Hosepipe Ban-ger Mix

Who's not loving the amazing weather hitting the UK at the moment? Well, as the heat continues to crank up, it brings an abundance of highs and lows. Scorchers in the Park with a nice cold Pimms - WIN. Smelly people on public transport - FAIL. I have had a run in with more of the latter unfortunately. And what would British summer be without a library of complaints about how hot it is, with air-con's melting, beers going warm and of course the good old hosepipe ban. So things tend to get pretty sweaty, sticky and damn right dirty in the summer really, so why not give you a mix to properly encapsulate that? With its fair share of annoyances and grimey basslines, I present to you my Hosepipe Ban-ger mix sure to have you reeling for a dip in your responsibly filled paddling pool!

Hosepipe Ban-Ger Mix by Samcotton on Mixcloud

Tracklist:

Jack Beats - Out Of Body

Soulwax - E Talking (Faisal Remix)

Afrojack ft. Eva Simons - Take Over Control (Original Mix)

Sidney Samson - The World Is Yours (Original Mix)

Afrojack - Polkadots 2010 (Oliver Twizt Remix)

Mike Posner - Cooler Than Me (Skeet Skeet's AY! Edit)

Human Life - In It Together (Jaymo & Andy George Moda Remix)

Nom De Strip - Loving Life

Bloody Disco - Blood!?

Proxy - Vibrate (Sound Of Stereo Remix)

Sound of Stereo  - Zipper

Deadmau5 - Some Chords (BetaTraxx Remix)

Mowgli - London To Paris

The Twelves - Air (Skyy Mix)

The Middle East @ Bush Hall 13th July 2010

A balmy and relatively muggy English summer evening welcomed The Middle East into Shepherds Bush’s own Bush Hall. It wasn’t only the weather that was reminiscent of their homeland, immediately antipodean murmurs filled the hall (like many of the gigs I attend these days – the enlightenment of having an Aussie GF). Murmurs turned to pandemonium as the five plus strong band took to the stage, fortifying that tonight was very much a home from home gig.

The Townsville rockers have been assembled for five years only to oddly sport one album “The Recordings Of The Middle East” amongst various EPs and compilation releases. Like many folk bands I have witnessed, the EPs songs are mythical and lush complimented with pensive picks of guitars and blissful harmonies; juxtaposed by onslaughts of noise and thrashing banjos.  The live Middle East flirt between a barndance ho-down to a pin-drop silencing of the crowd. The later reminiscent of young Laura Marling’s musical authority. Marling herself attended the gig as the B&B host to Bree Tranter (female vocalist). In one moment the stage is buckling under the pressure of the foot stomping fun. To the next where the audience has been commanded into musical silence with only the hum of the air conditioning as interruption coupled with the thought that the sweat coating your body would deny had ever been installed.

A lead vocalist could not be pinpointed, with vocals being harmoniously shared between three members: Jordan Ireland, Rohin Jones and Bree Tranter, which doubtlessly derived in a phenomenal sound texture. Add these foundations to the ever-changing amalgamation of instruments and instrumentalists (the list is truly as long as your arm) with the cherry on top being that the band are infatuated with their performance. With this kind of enthusiasum galvanised with their material it seems the band are sifting through copious albums for 75 minutes, what more could you ask?

The Aussies closed with the singalong favorite “Blood” and it was evident that The Middle East you hear through your headphones aren’t the Middle East witnessed on stage. Country roots infect their vigour live, with more power and passion. A crescendo becomes a deafendo, it begs whether amplification is needed at all in such a venue. However, when they wind down to the quiet sections over half the band are satisfied to leave the stage (minus the mentalist from the support band who begged to play then tambourine for every song of their set – he got dragged off...).  Very much a home gig on foreign soil but was one hell of an away win.

Houser Than July

Here's a little treat for you guy's looking for a bit of summer respite! The weather is trying its best but we all know our next sunny day is few and far between. Smack this mix on whatever the weather, with some remix duty on festival favorites as Two Door Cinema Club and Crystal Castles. Indeed I popped the odd kick in there just incase you were about to drift off on that sun lounger and spill your Pimms everywhere!

Houser Than July Mix 2010 by Samcotton on Mixcloud

Tracklist:

John Roman - Ready For This (TKO Remix)           

Mowgli - We Think Its Cool (Original Mix)

Duck Sauce - Barbara Streisand (Manila Killa Edit)

Tiesto feat. Diplo - C'Mon (Original Mix)           

Tom Starr - Cannon

Passion Pit - Folds In Your Hands (Keljet Remix)

Casio Kids - finn bikkjen! (LightsOverLA remix)           

KA SO RE - Bunnies (Helsinki 78-82 Remix)

Chemical Brothers  - Swoon (Boys Noize Summer Mix)

Two Door Cinema Club - Undercover Martyn (Softwar Remix)

Crystal Castles - Celestica (THE SONIXX Remix)

Breakbot  - Baby I'm Yours (Aeroplane Remix)                       

Aeroplane - We Can`t Fly (Extended Drums Mix)