The Neighbourhood Mixtape: Cross Bones Style

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: Ohbijou, "Niagara"

Lead singer-songwriter Casey Mecija's vocals rush out in "Niagara", surging past the band's heavy arrangement and orchestral mists. The track is the first song on the band's third LP Metal Meets, which comes out this fall.

Track #2: The Billie Hollies, "North Cross Bay"

"Follow the dusty road to the edge of the stars," sings Donna Linklater in "North Cross Bay". The track brims with life when the quartet tells their pastoral tale through dream-folk melodies: a rush of autoharp and back-up chorus, and a quiet gust of clarinet.

Track #3: Actual Water, "Latoya"

Psychedelic hooks support love-struck howls in Actual Water's "Latoya" - a spark for a summer night, some sunshine chimes in your headphones.

Track #4: Cavaliers, "Nova Scotia Horses"

"Nova Scotia Horses" runs freely on open pastures of warm seaside rhythms, enveloping the track's dual vocals in the song with constant motion and energy.

Track #5: Hooded Fang, "Den of Love"

Our countdown to the release of Hooded Fang's sophomore LP Tosta Mista continues with the amorous "Den of Love". Sounding like an old-fashioned slow-dance song, lead vocalist Daniel Lee bellows up a storm, wailing the pangs of his heart like a tortured swain from a Jane Austen novel.

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