curtis Mayfield–and lesser-knowns like the Sammy Burdson Group, Erkin Koray, Joe Ufer, and Franco Bixio. In less than thirty minutes, ‘Les Miniatures’ provide a fully-rounded musical journey. Keep your eyes peeled–several volumes have been unearthed, and the Musicophilia reissue program will be sharing them all in due time. — I. Sonnecomme, November 2008

Musicophilia

Let me know what you think--several more will follow in quick succession--in fact, they're already finished. So I hope a few of you enjoy this one.

nobody sounds like ian soundcomme! hey all that tasty stuff fits on one side of a c60!

Glad you like it, Alex. Save the other side of that c60 for the next one.

And the newest mix I'm really proud of, 'Old Souls Part III' featuring 29 artists from Chicago making a huge share of the best new music I've heard from 2015 to 2019:

https://musicophilia.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/musicophilia_00_various_-_old-souls-part-iii_2015-2019_cover.jpg?w=1024

01 [0:00:00] Roy Kinsey – “Citadel Blues” (‘Blackie’, 2018)
02 [0:04:30] Freddie – “What We Do” (‘All Black Trill Shit’, 2017)
03 [0:07:55] Pete Sayke – “The Optics” (‘Heaven Can Wait’, 2017)
04 [0:10:00] Free Snacks – “Give It Back” (‘Eat Good EP’, 2018)
05 [0:14:45] Nnamdi Ogbannaya – “Cindy Oso” (‘Drool’, 2017)
06 [0:17:40] Noname – “Part Of Me” (‘Room 25’, 2018)
07 [0:20:50] Jamilia Woods – “Zora” (‘Legacy! Legacy!’, 2019)
08 [0:23:55] Mykele Deville – “Black Maker Make” (‘Peace, Fam’, 2017)
09 [0:27:25] Tasha – “Lullaby” (‘Alone At Last’, 2018)
10 [0:30:55] Open Mike Eagle – “Feel At Home” (‘Brick Body Kids…’, 2017)
11 [0:35:10] Mister Wallace – “In the Deep” (‘Cool Mom’, 2018)
12 [0:37:10] Ajani Jones – “Figaro” (‘Astrals EP’, 2016)
13 [0:40:43] Udababy – “Nautilus” (‘Udababy EP’, 2019)
14 [0:43:55] Mohawk Johnson – “Relapse” (‘The Relapse EP’, 2018)
15 [0:48:20] Saba – “Heaven All Around Me” (‘Care For Me’, 2018)
16 [0:51:50] Malci – “Bad Liquor” (‘Do You Know Yourself’, 2017)
17 [0:54:40] Kweku Collins – “Life” (‘Worlds Away EP’, 2015)
18 [0:57:40] JusSol – “Ketchup & Mustard” (‘Solmate EP’, 2018)
19 [1:00:25] Max Wonders – “Vices” (‘Hues To Blame’, 2016)
20 [1:03:10] Femdot – “U Learn” (‘Delacreme 2’, 2018)
21 [1:07:40] Yusef Ra – “Yusef” (‘P’s & Q’s’, 2018)
22 [1:11:25] Brittney Carter – “Breakthrough” (‘Hooligan/Breakthrough EP’, 2019)
23 [1:15:10] Lin Z – “XXXXXX” (‘Awetumn EP’, 2016)
24 [1:18:15] Sol Patches – “Yob Culture” (‘Garden City’, 2018)
25 [1:22:20] Ravyn Lenae – “Sticky” (‘Crush EP’, 2018)
26 [1:25:30] Sulaiman – “Already Dead” (‘Intention & Obstacle EP’, 2018)
27 [1:28:35] Iris Temple – “Overgrown” (‘Duality EP’, 2016)
28 [1:32:00] Mick Jenkins – “Pull Up” (‘Pieces of a Man’, 2018)
29 [1:35:50] Lando Chill – “Maya” (‘Maya, Maia, Mayu EP’, 2018)
[Total Time: 1:40:36]

Download or stream (and find links to the artists' music) here: https://musicophilia.wordpress.com/2019/02/13/oldsouls3chicago/

this looks super cool and something worth absorbing myself in, thanks

Made to mixes I'd been contemplating and working on off and on for a long time, when I heard the news Mark Hollis had passed. Both are tributes to Hollis' work, especially the last two Talk Talk records and 'Mark Hollis,' which has haunted and enchanted me for twenty years:

https://musicophilia.files.wordpress.com/2019/04/musicophilia_00_various_-_remembrance_1969-1978_cover.jpg?w=1024

