And here we go with another ConorMix ™! This time you can follow along at home, starting with side A, here. Unfortunately, the segues between tracks aren’t clean like they’d be on CD, so you’ll just have to imagine their perfection.

01. AmpLive “Video Tapez” (Rainydayz Remixes, 02)

I don’t usually like to use mp3’s as source material for my mixes, but had to make an exception in this case. This is a track from AmpLive’s remixes of Radiohead’s “In Rainbows”. I love the combination of the plaintive piano samples, stuttered vocals lines like “when I’m at/the pearly gates”, electro percussion and massive bass. There’s also a rap by Del the Funky Homosapien that somehow fits.

02. Chavez “Top Pocket Man” (Ride the Fader, 01)

Chavez were something of an anomaly in the indie-rock world, being mostly interested in a pure, unadorned, almost conventional hard rock sound. After getting their compendium remaster “Better Days Will Haunt You”, I was feeling the rock. I edited out the rollercoaster sounds and related screams that fittingly begin the track on the CD, cuz the music by itself is still a thrill.

03. Caetano Veloso “A Little More Blue” (Caetano Veloso 1971, 01)

Caetano Veloso was instrumental in the development of Tropicalia in Brazil in the late 60’s, which had the unfortunate consequence of riling up the country’s military dictatorship. This led to his arrest in 1969 and subsequent exile in London until 1972. “A Little More Blue” comes from his 1971 self-titled album, recorded during this period of exile. This song, particularly the vocal phrasing, is absolutely devastating. Also check out the album’s exquisite cover.

04. Broadcast “America’s Boy” (Tender Buttons, 04)

I loved Broadcast’s debut, “The Noise Made By People”, but for some reason it took me a while to get around to listening to their third full-length. This track begins with an austere electronic percussion part which continues throughout in deliciously metronomic fashion. Great fuzzy synth tones and defective reverb feedback sounds, along with vocals that offer the most beautifully sung commentary on American militarism you’re likely to find.

05. Asobi Seksu “New Years” (Citrus, 03)

Yuki Chikudate, singer for New York band Asobi Seksu (”playful sex”) sings this one in Japanese, though she originally hails from L.A. Here they present the ecstatic upbeat flip-side of shoegazer rock.

06. Burning Airlines “A Lexicon” (Identikit, 03)

A sonic blast from 2001 from Jawbox successor band Burning Airlines, whose name became somewhat unfortunate following the tragic events of September 11th of that year. Shortly afterward, I was planning to see them play in Santa Cruz, but they cancelled, presumably due to that very issue. The girl at the club laughed when I called to ask if Burning Airlines was still playing. I guess it was okay to laugh again by that point. Anyway, there’s a nice austerity to the staccato guitar chording in the verse, which makes the chorus sound all the bigger. “We are, we are/steering by falling stars”.

07. Elastica “S.O.F.T.” (Elastica, 07)

Could Justine Frischmann and myself perhaps be distant relations? I don’t remember being super impressed by Elastica when they were around, but perhaps my opinions were negatively affected by the hype cloud that surrounded them for a brief while. Anyway, recently pulled out their debut and became obsessed with this track, Same Old Fucking Thing.

08. American Analog Set “Cool Kids Keep” (Set Free, 04)

Caught repeat play syndrome with this track on a non-skiing trip to the Sierra earlier this year. These fellows clearly have a Stereolab record or two in their collections. Viva the two chord drone!

09. Pylon “Cool” (Gyrate Plus, 01)

This one is a nice segue, both rhythmically and lyrically, from the prior track. My friend G-Vo turned me on to this album by early Athens band Pylon, whose stark angularity and gleeful danceability comes across a bit like the twisted offspring of Gang of Four and The B-52’s.

10. Jefferson Airplane “Run Around” (Takes Off, 07)

I have come to really love the Airplane. They’re like totally groovy, man, for one thing, and to my left coast ears at least, their music still holds up today. This track has a hypnotic circularity to it that lends itself to repeat listens.

11. All Natural Lemon & Lime Flavors “Saturn Jig” (All Natural Lemon & Lime Flavors, 02)

On the same Sierra trip really got into this track by shoegazer-influenced A.N.L.A.L.F. The analog synth is at times a bit high in the mix for my taste, but the chorus is irresistible. “Run to the radio, run to the radio, run to the radio, run/I know all the songs”.

11.5. Killing Joke “Love Like Blood” (Night Time, 03) [tape version]

On the mux, but not on the CD due to time restrictions. I really love Killing Joke’s debut album, with its crushing tracks like “Requiem” and “Wardance”, but only recently heard their album “Night Time”, despite being familiar with its hit, the wonderful “Eighties”. Speaking of which, one of the hooks for me on this song is the reverby vocal chorus, which somehow seems like a very 80’s device to me.

(Side B will follow next week.)