Mixtape Sessions Episode 15: Birdman Cult

Joe (Lyrics/Vocals)

1. The Brian Jonestown Massacre – Anemone

I remember the first time I heard this song. I was in a bar in Newcastle, and it came on over the system all muffled and weird. The melody, that shaker, and that dreamy vocal all hypnotically dragged me in and have kept me obsessed years later. At a listening glance, I thought it was an unearthed velvet underground gem. TBJM are one of the bands until then I never fully engrossed myself in. I love their artistry and general shtick and fell in love and loathe with them after watching the documentary ‘DIG!’ This song is a spiralling heroine binge! And the perfect hangover cure for the melancholic in me. Also, if you weren’t already sold, it was also the late Anthony Bourdain’s favourite song ever.

2. The Moonandingz – Sweet Saturn Mine

One half Eccentronic Research Council and one half Fat White Family. Lias Saoudi on lead vocals is at his most fetid in this absolute banger. I love how his personality, albeit a deliberate caricature here, swings from highbrow concept to Shakespearean pleb. This one’s definitely more horned up pleb, and I’m fine with that. I suspect he’s a clever bastard—too clever for me when he’s switched on—but I do find him fascinating, a true artist. This extends to his bandmates here, as well as his brother and cohorts from Fat Whites. They’re sort of the last bastion of actual rock ‘n’ rollers before the insipid try-hards took over the airwaves.

3. Pulp – Common People

Almost a perfect follow-up from Lias is Cocker and this classic by PULP! Me and Otis rekindled our love for this tune and decided it’s the perfect pop song. When people harp on about ‘Who are you, Blur or Oasis? ‘I can honestly say I thought the velvet-clad dandy and seemingly soft-natured Jarvis was always the more poetic and genuine of his contemporaries. Nearly 30 years on (fuck, I’m old) the track pretty much manages to absolutely slate 90% of these ‘designer dirty’ bands that appropriate the working class, these days as well as back then.

“Pretend you never went to school
But still you’ll never get it right
‘Cause when you’re laid in bed at night
Watching roaches climb the wall
If you called your dad, he could stop it all, yeah”

4. Nadine Shah – Fool

A femme fatale with moxy by the barrel, I love how this is a brutal takedown of every dickhead in a broody ‘post everything’ band that ever has been. She hoys these barbs out with absolute grace and precision, slapping the tash off all the pretenders to the throne.

“You fashion words that fools lap up
And call yourself a poet
Tattooed pretence upon your skin
So everyone will know it“

Not only that, but Nadine’s a fellow Geordie and I love hearing the accent used in a way that’s just matter of fact and natural. Usually it’s done slapstick or over-egged in a folk song about dead bairns, or empty coal mines. Absolute legend this lass! A small aside. I also rate Sam Fender for the same reasons; I just don’t love his tunes. Seventeen Going Under is a jam actually, but not for here, not today, Sam.

Samuel Otis (Guitar)

5. Paul Stephan – Streets Don’t Love Me

I really like the juxtaposition of the smooth sample with the hard-hitting vocals, like you would find on a grime tune. Although the bpm seems slightly slower than the usual 140, so it’s an interesting vibe.

6. The Cleaners From Venus – Only A Shadow

Martin Newell is a really interesting musician who would have certainly become more famous due to his world-class songwriting, but due to his morals and self-value, he remained independent. Although the recordings might have been better had he had a big record label behind him, he remains very influential.

7. Broadcast – Poem Of Dead Song

I really like Broadcast. This tune is a banger, it reminds me of some James Bond espionage shit.

Hawk (Bass Guitar)

8. Andy Bell – Cherry Cola

This is just a tune I’ve been listening to this month. It feels like how I felt in the 90s.

9. Cal Scruby – Donnie Darko

It could’ve been many tracks from this album. Underrated guy.

10. Eddy Current Suppression Ring – Colour Television

This is maybe my favourite all time song, by maybe my favourite all time band.

Luke (Drums)

11. My Bloody Valentine – Feed Me With Your Kiss

I love the production of this track, and I love how the quiet vocals help the guitars sound massive.

12. Sleigh Ride – Fuzz

It’s great how live it feels even though it’s recorded in a studio; you can hear the amps humming and tempo changes all in unison as though you’re listening to it being created in front of your ears.

13. Pinegrove – Angelina

I don’t know much about this band – it’s just a simple track that captures a lot of emotion. It shows you don’t need to make a song complicated for it to make a connection.

Elo (Rhythm Guitar/Vocals)

14. Colter Top – Sleeping on the Blacktop

I recently visited America to see my bestie, and we went on a big ol’ road trip. We listened to loads of bluegrass and country music while off-roading and exploring in her kickass rig. This is my new favourite discovery.

15. Deep Vally – Smile More

A great tune by an incredibly inspiring female duo. Even though there are only two of them, they make a huge sound. I was lucky enough to see them play twice, with the second being their last-ever gig. This isn’t their heaviest or punchiest tune, but I definitely LOVE the sentiment of the song.

16. Jimi Hendrix – All Along The Watchtower

So this might seem a bit of an obvious one. But it’s the best song and one of my all time favourites. It’s just so engaging, and powerful. From the psychedelic and euphoric sounds and the idea that recording back then was so different, and much more simple and pure. I’m just gutted I never saw it live.