Shy Talk

16th Jan 2005

Compilations are brilliant.

For years I used to record the John Peel radio show and then listen through the tapes over the following days, editing what I liked into what I referred to as my "Peel Tapes". I must have over seventy 90-minute taped compilations going back more than fifteen years. Listening back to these taped compilations, as they reflected Peel's diverse tastes I realised I didn't have the luxury to plan them out; one song followed another according to what Peel played. This highlighted the complexity involved when making a decent compilation.

Over the years I've made lots of tapes and CD's of my favourite music. I worked out that a good compilation has to consider factors like sequencing, tempo, volume and music-type. So, it's with great pleasure I now present to you the first of some of my more successful compilations.

This first one is titled Shy Talk: a reference to track 5, "Shithawke" by Riton. It also features some of the best German electronic musicians making music at the moment; artists like Ellen Allien and Michael Mayer. Here's a brief run through of the playlist.

Bloc Party - Banquet (Phones disco edit)
This is a remix from new kids on the UK bloc. Very catchy pop music and sounds like The Cure. Ones to watch for 2005
Alter Ego - Rocker
A big underground hit in the summer of 2004, "Rocker", featuring a lovely phat base and slightly off-kilter first couple of minutes, balances the melodious and unlistenable perfectly
The Knife - Pass This On
Amazing video, check it out on The Knife website. Electronic steel drums give it a delicious eighties feel. I reviewed it already
Paul Kalkbrenner - Der Berserker
Melodious, motorised beat from German electronic music maestro
Riton - Shitehawke
Lifted off the second album "Homies and Homos" by gay icon, model and mild mannered electronic music creative genius Henry Smithson. The whole album reminds me a little of Julian Cope. Catchy tune... you'll be singing along before you know it
Vector Lovers - Electrosuite
Delicious electronic riff and vocodered vocals from Martin Wheeler, reminiscent of Daft Punk
Swayzak - Then There's Her
With a vocal contribution from Clair Dietrich, this cool, dubby, anecdotal number is taken from Swayzak's fourth album "Loops From The Bergerie"
Gold Chains and Sue Cie - Crowd Control
A recent signing to kitty yo, the album combines house, garage, punk and techno resulting in a unique pop sound. "Crowd Control" begins with a lovely farty beat before the double-tracked vocals of Topher sets the anthemic scene
The Youngsters - Slow
A hard-edged, techno-tinged and slightly hypnotic number from French duo Gil le Gamin and Olivier M
Ellen Allien - Send
Ellen Fraatz (aka Allien) is a brilliant DJ, brilliant songwriter and runs the brilliant, German, electro/techno label Bpitch Control. This belter of a track is taken from her first album Stadtkind and rolls along withunderstated power; a grower
Michael Mayer - Amabile
Another German DJ and producer. This track is taken from his debut album "Touch". Hypnotic
Anthony Rother - Night of the Gods
Another brilliant German artist, this time less hypnotic and more atmospheric; almost orchestral. Epic track
Junior Boys - Teach Me How to Fight
Best track from their debut album "Last Exit". A claim to be influenced by the track "Bamboo Houses" by Ryuichi Sakamoto and David Sylvian is understandable. A gentle, eighties-sounding song
Boom Bip - Closed Shoulders (cLOUDEAD Remix)
A mellow, melancholic and strangely blissful number with dark undercurrents