As you may have read last week, this Tune Tape is the first to be broadcast from Farnham, Surrey. To explain what this means, I've decided to put together a little map.
That's right. Farnham is so uncool I've listed it in Comic Sans MS. Ouch. As you might imagine, being in a town where the median age is dead can start to do things to your head (high five for rhyming), which is why this week's Tune Tape is a little thin on the ground compared with last week's colossus of nigh on 30 tracks. But hey, we roll with the punches. This week, I've decided to do things a little differently. Instead of my usual one paragraph essay on tracks, I've decided to break it down and concentrate on a smaller selection of tracks - to which a little summary will accompany. Hopefully a smaller selection of tracks will make it easier for you to load the page - I know some of your internet machines have been having shit fits trying to handle that much Soundcloud at once. As always - feedback, feedback, feedback, por favor!
1. This Charming Man (Luis Leon Bootleck) - The Smiths
Being a massive fan of The Smiths (yet another band to come out of Manchester - holler), I'm always weary of any remixes of their tracks - especially "the classics", of which This Charming Man is arguably the best known. Anyone who has tried to turn a Smiths song into filthy Dubstep, trashy EuroHouse or an Electro banger has - in my eyes - failed miserably. Then along came this track, which, with its slow crescendo and delicate beat, holds the Smiths' hand into the world of Progressive House. And what a track it makes! The lyrics aren't messed with and still provide the focus of the track, while a toned-down house beat accompanies the song, elongating it into something that can be enjoyed for several minutes, rather than the 2:45 of the original. That's got to be a win.
2. Farah Fawcett Hair (feat. André 3000) - Capital Cities Last month, André 3000 released his joint cover with Beyoncé of Amy Winehouse's Back to Black, which featured pretty prominently on The Great Gatsby soundtrack. Although it was a far cry from his Ms Jackson heyday, it's great to hear his unmistakable gravelly growl again - this month in collaboration with Capital Cities. Farah Fawcett Hair is following the new trend of 'copy+paste' established by artist such as The Avalanches, Clean Bandit, and Chinese Man. Essentially, tracks are made up of a host of samples taken from retro films, advertisements, turn-of-the-last-century records...you get the picture. If those, plus the crazy-happy chorus isn't enough for you, the input of André 3000 takes it to another level of awesome. 3. Get Lucky(Daft Punk Cover) - San Cisco
Speaking of covers...here's San Cisco covering that track that you're probably sick of hearing: Get Lucky. While Daughter's take on the track was, in my opinion, down right depressing, San Cisco essentially makes an acoustic version of the original. The tempo's pretty similar, it features an electric guitar in the chorus, but I reckon (say it quietly) the vocals are better than Pharell's. In a purely musical sense of the word, of course. Regardless, this cover made me fall in love with the track all over again - hopefully it can do the same for you. 4. Dancing in September Mashup - Troika I'm always a little weary of Mashups. In my experience, a vast amount are tacky and amateurish, only dealing with the most overplayed of the year's chart crap. However, when they're good, they're great. Troika's Dancing in September is the perfect example of when a Mashup gets it right. He manages to mix together the least cringe, but still well known, chart toppers with a host of lesser known tracks to create one hell of a guilty pleasure. This song demands fist pumps, and for the first time in your life, you would be totally validated. Touché, Mr Troika - I tip my (flat) cap to you. 5. Somethin' Bout You - Follow Me
Another week, another track from Follow Me - these dudes are no strangers to Tune Tape Tuesdays. If you're new here, Follow Me likes taking signature tracks from the 90's (TLC, Brandy, etc) and turning it into some incredible House. This week is no different. According to their song page, they heard a radio broadcast from 1996, and decided to turn it into something new - ie. THIS. With the beat of progressive house, but lacking in the minutes, this is perfect to stick on and get people moving. 6. Betwixt - OMN Here's one to divide opinions. This is what my mother likes to call "repetitive crap". Agreed, there is an element of repetitiveness, but only if that's what you're concentrating on. I guess it depends what you use your music for; if it's purpose is to fill the silence whilst you do your work - this song is perfect. If you prefer to put the music in the front seat, then you might become weary of this track after a few plays. Personally, I think it's a good crack at Chillwave - but it's hardly breaking any boundaries. 7. Art & a Wife - Rah Rah
This week we're signing off with a video. Not because it's particularly mind-blowing, but because Rah Rah doesn't currently have a Soundcloud account (and uploading it myself is against copyright, apparently). The VT features a couple of remote-control cars being chased by a pack of dogs in a park. If you like those 'animals do the funniest things' YouTubes, then this might be for you. However random, the video suits the band's playful sound. With a vibe similar to DataRock in the mid-00's, a sound somewhere between The Drums and the Courteneers, and tongue-in-cheek lyrics that wouldn't feel out of place in a Franz Ferdinand track, Rah Rah sets itself squarely in the Indie tradition. With a toe-tapping beat and catchy riffs, this track is perfect for skipping along to under the warm Summer sun - which reminds me, what am I doing inside?
Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's another late Wish List. Cry me a river. Some people have JOB INTERVIEWS to attend. Which got me thinking: seeing as I'm now technically an actual grown-up, with a degree and everything, I'm going to need a bit of a wardrobe maturation. Unfortunately, slogan Tees and shiny leggings don't quite cut it in the boardroom. In light of this, I thought I'd put together three different, but interview-appropriate, outfits to inspire your move into the world of industry. Welcome to the party, kids. Three things to remember when meeting your potential future boss/subordinates (however you look at it): 1. Have a gimmick. I don't mean a weird accent, or a limp. Wear something different; a patterned shirt, bold shoes, or a statement necklace. Not only is it a conversation starter, it will make sure you're remembered out of a sea of corporate suits. Win. 2. Tie your hair up. There is nothing more annoying, distracting, and off-putting than someone nervously fiddling with their split ends. I'm totally guilty of doing this when it's down, so for God's sake, do yourself a favour and keep your hair away from your hands. It also shows off your beautiful, expressive, and honest (?) face. 3. Unless your auditioning for a job as a hooker, tone down the makeup. No one wants to hire a Kardashian. Alright, enough preaching. Time for some FASHION. LOOK 1.
1. 'Cecila' Venice Swirl-Print Shirt by Erdem, Matches, £550. Give it a swirl, here. 2. Black Geek-Chic Glasses by John Lennon, Glasses Direct, £125. Through the looking-glass, here. 3. 'Heroine' Structured Leather Bag by Alexander McQueen, Matches, £1,595. Heroine addict, here. 4. Harem Tailored Trousers by Sportmax, Matches, £125. Wear the trousers, here. 5. Horse Necklace by Bill Skinner, ASOS, £135. Horsing around, here. 6. Nail Polish in Russian Roulette by Essie, Superdrug, £8. Red or Dead, here. 7. Hi Strap Sandals by UNIQUE, Topshop, £115. Strap on, here.
LOOK 2.
1. Sky Blue V-Neck Shirt, Zara, £23. Sky's the limit, here. 2. Slim Runway Orange Strap Watch by Michael Kors, ASOS, £145. The future's orange, here. 3. Red Metal T-Bar Sandals, River Island, £30. Heavy metal, here. 4. 'Mason' Navy Flared Skirt, Reiss, £89. In the navy, here. 5. 'Designer' Satchel in Green/Navy, The Cambridge Satchel Company, £133. Satchel good look, here.
LOOK 3.
1. Basic Blazer in Navy, Zara, £50. Blazer trail, here. 2. Floral Cutout Playsuit, Topshop, £50. Cut it out, here. 3. Jet Set Travel Medium Saffiano Tote by Michael Kors, Selfridges, £240. Tote-al Recall, here. 4. Flamingo Bangle in Light Pink, Anna Lou of London, £38. Flaming go, here. 5. French 75 Suede Stiletto in Pink, Whistles, £125. Pink to make the boys wink, here. Good luck with the job hunt mes belles! Love, Belle x
When I was six, I broke my arm really badly. I was playing on the monkey bars at school, slipped, and fell on my straightened arm, making the bones overlap. Gruesome, I know. I had to have a cast put on it for 3 months. The cast was blue, and people at school wrote messages in marker pens of 'get well soon's and cartoon faces. I wore it like a trophy; like a symbol of the good and the bad. Finally, the day came for it to be removed. Most kids who break a limb count down to this day - the day when they're 'back to normal'. Not me, I cried and screamed. I didn't want my cast to be removed, because, psychologically, it was like cutting off a part of myself. Bit of a random story, I hear you say. Bear with, there is a point. Today I officially moved out of my flat in Manchester. My parents had kindly driven all the way up from Surrey to cart my things back home, and by God did I give them a hard time. I didn't want them touching my stuff. I got annoyed at them asking whether or not they needed to take X or Y. They cleaned the entire kitchen and I only just managed to spit a thank you at them. Why was I being such a bitch? Because my flat had become like my cast: it had become such a part of me, that losing it was physically painful. Like the scribbles of classmates on my cast, my flat played host to countless friends, family, and loves. Some of the happiest, and the saddest, times of my life had occurred within its walls. I learned the news of my grandmother's passing sitting on the sofa, of the engagement of one of my best friends in bed at 3 in the morning. When I was poor, I ate packet noodles in the kitchen. When I had money, I had friends over for huge suppers and parties. I laughed, and I cried, in every room - and I remember every time with equal clarity. I filled the walls with memories - literally, with photos and paintings, and metaphorically, with everything that happened to me whilst I was there. Admittedly, sometimes these memories got too much. When I broke up with my boyfriend, I removed every photo from the walls that reminded me of him - with not much success, as the memories of the times he was there still haunted the place. When I was alone, I filled the space with music, with words, and when neither helped, with the sound of typing - I started this blog sitting on my bed. So I guess the question is, what happens when you move on? I think the answer is in there: you move on. When my cast was taken off, the doctor asked me if I wanted to keep it. Strangely enough, although the ordeal had been so dramatic, I said no. I think I didn't want to be reminded of something that I'd lost. I wanted to move on. Perhaps I knew that there would be other broken bones, other ways of keeping memories of friendships and good wishes alive - I didn't have to keep a physical representation of them with me forever. The point is, I can't be a Van Wilder. I couldn't live in that flat forever, just as I couldn't keep repeating the final year of university because I'm scared of what comes next. There will be other flats, other houses, other homes, that I will fill with new memories, new people. However scary it is, there will always be a next chapter. Even death, as my grandmother used to say, is the start of something new. Today I arrived back at home. Downstairs are 8 bags of clothes, books, and DVDs that are going to fill someone else's home. I just finished putting together a collage of photos and pictures - none of which feature times in my old flat. Because we can't live in the past forever. Sometimes we just have to take a deep breath, bite the bullet, and have faith that more good times are gonna come.
