There are times when projects just seemed doomed from the start. Ideas, however grand they may be, sometimes never quite make it due to unforeseen forces. You may even start to wonder if what you envisioned was somehow never meant to be - cursed, if you will. I was beginning to believe my latest comp was vexed…
Lo, and behold, after much sweat and some bloodshed, I am proud to release 2011’s Halloween mix entitled - “My Dearest Killer” - featuring 15 exclusive tracks by some of my favorite artists of 2011 (and 2010). For this comp, I asked artists to either compose a giallo soundtrack inspired tune or cover/rework their favorite horror film song. What I received was more than what I ever could hope for.
From The North Sea’s horror/drone opening, “Broken Bats”, to the amazingly lush reworking of a track from the film “Jacob’s Ladder” by ∆AIMON - those that did reworks/covers are entirely atmospheric, down right spine tingling and fresh. Dream Boat contributed with an eerie rendition of the “Rosemary’s Baby” theme song and CVLT CLASSICS churned out a super funky track entitled “Tropico”. Inspired by “Let The Right One In,” Running In The Fog delivers a sweetly seductive ode to a vampire in “Let It In”.
For the original songs, I worked with some people again and some first timers. From the ever prolific Ʌ (Arc) that appeared on “Abraded Ghosts” in 2010 - once again serving up an ominous nebulous/goblinic composition. Basketball Camp executed a pulsating paranoia tune, “Fuhhly,” and GOSTS supplied sublime giallo-disco in “Knife Couture”. Others delve into conjuring the ethereal/supernatural being - such as Kidcity’s remorseful “What Have You Done“ and Majical Cloudz - to bit of a playful search for apparitions from Poor Spirits. Not to forget the atmospheric “look over your shoulder” pieces from Magic Fades and Moon Mirror. Lastly, I’m extremely grateful to Lust for his “Night Voyeur” tune since I reached out to him somewhat last minute and, like a champ, created a funky erotic-giallo piece.
Also honored to be FINALLY working with one of my favorite people ever - Ghibli turns in an exploitation-disco tune entitled “Patrick”. And, like all good horror films that leave you wanting for more, you don’t know if the good guy or villain prevailed.
I want to give my heartfelt thanks to each and every one of you who took time out of your busy schedules to create this extremely wonderful body of work. Words alone cannot express enough gratitude to each and everyone one of you involved. And without further ado - “My Dearest Killer…“
My Dearest Killer… - Unholy Rhythms Halloween Mix 2011
- The North Sea - Broken Bats
- Ʌ (Arc) - URIEL (AT KARNAK)
- Dream Boat - Rosemary
- CVLT CLASSICS - Tropico (Instrumental Mix)
- Basketball Camp - Fuhhly
- GOSTS - KNIFE COUTURE
- Kidcity - What Have You Done
- Majical Cloudz - Love From The Loon
- Poor Spirits - Where Is That Ghost?
- Running In The Fog - Let It In
- Magic Fades - DONTHANGUP(GURLIMSCARED4U)
- Moon Mirror - The Music Box Portal
- LUST - Night Voyeur
- Ghibli - Patrick
- ∆AIMON - Jacob’s Ladder (SONNYBOY)
Get it here
♪ File under: halloween, halloween 2011, unholy rhythms comp, giallo, giallo inspired, giallo disco, erotic disco, exploitation funk, dark, drone, atmospheric, imaginary horror film, instrumental, swamp-fi, murky, chilling, ethereal, love song to vampires, keep telling yourself - this is only a soundtrack, this is only a soundtrack…
Unholy Rhythms State of The Blog
As* some of you may, or may not know, I began Unholy Rhythms when I found myself with a lot of time on my hands. I had decided to take my love of music and keep a log of everything I was listening to. In my mind, Unholy Rhythms was to be an archive of memories - what I was loving, discovering, or just wanting to remember.
Over a couple of months, it progressed to the format it carries now - with a bit of prose (or from time to time poetry). When I originally began the site, I never thought I’d end up writing again - something I’ve been doing since I was about 11 years old. It has lead me to really dig inside and hone my craft while I work continuously chisel and perfect my style.
With celebration there often comes change. Time will no longer be my best friend (and sometimes enemy) as I received gainful employment. Starting on 4/25, I will begin full time work and I cannot be more enthusiastic about this endeavor. No, this does not mean I am shutting down the site nor do I have any intention of stopping just yet - it just means small changes here and there. I will continue to blog but not with the volume that I had when this site began.
