SubVersion Stop 55: Muttley - The Hunt From Nothing To Something (January 2010)

"The Hunt From Nothing To Something" was formed from lampooning my online and offline persona. I have often been obsessive for various things in my childhood and adolescence, be it cars, trading cards, video games and, as the underpinning rudiment, music. This would explain why I back up everything I've downloaded, ripped and burnt to DVD each month. Then there are the negative attributes cast on me by ignorance. The tracks work in unison to warm the winter days we're experiencing.

TRACKLISTING

01. Eluvium - I Will Not Forget That I Have Forgotten (from the album When I Live By The Garden And The Sea)
02. Harmonic 33 - Departure Lounge (from the album Music For Film, Radio & Television)
03. ON - Oh Run Slowly (from the album Your Ghost Comes Back To Haunt Me At Night)
04. Stars Of The Lid - December Hunting For Vegetarian Fuckface (from the album And Their Refinement Of The Decline)
05. Brock Van Wey - White Clouds Drift On And On (from the album White Clouds Drift On And On)
06. Fennesz & Sakamoto - Abyss (from the album Cendre)
07. Wereju - Not Who I Thought You Were (from the album Fairytale Ending)

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SubVersion Stop 54: Muttley - I Toss And Turn, But There Is Light Somewhere (January 2010)

I had a selection of recordings in this tracklist playing at varying intervals while I slept on New Year's Day, and thought it would be cool to try and capture the peak- to-trough schematic of my brain switching on and off from the music. I had my headphones in, tossed and turned in bed to the sounds of ambient, waking up in the middle of tunes, being lulled to rest by them in succession.

Most of the records are fairly new - the Hibernate Sampler was released in winter 2009 and is highly recommended by myself - and best of all, it's a free download! For sleep theme variations, search out "Threshold", and be sure that "Tension Is A Ruse", a forthcoming instalment, will prolong investment in how we can handle everyday occurences.

TRACKLISTING

01. Steve Roach - Opening Sky (from the album Dynamic Stillness)
02. Lexithimie - Scale 1 (from the album Hibernate Sampler 1)
03. Carl Sagan's Ghost - Solitude I (from the album At The End Of It All)
04. Peter James - Still (from the album Holding On - Letting Go)
05. Eluvium - Everything To Come (from the album Talk Amongst The Trees)
06. Bas Van Huizen - Diggeldenker (from the album Ontgalman)
07. Northener - The End Of December (from the album Hibernate Sampler 1)
08. Stars Of The Lid - Don't Bother They're Here (from the album And Their Refinement Of The Decline)
09. Porzellan - Rosen (from the album Hibernate Sampler 1)
10. Sundog Peacehouse - Mountain Triple Ocean (from the album Brosound)

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SubVersion Stop 53: Muttley - In The Face Of Loss (January 2010)

"In The Face Of Loss" is a light-hearted lament to how we don't always seem warranted, when we didn't get the fortunes we desired, where bricks are metaphorically falling on top of us, and if we're worried our work isn't up to par. The foundation was three-fold - I began reviewing gigs for pleasure stroke self-improvement in August 2009, whereby an encouraging email from Ronan @ Nightshift filled me with enthusiasm.

From August to December 2009 I've had five reviews published - one by Nightshift, one through Blues In Britain and three via Oxfordshire Music Scene. I aim to keep on with this hobby, but have bad days as well as good - for reasons you could glean from my writeups of past.

The second ruse was my Open University course. My tutor marked assessment was sent in and I'm awaiting critique with my grade. "In The Face Of Loss" is foreseeing the worst case scenario in that I fail the examination, and, making the problem bigger, the course itself.

Crucially, however, I was mainly influenced by a discussion with SC user Annastay. She gave me feedback on "Caught In Static", saying she could "kind of breathe mentally with it". Therefore my intention with "In The Face Of Loss" was to imagine a universally perfect tracklisting for soaking up battle scars; balancing grievances with gratification.

"Summertime" by Ringo Deathstarr was chosen for this specific seasoning: a dreamy shoegaze anthem, similar to Slowdive in essence of configuring reminiscence on the sunny days you had earlier that year, or years prior to that date. As ever, feedback welcome with open arms; I hope you enjoy the trip.

