Deirdre

First of all, I’m sorry if waiting for the review was long for you but I always take 1 week or so to listen to the music and write a review I’m happy with (for reminder, I was amongst those who didn’t get a link right away, I got the mixtape link 1 week after or so). So into the (long :blush:) review! The tape is called Follow the Sun and contains 18 tracks named by the maker without special meaning (as written in the read me file). A pretty cover and a read me file (more to that in the conclusion) are added to music. So let’s go to the track by track review: 01.Punk! What a way to start the mixtape! Yes, indeed, it’s a punk song: drums, heavy guitars, a man singing fast and screaming at some moments. He also sings with a light accent on some words and it’s like he uses a walkie-talkie when he sings the “verses”. But, unlike someone said in her/his review about punk singer who can’t sing or something like that, this man can because his voice is higher several times during the song (it’s like sing fast, higher voice, scream). I’m not sure if this song denounces/condemns something but in the “chorus” he says autistic radio. It isn’t the standard verse/chorus type of song. 02. Girl and Deer It’s a pop/rock song, a man is singing. It begins slowly with electric guitar, piano, drums, bass and the voice of a man. Then it all goes up in volume if I can explain it that way. I also recognized tambourine at some point. Towards the end of the song it has whistling, as well as a choir effect added in. It reminds me of a Canadian band I listen to on another mixtape exchange, Hey Rosetta! If it is the same band I really should check them more out! The song sticks in the head not in an annoying way! First keeper! 03. Motion Picture Soundtrack Two voices, a man and a woman. They are accompanied by an acoustic guitar until the half of the song or so when a drumming instrument comes in. The 2 voices go very well together. The mix of everything is beautiful: a shiver down your spine kind of song (even if I don’t understand all of the lyrics). Second keeper! 04. Grandfather’s Song Acoustic country song sang by a man with a typical country voice, named Steve according to the song! This song didn’t really catch my attention :\ 05. Twice Ok, this track made me think of several things: first, I thought it had a Black Keys vibe mixed with electro. Then on another listening, the guitar(s) made me think of “Shout The Runner” by Kasabian. Then on another listening, it reminded me (the music and the voice of the man) of the theme song of the tv show “Suits”: "Greenback Boogie" by Ima Robot. So can a song be a mix of all that or I am a bit disturbed? :lol: However, the more I listen to it, the more I lean towards the third option, if you can call it that… Anyway, it’s an intriguing track and it’s a nice mixture of bluesy/rock and electro/synth (which is only present on the bridge in the song). 06. Spirits A soft acoustic guitar is playing by a male singer with a soothing voice. The acoustic guitar’s music is the same through all the song and at the end some electric guitar is added. It’s like a chill out song, a bit like Jack Johnson’s quiet songs, you imagine listening when you’re walking next to the beach (yeah, I don’t live in a place where beaches are!). 07. Oldschool Jazzy/bluesy song that makes you want to dance and oh well, it’s his purpose, if I understand correctly, teaching you to do the mess around (I don’t know if it’s write properly and I don’t want to google to ruin the game)! A man is singing. Another keeper! 08. Me is the Harmonica It’s a folk/irish like song: drums, accordion, violins, guitars. A man is singing and in the chorus he is accompanied by someone. 09. Treading water Electro beginning with distorted voice then a woman's voice steps in. The distorted voice appears also at other moments in the track. It’s an electro song but it has a r’n’b vibe to it, I don’t know if it is the way the woman sings or the music itself or both! She also has a light accent when she sings “water”. It’s a catchy song. 10. Organs! Another catchy song that makes you wanna dance from the beginning. It’s a soft rock track mixed with synths and sounds of child’s game (well that’s what it makes me think of!). Towards the end, it’s like the synths player is going cray-cray on his instrument, hitting the keys randomly :lol: The track makes me think of The Strokes. Nice one! 11. Irishman A folk quiet song, the man’s voice is quite deep and whispery. Two acoustic guitars are only there to accompany him all along the song. A feminine voice enters in the chorus but it’s very subtle (I haven’t heard it the first few times I’ve listened to it!) :nice: Then, towards the end, the sound of the feminine voice is turned up, you can hear her clearly. So who is this Irish man? 12. NOT Alicia Keys Electric guitars mixed with synths, a man is singing. A woman’s voice is there at some moments during the song too. There is a tambourine present. It makes me think of a more electric version of Scissor Sisters! Far away from Alicia Key’s “Girl Is On Fire” :D Another catchy song. 13. Bare Feet Piano intro then a man begins to sing (oh, this voice :heart:). He has an accent. The first part is only piano-voice then the song slowly goes up in emotion with the instruments: first the piano is more energetic (it’s probably not the appropriate word but I can’t think of another one!), then other instruments (drums, guitars, bass) kick in with nice choir effect in the middle of that! A keeper. Sings “On another love, another love, all my tears have been used up” 14. Australia A woman is singing with a lovely voice. She’s playing with her voice: high, low, doing a choir effect, etc. When she sings “how can we just stay/say…” she made me think of Lilly Allen! It’s an uplifting and relaxing song and voice. It’s electro genre. I have the impression there is an accordion playing in the track, am I right or is it some electro sound? So, is the singer an Australian girl? 15. Oxford I already have heard this song but I can put a name on the band or the song! It’s a soft rock/chill rock music, a man with an accent and a slightly deep voice is singing. I like the guitars, the different sounds they make and how they are put together, excuse me if I’m not very clear here! So, who is this Oxford band? 16. Punk! (Reprise) A woman is singing, I already have heard her voice but I can’t remember who it is! It’s more the rock side of punk if such thing exists, compared to the first punk song! And I prefer this one (number 16)! It also has a bluesy vibe to it thanks to the way she sings sometimes and the music itself. Another keeper. No, I don’t give up this song :D 17. Indie Hipsters Like the title says, it’s an indie track with a Beach Boys vibe to it (especially the guitar riffs from the chorus). It reminds me of a French band who sings in English and could make this kind of music but I freaking can’t remember their name (that’s helping you a lot, right :lol:)! I already have heard the whistling part in a commercial or some tv shows here. This whistling part is present several times during the song. Hands clapping are also present towards the end of the track. It’s a happy, relaxing song. 18. Follow The Sun A folk type of song mixed with birds whistling’s sounds, harmonica, soft electric guitar, percussions. A man is singing to follow the sun and enjoy the present time, if I understand correctly. When he sings, he is only accompanied by the percussions and the guitar. The harmonica is added when he’s not singing. N.B.: When I write “choir effect”, I mean the voice(s) you hear behind the singer (maybe it's his/her own voice, maybe others). I don’t know the proper word for it, sorry! So to conclude this review, I would say that I liked very much the way the tape flows as well as the variety of genres you put in, and that after the first listening! For someone who had to make this fast, it is well done :clap: So you weren’t my initial mixtape maker? My favourites and ones I want to discover more are track: 2, 3, 7, 13, 16. And my absolute favourites, it was love at first listening, are number 3 and 13. Along the way, I got also hooked up by number 5, 10 and 12. Now I can’t wait to know who they are and hear other things from them :dance: I'm going to keep your mixtape in my files, maybe other songs will grow on me, who knows! To come back to the cover and the note: - I like the cover of the mix, did you do it yourself? It’s like the girl in the drawing is escaping from her daily life by reading and I should by listening to this mix :nice: - Thanks also for the note explaining your choices without saying too much. Plus, you seem to be a nice, bubbly person. It was a nice escaping between various genres and voices, I had great times listening to your mixtape, thanks so much for it :hug:

