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Some of my favorites from the FMA, uploaded and/or found in 2010 -- many of which found their way on to my radio show at WXYC. Thanks to all for another great year of free, curated music!
Down & Out in Paradise: Memorial Day Weekend 2012
Some parts high, some parts low -- a mix for your blissed out long weekend.
Ear Candy (for National Candy Month)
June is National Candy Month!
In the USA at least... Here are some sweet Creative Commons tunes for your candy daze.
See's Sampler
Hey everyone!
Thanks for taking the time to listen through some of my picks. The tracks below are some of my favorites on the FMA - some old, some new - with various ranges of FMA obscurity.
It was difficult to limit all three of these lists, but of course I understand the need for brevity. However, if you are interested in seeing the rest of the shortlist for these picks you can find the missing artists/institutions/tracks here.
Also, this playlist has nothing to do with the Pope. I just like this picture of him playing a sampler.
Top 5 Artists to Add (that we might reasonably be able to get):
Arthur Russell
Brian Eno
Chris Knox
Chris Watson
Lee "Scratch" Perry
Top 5 Institutions to Court as Potential Curators:
Smithsonian Folkways
Experimental Sound Studio (Sun Ra Collection)
Resonance FM
North Indian Classical Music Archive
Bap-tizum (really great collection of Midwest Gospel Recordings, we have contacts through DRAM)
See's Supplemental
Here's the overflow list for the official picks (in no particular order). I also tried to keep this brief for your sake and mine. 14 tracks that didn't make the official list, but would have been there had I not been limited to ten -- plus some more artists and archival institutions / festivals that I couldn't fit in.
Thanks for taking the time to look through these!
More artists I'd love to see on the FMA that might actually be possible:
Carl Stone
Alan Bishop (Alvarius B)
Caboladies
CAN
Conlon Nancarrow
Sun Ra (via Sun Ra archive at ESS in Chicago)
Frederic Rzewski
Graham Lambkin
Henry Flynt
John Cage (We have a few performances of JC compositions, would love to get more / better recordings)
John Zorn (I know, he's pretty tight fisted with rights)
Kraftwerk (Ok, this might be a stretch)
Konono No. 1
Michael Hurley
Ryoji Ikeda
More archives and festivals:
British Library Archives / Endangered Archives Program (Really amazing music from all of the world - particularly interested in a large collection of Micronesian archival recordings they recently acquired)
Chicago Jazz Archive
Popolo Fest
Victoriaville Fest
WWOZ (We know people)
Southern-Folklife Collection @ Wilson Library (We know people)
Sun Salute
A sun-themed mix for you and yours, part of the Radeq Summer of '12 broadcast!
Stream & Download the Mix, with Dialogue from Public Domain Film "Our Mr. Sun":
27th - 31st August 2012
120HRS NON STOP BROADCAST FROM SUNLIT LAND
'The Summer of '12' radio experiment starts at sunrise (6.06am) in London on Monday the 27th of August and does not stop broadcasting live from sun-lit land until 120 hours later.
As the sun sets in London we'll switch from the Soundfjord studio here in London to a geniusly place microphone in None Gallery, Dunedin, New Zealand to capture the sun rise and the day's soundscape. Then, as the sun sets in NZ the stream switches back to London's sunrise..this continues until London's sunset on Friday 31st at 19.48.
During this epic sun-salute, listeners can expect to hear sounds related to the sun and the Summer of 2012 from sound artists, musicians, performers and other earth-bound creatures. Listen to the live broadcast and see the full program here.
Tarts by Tarts
Songs about love and sugar, made for the friendly folks at Tarts by Tarts bakery in Washington, DC.
(Photo by Emily Hilliard, who runs a great pie blog by the way! Check out nothinginthehouse.com)
The Turnbull New Zealand Music Month Mixtape
May is New Zealand Music Month!
The team at Turnbull have lovingly compiled for you a compilation of fantastic recent songs by NZ musicians, covered by a CC licence. Feel free to download these songs, play them loud, and share them with your friends. Happy listening!
Original Post on the Turnbull Blog
Tracks to Sync, August 2012
Tracks to Sync is a monthly mix of music curated with the video producer in mind.
