One of the most challenging things about DJing is bending your will to that of whomever hired you. Spinning a solid block of played-out 80s hits when you're really in the mood to hit the crowd with a vicious blast of dubstep can pain you deeply, but you always have to remember who's footing the bill. Likewise demo CDs that you distribute. Most club owners aren't wild about demos that wander all over the place because they're usually looking for consistency.
Therefore, when I'm not working on piecing together something related to my DJing business, I tend to go a bit hog wild. I'll start with an idea and run with it, no matter where it ends up going. Case in point: Blind Eyes And Tired Smiles.
This particular beasty was initially inspired by the opening track. The Organ was an all too shortived band that modelled their sound around some of my favorite 80s bands - The Cure, Joy Division, The Smiths, etc. I assumed that the mix would continue along in that vein and it did... at least for a bit. Then Johnny Marr and Morrissey did their thing and the tempo was all blown to hell. Tones On Tail ran with the dark, slightly loungey feel and then Beme Seed reduced it even further. Then Clock DVA arrived.
What the hell was that about?
Anyway, I ended up slipping further down the proverbial sprial with the help of Swans, Xmal, and The Cure and then added some additional weirdness with This Mortal Coil. Just an odd stretch. I managed to pull it back some with the Cocteau Twins, but by this time I was pretty much exhausted, so I slipped out the backdoor with some help from Mr Reznor.
It's noisy and ugly in the middle, but, at a slight touch over 58 minutes, here it is, scars and all.
01 - The Organ - Brother
02 - Joy Division - Disorder
03 - Bauhaus - The Passion Of Lovers
04 - The Sisters Of Mercy - Adrenochrome
05 - The Smiths - Rubber Ring
06 - Tones On Tail - Happiness
07 - Beme Seed - Slide
08 - Clock DVA - Dark Encounter
09 - Swans - Speak
10 - Minimal Man - Show Time
11 - Xmal Deutschland - Mondlicht
12 - The Cure - One Hundred Years
13 - This Mortal Coil - Firebrothers
14 - Cocteau Twins - Wax And Wane
15 - Nine Inch Nails - Help Me I Am In Hell
http://www.mtrec.com/blogshots/bets.mp3
Click the image below for the full sized cover.
This mix screams "John Peel Sessions"! At least that's how some of us in the States first heard many of these artists circa 1984. Although many of these artists are familiar, some ... not so much. Can't wait to listen!
Yeah - very John Peel or 4AD. I still relish those times. Let me know which trax you like but are unfamiliar with. May be we can swap some stuff.
Think our college radio station only got the singles from that era via Peel programming. (Remember the discs and what a pain it was to time the start of a track for perfect cart making? Anyone? Bueller?) Don't think we had service from 4AD. A&M/IRS was another story all together. Ah m'ries!
Absolutely. I will indeed be in touch once I listen more mindfully. I've been blissing out between this and your collaboration with the Green Bunny.
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