#mixtape is a feature in which we ask someone to send in a playlist of ten tracks they’re enjoying at the moment and then get them to say a few things about each track. The idea being to see what we can gauge from someone’s music taste whilst listening to some cool tunes. We could go on about it a bit more but that’s about it really.
I can remember my fourth birthday. My mother told me to close my eyes and put out my hand. I peeked as she rooted around in that secret place above the microwave where I was too small to reach yet. She pulled out an Enya cassette tape. This birthday present brought my record collection up to two tapes: Enya and ABBA. I played them on repeat on the tape player in my room. ABBA for jumping on my bed and dancing alone and Enya for sleeping. I once combined the two activities when my Mum brought me to an ABBA tribute concert, exhausted from the impossible excitement of silver confetti falling from the ceiling at the end of Mama Mia, I gave up and fell asleep in my seat. My mum and sister carried me out to the taxi.
My music taste has changed somewhat since then but it is just as strange. I tried to find some sort of theme or thread of coherence running through this playlist. No such luck. All I could think of is my four year old self jumping and flailing her little arms to Swedish pop music, and how she was ludicrously happy. In that spirit, here are 10 songs to be happy to. Jumping on the bed is strongly advised.
1. One Day I Wish to Have This Kind of Time – Ott
I was first attracted to Ott because of the wonderful surrealist artwork on his album Mir. Then there were the names of the songs, Owl Stretching Time and The Aubergine of the Sun, how could one resist? This song makes me about as happy and chilled out as a little surrealist snail can be, lots of pretty sounds all wrapped up in a reggae beat with a trippy, meditative voice over. Close your eyes and listen.
2. Where Do the Children Play – Cat Stevens
I like to sing this song to my broccoli plants as I water them. They have yet to sing back to me, but I live in hope.
3. Harvest Moon – Poolside
I think that this song tastes like pineapple. It’s a flavour that lingers throughout the whole album which is called Pacific Standard Time. A grooved out version of the original Neil Young song, this is very chilled and rather sexy in a cheesy, finger-clicking, hip-waggling old man way.
4. & It Was U – How to Dress Well
I don’t think this song really needs any words. It’s just a good time for the ears.
5. Soul Kitchen – The Doors
When you listen to songs like this you understand why Jim Morrison is buried in the poet’s corner of the Père Lachaise cemetery.
‘The cars crawl past all stuffed with eyes
Street lights share their hollow glow
Your brain seems bruised with numb surprise
Still one place to go
Still one place to go’
6. ‘Cause of Loving – Marbert Rocel
The album this song is from is beautiful. It’s called Small Hours and it’s chill, jazzy and very clever. They layer pretty, pastel-coloured sounds and vocals over the deeper shades of dancey beats, making music that can feel either cheeky and joyful or lonely and listless.
7. Must Be Love – Les Loups
The sweet sweet joy of french house that is all ankles, knees and elbows and that irresistible, gyrating, can’t sit still, bass line of love. This is happy dance music.
8. Mosquito – Romeofoxtrott
I asked a friend of mine to help write a description for this song. All we managed was this string of descriptors: bubble bass, cheeky brass, bopidy bop, jazzy shoulder bounce, casual sex. I think that’s about right.
9. Monster Stomp – Gramatik
I wish this was a full song, but it is too funky for me to resist adding it in. Gramatik has recently made all his music, which ranges from grooved out beats to heavier dup-step, available for free download online. He is a Slovenian music God sent to bring pleasure to our ear drums.
10. Going to Heaven with the Goodie Goodies – Amine Edge and DANCE
Just wait. Just wait for the drop.
Katie Duggan
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