TRACKLISTING

01. Marow - Caph (from the album Scintillation)
02. Peter James - In The Face Of Loss (from the album Holding On - Letting Go)
03. SpeaK - The Sun Resonates With You (from the album Once Nomadic)
04. Drowning The Virgin Silence - We Twist The Sun And Sea (from the album Beneath The Sulfur Sky)
05. Olafur Arnalds - Og Lengra (from the album Dyad 1909)
06. Zelienople - Indifferent Dreams (from the album Gone OST)
07. Low Light - Landing Dust (free download - www.lowlightmixes.blogspot.com)
08. Marcus Schmickler - 22 Gliders_Rule 4 (from the album Param)
09. Hammock - This Kind Of Life Keeps Breaking Your Heart (from the album Maybe They Will Sing For Us Tomorrow)
10. Stars Of The Lid - Dungtitled (In A Major) (from the album And Their Refinement Of The Decline)
11. Ringo Deathstarr - Summertime (from the EP In Love)

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SubVersion Stop 52: Muttley - Starting All Over (January 2010)

If you're a follower of my sets you'll perhaps remember that I got a reply from the woman that inspired many early efforts. Well, four months on from telling me she'll explain everything, and prior to observing her as status: online while I've been using instant messenger for more hours than I can count, she deserves no sympathy for leading me on to believe I'll ever get a mature response to rectify positioning I stand in with her. I haven't chased her up, and I won't be contacting her again.

If she reads this, I hope she can see the error of her ways - in causing multiple fractures in my lifestyle - but I doubt it. I know I shouldn't resent her for it, and maybe she's decided to let me down lightly - as an alternative to traded words that could get bent out of shape in her perception. In any language, though, it speaks volumes for a lack of integrity on her part, and the misinformation no doubt fed by her friends.

"Starting All Over" is what I'll be using to emblematize the shift of my worries to becoming chaff from the wheat. They - belief she was down, depressed or dejected, serve no purpose now. I was flustered by resultant issues and the "not knowing" stage, but I don't have to go through with that anymore. Gordon Giltrap's "Starting All Over" puts things pertinently in perspective: "Don't tell me my line of thoughts' out of line / I don't need anyone, me and my chicken run / I'm singing a song, feeling fine".

This mixtape has more songwriting than my last five instalments put together. It isn't that idiosyncratic, to contrast previous work in 2009. All the same, there are several personas the lyrics can appeal to. Beck Lanehart's "Reckless" meanders in a story of love that pulls heartstrings to fathoms off the map, whereas PJ Harvey and John Parish's "Passionless, Pointless" is asking "Where does the passion go?". Clannad's "Something To Believe In" is included as I built this as my mother's birthday present in 2009, whereby my parents are fans of the album "Past - Present"- as I am as well.

It's taken so long for me to put this online because I was longing it out for that woman to pluck the courage and return the favour with friendship. I was waiting for what we shared to be recouped innocently, as it started. Now 2010 is upon us, I can safely say I'm sick of it, past it, and have moved on completely. I hope if you believe in New Year's resolutions that yours come true and alive - mine is to never deal with this hardship again. Whenever I am tempted, the warmth has faded. Begone is the useless symptom - in comes the truth of soul, distilled for evermore.

TRACKLISTING

01. Gordon Giltrap - Starting All Over (from the album "Testament Of Time")
02. Neil Halstead - Witless Or Wise (from the album "Oh! Mighty Engine")
03. Beck Lanehart - Reckless (CD-R)
04. PJ Harvey & John Parish - Passionless, Pointless (from the album "A Woman A Man Walked By")
05. Clannad - Something To Believe In (from the album "Past: Present")
06. Eluvium - Intermission (from the album "Copia")
07. Neil Halstead - A Gentle Heart (from the album "Oh! Mighty Engine")
08. Grouper - When We Fall (from the album "Dragging A Dead Deer Up A Hill")
09. Paavoharju - Tuoksu Tarttuu Meihin (from the album "Laulu Laakson Kukista")
10. Gordon Giltrap - Deserter (from the album "Perilous Journey")
11. Bill Frisell - Eli (from the album "The Intercontinentals")

