The New LoFi Mixtape

We’re in East London this month to share a new mix of music in the sub genre of Jazz Exotica. We’ve got almost two hours of new music jazz, soul and psychedelic music from El Michels Affair, Sudan Archives, Photay, Sven Wunder, Surprise Chef, Tenderlonious, and Biig Piig.

We kick the whole mix off with a Les Baxter tune called “Quiet Village” from his 1952 album, Ritual of The Savage.  This track is one of the pillars of jazz exotica for me — a little bit of Hawaiian sway, and a whole lot of big band jazz. I think you can trace a lot of music on this mix back to this sort of composition… and even though it is over 70 years old now, I feel like it still sounds fresh today. 

But before we get into the mix, here are a few featured videos from this month’s podcast:

The new Bulgarian Cartrader video: LAB

The bonkers new video for Sudan Archives’ new single, “Home Maker”

Check out the full playlist below with links on how to support each artist.

The Monthly Mixtape is also available on iTunes, and Stitcher.

Also, check out our Ten Year Anniversary album in beautiful translucent yellow vinyl. Also available in a limited-edition marbled blue vinyl as well. If you want to give the record a sample before you buy, have a listen on our mixtape special podcast here.

March 2023 Mixtape Playlist

This month’s mix features a wandering collection of jazz, indie and electronic. Look out for new singles from Floating Points, Four Tet, Session Victim, Gillian Moss, Clive From Accounts, Bentley, Nia Archives, and Leon Vynehall.

Only one video from this month’s mix: the fantastic animated joint for “Take A Trip” by Brijean.

Check out the full playlist below with links on how to support each artist.

The Monthly Mixtape is also available on iTunes, and Stitcher.

Also, check out our Ten Year Anniversary album in beautiful translucent yellow vinyl. Also available in a limited-edition marbled blue vinyl as well. If you want to give the record a sample before you buy, have a listen on our mixtape special podcast here.

February 2023 Mixtape Playlist

The January mixtape is here early! As is tradition, we are releasing the first mixtape of the year on New Year’s Eve. The tradition started a couple of years ago when we were all locked away in our houses. We had to host NYE parties in isolation. And since the Jan mixtape is always a compilation of all the best electronic music from the previous year, we thought it was the perfect soundtrack for your socially distanced parties.

The January mixtape is always a compilation of all the best electronic music from the previous year. We’re revisiting tracks from Floating Points, Four Tet, Maya Jane Coles, Clive From Accounts, Slow Rotation Inc., Axel Boman, Fred Again.., The Blessed Madonna, Sofia Kourtesis and many more. And for all of you kids that grew up in the 90s like me, there are a few late night treats in the podcast including remixes of 90s club classics from Ciara, Fatman Scoop and Missy Elliot.

The Monthly Mixtape is also available on iTunes, and Stitcher.

Also, check out our Ten Year Anniversary album in beautiful translucent yellow vinyl. Also available in a limited-edition marbled blue vinyl as well. If you want to give the record a sample before you buy, have a listen on our mixtape special podcast here.

January 2023 Mixtape Playlist

Merry Christmas everyone! We’re very happy to announce that the annual bonus Christmas Mixtape is here again! For this year’s bonus Christmas mixtape, we’re exploring the big band Christmas classics from the 1930s, 40s and 50s. You’ve got your Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole, Dean Martin, Peggy lee, Louis Armstrong, Andy Williams, Doris day, Burl Ives, Stan Kenton, and many many more.

To record the intro, James took a walk in the recently snow-covered Waltham Forest to soak up the holiday spirit. Here are some snaps from the walk:

Path through the snow

A bridge to the winter wonderland

Winter oak trees

And just to set the mood for the music, here’s an 8 hour video of a crackling Christmas Yule log.

Here is a Spotify playlist version of A Big Band Christmas Mixtape in case you are more of a Spotify user.

If that jazzy big band sound is not what you are looking for during Christmas, you should check out some of our Christmas Mixtapes from previous years: The 80’s Christmas Mixtape, A LoFi Christmas, A Whiskey Soaked Indie Rock Christmas Mixtape, A Classical Christmas Mixtape or The Christmas Mixtape 2000!

This month we’ve got new music from Little Dragon, Poolside, The Frightnrs, ODESZA, Scoobert Doobert, Nia Archives, Sea Glass, Soft Double, Albatrauss and Portugal. The Man.

This month we’re returning to form with the mix by creating a sort of musical journey across genres. The aim is to take you just a bit out of your musical comfort zone. There’s indie, there’s breakbeat, there’s tropical, there’s electronic, and there’s plenty of new music that you’ve never probably heard of before. It’s a good one for the last mixtape of the year.

Also, check out our Ten Year Anniversary album in beautiful translucent yellow vinyl. Also available in a limited-edition marbled blue vinyl as well. If you want to give the record a sample before you buy, have a listen on our mixtape special podcast here.

And before we get into the mix, here are a few featured videos from this month’s lineup:

This new video for “New Summers” by De Lux reminds me of the video for Sabotage by Beastie Boys

A bedtime story from Shygirl

“Frisco” by Little Dragon

“What, Me Worry?” video from Portugal. The Man

The trippy new Nia Archives video for her single, “Luv Like”

December 2022 Mixtape Playlist

This month we’re taking you on a two and a half hour journey through the world of underground psychedelic jazz, soul and tropical exotica. Featuring new music from Jazzanova, The Sorcerers, Chip Wickham, Florence Adooni, Sam Wilkes, Kolumbo, Frowein Pedersen, Frank Dukes, Hether, Los Bitchos, Surprise Chef and a new jazz trio that I just discovered out in Sydney called Bentley.