1. Fhernando [www] is a mexican DJ/Producer putting out some very nice Disco-Funk tunes. Throw this track underneath some dialogue to keep the sonic backdrop pulsing, or use it to bring some energy to your visuals. [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommerical-ShareAlike]
2. This track Björn & Gorden [www] is bit more down-tempo and meditative. There's a lot of room in the mix if you want to focus in on the bass or mids, and when those guitars come in you've got yourself a nice dreamy electronic track to fit many moods. [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommerical-ShareAlike]
3. This CHLLNGR [soundcloud] remix has a bit more of a house vibe, while still keeping that ethereal chill-out ambiance. Great as an unobtrusive music bed for your urban scenes. [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommerical-ShareAlike]
4. Another selection from a very similar palette of sounds. Risey puts the bass up front and keeps it pulsing all the way through. Another great house track that would be great for slideshows or how-to videos. Find more on this great compilaton of house sounds from Toucan Music. [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial]
5. Ghostandthesong's [soundcloud] poppy synth sounds make for a great chilled track. With a solid, catchy baseline, interesting samples, and super smooth production - snag this if you need some hip music to go with your indie film. [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommerical-ShareAlike]
6. This single from Isle [facebook] made quite an impression when it first landed here at the FMA. We normally don't put too many tracks with vocals in the Tracks to Sync feature, but this song would make a stellar addition to any soundtrack. [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommerical-ShareAlike]
7. Aaron Ximm's [www] album of solo Hang recordings is an amazing document in acoustic ambient music. The tone of the Hang is totally unique and seemingly out of this world, while the compositions are meditative and flighty. [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommerical-ShareAlike]
8. This electro-accoustic track from Origamibiro [www] shifts around between a lot of different sounds and textures. Give it a listen and I bet you'll find something in the mix for your heart-wrenching documentary or dark narrative. [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommerical-ShareAlike]
9. This short and sweet down-tempo electronic track from Tours is licensed under a Free Culture license, so it is pre-cleared for commercial use and derivative works. [Creative Commons Attribution]
10. You know 'em and love 'em, FMA heros Lame Drivers [www] have an extensive catalogue of Creative Commons power-pop tunes that have already made guest appearances in a number of wacky video creations. Their latest track is a winner - catchy and energetic with some of the best production around. [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommerical-ShareAlike]
11. On this track psych-folk legend Michael Chapman [wiki] is joined by an all-star cast of freeform folk musicians. Mandolin takes the center stage here, but give this one a listen for its free-flowing, back-porch bluegrass vibe. [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial]
12. Bright lights, big city. This number from Jazz at Mladost makes me think about those 'hitting the town' montages you always see. A quick walking baseline and refined blues structure makes this a classy addition to your soundtrack. [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommerical-ShareAlike]
13. The bar is closed and you're stumbling back alone to your dirty hovel. There's a big moon in the sky and you're starting to get all self-reflective, but right before you black out you remember that little pill of Neuroleptic Trio [myspace] you've got in your pocket and suddenly the night gets a little bit longer. [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommerical-ShareAlike]
14. Walla Walla refers to the sound made by a large crowd of people, and it is the soundtrack to every office party you've ever been to. Our friends at Oddio Overplay picked through some of the best crowd-recordings on the web and put them all in one place, right here on the FMA. [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommerical-ShareAlike]
Recent Posts from this Series: May | June | July
This series is supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts.
...With Open Ears
A survey of artists on the Free Music Archive who are actively engaging with the aural environment.
Natural and man-made soundscapes take center stage, where each piece is either an unprocessed field recording or heavily informed by naturally-occuring sonic textures. From archival to binaural, with recordings from Japan, India, Israel, & more - followed by a little palette cleanser from composer Michael Pisaro.
This mix was created for World Listening Day 2012, an annual event intended to celebrate different ways we can focus on our soundscape (sonic environment); to raise awareness about the acoustic ecology movement, including ideas regarding how noise pollution can be reduced; and to introduce new educational initiatives and community events related to listening and acoustic ecology.
Grab your headphones and take a moment to listen with open ears.
Tracks to Sync, July 2012
Tracks to Sync is a monthly mix of music curated with the video producer in mind.
1. Tyrannic Toy [Los Emes Del Oso] is a French experimental outfit. This track is notable for a number of reasons, but I really like the transition from the delayed electric guitar intro into the meaty rock groove. The excellent production on this track could give your project the extra aural polish you're looking for. [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommerical-ShareAlike]
2. Jiony [soundcloud] makes blissed electronica from his home base in Mexico City. This track has a great unobtrusive groove that could work as a bed for a variety of scenes and applications. [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommerical-ShareAlike]
3. Dexter Britain has released two volumes of Creative Commons music on the FMA. Each one is filled with a diverse array of genres and moods, so dig into his repertoire and find something for your film. If you don't find something here, be sure to check his well-designed website that offers individual licenses for a multitude of uses. It also has a great browsing feature where you can filter his music by instrumentation, mood, and genre. [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommerical-ShareAlike]
4. Ant Neely [webiste] is a writer, producer, and composer. This track may well be the whistle anthem of the Summer, and you know those only come around once in a blue moon. Upbeat and smiling. Also, check out this interview with Ant. [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommerical-ShareAlike]
5. Super Flower is one half of infamous New Jersey industrial duo Smersh. I'm getting a real fashion avenue feel from these Vogue beats and runway breaks; this might be just what you need to strut your stuff on film. [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommerical-ShareAlike]
6. This track is from the third release from Sacramento born visual artist David Mohr, who moonlights as electro-pop band FAVORS in addition to running a small imprint called Future Push. Expect bright electro sounds and a subtle beat. [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial]
7. Jamie Evans [website] is an Irish musician specializing in composition for Film, TV, and Video Games. This track comes from his sample EP, a kind of trailer for his composition work. These four tracks sound straight out of Hollywood, so give 'em a try if you're shooting for studio sound on a budget. [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommerical-ShareAlike]
8. Dan Warren [website] is the creator of a somewhat eccentric remix of President Obama's Audio Book, and this track is one of the instrumentals from that album. Turns out he's a gifted composer and sound engineer, in addition to an expert editor. Listen to them all for some innovative instrumentations and post-apocalyptic imagery. [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommerical-ShareAlike]
9. This mid-tempo ambient electronic track by Arizono Kazuhiro kind of sounds like the Postal Service without the vocals and could be just what you're looking for. [Creative Commons Attribution]
10. Give your video an international vibe with this acoustic guitar duet from Costa and Nero played in the style of the Greek Folk music Rebetiko. At least stick around till the rhythm kicks in around 1:20 and be sure to check the rest of the compilation for lots more great music in the Rebetiko style! [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommerical-ShareAlike]
11. F.S. Blumm [myspace] gives us a chilled out guitar number with a lazy rhythm section, swinging and happy. [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommerical-ShareAlike]
12. This guitar exploration from Decade in Exile [bandcamp] creates a nice reverb-filled headspace with field recordings of rain and subtle electronics followed by a more straight-ahead electric jam. [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommerical-ShareAlike]
13. Kid Flicks [facebook] is an Athenian graphic designer and visual artist working with experimental electronic pop sounds. Check out this track for some great sync-ready independent pop music. [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommerical-ShareAlike]
This series is supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts.