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SubVersion Stop 51: Muttley & Guests - The 15 Minutes Of Fame Mix Series (2006-2010 archive)

Easy all

Back in the July of 2006 I decided to begin a mix series dedicated to underexposed artists, and their assorted enterprises. Still entitled as such, "15 Minutes Of Fame" has gone on to accumulate over 45000 downloads since its inception. Through the link underneath this text you will find all folders to my music exposure projects:

http://muttley.kapsil.net

And below that is an updated blog on the series, complete with the guidelines for onlookers and DJs alike to adhere to:

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1. Up to 40 minutes in length

2. No more than 10 tracks

3. Unsigned and signed tracks can feature

4. All genres can be covered where applicable

5. All tracks mixed in key where possible

6. The aim of each mix should be to promote the artists featured, not the skills of the DJ.

7. Any means of mixing are acceptable, live or programmed, but state what you used.

8. Each set-list will include as much information about the tracks and artists as possible in order to act as a highly informative resource for the listener. External links - for example myspace pages, other selected tracks, music reviews and more can be implemented as you see fit, providing they will be deemed as relevant for the audience to use.

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Disclaimers


1. Gaps between mixes may vary for several reasons. There is no set time for each new set to pop up.

2. I'm not a mixing robot. And because I realise this, I can attest that, as a contributor you don't have to be. There will be no egos. Just good music, first and foremost.

3. Nonetheless, this doesn't mean the contributors will want to be shielded from constructive criticism. I certainly don't, rest assured. If you can spare a few words here and there, then please do. Because as far as I see, feedback is the only way a mini-movement of selectors can move forward and better themselves proactively.

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The 2006-2010 archive can be found via the following link:


http://www.subvertcentral.com/forum/showthread.php?t=51303&highlight=muttley

Every set published on this blog, barring the SubVersion recommends series is a 15 Minutes Of Fame mixtape, exclusive to SubVersion, and stroke or it's initial source.

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Finally, if you're reading this text and wondering how you as an artist can possibly see your music featured, or if you'd like to contribute a set, here's the lowdown...

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Submitting tracks and mixes


To do this you can:

1. Send me a private message through whatever forum this text is posted on.

2. Contact me via email at: fifteenminutesofmuttley@hotmail.co.uk

3. Post in threads such as the one you may be reading right now.


Your mix will receive a permanent home on the muttley.kapsil.net server, be supported on whatever forums SubVersion visits, and be archived with a wealth of source material for present and future enjoyment.

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'15 Minutes OF Fame' was partly inspired by the Subvert Central Podcasts, a series which holds parallels in terms of welcoming diversity in the selections presented. Seeing as this concept is now well and truly off the ground it appeared the ideal time for me to align it with another of similar mindset, and enable the spreading of this small internet project further than originally intended. Special thanks go to Ben Subvert (aka Scope) for accepting my request for conjoining the projects under one recognisable banner.


Thanks to everyone for their continued support on the forums about this series. It's truly appreciated and makes it all seem worth investing time in.

Bests, and many thanks for reading
Muttley

SubVersion Stop 50: Muttley - Back To Mine Pt.3 - Dark Days, They Make Us Believe We're Someone Else

The 50th SubVersion instalment brings a special New Year gift into circulation...

Muttley - Back To Mine Pt.3 - Dark Days, They Make Us Believe We're Someone Else

Well here it be: my opus to end 2009. The first 'Back To Mine' - "Overshadowed" - was heralded as a return to being myself. The second - "Reflections" - a home listening catch-all for mental disorders. This, in its unhurried incantation, is for putting the past behind me, revisiting, and travelling to and from my chosen occupation.

Around this period I furthered my inquisitivity for classical and ambient music, speaking to a 60-nearing friend there of his passion for opera. "Dark Days, They Make Us Believe We're Someone Else" is an aid to get myself in the right mindset to guarantee I don't have ensuing apothesis'.