Various – ‘Remembrance – A Life (1955-2019)’
1969-1978

Part I

01 [0:00:00] Alice Coltrane – “Hare Krishna” (‘Universal Consciousness’ 1971)
02 [0:03:00] Terry Callier – “Dancing Girl” (‘What Color Is Love’ 1972)
03 [0:12:00] Leonard Cohen – “Avalanche” (‘Songs of Love and Hate’ 1971)
04 [0:17:00] Miles Davis – “Sanctuary” (‘Bitches Brew’ 1970)
05 [0:27:50] Terry Reid – “Milestones” (‘River’ 1973)
06 [0:33:40] Scott Walker – “It’s Raining Today” (‘Scott 3’ 1969)
07 [0:37:40] Nico – “You Forgot To Answer” (‘The End…’ 1974)
08 [0:42:35] Brother Ah – “The Sea” (‘The Sea’ 1978)
09 [0:48:20] Can – “Sing Swan Song” (‘Ege Bamyasi’ 1972)
10 [0:52:45] Van Morrison – “You Don’t Pull No Punches…” (‘Veedon Fleece’ 1974)
11 [1:01:30] Tim Buckley – “Cafe” (‘Blue Afternoon’ 1969)

Part II

12 [1:06:55] Big Star – “Kanga Roo” (‘Third’ 1975)
13 [1:10:40] Pharoah Sanders – “Astral Travelling” (‘Thembi’ 1971)
14 [1:16:25] Richard & Linda Thompson – “The Great Valerio” (‘I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight’ 1974)
15 [1:21:50] Judee Sill – “The Donor” (‘Heart Food’ 1973)
16 [1:29:20] Brian Eno – “French Catalogues” (‘Discreet Music’ 1975)
17 [1:34:30] Abercrombie-Hammer-DeJohnette – “Timeless” (‘Timeless’ 1975)
18 [1:45:50] John Martyn – “Go Down Easy” (‘Solid Air’ 1973)
19 [1:49:20] Beverly Glenn-Copeland – “Ghost House” (‘Beverly Glenn-Copeland’ 1970)
20 [1:56:40] Simon Jeffes – “Chartered Flight” (‘Music From the Penguin Cafe’ 1976)
21 [2:03:15] Nick Drake – “Saturday Sun” (‘Five Leaves Left’ 1969)
22 [2:07:20] Paul Bley – “Closer” (‘Open, To Love’ 1973)

[Total Time: 2:13:00]

Download/stream here: https://musicophilia.wordpress.com/2019/04/02/remembrance-for-mark-hollis/

https://musicophilia.files.wordpress.com/2019/03/folder-1.jpg?w=1024

Various – ‘Elegy for Mark Hollis – A Life (1955-2019)’
1982-2000

01 [0:00:00] David Sylvian – “Brilliant Trees” (‘Brilliant Trees’ 1984)
02 [0:09:05] Rachel’s – “Full On Night” (‘Handrwiting’ 1995)
03 [0:15:40] Neil Young – “Guitar Solo #4” (‘Dead Man’ 1996)
04 [0:19:45] The Durutti Columm – “Without Mercy (Stanzas IX-XII)” (‘Without Mercy’ 1984)
05 [0:26:45] The For Carnation – “Moonbeams” (‘The For Carnation’ 2000)
06 [0:36:05] Scott Walker – “Sleepwalkers Woman” (‘Climate of Hunter’ 1984)
07 [0:40:05] Robert Wyatt – “Maryan” (‘Shleep’ 1997)
08 [0:46:15] Paul Motian Trio – “India” (‘It Should’ve Happened a Long Time Ago’ 1985)
09 [0:53:35] Low – “Landlord” (‘Songs For A Dead Pilot’ 1997)
10 [1:00:15] The Comsat Angels – “Pictures” (‘Fiction’ 1982)
11 [1:04:40] Dif Juz – “Marooned” (‘Extractions’ 1985)
12 [1:08:35] Shelleyan Orphan – “Supernature on a Superhighway” (‘Humroot’ 1992)
13 [1:15:30] Danny Thompson – “Till Minne Av Jan” (‘Whatever’ 1987)
14 [1:20:15] Stina Nordenstam – “Dynamite” (‘Dynamite’ 1996)
15 [1:24:35] Haruomi Hosono – “Trembling #1” (‘The Endless Talking’ 1985)
16 [1:27:40] Dead Can Dance – “The Host of Seraphim” (‘The Serpent’s Egg’ 1988)
17 [1:33:25] Yasuaki Shimizu – “Stir In This Way” (‘Kakashi’ 1982)
18 [1:35:35] Mick Karn – “Dreams of Reason” (‘Dreams Of Reason Produce Monsters’ 1986)
19 [1:39:15] Arthur Russell – “Not Checking Up” (‘World of Echo’ demo 1986)
20 [1:43:40] This Mortal Coil – “The Lacemaker” (‘Blood’ 1991)
21 [1:46:45] Peter Gabriel – “With This Love” (‘Passion’ 1989)
22 [1:50:05] The Blue Nile – “Regret” (‘Tinseltown In the Rain’ single 1984)
23 [1:53:30] Talk Talk – “It’s Getting Late in the Evening” (‘Life’s What You Make It’ single 1986)
[Total Time: 1:59:17]

