This more or less came about when a friend was lamenting the latest, long-awaited Portishead album, and its departure from their traditional style. Interviews with the band confirmed what we'd suspected: they were tired of being viewed as background music. Who, then, could we turn to? Tricky too had taken a turn for the louder.
To that end I compiled the Nacht mix, a collection of some new songs, some old songs, and some very old songs.
About Her - Malcolm McLaren
This great track is from the Kill Bill soundtrack.
Somebody Needs You - Lo Fidelity Allstars
Le Lendemain - Marianne Dissard
Change My Ways - Flunk
It's rare that I'll put two tracks by the same artist in a mix, but I can't get enough of Flunk. How delighted I was, then, to encounter this morning while catching up on my blarrgghs in the Google Reader that KEXP DJ Michele Myers wrote about them recently and included this great video.
Squares - The Beta Band
This is an old track off Hot Shots II, but I love it. My only wish is that the rest of the album were of the same calibre.
The Crow (Dub) - DJ Food
Shook - Emancipator
Emancipator remixed Sigur Ros and Mobb Deep into one delicious track that I love and have been waiting for an excuse to put it on some mix or another.
Sit Down - Flunk
Mages Sages (Light a Dub 2 This) - Flying Lotus
He Needs Me - Incog
More Shine - Si*Se
Before We Go To Bed - Head Like a Kite
Astute listeners will remember Head Like a Kite from last Summer's mix with "No Ordinary Caveman." They're very different tracks, but I love both.
Collapsing At Your Doorstep - Air France
Cascade (Live) - Tycho
Caged Blue - Trentalange
In their most recent issue, Bitch magazine recommended Awakening Level One as a "soundtrack to an uncertain seduction." It didn't quite fit well on the winter mix, so I didn't include anything there, but it is nonetheless a lovely album worth picking up if you like "Caged Blue."
Je T'aime Moi Non Plus - Serge Gainsbourg
Was there a more perfect year for music than 1969? OK, maybe '68 or '92. Still, this is a classic, lovely song from the late Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin that I nearly didn't include because I thought it was too obvious. When I found out that there were people who hadn't heard it, though, I decided to go ahead and include the song. Fans might want to check out Cat Power's "I Love You / Me Neither," an English cover of the song, although personally I prefer the original though I enjoy Cat Power in general.
All I Want Is You - Michael Franti & Spearhead
In true White People form, while I hate to profess loyalty to any particular genre, reggae does hold a special place in my heart (although no, I never had a Marley phase). I do, however, love Michael Franti, was thrilled to be able to see him last year at Street Scene, and really found it far and away the most energetic show of the evening. All Rebel Rockers is another great album from Franti and I especially like this downtempo, low-key track.
Promiscuous - Nelly Furtado
Arguably "Promiscuous" doesn't quite fit or flow as well as the rest of the other tracks, but I thought it was fun and included it anyway. Don't like that? Make your own mix.
The artwork came from the NY Public Library's modern dance photography collection. I think the cover photo is absolutely perfect.
