Laki Mera - Crater (Mogwai Remix)
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“Crater (Mogwai Remix)” by Laki Mera // Crater EP (2011)
Laki Mera create a type of ethereal dream folk that sounds like a more optimistic variant on the kind of music created by The XX, or a more folksy take on the Cocteau Twins. That being said, the original “Crater” was a great balance of those two sounds, with perhaps a little trip-hop leaning. Here, in the hands of fellow Glaswegians, Mogwai, all of those sounds are brought together and intensified. Gone is the backing beat and in it’s place is a steady pulse of drone that resonates and gives the song an eerie, lovelorn quality that really brings out the beauty in the vocals (especially the chorus, which now shifts into a shimmering synth dream). This is a stunning track. One of my favorites in recent months. For fans of Cocteau Twins, The xx, and (recent p|m|w favorites), Happy Particles.
The xx - Open Eyes (Demo)
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“Open Eyes (demo)” by The xx // Demos from Forthcoming Album (2011)
I’d forgotten how much I missed The xx and then boom, a prompt Christmas reminder in the form of a stark, haunting demo from the recording sessions of the forthcoming album. This is a dark one. Ghostly, sparse stuff that sounds like it could be an outtake from a This Mortal Coil album. That’s not meant to be a crack - in fact I pretty much love this track. It’s absolutely got me salivating for more. Hopefully those next tastes will be sooner rather than later.
The Antlers - VCR (The XX cover)
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“VCR” by The Antlers // Originally by The XX // (together) (2011)
The Antlers already have one of the best albums of the year, but not content to just rest on that simple fact, they’re back with a new EP of collaborations, b-sides, and this cover of The XX’s “VCR”. It’s pretty much exactly the kind of layered beauty that you’d expect from the Antlers covering The XX, so press play and vibe out to this dreamy goodness.
(download) “VCR” by The Antlers (via Pitchfork)
FAVORITE ALBUMS OF 2009 (as chosen in 2009)
- “Veckatimest” by Grizzly Bear
- “XX” by The XX
- “Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix” by Phoenix
- “Two Suns” by Bat for Lashes
- “It’s a Blitz” by Yeah Yeah Yeahs
- (bonus compilation pick) “Dark Was the Night” by Various
* listen to these favorite albums of 2009 in a p|m|w Spotify playlist.
Once again, 2009 was a major transitional year for me with far too much movement and emotional turmoil to really settle into a solid selection of albums that grabbed my attention. I suppose I just didn’t find the time that year to get absorbed into a lot of selections, hence my fairly obvious choices here.
For me, 2009 was much more about single song discoveries that I found myself obsessed with, but that’s not to take anything away from these selections. They’re all wonderful albums, full of incredible music. These were certainly the albums that stood out above the rest at the time, but in hindsight, I can see that I overlooked several choices that certainly were not properly absorbed until the following year.
All that being said, seeing these albums listed together does bring back a slew of memories from various points in that year that were often filled with grief and pain, but also some tremendous moments of self-discovery. Grizzly Bear and some of the tracks found on “Dark Was the Night” still carry reminders of a blossoming relationship that was building (perhaps too fast) in the early months. Phoenix was certainly the soundtrack to some of the more happy and successful moments of 2009 (the summer months), while The XX provided a mood for the later months as things started to turn dark on all aspects of my life.
It’s strange how you can let music be an escape as well as a tomb to lock yourself away and feed your depressions. Sometimes it feels like the right song can save your life or put a bullet in your head. Luckily, the singles from that year did more saving - or perhaps “distracting” is a better word.
* (previous top 5 year end lists)
THE AFTERGLOW : EPISODE 32
This episode ballooned on me a bit because I didn’t get one out last week so this week, imagine you’re downloading a 90-minute cassette tape. I’ve broke the mix into “sides” as to make the downloading easier. This episode being the lengthy bastard that it is, I kept Side A a bit more upbeat and Side B a bit more dreamy. Still the same vibe overall as usual. Lots of great new bands and songs on this collection. Don’t be afraid to REBLOG and share with others.
Once again, thank you for all the support. You are all so great. Thank you. As always, these Afterglow mixes are best heard at night. Make out to it. Drive to it. Study to it. Sleep to it. Fuck to it. Do whatever you like, but please enjoy it.
PLAYLIST: (individual tracks have links, full mixtape link at bottom)
SIDE A:
- the joy formidable - THE GREATEST LIGHT IS THE GREATEST SHADE
- chains of love - YOU GOT IT
- the radio dept. - ON YOUR SIDE
- kynan - PURPLE RAIN (Prince Cover)
- spokes - 345
- cloud nothings - UNDERSTAND AT ALL
- alexander ebert - REMEMBER YOUR HEART
- first aid kit - IT HURTS ME TOO
- the thoughts - THE CAGE
- telekinesis - YOU TURN CLEAR IN THE SUN
- devotchka - 100 OTHER LOVERS
SIDE B:
- spectre folk - THE BLACKEST MEDICINE
- lower heaven - WILDERNESS
- jeans wilder - IN MY DREAMS
- puro instinct - SLIVERS OF YOU
- glitter bones - 10.07 - AMULET CALLS
- creep - DAYS (feat. Romy from The XX)
- young prisms - SUGAR
- cass mccombs - COUNTY LINE
- evan abeele - INDIAN SUMMER
- jeans wilder - LIGHT SLEEPER
- wheat - THIS ROUGH MAGIC
(download) The Afterglow : Episode 32 Side A
(download) The Afterglow : Episode 32 Side B
You can always revisit the other 31 Afterglows HERE. Thanks for listening.
Gorillaz - Crystalised (The XX cover)
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gorillaz - CRYSTALISED (THE XX cover)
Fresh off the press. Live from the Radio 1 Lounge studio. A great cover of a wonderful song. It’s pretty hard to improve on anything the XX do, but hearing Damon Albarn sing their work starts to make me believe it might be possible.
(mp3) Crystalised (The XX cover)
