June 22, 2014
Miracler
Ethan Prater
Location
San Francisco
It's our word-map-cover-art Miracler!
The same! Ethan Prater, he of State of the Union State of Mind, has created the Summer '14 companion to his Election Day '12 mix, though the similarities definitely end with the cover art. I'm not even sure if any instruments have crossed over. You'll see what I mean. It's great.
Please note: I'm off for some Caribbean beach time with my man, starting this week, which both means that I already have my soundtrack (Thanks Ethan), AND that we're going to take a short Prodge break, coming back after July 4. But this mix will definitely bridge the gap. Have a grand couple of weeks—see you back here soon! XOK
Some comments on ET's last mix:
Great idea! Beautifully executed. James McMurtry is a new discovery for me. Loving it. Thanks Ethan! / Thank gawd there was a 70s track! Weird, though – an Earl King song without him playing guitar? Is that legal? Really liked JJ Grey & Mofro (never heard him before, but he keeps showing up in my Genius recommendations), James McMurty (never heard of him period), and loved the Bon Iver song – and I say that not being a fan. Also hadn't heard the Black Keys song, this version of "Chicago" or the band Charley Horse. Enjoyed them all. A great mix for a rainy post-election day. Go Ethan! Go Obama! / Hi Ethan! Cool mix. I stepped back and thought about how may directions one could run with the idea and I really like the one(s) you took. The Sufjan Stevens alt version is always fun, and for me it wedges nicely with the Bon Iver track. And the Charley Horse Waits-avoidance-logic works well enough for me :)(Also: Really? This is McMurtry's prodge debut?) / Tasty and timely stew. Love the concept. Welcome, Ethan! Cool to hear New Orleans' great Earl King, may he R in P. Thanks also for including James McMurtry. He may not so country-wide, but here in Austin McMurtry's an acerbic institution. He plays every Wednesday at the Continental Club. His dad is Larry McMurtry, author of Lonesome Dove. Being a cut-the-bullshit type, I'm guessing that James hates having his lineage pointed out. He's got his own way with words. / Nicely done, Ethan. I particularly liked the Charley Horse and James McMurtry cuts. And I'm not ashamed to say that Ohio is one of my favorite Black Keys songs. Oh, and the Chris Thomas King cut was perfect for this theme.
Liner Notes by EP
A teenage summer in the '80s evoked with songs from the new millennium. Recalling the glisteny sheen of synthesizers trying too hard to express analog emotions. The puffed up pomposity, the carefree clangorousness - the straining pastel melodies of overwrought heartbreak. (And the purple prosody of lame liner notes.)
2. Hemiplegia (HAERTS, 2013)
3. Sing the Changes (The Fireman, 2008) Paul McCartney always has the smile in his voice.
4. Chapters (Commuter, 2006) Maybe more "Veronica Mars" than "The Wonder Years", but it misses the mark in just the right way.
5. The Promise (Arcadia, 1985) Okay, so it's actually from the '80s. Made by guys actually wearing billowy shirts. But it's a good song! And with Simon Le Bon on lead vocals, Sting's best backup since "Money for Nothing", and an actual saxophone solo - what's not to love? (For those keeping score at home, this is the rarer, briefer "7" Mix".)
6. Nice Weather for Ducks (Lemon Jelly, 2002) Side 2 starts with aimless fun. Let it wash over you.
7. The Tuning of the World (Karl Bartos, 2013) A harder-edged interlude from the Kraftwerk dude.
8. The Mother We Share (Chvrches, 2013) We would have loved to have a song like this thirty years ago.
9. Strong (London Grammar, 2013) London Grammar made their 3MPM debut a few mixes ago, but this is a different selection (and not the album track, but rather the "RAC Remix").
10. Endless Fantasy (Anamanaguchi, 2013) Revel in the bubbliness of video game music. Remember watching someone play Sega OutRun? Let's go out waving our arms above our heads.
11. 'Til I Die (The Beach Boys, 1971) This bonus track by Brian Wilson doesn't exactly fit, but somehow it goes with the vibe - and hits its own mark in a way nothing has since.
Mix is UP. To comment on this mix, click on the 'Comment' button below the post and write something. If you don't have/want to use your Google etc. accounts, just type your name in the "Name" box and you are done. See you back here or on our members-only Facebook page soon. XOK
15 comments:
No apologies for sticking "'Til I Die" on the end of the mix -- I think it fits in well and its a great tune. Was just listening to it with my kids the other day and we were totally grooving to it. Thanks for a great summer mix!
Aside from a couple bands, all these synth songs are completely new to me. My favorites are by London Grammar, St. Lucia, Lemon Jelly, and Commuter. That Beach Boys song is beautiful.
Loving this mix. Hearing it for the first time on the 4th of July. LOUD. Yet another thing to celebrate! Thanks, Ethan. More comments to come...
Holiday's over, man - time to get back to the Prodge!
I thought this was a dynamite mix, with a nice variety of synth sounds and uses. I thought it was strong from the get-go with the St. Lucia song (I kinda wish they'd left it instrumental, though), and kept going. I enjoyed the Fireman track's analog/synth hybrid (and Macca singing at the top of his range throughout), the gigantic 80's production of Arcadia, the weirdness of Lemon Jelly, and ending it with the Beach Boys was just a nice touch. I was slightly let down by the Karl Bartos track, just because he's a monster figure in electronic music, and this one just felt like a rehash of Depeche Mode's "Blasphemous Rumors" with vocoder. I'll give it another chance, though - his pedigree merits it!
Arcadia? BOLD! As a sister of that day and age I am, natch, loving this. I, too, have heard glimpses of familiarity in much of the modern music these kids are putting out these days. Thanks for roping it all together. Time to dance in front of the mirror singing into a hairbrush...!
This mix is so much fun; perfect for sultry July. Could't agree more about the Anamanaguchi track. I generally can't listen to vapid dance music, but this has a heart and the ability to get even my legs moving! Thanks for daring to be different.
Paul Rhodes
Catching up on my Prodge listening... Lots of unfamiliar stuff for me here, although I've enjoyed that Lemon Jelly album for a few years.
Really enjoyed the opening track which brought me back to my JrHS love of Jean Michel Jarre. The Fireman and Anamanaguchi also really stood out for me.
Those who enjoy this '80s/retro-synth style stuff might like the new release "Strange Desires" by Bleachers (side project of Jack Antonoff of the band Fun, with most or all of his bandmates). Lots of reverb-laden arena style stuff, with a tiny dash of contemporary sounds in there.
Almost everything here is new to me and a real musical shift from what I usually listen to. Who cares? I like it a lot! My favorite is Chapters, by Commuter. I dig the crispy crinkly sounds that crop up throughout. Lemon Jelly is a great summer smile. And reaching back to the Beach Boys was the perfect way to close it out. Thanks, Ethan.
So many sounds to enjoy here. My favorite tracks are those from Lemon Jelly, London Grammar (love that voice), Commuter, and the Firemen. Thanks much.
Seeing as I woke up this morning with "all the ducks are swimming in the water" running on a continual loop in my head I figured I'd better finally tell you how great this mix is Ethan.
Lots to love here but my faves are St Lucia, HAERTS, The Firemen, Lemon Jelly, Beach Boys but most especially Commuter and London Grammar. So catchy.
My electronic tastes tend to be more in the Thievery Corp chillout zone, so these were new and interesting.
Especially liked the Haert, London Grammar songs. And of course, the Lemon Jelly track.
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