"Where Are You?" I discovered via Paradigm X's excellent 15 Minutes Of Fame debut - "Vocalisms". I decided I needed a rhetorical buffer to maximise the changing of styles early in the set, and the calming of textures with the musical. The transition isn't smooth - I aimed to undercut the subsidence to a minimal drone, where synchronizing written with aural was a conduit - "How To Catch The Right Thought" (track 4)?

This is what awaits us, subjectively - a well of despair and self-destruction, where our true self is disconnected, and defective behaviour longs for spiritual manna. Favourites that have stayed with me through thick and thin resolve the loose ends. Koen Holtkamp's "Night Swimmer", Richard Skelton's "Shore" and Mogwai's "Chocky" are emotionally poignant enough to heal impermanent silences.

The last tune on this, Sigur Rós' "Viõrar Vel Til Loftárasa" I'd like to have played at my funeral. I have sat up until early hours on NYE with this serenading the room and it always activates shivers when the crescendo hits. I hope you have a productive 2010 and that "Dark Days, They Make Us Believe We're Someone Else" won't dim your lights, those which I hope will shine brighter towards the good in the coming echoes.

TRACKLISTING

01. Coil - Where Are You? (from Musik To Play In The Dark CD 2)
02. Zelienople - Slaving (from Gone OST)
03. Oophoi - Dimensional Passage (from Night Currents)
04. Hildur Gudanottir, BJ Nilsen & Stillupsteypa - How To Catch The Right Thought (from Second Childhood)
05. Fennesz - City Of Light (from Venice)
06. Milieu - Six Fourteen (from Brother)
07. Aphex Twin - SAW Untitled 1 (from Selected Ambient Works Vol.2)
08. Lawrence English & Tom Hall - Lines Twine Oscillation (from Euphonia)
09. Koen Holtkamp - Night Swimmer (from Field Rituals)
10. Obfusc - Alto Piano (from the split w/ David Tagg)
11. Atomic Skunk - Suspended Ascent (free download - www.atomicskunk.com)
12. Inverz - New Found Lands, New Found Sounds (from Slow)
13. Richard Skelton - Shore (from Marking Time)
14. Mogwai - Chocky (from Come On Die Young)
15. Lamenter - Kinski For Halloween (from Sleeping Me)
16. Inverz - Everything In Order (from Slow)
17. Greg Haines - Caesura (from Slumber Tides)
18. Mono & World's End Girlfriend - Trailer 1 (from Palmless Prayer: Mass Murder Refrain)
19. Godspeed You! Black Emperor - Blaise Bailey Finnegan III (excerpt) (from Slow Riot For New Zero Kanada)
20. Arvo Part - The Beatitudes (from Part)
21. Sigur Rós - Viõrar Vel Til Loftárasa (from Ágætis Byrjun)

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SubVersion Stop 49: Code @ NuKillaBeats, Nov 7th 2009

Retrospecting a month, I had much fun attending NuKillaBeats with ASC in Limerick, Ireland. It was great to meet him after chatting online for three annums, and also see friends Conor (Code, Subtle Audio) and Louisa (girlfriend, flyer design).

I obtained a SubVersion exclusive from this outing: Code's contribution for the night, representing dubs from Dak, old classics like Blu Mar Ten's "She Moves Through", and a crate of gems bigger than stocking fillers would breach.

TRACKLISTING

01. Blu Mar Ten - She Moves Through (Good Looking)
02. Intense - Eastern Promise (Good Looking)
03. Breakage - The Look (Scientific Wax)
04. Deep Blue & Blame - Transitions (Moving Shadow)
05. Axis - Solution (Good Looking)
06. Skitty - Bennies (Scientific Wax Digital)
07. Jubei & Cern - Black Hole (Ingredients)
08. Optical & Ryme Tyme - Headhunters (Virus)
09. Fracture & Neptune - Killerwhat? (Astrophonica)
10. ASC - Fresh (Offshore)
11. Total Science - No Smoking (Advanced)
12. Skitty - City Of Quest (Scientific Wax Digital)
13. Dak - Coffee (Unreleased)
14. Fanu - Orient Dawn (13 Music)
15. Marcus Intalex & ST Files - Lose Control (Metalheadz)
16. Fushara - Alien Technology (Unreleased)
17. Jonny L - I Let U (XL Recordings)

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