Download/stream here: https://musicophilia.wordpress.com/2019/03/27/elegy-for-mark-hollis/

"two," that is, of course.

Stoked for these, thanks yet again.

hmm i suppose i should try to get my hands on that brother ahh box set.

thanks for this, will be listening tonight at work

Life's been getting in the way of making new mixes a for a while. But stole the time for a couple I really love, the last couple weeks.

https://musicophilia.files.wordpress.com/2019/07/musicophilia_00_various_-_dawn_1974-1981_cover.jpg?w=1024

Various – ‘Dawn‘
1974-1982
01 [0:00:00] John Martyn – “Small Hours” (‘One World’ 1977)
02 [0:08:35] Eberhard Weber – “The Following Morning” (‘The Following Morning’ 1977)
03 [0:17:10] Arthur Russell – “Come to Life” (Unreleased 1976)
04 [0:21:50] Bennie Maupin – “Ensenada” (‘The Jewel In the Lotus’ 1974)
05 [0:29:55] Robert Wyatt – “At Last I Am Free” (‘At Last I Am Free’ EP 1980)
06 [0:34:00] David Darling – “Cycle Song” (‘Album’ 1982)
07 [0:40:55] Alice Coltrane – “Transcendence” (‘Transcendence’ 1977)
08 [0:46:50] Joni Mitchell – “Jericho” (‘Don Juan’s Reckless Daughter’ 1977)
09 [0:50:10] Gary Burton – “Jesus Maria” (‘Dreams So Real’ 1976)

[Total Time: 54:00]

Download/stream here: https://musicophilia.wordpress.com/2019/07/25/dawn-1974-1982/

And,

https://musicophilia.files.wordpress.com/2019/07/musicophilia_00_various_-_liminal_1985-1992_cover-1.jpg?w=1024

Various – ‘Liminal’
1985-1992
Part I

01 [0:00:00] The Blue Nile – “The Wires Are Down” (‘The Downtown Lights’ Single 1989)
02 [0:05:25] Haruomi Hosono – “Pleocene” (‘Omni Sight Seeing’ 1989)
03 [0:11:30] Massive Attack – “Unfinished Sympathy” (‘Blue Lines’ 1991)
04 [0:16:30] Jansen & Barbieri – “The Night Gives Birth” (‘Stories Across Borders’ 1991)
05 [0:20:00] Bryan Ferry – “Boys and Girls” (‘Boys and Girls’ 1985)
06 [0:25:10] AM 4 – “Streets and Rivers” (‘And She Answered’ 1989)
07 [0:29:20] Bill Nelson – “Contemplation” (‘Getting the Holy Ghost Across’ 1986)
08 [0:38:10] Sinead O’Connor – “I Am Stretched On Your Grave” (‘I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got’ 1990)
09 [0:43:40] Cocteau Twins – “Blue Bell Knoll” (‘Blue Bell Knoll’ 1988)
10 [0:47:00] Revolutionary Army of the Infant Jesus – “Shadowlands” (‘Mirror’ 1991)
11 [0:51:15] Martin Dupont – “Inside Out” (‘Hot Paradox’ 1987)
12 [0:55:35] David Darling – “In November” (‘Cello’ 1992)
13 [0:59:40] Colin Newman – “But I…” (‘Commercial Suicide’ 1986)

