Secret Mixtape Review: Mix #16 (10-31) is up!

[Heathen]

I prefer the old model where each person got one mix and one review. This is nice for the first four or five mixes, but it's unsustainable in the long term.

Team It's Lament's Fault

[Brett]

I think I have to agree with The Platypus on this one, even though I have mostly enjoyed checking out all of these mixes. I think this was a sound idea, but it's difficult for people to put in the necessary time to listen to all of these, let alone write reviews.

I'm not sure what would be a better format for this kind of thing, though. The old exchange method could work, but there's obviously no guarantee there, either. At least each mix would have at least one listener in that scenario, though.

On the flipside, this format could be used every once in a while, with several mixes in a row, and then a hiatus when interest wanes, followed by a restart when people start asking for it again. Kind of like seasons in a TV show or something.

[stip]

True. But come on guys. Its like an hour of your time every two weeks, and that's if you do them all.

And many people posted their mix and didn't take the time to listen to anyone else's.

[Heathen]

True. But come on guys. Its like an hour of your time every two weeks, and that's if you do them all.

That's if you only listen to them once. And if reviews write themselves and take no time at all. And if you are not already 10 mixes behind because of the tournaments. And it's still hours that add themselves to other music and busy stuff like life.

[Lament]

We originally had something like 15 different posters sign up. The idea wasn't that all 15 people would review every mix, but that every mix would end up being reviewed by at least 3 or 4 people, whoever it turned out had the time that month or was particularly interested in a certain mix. It just turned out that it was always the same 3 or 4 people doing the reviewing.

Either way, sixteen out sixteen mixes got reviewed by at least someone (usually 3-4 someones) within 14 days of being posted. I'm certain that's a higher success rate than any previous RM mix exchanges.

[stip]

It is. I want to get a review in of this one, but then maybe we should take a break.

Regardless this was an excellent thread, Lament, and definitely helped expose to some new artists I've come to care about

[Jorge]

I mean, we've had mixtape exchanges where 20+ people signed up and everybody got reviewed. But that was a while back. The interest level for that kind of thing is pretty low these days.

I wish I could've participated more in this, but a lethal mix of busyness and laze took me over from the very start.

[LetMeSleep]

As someone who has only reviewed 3 or 4 of these yet listened to maybe double that, my issue is the timeframe. I do intend on listening and reviewing every mix but often the next one is up before I get a chance. It would work better for me if it was 1 a month. Time to listen at least twice.

Over the last week I've listened to 2 mixes yet not had the time to review. I hope to remedy that this weekend.

[Heathen]

Btw I gave your mix a listen, LetMeSleep. I don't know if I'll review it but I really enjoyed it, good job.

[LetMeSleep]

Btw I gave your mix a listen, LetMeSleep. I don't know if I'll review it but I really enjoyed it, good job.

Thanks dude. Thought there were a couple of tracks in there for you.

[Heathen]

The whole thing just flowed very well and had a good atmosphere too.

[LetMeSleep]

The whole thing just flowed very well and had a good atmosphere too.

Colour me complimented.

[Heathen]

The good part about listening to a mix late is that I had no recollection of the what other people wrote about it or the tracklist so I didn't know what to expect at all.

I couldn't find the I Want A Hovercraft album anywhere but I downloaded John Murry and Seascapes of the Interior. I never gave this Strand of Oaks album a chance because its first track rubbed me off the wrong way big time but I liked that song you put there. I'm gonna get some Electrelane too. I had heard of this band a few times but that was the first time I listened to something by them.

[LetMeSleep]

The Strand Of Oaks album is pretty hit and miss. The first half is upbeat and not to my liking. Then there are 2 or 3 tracks that are really pleasant.

The Hovercraft and Seascapes will be dropbox'd when I get a chance.

And Electrelane - The Power Out is the one. It's one of those albums that I seem to return to again and again.

[Heathen]

The Hovercraft and Seascapes will be dropbox'd when I get a chance.

And Electrelane - The Power Out is the one. It's one of those albums that I seem to return to again and again.

Appreciated. I already got Seascapes though. And I got The Power Out + Axes.

[LetMeSleep]

Mixtape 15

1. Nice opener. I am a big fan of an instrumental opener and this grew enough to not grow stale. Tis a keeper.

2. Sort of dub soul. Lots of interesting parts and quite a few annoying parts too. My second listen proved what I initially thought. Fuck this singer. Nice keys though.

3. The flow is moving along nicely. This singer is more like it. He has grown, he has lived. Good song.

4. This has to be Ray Lamontagne. He has a voice that I sometimes like. I feel I should give him more time. This was a decent track that I'll listen to again. The percussion bed is nice, was this from the Ethan Johns produced album? In fact the rhythm has been a major point so far. This feels a bit like a 70s throwback. Varis, have you heard any Jonathan Wilson?

5. Bit of a left turn here. This would be fine live but I'm not into listening to this stuff that much.

6. Billy Bragg. He does polarize doesn't he? I loved the Mermaid Avenue stuff but I haven't liked much else from him. This hasn't changed that. Though I went with the ride.

7. Back on the soul train. Instrumentation is top notch although I want a syncopated snare in there. Is that Lou? Got to be Lou. He's alright for a troublesome bastard. Good work here that'll be heard again.

8. This is a sweet instrumental track. Either it's a pianist or a keyboardist stretching their legs. Maybe it's from a score? It's nice though.

9. Honeyblood SuperRat - I got this album after Varis posted it in the 2014 thread. It's a good album that I enjoy on most occasions.

10. Too smooth for me. Trying to be positive here but there's little that I'm enjoying.

11. I tend to not go for this style of vocal, the reaching... the over reaching doesn't tickle me. The instrumentation is nice though.

12. Much better. I prefer a funereal touch to my tunes. Lovely lazy guitar to it too. I love that it's almost falling apart. It's fragile, it's intimate. Not sure about the siren keys. Another keeper.

13. Shouting Matches. I am a fan of JV and this is a damn nice track. Not the best on the album but it's up there. Bit of Prince, bit of Shaun Smith. Lovely jubbly.

14. I'm pretty sure this is the Rick Wright demon for Us and Them. Nice ending and a real treat. Must get that new PF album.

Good flow Varis. There are a handful of tracks that interest me and a few more I'll delve deeper into.

[William Bloke]

[LetMeSleep]

I Want A Hovercraft
https://www.dropbox.com/s/umqglv1o3qeq8 ... t.zip?dl=0

Seascapes Of The Interior
https://www.dropbox.com/s/cpp3le5ot3bmy ... _.zip?dl=0

Grun/Greenland (an old band of mine. album and ep). mostly instrumental rock, perfect for Stipper
https://www.dropbox.com/s/oohboby7zons4 ... n.zip?dl=0

[Heathen]

thanks man

[LetMeSleep]

Yet another shout out to Chud for his mix. My daughter really likes the Chvrches and Lorde tracks.