Mixtape #172


It’s no secret we were completely drawn in by Sheldon Agwu’s work after stumbling upon his music earlier this year. A longtime presence in London’s music scene, Agwu has collaborated with artists like Jordan Rakei, Yussef Dayes and Bonobo, and held musical director roles at iconic venues like Jazz Cafe and XOYO. The London-based guitarist, producer and multi-instrumentalist released Kintsugi in April, a stunning and sublime debut inspired by and named after the Japanese art of embracing imperfection. With this album, Agwu channels years of exploration into a deeply personal and affecting work, blending virtuosic electric guitar with influences from jazz, hip-hop, trip hop, and ambient textures. So we’re over the moon to have him at the helm of this month’s mixtape. Featuring tracks from Jon Hassell, Thelonious Monk, Bitchin Bajas, Madlib, Sam Gendel and more, it opens a window into the creative world that helps shape his own music. Press play and drift away.

  1. Andrew Pekler – Forever (Is No Time At All) [Faitiche]
  2. Thelonious Monk – Ugly Beauty [Columbia]
  3. Jon Hassell – Empire V [Editions EG]
  4. Daniel Villarreal – Things Can Be Calm [International Anthem]
  5. Gregory Uhlmann, Josh Johnson, Sam Wilkes – Marvis [International Anthem]
  6. Dorothy Ashby – Wax & Wane [Cadet]
  7. Kenny Burrell – Theme IV, Recapitulation [Cadet]
  8. Yesterdays New Quintet (Madlib) – Julani [Stones Throw Records]
  9. Ken Brown – Continental Drift [Temporary Residence]
  10. Jeff Parker – Jrifted [International Anthem]
  11. Can – Spray [United Artists Records]
  12. Tony Williams – Circa 45 [Polydor]
  13. Natural Information Society & Bitchin Bajas – Clock No Clock [Drag City]
  14. Bilal – Evr Chngin Nrml
  15. Triosk Meets Jan Jelinek – The Lake [~scape]
  16. Bitchin Bajas – Amorpha [Drag City]
  17. Sam Gendel – Two Tone [Leaving Records]

Mixtape #156


Spanish quartet Melenas, comprising Oihana (guitar, vocals), Leire (bass), María (keyboards) & Lauri (drums), have been making waves since forming in 2016 with their energetic and compelling krautpop compositions. Hailing from Pamplona, they’ve been an integral part of the city’s underground music scene. Last year they released their incredible third album, Ahora, crystallizing the musical vibrancy they’re known for whilst taking a more nuanced and complex approach to their sound. We’re excited to have them curate this month’s mixtape, offering a glimpse into their diverse musical influences.

  1. Angel Corpus-Christi – Dream, Baby, Dream [Munster Records | Criminal Damage]
  2. Lizzy Mercier Descloux – Five Troubles Mambo [Philips]
  3. Ela Orleans – Planet Mars [La Station Radar | Atelier Ciseaux]
  4. Karen Marks – Cold Café [Efficient Space]
  5. Air waves – Star Earring [Fire Records]
  6. Psychic Tv – Godstar [Temple Records]
  7. Chandra – Stranger [Telephone Explosion]
  8. Can – Moonshake [United Artists]
  9. Sofia – El Cielo Blanco [Humo Internacional | Espora Records]
  10. Brian Eno – I’ll Come Running [Island]
  11. Airu – Es por tu bien [Oso Polita]
  12. Bar Italia – Nurse! [Matador]
  13. Adiós amores – La Fuente [Snap! Clap! Club | Ground Control]
  14. Fleetwood Mac – Dreams [Dragonfly Records]
  15. Spunky Onions – How I Lost My Virginity [Optimo Music]
  16. Vivien Goldman – Launderette [Staubgold]
  17. The Durutti Column – Tomorrow [Factory Benelux]

Mixtape #135

Originally from New York, and now based in Nashville, Tennessee, Rob Burger is one of the most creative forces on today’s music scene. Throughout the last two decades, as an incredibly talented multi-instrumentalist, composer and arranger, Burger has amassed a body of work that encompasses film scores, founding chamber music collective Tin Hat Trio and various collaborations with artists like John Zorn, Laurie Anderson, Elvis Costello, Rufus Wainwright, Lou Reed, Lucinda Williams, Beth Orton and Iron & Wine, amongst many others. Burger has also made his name as a gifted solo artist and with his sublime new album, Marching With Feathers, arriving later this month, we are stoked to have him put together this beautiful and enthralling mix exploring the myriad influences at play in his music. Press play already!

  1. Can – Moonshake [Sunset Records / United Artists Records]
  2. Alice Coltrane – Sita Ram [Impulse!]
  3. Moondog – Viking 1 [Kopf / Managarm]
  4. Raymond Scott – Lightworks (Slow) [Basta]
  5. Emahoy Tsegué-Maryam Guèbrou – The Song of the Sea [Buda Musique]
  6. John Fahey – Will The Circle Be Unbroken [4 Men With Beards]
  7. Tom Zé – Toc [Continental]
  8. Nino Rota – Il Giardino Delle Fate [Cam]
  9. Duke Ellington – Angu [Reprise]
  10. Eno / Byrne – Moonlight In Glory [Sire / Polydor]
  11. Hans-Joachim Roedelius – Final [Egg / Bureau B]
  12. Bernard Herrmann – Scene d’Amour [Sony / ATV Songs LLC]

Mute / Spoon Records set to release Can Live series, first Can: Live in Stuttgart 1975 incoming in May

Legendary krautrock outfit Can is one of the most influential bands of all time, with a catalogue that keeps on giving. Highlighting their live performances, Mute and Spoon Records have announced the release of a series of live albums, The Can Live series. Remastered from the original tapes to the best possible quality, The Can Live series was overseen by founding member Irmin Schmidt and producer / engineer Rene Tinner. Can: Live in Stuttgart 1975, the first of five parts, will be released on May 28th. The first taste from it comes in the shape of a snippet from the epic, vibrant and groovy jam ‘Stuttgart 75 Eins’. Take a listen now.

Watch Can’s official video for ‘Vitamin C’

Can - Vitamin CThe amazingly groovy and psychedelic ‘Vitamin C’, taken from Can‘s album Ege Bamyasi, has been paired with an accompanying video 45 years on from its original release. ‘Vitamin C’ is one of the tracks featured in The Singles, a collection of all of Can’s singles, which came out last month as a triple release to celebrate their 50th anniversary. The video was created by Josh Graham at Suspended In Light and you can watch it below.

Can The Singles is out now via Mute.

Listen to Can’s ‘Shikako Maru Ten’ off forthcoming CAN The Singles

Can The SinglesThis year marks the 50th anniversary of Can, who are one of, if not the most influential band of all time. To celebrate this monumental occasion, and following a very special show at the Barbican in London last month, a collection of all of their singles is being released as a triple vinyl. Entitled CAN The Singles, it comes out on June 16th through Mute.

The delightfully groovy and sultry ‘Shikako Maru Ten’ is one of the singles included in Can’s upcoming release. A rarer track, it never appeared on an album and was the B-side to ‘Spoon’, off their 1972 album Ege Bamyasi. This is the first time ‘Shikako Maru Ten’ is available digitally so give it a listen now.