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: Heartbeat Hotel, "Windowsill 1"

Heartbeat Hotel converts the idea of romance into rhythm in "Windowsill 1", and now thanks to istoica, Mary Gerretsen and James Cooper, you can watch the multi-layered track translated into a multi-coloured video.

Track #2: Rival Boys, "Recovery"

"We're calling out," yells the trio of Rival Boys. "Recovery" resists musical restraint and silence, and demonstrates what it's like to be young, full of energy and full of blood.

Track #3: Jim Guthrie, Sarah Harmer and Bry Webb (Constantines), "Long Time Before This"

Three acoustic guitars ripple like a stream in "Long Time Before This" (taken from the National Parks Project Soundtrack), while Sarah Harmer weaves in vocal whispers, the memories and history of Gwaii Haanas National Park in British Columbia and its ancient inhabitants, the Haida.

Track #4: With Hidden Noise, "Don't You Know"

"Don't You Know" recalls the slackened melodies of Grizzly Bear, while Charlie Berger's vocals float with the track's meandering, skipping-stone beat.

Track #5: Freedom or Death, "This Crowded Room"

Freedom or Death rises unafraid, pushing for pleasure and sophistication with "This Crowded Room", a track that flickers 80s new-wave nostalgia and modern construction to "break the silence" - just as FoD lead vocalist Sway sings.

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