April Mix: Late Night With Abby

I’m sure you all know by now how much I love a good mixtape. That’s why I’ve become so deeply enamored with the Late Night Tales series of compilations by selected artists such as MGMT and Belle & Sebastian. I listen to these albums not like a regular album, but like a mix carefully arranged from start to finish, meaning I don’t usually skip through to a song I want to hear because it would compromise the integrity of the mix.

Sounds vary from one mix to the next, with really wonderful offerings of everything from mid-20th century rock rarities to modern day electronic tunes. It’s always a nice surprise to see what they’ve managed to fit in, such as when Air’s compilation included Jeff Alexander’s “Come Wander With Me.” It’s certainly not always what you expect, but it always works. Though there are many differing genres, there’s a particular vibe that flows from one Late Night Tales to the next. It’s hard to define exactly, besides the series’ requisite to be the “ultimate late night mix.”  So instead of describing it to you, I decided to make my own Late Night Tales-esque mix. At 23 songs, it’s perfect CD length, so if you’re like me, do the proper thing and burn these to a disc.

If you like it and are like “Heck! Abby’s Late Night mix is so good I want her to keep making more and more!” then you are in luck. Because there will be more in the future as the initial playlist I formed for my Late Night Tales mix had like 200-something songs on it.

Late Night With Abby: 1

Spooky – Cat Fight

Flying Lotus – Camel

Sergei Prokofiev – ‘Montagnes and Capulets’ from ‘Romeo and Juliet’

The Asteroids Galaxy Tour – Crazy

Little Bark – In the Forest

Video Raid: Little Bark, ‘Party’

Little Bark’s album, Hope is Rubbery, is available for free at Bandcamp.

Snag something synthy by Little Bark at Bandcamp

If you haven’t heard of New Zealand pop artist Sophie Burbery, you probably also haven’t heard about her alter-ego Little Bark. A dreamy, sassy and peppy set of songs makes up Little Bark’s free EP* on Bandcamp.

“Hope is Rubbery” is here to party, ideally under the gleam of a lit-up mirror ball and dressed in a shiny pair of leggings. That much is obvious by the dance-pop synths opening the album on “Party.” From the beginning, you’ll be taken back to Cyndi Lauper’s ’80s, when bangle bracelets, hairspray and leg warmers reigned supreme. Head further into “Hope is Rubbery,” however, and you’ll hear various changes in tone before the end, closing with “Wind Up Bird,” reminiscent at times of the Eurythmics.

A good way to describe Little Bark’s music is to wordlessly put on a Kylie Minogue record. But as apt a comparison as it may be, these tunes definitely have their own synthfully delicious signature to reckon with. Quirky and creative, Burbery’s songs would make a fun addition to any library. Allow these cardboard woodland creatures to convince you!

I call the big one Bitey!

*Note: Since original writing of this review, Sophie added six more songs to this album! That makes it a total of 11 free songs now! Even better!