The Neighbourhood Mixtape: The Way It Is
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: Little Girls, "Ex"
Little Girls' "Ex" freezes you in time, and its hollow and bottomless echoes take you through a directionless drift of winding and psychedelic riffs.
Track #2: Eight and a Half, "Scissors"
Eight and a Half are Justin Peroff of Broken Social Scene and Dave Hamelin and Liam O'Neil - formerly of The Stills. "Scissors" emerges in drones and a heavy synth riptide. "I always knew I wouldn't be here for long," sings Hamelin, "the scissors cut deep and long," his voice remaining afloat.
Track #3: Slim Twig, "There's a Secret to your Pleasure"
Slim Twig just released a new 7" that includes the hypnotic pop scrambler "There's a Secret to your Pleasure". In it, Slim Twig corrals in a little bit of everything - some tropicalia and lo-fi, echoes of Nick Cave-esque tavern sounds.
Track #4: Great Aunt Ida, "Noonday Sun"
"Noonday Sun" is a sweet song where warm strings brush along singer-songwriter Ida Nilsen and her expressive vocals - light through the window.
Track #5: Austra, "Crying (Roy Orbison Cover)"
Austra offers a timeless version of the classic Roy Orbison track. Sari and Romy Lightman of Tasseomancy add eclipsing chorals against a background of transcendental and mournful orchestration. Buy the track here (part of the Deluxe Edition of Austra's LP Feel It Break).
If you wish to be a part of The Neighbourhood Mixtape, you can contact Aldrin at aldrin [at] blogto [dotcom]
Join the conversation Load comments