Part II

14 [1:04:20] Icehouse – “Man of Colours” (‘Man of Colours’ 1987)
15 [1:09:25] Brian Eno – “Some Words” (‘My Squelchy Life’ 1991)
16 [1:13:45] Lonely Universe – “Passenger” (‘Lonely Universe’ 1990)
17 [1:18:10] Gigi Masin – “Mother Afrik” (Unreleased ‘Wind’ Track 1988)
18 [1:22:10] A Certain Ratio – “Fever 103” (‘Force’ 1986)
19 [1:27:15] Depeche Mode – “Halo” (‘Violator’ 1990)
20 [1:31:40] Ryuichi Sakamoto – “Asadoya Yunta” (‘Beauty’ 1989)
21 [1:36:10] Hector Zazou – “Tanis a Tunis” (‘Geologies’ 1989)
22 [1:40:40] Midge Ure – “Remembrance Day” (‘Answers to Nothing’ 1988)
23 [1:45:05] O Yuki Conjugate – “Out of Nothing” (‘Into Dark Water’ 1987)
24 [1:49:20] The Cure – “Fear of Ghosts” (‘Lovesong’ Single 1989)
25 [1:55:55] Bel Canto – “Picnic on the Moon” (‘Birds of Passage’ 1989)
26 [2:00:20] Xymox – “Tonight” (‘Twist of Shadows’ 1989)
27 [2:05:40] Warren Sampson – “Sweetly” (‘Traveller’ 1987)

[Total Time: 2:09:30]

Download/stream here: https://musicophilia.wordpress.com/2019/07/20/the-liminal-1985-1992/

As a small way to get people hearing and supporting working artists (when Covid is going to deeply hurt them):

Running a little drawing on Twitter, to buy 10 albums by contemporary musicians from Bandcamp for people who participate:

A small way support working musicians in these Covid days: https://t.co/dYHukPGk43

Tweet your fave Musicophilia mix of 2010s music & tag your favorite artist you first heard there. I'll buy an album on @bandcamp by that artist for 10 participants chosen at random through 3/17 pic.twitter.com/2FF6k4ESY7

— Musicophilia (@musicophiliamix) March 13, 2020

A small way support working musicians in these Covid days:

https://musicophilia.wordpress.com/tag/2010s/

Tweet your fave Musicophilia mix of 2010s music & tag your favorite artist you first heard there. I'll buy an album on @bandcamp by that artist for 10 participants chosen at random through 3/17

that's a nice thing! can i ask what the route is for dl from mixcloud anymore? i have and enjoy several mixcloud comps from you and others, and try as i might i cannot see how to do this anymore. there are "mixcloud downloaders" by the score out there, but i do not recall going away from the site to do that in past years.

You aren't supposed to be able to dl from Mixcloud - Musicophilia has a separate dl link, same as my site.

TY

Wordpress tells me today is the 12 year anniversary of Musicophilia! A different world indeed when it began...

I'd say the last 3 years have been the blog's best--some of the best sets/collections (sequel series to the '1981' set that started it all, for 1979 and 1980; the 28-mix Library box set that had been gestating since before I started the blog; the four-mix 'Afrominimalism' set; the collected 'Le Mond du Funk' set thus far covering funk-related music from 1968-1985) and my favorite ongoing series ever (the 'Old Souls' series of 15 mixes and counting, covering the golden era of music by Black artists of the last five years) and lots of one-offs and shorter series that I think are the best mixes for flow and selection I've ever done.

https://musicophilia.files.wordpress.com/2020/09/musicophilia_covers-poster_v2b_20-0906_small.jpg?w=1000

Good time to dive in, if you were a listener back in the day, or if you never checked it out.

https://musicophilia.wordpress.com/

If you should feel like following Musicophilia on Twitter (where I first post mixes):

Today is the 12 year anniversary of Musicophilia. I'd honestly say the last few years have been its best--because music has been so essential to keeping hope.https://t.co/cGFrwyRNVK

Thanks for listening, spreading the word, and buying music you love to support musicians! pic.twitter.com/bk9Wtl2Tfm

— Musicophilia (@musicophiliamix) September 6, 2020

Twelve years on, thanks again for 1981, always appreciate it

congrats, as always a huge fan

Thanks! I'd probably have been making mixes even if I'd never thought of the blog, but it's a real pleasure to share the joy and uplift that music brings me.

I'm curious:

Big question: have Musicophilia mixes or links I've posted via Twitter ever lead to you buying any music/merch?

If not: now is *the* time: https://t.co/K9lA2dDIe9

If so, I'd love to know who : )

— Musicophilia (@musicophiliamix) October 4, 2020

Something a bit different:

'The Irish Sea' is an album of improvisational music I made 20 years ago:https://t.co/wVEKsx9RYt

All sales donated (and I'll double them in full) to community bail funds, mutual aid funds, and racial justice organizers here: https://t.co/PmLe0JwWJg pic.twitter.com/yql2K42LuQ

— Musicophilia (@musicophiliamix) October 21, 2020

Got to $450 donated so far!

