MIX 4

STR SPH MIX VOL. 4
(photo by Lauren Treece)

This painstakingly handcrafted collection of tracks veers wildly through all sorts of landscapes and environments with distinct tones and palettes, dulls creeping away, vivids jolting forward. Sounds like damp tunnels spilling echoes into roars and then rumbles; machetes cutting through jungles as an expedition makes its way to the top of the mountain; city streets congested by lingering whims, because there is never enough time to ask a stranger whose style you admire whether or not they'd want to get coffee later.

#. Artist - Song (Album, Label) // (+links to download/stream/buy where applicable+)
1. Tera Melos - Frozen Zoo (Patagonian Rats, Sargent House)
2. Gala Drop - RAUZE (12" EP, Golf Channel Recordings)
3. Change Leopardon - Airport at Dawn (Gaiden, Critical Stoic)
4. Sean McCann - County Heirlooms (Chances Are Staying, DNT Records)
5. High Wolf - Diego (Ascension, Not Not Fun)
6. Monster Rally - Shangri La (EP, Self-Released)
7. Star Slinger - May I Walk With You? (Single, Self-released)
8. Balam Acab - Big Boy (See Birds EP, Tri Angle)
9. Teams - Airworks (We Have A Room With Everything, Self-released)
10. Woodsman - I Can't Move (??, ??)
11. Persona La Ave - WILLCAVE (Single, AMDISCS)
12. Twin Sister - Lady Daydream (Change Leopardon Remix)
13. Big Spider's Back - Perfect Machine (USF Remix) (Turns EP, Circle Into Square)

STR SPH MIX VOL. 3

STR SPH MIX VOL. 3

Here's a mix I put together months ago (all of the tracks were added to my iTunes library between 4/7 and 5/29). Sorry it took me so long to post. My reason is equal parts exhaustion and disillusionment. I won't bother you with details. Above is an artwork suggestion (paper collage by Are Bokkelmost), and below is a tracklisting suggestion.

#. Artist - Song (Release; Label)

1. Eric Copeland - Fun Dink Death (Doo Doo Run 7"; PPM)
2. Pregnant - Alone (Regional Music; Life's Blood)
3. Vacation Dad - ihopeyourfavoritecoloriseverywhere (Vacation Dad's Soundcloud)
4. Foxes In Fiction - Flashing Lights Have Ended Now (Swung From The Branches; Moodgadget)
5. Lush Cola - Lush (Lush Cola; Patient Sounds)
6. Chrome Wings - Dream Club (Time Patterns; Stunned Records)
7. Connan Mockasin - Faking Jazz Together (Please Turn Me Into The Snat; Phantasy Sound)
8. Royal Hideouts - Kid Brother (Gaucho) (Pine Sharks EP)
9. Cool World - Heavy Pets (Gaydream Nation; DŒS ARE)
10. Dignan Porch - We Sat On The Hill (Tendrils; Captured Tracks)
11. Blithe Field - Ghost Riding The Whip (Beautiful Wave '74)
12. Kites Sail High - Always (Alone/Secrets; Life's Blood)

2nd Mix

STR SPH MIX VOL. 2
(photo by Brenna)

(click for tracklisting)

Started pulling together this volume a little over a week ago, when I was in an unexpected noise-rock nostalgia phase for a few days. It continued to take shape when that phase had evolved into a math-rock craving for another few days. So I guess I consider early math and noise rock bands to be the primary inspiration for this mix (a "central theme", maybe), even though it eventually expanded to include a somewhat wider array of tunes. Including a few from bands I just started listening to as a result of their connections to the establishment of those subgenres, and a few tracks from bands that represent how this kind of music has been shaped over time by the direct and indirect influence of those early bands. And a few bands who might be unrelated or whose placement here might be for personal reasons. It's debatable. Whatever. Enjoy.

1st Mix!

STR SPH MIX VOL. 1
(photo by S. Faitell)

This is a big deal for me -- the first mix I've created for Stratosphering, and the first that I've ever compiled for "public consumption." A lot of thought went into this; I've been tweaking it consistently throughout the past three weeks. I'm just glad to finally be able to share it with you. And if it ends up being a "success" (or even if it doesn't), I'll probably be making more mixes in the future.

The idea to make this mix happened to coincide with my discovery of Awesome Tapes From Africa, so a few tracks from that blog are here. I'm also indebted to the recommendations of All, Everyone, United, Collected Animals, and several good friends.

Read on for the tracklisting, including the last-minute addition of "Window View," that corrupted track from my Beach Fossils link (and, incidentally, my current favorite song on the album). I've also tried to make things easier for you by including (mostly other people's) download links to full albums, where applicable/possible. Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoy the mix.

#. "Song" - Artist (Album)
1. "Cruiser" - Edibles (Super Space/Mind Peace)
2. "Ka Na Wu" - Snr Eddie Donkor (Eye Banker)
3. "Send Me Dub" - King Tubby (Explosive Dub)
4. "Trapez" - Black To Comm (Alphabet 1968)
5. "Come On Let's Go" - Broadcast (The Noise Made By People)
6. "Reaching" - Boas (Boas)
7. "Spring Break" - Atlas Sound (Another Bedroom EP)
8. "Highlight" - Growing (Pumps!)
9. "Latin Lover" - Mi Ami (Steal Your Face)
10. "That's Not Me" - Junk Culture (West Coast)
11. "You're My Excuse To Travel" - Baths (Cerulean)
12. "Splitted" - Illteeno
13. "West" - Endless Endless Endless (Things I Saw)
14. "The Bublight" - Joe Meek & The Blue Men (I Hear A New World)
15. "Winter Is Here" - Dirty Projectors (The Glad Fact)
16. "Moussa" - Sourakata Koite (Sourakata Koite)
17. "Transparent Popsicle" - Orchard Thief (Melt Day)
18. "Window View" - Beach Fossils (Beach Fossils)