If you don’t recognize any of the artists names above, then you are in for a real treat. You could be forgiven for thinking that some of this music was created decades ago with a few of the artists taking inspiration from the sounds of the 60s and 70s. But I think you will agree that overall, the mix has a very timeless quality. 

For good measure, we’ve also peppered in a bit of psychedelic rock in there as well, including another single from Paul Castelluzzo (aka Hether) — we featured a track from his new album, Play It Pretty, a couple months ago, and I just couldn’t help myself to putting another one into the mix. Anyway, this is a real trippy journey through all sorts of psychedelic genres. I hope you enjoy listening to it as much as I enjoyed putting it together.

Oh, and before we get into the mix, here are some interesting videos from the music featured on this month’s podcast:

The rad new Hether video for his new single, “escargo”:

The new video “twenty something” featuring Claude wearing some pretty sweet chainmail headgear:

Gabriel da Rosa’s Brazilian chill vibe:

But before you press play, check out our Ten Year Anniversary album in beautiful translucent yellow vinyl. Also available in a limited-edition marbled blue vinyl as well. If you want to give the record a sample before you buy, have a listen on our mixtape special podcast here.

November 2022 Mixtape Playlist

This month we’ve got new music from Bonobo, Logic 1000, George Fitzgerald, three9four, DJ Susan, Wax Motif, Vince Versa, Roy Ford, The Cooler, Anthony Naples and another fantastic track courtesy of Clive from Accounts.

If last month was a journey through Autumnal music during the daylight hours, then this month is an exploration into the darker side of the season. This is Autumn after the sun goes down.

While last month was a mixture indie rock and the crunchier side of soul, this month is a mixture of Deep House and techno.

It’s all dance, all the way for October. Full playlist below.

But before you press play, check out our Ten Year Anniversary album in beautiful translucent yellow vinyl. If you want to give the record a sample before you buy, have a listen on our mixtape special podcast here.

October 2022 Mixtape Playlist

This month we’ve got new music from Parquet Courts, Loyle Carner, James Wyatt Crosby, Metronomy, Donkey Kid, hether, Sworn Virgins, Common Saints, Sven Wunder, and two tracks from Pine Barons.

But first, check out some videos from the mix:

Metronomy – Right on time

Surreal video for Loyle Carner’s new track “Hate” — directed by Loyle Carner & Greg Hackett

The producer Hether doesn’t have a video for his single “dirty claws” yet, but his video for “escargo” is dope (also a great track)

The Neighbourhood – Devils Advocate

The Lazy Eyes – Fuzz Jam

Pine Barons – Night Cruising

The post-apocalyptic new video from R. Missing: “New Present City”

Parquet Courts – Plant Life

Donkey Kid – Digging Holes

And before you press play, check out our Ten Year Anniversary album in beautiful translucent yellow vinyl. If you want to give the record a sample before you buy, have a listen on our mixtape special podcast here.

September 2022 Mixtape Playlist

This month we’ve got new music from Luxxury, Mura Masa, Channel Tres, Shy Girl, Sofia Kourtesis, Harry Romero and a Roosevelt remix of a Jose Gonzalez song called “Swing.” Quite a dancey take on a Jose Gonzalez.

Oh, and on the intro I mentioned my favorite artist names, but I forgot to mention that on top of my favorite monikers, I usually also have a favorite song title from each mix as well. My favorite title on this mix has to go to Suff Daddy this month for his track entitled “Trouble In Wackyland, Part II.” I mean… there’s a whole story in that title before you even press play on the track. I want to know what goes on in Wackyland and what trouble in the land of wack looks like. And if this is part II, what happened in part I ?!?! It’s fascinating. haha.

This mix is like a continuation from last month. The mix starts off with a bit of chilled-out daytime disco and balearic beats to warm you up. Then it dives into some festival-grade electronic music. Featuring new music from, AMEME, LUXXURY, Mura Masa, Channel Tres, Shy Girl, Sofia Kourtesis, Harry Romero, Roosevelt, and much more.

And finally, if you haven’t already, you should check out our Ten Year Anniversary album in beautiful translucent yellow vinyl. If you want to give the record a sample before you buy, have a listen on our mixtape special podcast here.

August 2022 Mixtape Playlist

Happy Friday everyone. Sorry this month’s mixtape is a bit late. The good news is that it’s July! And Summer is in full swing here in the Northern Hemisphere.

This month we’ve got new music from Nubya Garcia, JUNGLE, Fred Again.., BICEP, Axel Boman, Joy Orbison, HAAi, Four Tet, Jon Hopkins,  and an electronic producer called “Barry Can’t Swim.”

Last month the mixtape was a celebration of the start of summer. But while last month’s podcast was a mix of summer jazz, surf rock, reggae and island music, this month is a combination of balearic beats, melodic techno, and sunny summer house music. 

There’s a full playlist below, but here are some video links to compliment the mix:

Check out the brand new JUNGLE video for their single “GOOD TIMES / PROBLEMZ”

If you couldn’t get to Glastonbury this year, here’s one of the highlights: Four Tet performing “Looking At Your Pager” on stage

Oh, and as mentioned, check out a preview of the Ten Year Anniversary album on our mixtape special podcast here.

Okay, on with the mix. Follow the links in the playlist below to find out more about each artist on the mix and how to support them.

The Monthly Mixtape is also available on iTunes, and Stitcher.

July 2022 Mixtape