Thank you, everyone who has picked up my album at Bandcamp--just donated $450 from $225 in album purchases! I'll continue to donate whatever folks pay, and double it--pass it on!https://t.co/xY4zZ2L7fH

— Musicophilia (@musicophiliamix) November 9, 2020

Made the first new mix since October of last year, but it's really been moving me:

'Apparitions'https://t.co/tkZqgz6UBC

with @cleosol @a_deplume @GodfreyAtLarge @tHHs47 @lowtheband @oui_ennui @phonodelica @Sailclothsounds David Darling, Julee Cruise, Durutti Column, Ekin Fil, Hugo Largo, Lia Kohl, Lady Blackbird, Gigi Masin, Stina Nordenstam, Thirteen Moons pic.twitter.com/3XrJSJWdzc

— Musicophilia (@musicophiliamix) May 27, 2022

Looks like I haven't updated this thread since 2019, so there've been a *lot* of mixes since then, worth checking out if you need some human-crafted mixes rather than robot-generated playlists...

https://musicophilia.wordpress.com/

really like this!

Very glad to hear it! Thanks!

I like the way this mix crosses different eras in search of that vibe and sound.

Me too, Giraffe! I often mix specific periods, but these sorts of mixes seeking timelessness as a central quality lend themselves to crossing decades.

This one was on a similar wavelength, and even more temporally eclectic:

https://musicophilia.wordpress.com/2021/02/26/distill/

https://musicophilia.files.wordpress.com/2021/02/musicophilia_00_various_-_distill_1964-2021_cover-a-front.jpg?w=1000

Various – ‘Distill‘
(1964-2021)

Part I

01 [00:00] Benjamin Britten – “Canto Primio (Sosteruto e Largamente)” (‘Cello Suite No. 1, Op. 72’ 1964)
02 [02:20] Alabaster DePlume – “Visit Croatia” (‘Copernicus: The Good Book of No‘ 2012)
03 [07:10] Jason Molina – “Old Worry” (‘Eight Gates‘ 2009)
05 [09:25] Sailcloth – “Year Long Storm” (‘Close Keeping‘ 2018)
05 [11:40] Les Filles de Illighadad – “Inigradan” (‘Les Filles de Illighadad‘ 2016)
06 [14:50] Loma – “Temple” (‘Shivani‘ 2018)
07 [17:30] Yasmin Williams – “Sunshowers” (‘Urban Driftwood‘ 2021)
08 [21:40] His Name Is Alive – “Piano Rev” (‘All The Mirrors In the House‘ 1986)
09 [23:35] Tarkovsky Quartet – “Quand Ien Congneu A Ma Pensee” (‘Nuit Blanche’ 2017)
10 [28:35] Abu Talib – “Blood Of An American” (‘Blood of An American‘ EP 1974)

Part II

11 [32:50] Daniel Schmidt – “And the Darkest Hour is Just Before Dawn” (‘In My Arms, Many Flowers‘ 1978)
12 [40:05] Duval Timothy – “Clouds” (‘Brown Loop‘ 2016)
13 [42:35] Brandee Younger – “Lift Ev’ry Voice & Sing” (‘Lift Ev’ry Voice & Sing‘ single 2020)
14 [46:50] Ralph Stanley – “The Old Church Yard” (‘Shine On’ 2005)
15 [49:45] Arvo Part – “Summa (String Quartet)” (‘The Last Sleep of the Virgin’ 1977)
16 [54:10] Infinity Knives – “Requiem for Yaya” (‘In the Mouth of Sadness‘ 2019)
17 [56:00] Joan Armatrading – “Woncha Come On Home” (‘Show Some Emotion’ 1977)
18 [58:40] Kali Malone – “Sacrificial Code” (‘The Sacrificial Code‘ 2019)
19 [62:05] Krasimir Kyurkchiyski – “Mesechinko Ljo” (‘Bulgarian Folklore Masterpieces’ 1999)
20 [65:15] Philip Glass – “String Quartet No. 3 VI” (‘Kronos Quartet Performs Philip Glass’ 1995)

[Total Time: 1:08:10]

This one must've passed me by. I must admit I'm unfamiliar with a lot of this but I trust your judgement...

October 4th, 2023 marks 15 years of the Musicophilia blog. To mark the anniversary, I made a list of my 15 favorite mixes from the last five years with a few thoughts about each.

https://musicophilia.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/musicophilia-blog_15th-anniversary_v01b-1.jpg?w=1024&h=1024

https://musicophilia.wordpress.com/2023/10/01/15-years-of-musicophilia/