Nice surprise when I came here earlier: new layout :awesome: Great job done here :clap:

Ton Absence - Tété

I Want It All - Depeche Mode

I haven't got a review of my mixtape either! And, I'm almost happy with my review, so it should be here Monday or Tuesday ;)

Rosenrot - Rammstein

What did I just read?... My feelings right now are : "I'm shocked, just like that, it's over..." mixed with sadness (I follow their universe since 8 years or so) mixed with "well, if they can't see a futur together anymore and have fun together anymore, it's better to split up than do music just for the money."... Like Violet, I'm going to miss them :(

In The Flesh

Politik - Coldplay

So, I've listened to my tape 3 times so far (I've been "distracted", in the meantime, by the last album of Tété :D) and I have a first draft of my review. But I need more listenings to make a proper review, so a few more days to wait partner ;)

Yay, I got a link! Thanks again DiOli05 for your great job! I've just downloaded the mixtape but I will listen to it later today (it's 1am here and I'm tired!) :dance: And I am pleasantly surprised by the cover and the note :nice:

The Way I Am - Eminem

Nothing Else Matters - Metallica

Lisztomania - Phoenix

Pretty Little Liars

By the last album of Tété :heart:

Love The Way You Lie - Eminem feat. Rihanna

Give Me Love - Cerrone feat. Bob Sinclar

Us Against The World

I don't get why it's funny... maybe it's not the right way to say that in English or are you my mixtape maker and are late...

Friday I had an evening with Tété: first an acoustic showcase at a multimedia shop then later the concert :bliss: I want to share two videos of the concert I found on YouTube, so here they are:

Above The Clouds at the moment :D

Desert Rose - Sting feat. Cheb Mami

It's My Life - Bon Jovi

I'm in that group :sad: I'll wait patiently then ;)