The Neighbourhood Mixtape: Out the Hollows

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: Mr. Tunes, "Want/Need"

The cover for Mr. Tunes' LP Strangers on a Plain depicts exactly what its title evokes. And his minimalist instrumental "Want/Need" expresses this marooned image by filling your bedroom with broken beats and barely audible warped vocals.

Track #2: Rotten Tropics, "The Commissioner of Sewers"

Cultish electro and murky vocals provide the Rotten Tropics' track "The Commissioner of Sewers" with primal energy.

Track #3: Del Bel, "Dusk Light"

Del Bel consist of members from Do Make Say Think, Broken Social Scene, Ohbijou, Kite Hill and many others, which is why their track "Dusk Light" sounds familiar, a glimpse into the emotive and layered sound textures they bring.

Track #4: Rebekah Higgs, "Gosh, Darn, Damn"

Rebekah Higgs' sophomore LP Odd Fellowship came out this week. And her sugary-pop track "Gosh, Darn, Damn" charms with fluttery arrangements and high/low trampoline vocal swoops.

Track #5: Elliott Brood, "If I Get Old"

It's hard not to imagine yourself out in the country, chewing on a grass straw when Mark Sasso sings the lyrics, "If I get old, I'm livin' easy / Find a nice old country home / Let the land do what she wants to / Leave her wild and overgrown." Elliott Brood's bright folk-rock tune "If I Get Old" warms with simple sentiments and fresh and open guitar arrangements.

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