Mystery Mini Mix is a shiny new feature dredged up from somewhere within the collective imagination of the WTD crew. Basically, we’ve made a huge list of song prompts (eg. Song with a colour in the title) and are getting our favourite writers and music people to curate a list of songs according to the randomly-assigned prompts they receive. It’s then up to them to craft their very own ‘EP’, deciding on the track order, release title and artwork. If they want to write a little bit about their choices then that’s cool too.
Today we welcome Trev Elkin, one of the faces behind the ever excellent GoldFlakePaint who writes thoughtful, in-depth, long(ish) form pieces that do more than regurgitate a press release. In other words, he’s one of the good guys.
I Was Always Leaving
by Trev Elkin
1) Song with a city in the title
Soccer Mommy – Moving to New York
This is basically a massive excuse to include a song by Sophie Allison in the list. She has such a great talent. The sadness in this track is palpable and stirs up all those pre-break up conversation and long-distant relationship memories. I have acquaintances who live there, but New York isn’t somewhere I’ve ever been to, or have really been interested in as a place. It seems to attract and turn out some amazing bands and musicians – particularly NYU, so maybe I should!
Stereolab – Tomorrow Is Already Here
Along with His Name Is Alive and Dead Can Dance, Stereolab were significant in shaping my musical tastes at a time when everything seemed to be going through a process of dilution and commercialisation. I loved how Stereolab stood alone in the alternative scene for their Marxist, Surrealist ideals and how they pretty much invented DIY production and publishing with the Duophonic label. They never really got the success they deserved. This track comes from Emperor Tomato Ketchup, probably their most accessible album, but it gave no ground on the politics. The lyrics ring as true today (perhaps more so) as they did 20 years ago: society now serves the institutions originally set up to serve it.
3) Song that brings out your inner cowboy
OP8 & Lisa Germano – Sand
So OP8 was basically a non-commercially-viable side-project by members of Calexico (a theme is emerging here, maybe) and this song comes from their only album ’Slush’ which I recommend if you can track it down. The whole album creates a weird sense of place, like a scene with campfires at dusk, as stars begin to pierce the dusty skies when along comes a UFO and beams down some mysterious figure dressed in 19th Century western gear. The original ’Sand’ was a Lee Hazlewood and Nancy Sinatra duet and I like the way Howe Gelb and Lisa swap the gender roles.
4) A song you want played at your funeral
Circuit Des Yeux – Fantasize The Scene
Haley Fohr is another artist I admire so much. An outlier in terms of her voice and the perspective she brings to her songwriting, nothing about what she does is predictable or takes the easy road. For me ‘Fantasize The Scene’ is all about making the most of your life, being and believing in who you are. It’s a hopeful song, an outstretched hand offering reassurance that if you don’t find true love now, you will in another world where anything is possible.
5) A song by the most over rated band of all time
The Strokes – New York City Cops
Ah, The Strokes. ‘Is This It?’ Pretty much sums it up for me. We all have opinions, that is mine.
…and here’s the whole thing collected into a neat EP. Enjoy!
So check out Trev’s work on GoldFlakePaint (if you don’t already), and be sure to stop off next Wednesday for another Mystery Mini Mix.
Photo by William Eggleston