Pure Misery

Category: Various Artists

Sounds like: The captain going down with the ship.

In slight parody of the conventions of those Pure Moods comps you see on TV, this mix chronicles a progression of dour moods. Pianos and piano-like sounds feature as a sonic motif throughout many of the tracks, and there's also a bit of a watery theme, the ship lost at sea but still blundering onward. I tend to pull this out in the dead of winter; the upbeat mixes show themselves once spring's in session.

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01. The May Family Reunion - Henry's Ghost
02. Christina Carter - For All Death/Be Come
03. Blonde Redhead - Four Damaged Lemons (Third Eye Foundation remix)
04. Spokane - The Absentee
05. Mus - Caseria
06. Black Heart Procession - A Light So Dim
07. Rachel's - All is Calm
08. This Mortal Coil - Song to the Siren
09. Eluvium - There Wasn't Anything
10. The Angels of Light - Praise Your Name
11. Afghan Whigs - My Curse
12. Xiu Xiu - Dr. Troll
13. Rosewater Elizabeth - How You Break
14. Songs: Ohia - Blue Factory Flame
15. Black Tape for a Blue Girl - Again, to Drift

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Until a Single Spark Ignites

Category: Various Artists

Sounds like: Watching autumn fade into the long winter ahead.

This mix tape collects electronic songs mostly from the last few years. It's a follow-up of sorts to another mix I did a few years ago that featured a similarly melancholy, downbeat roster. At the same time it's playful in parts, and it takes a flippant turn toward the end.

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01. Psapp - Calm Down
02. Andi Teichmann - Tape
03. Midaircondo - Perfect Spot
04. m83 - Don't Save Us From the Flames (Boom Bip remix)
05. Ensemble - All We Leave Behind (feat. Mileece)
06. Hanne Hukkelberg - Ticking Bomb
07. Caural - Cold Hands (feat. Hrishikesh Hirway)
08. Bracken - Safe Safe Safe
09. Clark - Frau Wav
10. Apparat - Birds
11. AGF - PRIVATEbirds
12. Carrie - Complicado
13. Popnoname - Fuck You
14. Alex Smoke - Make My Day
15. Matthew Dear - Deserter

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