Tracks to Sync, June 2012
Tracks to Sync is a monthly mix of music curated with the video producer in mind.
Solo Instrumentals
1. Gillicuddy [gillicuddy.net] is Andi Rhoden, whose newest album of solo accoustic guitar instrumentals are chock full of simple harmonies and gentle sincerity. Gillicuddy has been releasing Creative Commons music online for quite some time now, so be sure to check his website for more. [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial]
2. We've already covered Kimiko Ishizaka's groundbreaking public domain recording of Bach's Goldberg Variations here, so if you are looking for a recognizable classical piano composition for your project look no further. [Open Goldberg Variations] [Creative Commons Zero (Public Domain)]
3. Mark Lejeune records under the name Circus Marcus [circusmarcus.net] and is buiding quite a catalogue of contemporary classical compositions and improvisations for piano. Perfect soundtrack for your rainy day contemplations. [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial]
4. Stephen Siebert's piano compositions have a jazzy elegance that could pair well with a foggy film-noir or pensive character study. His diverse selections offer a wide emotional pallette, so give them all a listen to find something that compliments your project. [myspace] [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike]
5. One last solo piano instrumental, this one from Russian composer Peter Rudenko [website]. Sparse and beautiful compositions with a strikingly cinematic quality, 15 Etudes has something for everyone. [Creative Commons Attribution]
Alt. Instrumentals
6. The Paniks [myspace] cover a wide range of mostly vocal works informed heavily by traditional Balkan folk music. The instrumental starts with a wonderfully meandering fiddle passage, but this long-player covers a lot of ground once the ensemble comes in. [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike]
7. This track from Pajaro [Happy Place Records] screams Spaghetti Western. Tremolo-heavy electric guitar makes way for a scorching trumpet, with a great rhthym section to back it all up - courtesty of the Budabeats label and Breitband. [Creative Commons Attribution]
Powerfull / Driving
8. The Upsidedown's "E-Love" marries folk-pop vocals with an incredibly driving drum/electric guitar combo that will be sure to push your video wherever it needs to go. Featured recently on the Dead Bees Sampler #11, you'll find more great Creative Commons music at the Dead Bees label page. "E-Love" is licensed [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike].
Mid-tempo Groove
9. Megatroid [megatroid.com] is a producer/beatmaker currently based out of Vancouver who hosts many of his creations on Soundcloud. He also presides over the Australian beat blog Futurebeats. [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike]
Down-tempo Groove
10. Poland's Adubter brings the dubby slow groove with a sticky beat-based ambience for your syncing plesure. He's got more tracks up on his Jamendo page. [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike]
Dreamy
11. Two of our featured Creative Commons labels (Beko-DSL & Crash Symbols) banded together to put out this compilation, featuring the hazy daydream "Window #3" from Two Bicycles. Find more on their Bandcamp page. [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial]
Atmospheric / Drone
12. Hiroshima's Gallery Six [bandcamp] creates fragile ambient textures and experimental sounds. "Hydroscope" lays down the drone and slowly builds with wave after wave of sandy tension. This comes to us via ElementPerspective, a netlabel focused on experimental sounds from Japan. [Creative Commons Attribution]
13. With a haunting piano melody and a gloomy feedback/fieldrecording howl "Fall Moon" will ratchet up the creepiness factor. This one comes from New York's Buildings and Mountains,who have a slew of drone and improvisation releases on their Bandcamp. [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike]
14. Luminous in Number from Western Massachusetts builds impressive drones, with "Lichoned Forest" exuding a tranquil and almost blissful suspension of tones. [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike]
This series is supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts.