download sundog mix two: beach tropixThis is the year of the beach. Beach themes have come to dominate band names, albums and songs the way "deer" and "wolf" did only a couple of years ago. In music iconography it seems to come in clusters. Is it the collective unconscious pointing out a culturally important symbol at a specific time or is it merely trend setters and the inevitable followers just doing their thing? Honestly, this time I don't care. Maybe I'm just happy that summer is here and during foggy San Francisco summers I can feel tropical by listening to the latest outpourings of these bands.
The range of "beachness" or "summerness" certainly varies with the bands included on this mix - of which I have selected only a small portion (there may be a part two to this). After the beach atmospheric jam of LAYBAC I began this mix with the band I see as a main ingredient in the harmony and reverb drenched, tribal, beach jams that have been coming out for the past couple few years - Animal Collective. One part Beach Boys, another experimental electronics, a dash of tribal drumming, throw in a bit of psychedelia for good measure and here we are. A number of followers have formed, been influenced or straight have copied the sound. Some have done it very well. Some of them are represented here in this mix (listen to El Guincho, the Barcelonia band who have brought their own depth and latin tinge to this sound, and a dash of it is found in Toro Y Moi's "Blessa" as well).
But this summer sound is not a one trick pony. It crosses over into garage, indie, folk, electronic, pop and all those crazy hybrids inbetween. A special treat for me is "Backwards Beach", the chillier side of the beach sound on the mix, from the band WOOM who's album, Mu's Way, comes out this week! Also included are the amazing harmonies of Idiot Glee (who I found out about via Bandcamp). Another Bandcamp find is unouomedude his forthcoming EP "Marsh", due out this July has me poised with anticipation. I keep expecting to get tired of the infectious pop of "Let's Go Surfing" by the Drums but keep loving it each time I hear it. Hot Spa's "Kiola Beach" is the only song I have from this sundrenched band but oh is it good. Wavves "King of the Beach" brings a mix of garage and beachiness which is a surprise for me, the new album has a much more produced and layered sound to it and I am getting into it more than his previous album (which I also enjoyed). The Wild Nothings are hot little darlings right now - a bit Smiths on a more positive day while enjoying the sunshine. Saw them with the Morning Benders on Governor's Island last month and the mix of the sun, view, booze and their tunes was intoxicating. I can't seem to get enough of Twin Sister. Their progish well formed songs have been playing on repeat in the studio... As has Ducktails' hypnotic tropical psychedelic jams. "The Arrangement", Beach House's contribution to Record Store Day in April, has been in constant rotation on whatever stereo I have been involved with. I originally was closing the mix with the Morning Benders beautiful, summery "Excuses" (which they closed with on Governor's Island as well) and then I got CocoRosie's latest single and lo and behold they covered "Surfer Girl" in the most CocoRosie way. Everyone is loving summer this year. I hope you enjoy this mix. Like I said, there will most likely be a part two. Too many good songs.
Happy summer!
