The Neighbourhood Mixtape: Ramble in the Roots

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: RatTail, "George Tronic"

Call it dystopic-rock or something mellow like a cloudy, rainy day. "Cross my bones and hope to die for you," sings Jasmyn Burke, her voice quavering with the track's electronic ambience - quite different from the song's earlier and more tropical version (from their George Mounsey EP).

Track #2: LOOM, "Around Again (Island Mix)"

We get a little taste of singer-songwriter Brooke Manning's new project as LOOM with the rousing "Around Again". Manning's sharp vocals float above a whirling, semi-hazy foreground, which grip her listeners onto each word before she blurs her vocals out of focus - a disappearing illusion.

Track #3: The Autumn Stones, "Perfect Cool"

Textural and nostalgia are words that come to mind when you hear "Perfect Cool". The Autumn Stones smear the track with a joyous, breathing melody that radiates happy feelings.

Track #4: Picastro, "Neva"

Picastro's "Neva" may be a little older, but the delicately haunting track still attracts attention. Foreboding string arrangements entangle Liz Hysen's vocals, which encircle and weave like a spider's web.

Track #5: Blood Rexdale and the Walls Are Blonde, "Dinosaur F..."

"Dinosaur F..." is a bedlam of noise and words. And it's difficult not to enjoy its melodic lawlessness once you hear its chaos of ascending drum loops and David Kleiser's vocal preaches.

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