Also, I hit a milestone number this week. This gives me a chance to express to everyone how grateful I am for all your support over the months that U/R has been “alive”. Thank you to all my readers and to every artist that has ever submitted or contributed to my comps.
*If you stuck with me through the entire text - I thank you! Again - NOT QUITTING just workin’.
♪ File under: the blog lives!, employment, cha-ching
~*Cactus Mouth/Unholy Rhythms Christmas Mix 2010*~
Over the past 6 months, I’ve had the opportunity to meet some of the nicest artists and bloggers out there. During this time, I came to know (albeit virtually) Cactus Mouth - one of the hippest dudes out there. As the months progressed, there were many occasions that he and I would blog not only the same artist, but the same song; we sometimes described the song with the same exact words. SCARY!
So, of course, when I found out that he was interested in doing a mix just for Christmas, I wasn’t surprised at all since I had the *same* idea. Originally, the mix was going to be a three-way collaboration with Yvynyl, Cactus Mouth, and myself. However, Mark had to bow out…. slightly*. He managed to round-up a track for us and provide an astounding amount of support. The end result is an exclusive 14-track wintertime mix.
Some of the tracks are a straight up ode to Christmas tunes. We have both Mutual Benefit and Megafortress covering “Silent Night”, but in two totally unique ways. The other tunes are, at times, a bit more subtle in their celebration of the season but they’re all fantastic. From the joyously infectious upbeat “Emelia” by Unouomedude, to the gorgeously ambient “Missa Do Gallo” by Dream Band and Ricky Eat Acid.
I am also super excited that we got the up-and-coming SNOWMINE to contribute a track, as well as Martha! Mother. My ultimate homeboy Guerre contributed a tune that, while not super Christmasy, it is oh so perfect for watching the snow fall on a day you’re isolated. For those looking for a little more “chill”, there are the tunes by the fabulous Ra Cailum, DanielRadall, Craig Cruiser, and Closed Cassette.
The only song that people might have heard in advance is BAnanas Symphony*s, ”Holidaze”. The song was meant for the mix but somehow escaped early enough to give listeners a taste of what was to come. It is still a fantastic song hence the inclusion of it on the mix.
I want to thank each and every artist involved and most of all, I want to thank Cactus Mouth for a wonderful collaboration. Merry Christmas, one and all.
“Holiday Sweaters & Egg Nog” A Cactus Mouth & U/R Christmas 2010 Mix
- BAnanas Symphony - “Holidaze”*
- Unouomedude - “Emelia”
- Ra Calium - “Snow Falls”
- Danniell Radall - “Love Is You”
- Closed Cassette - “Things Must Get Done”
- Megafortress - “Silent Night”
- Craig Cruiser - “Snowed In”
- Dream Band - “Missa Do Galo”
- Ricky Eat Acid - “wntersngs”
- Guerre - “MF”
- Holy Spirits - “The Sea”
- Martha! Mother - “Michael W. Smit”
- SNOWMINE - “Nervous”
- Mutual Benefit - “Silent Nite”
♫ download here | alternate link here
*Provided by Yvynyl.
♪ File under: lofi, chillwave, winterwave, Christmas mix, folk pop, chamber pop, rocking around the Christmas tree, ambient, chill, drone, silent night, sample pop, atmospheric
Unholy Rhythms July Mix
Presenting my first ever mix for Unholy Rhythms. These are tracks I really loved throughout the month of July. I wanted to make a “micromix” to represent the kind of mood I was in - something that is good for a day out; a kind of “travelling music”, if you will.
▲ July Mix (or “That’s Not What Your Body Said”) ▲
1. Teenage Reverb - “Lolo”
2. Okinawa Lifestyle - “Wir Sind In Der Zukunft Geblieben”
3. Fiveng - “Jonah” (Star Slinger remix)
4. Ghost Animal - “In Your Room” (Golden Ages remix)
5. Top Girls - “Faded Feeling”
6. Pepepiano - “Perfect Lives”
7. Glitter Bones - “Ceremonial Secrets”
8. unouomedude - “Buildings”
9. Phillip Oskar Augustine - “Leopard Thighs”
10. How To Dress Well - “My Body”
11. Entrepreneurs - “Revenge Platter”
12. GOBBLE GOBBLE - “Boring Horror”