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]