The Neighbourhood Mixtape: Bright Young Thing

The Neighbourhood Mixtape is a collection of newly-released songs by Toronto musicians. The mixtape is meant to celebrate Toronto's music culture and provide a forum to listen to and discover new local music.

Every Sunday, I post a five-track mixtape (along with my own mini-reflections for each track) that you can download or stream as a soundtrack for the week.

Track #1: Phantom Ambulance, "The Bellwater Theme"

"The Bellwater Theme" pulses in a chilled trance as its minimalist arrangement and fluid bass act like catnip for techno lovers.

Track #2: Beliefs, "Iron Streams"

Beliefs' casts "Iron Streams" straight from the shoegaze furnace, forging the song from dishevelled percussion, vocal distortions and garage rock candy hooks.

Track #3: Tasseomancy, "Healthy Hands"

Let Tasseomancy's spook-folk track "Healthy Hands" tell your fortune. Drums and tambourine creep up, and a door creaks. "Healthy hands will mourn you," sings twins Sari and Romy Lightman, their vocal spells surrounding the room.

Track #4: Carnival Moon, "Maple Wife"

Elaine Kelly's lush pitch-shifts intoxicate, and the band's feathery arrangements create the perfect ballad, inspiring windows into open scenery and spaces.

Track #5: Austra, "Lose It (Young Galaxy Remix)"

Young Galaxy puts their own touch on Austra's second single "Lose It", muffling the vocal layers in the song's chorus and replacing it with a flute. The end result is a tropical, decelerated astral disco track.

If you wish to be a part of The Neighbourhood Mixtape, you can contact Aldrin at aldrin [at] blogto [dotcom]