„What would be the perfect mixtape?“ – This is what Berlin’s scene label !K7 is going to ask for by initiating the Tapes series. After THE RAPTURE and THE BIG PINK, now FOALS answered to this with the release of their own Tapes edition. Rules are simple and the same as then in force: There is an A- and a B-Side, roughly split into the middle, the mixtape should give insights into the amplitude of the own record collection and there is – of course – a handmade artwork. The selection of music is completely up to the artists and doesn’t have to fit into the band’s sound. And for that the FOALS edition is far away from indie rock-operas like Spanish Sahara or Two steps twice. They’re presenting a mixture of electronic, experimental and disco beats, keeping together by vocal, deep and Chicago house which runs like a thread through the whole mix.
Asked about the variety of chosen songs on Tapes, Edwin Congreave – DJ and keyboarder of FOALS – said: “We wanted it to reflect the taste of the whole band, so I picked music from the last five years of shared listening. We used to tour in an ex-Royal Mail delivery van – the DIY band cliché – and we drove ourselves to shows listening to each others’ playlists on a ropey old cassette player. Nineties math rock, Greek folk music, Kompakt compilations, early METRONOMY demos, endless ARTHUR RUSSELL, sometimes infuriatingly eclectic, but it stretched our minds wide open.”
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This mixtape carries the listener through about 25 years history of music, various genres and decades. How miscellaneous the bands taste is, becomes clear while listening to the mix, which surprises by some unexpected changes in style: For example the track Confusion (Ma Afrika) by CONDRY ZIQUBU – a South-African pop-number from the 80s – which was ripped from a real tape and endued by a fresher beat from house-/dubstep-duo SEPALCURE. Being a bit long-winded from time to time during the first part (JR SEATON – Way Savvy in Gatto Fritto Remix) the mixtape gets caught by TEENGIRL FANTASY’s Cheaters and improves to a bassy DJ-Set animating to dance ending up with some funky sounds by GOSPEL COMFORTERS.
FOALS’ Tapes is anything but the music of FOALS. It is more an insight into the band’s influences, favorite dance-tracks, classic and modern house. All who prefer the typical rousing indie rock-sound of FOALS should be a bit patient. Actually the band is in working on their third studio album. To bridge the time of waiting I recommend tuning in to this mixtape regardless of being a fan or not. For me, it took two or three runs to detect the beauty of the versatile mix and get into it. But finally Tapes made it to become part of my personal summer-playlist.
Tracklisting of “Tapes”:
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Side A
NICOLAS JAAR – Variations
CLARK – Ted (Bibio Remix)
DORIAN CONCEPT – Tropical Hands
CONDREY ZIQUBU – Confusion (Ma Afrika)
THE INVISIBLE – London Girl
JR SEATON – Way Savvy (Gatto Fritto Remix)
BLLOD ORANGE – Dinner
TANNER ROSS – B Side
TEENAGE GIRL – Cheaters (John Talabot’s Classic Vocal Refix)
CHÂTEAU FLIGHT feat. MARIE DAULNE – Superflight (Maurice Fulton Remix)
IN FLAGRANTI – Effective Placebo Affect
TONY ALLEN – Kilode (Carl Craig Remix)
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Side B
ART DEPARTMENT feat. SOUL CLAP & OSUNLADE – We Call Love
CERRONE – Give Me Love (Frankie Knuckles Remix)
ARNOLD JARVIS – Take Some Time Out
ONI AYHUN – OAR003-B
SEPALCURE – Every Day Of My Life (Jimmy Edgar Remix)
MARSHALL JEFFERSON VS. NOOSA HEADS – Mushrooms (Justin Martin Remix)
JOLIO BASHMORE – Battle For Middle You (Maurice Donovan Dub)
CARIBOU – Sun’(Midland Edit)
KONONO Nº1 – Paradiso
GOSPEL COMFORTERS – Yes God Is Real?
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FOALS
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from Oxford, UK
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