Scomber - Electric Lady Supastar

Barabeke, Electric Lady (2006)

Well, here we are. It's been over a year since the last post. Nothing for 2016, nada.

It's a new year and here we go...no promises.

Fitting to start with something from ccMixter. Scomber has posted a lovely little "robo" love song. We love robot love here at BSWC. This number fits right in with quirky lyrics by Scomber mixed with a sweet acoustic jazz guitar track by Clarence Simpson.

It's February. It's Love (of a sort).

It's the ccMixter Key of Love - Valentines Day Remix Event. Tis' the season of love and ccMixter has you covered.

We just heard of some good news from Subsystem 7 and were inspired. Felicitations to Subsystem.

Scomber - Electric Lady Supastar

Loveshadow - This LifeBoat (Let's Change)

We decided to take a loop through ccMixter.org to see what's up.  Smooth dance rhythm with a message anyone?

Loveshadow and Snowflake sound like they have been working together in a studio for years.  No, Snowflake provides the 'pella and Loveshadow lays the tracks down.

If you have been around this blog over the years you will know that we love our ccMixter.  

If you haven't, then get on over and experience the outrageously huge collection of Creative Commons mixing that have happening over there the past 10 or so years.  If you are looking for the definitive search tool for the site there is dig.ccmixter.org.  Take it for a spin.

Loveshadow - This LifeBoat (Let's Change)

Hans Atom - Wake Up Kiss

A quick post for a Sunday morning.  Wake Up Kiss is a 'pella posted by Snowflake at ccMixter.org. Today we share the Hans Atom mix.

If you aren't familiar with ccMixter you might want to head over to the venerable remix site.  There you will find the result of years of crowd production of Creative Commons remixes.  It really is quite amazing.

Hans Atom is from Germany.  Here is something from the ccMixter comments page for this release:

Oh yeah. Killer remix. Great breakdown at the bridge… You really did get everything just right for this mix. Reminds me of Tori Amos and Garbage in the mid-90s… Congrats on the Ed Pick- totally deserved!

Hans Atom - Wake Up Kiss

Loveshadow - His Kiss

Today's track features the amazing vocal talent, Snowflake.  

Languid, sultry and all the elements that make a kiss live on in memory long after it is delivered. 

It has been a while since we posted a track for ccMixter.  No reason for that.

This Loveshadow mix, posted on May 21, 2014, definitely got Snowflake's attention:

just saw the upload notification on my iphone. dropped everything i’m doing, found my laptop, and am listening with full attention. amazing that you’re featuring prairie dogs….we are surrounded by them up here in the mountains! you are a magical maestro with hypnotizing powers. i would Ed Pick this but of course that would violate my sacred ccMixter vow :) this is sexy, hip, ambient yet completely groovin’ — incredible arrangement that should be playing in clubs and martini bars. thank you thank you thank you!!! 

Take a moment and experience His Kiss.

Loveshadow - His Kiss

Gurdonark - Maisie's Dream

"Music connects us through shared stories and through melodies without a narrative."

This sentence is how a description of the subject of today's post begins over at ccMixter.org.  The track was produced by long-time BSWC friend, Gurdonark. He has been a mixter at the Creative Commons remix site since November of 2005.

We've included his work on the blog and on the BSWC radio program. You can find this work here, here, here, here, and here.

This track is vintage Gurdonark.  It was posted to the site this past November. In a review of this piece at ccMixter, mixter SacJo22 uses a term, (coined by Gurdonark himself), new to us, but fitting for the style, weirdbient.

We'll let Gurdonark explain:

Mary Emma Jones, a 19th Century Stage actress, performed as Miss Clive. Histories remember her as the companion of English artist Frederick Sandys, a Pre-Raphaelite painter. Mr. Sandys gave her the nickname Proud Maisie, as in the (now public domain) poem of that title by Sir Walter Scott...I tried to take the music to an other, dream-like place, where everything is too simple and not simple at all.

Music connects us through shared stories and through melodies without a narrative.

Gurdonark - Maisie's Dream

Manolo Camp - Hoehenkoller

We had occasion to visit Opsound.org and found a familiar name in the "Latest Artists" list. Manolo Camp has appeared on four BSWC program playlists in 2006 and 2007. You can find the playlists and audio files here, here, here and here. We are pretty sure that we originally found his work on Opsound.

All these years later he is still at work and has tracks on his own website, soundcloud and ccMixter. It was a pleasure to the see the name and hear the music. Obviously, we have some catching up to do.

Manolo Camp is Manuel Kempter and he is from Switzerland.  He explains he approach to his art on Facebook:

the key words that describe manuel kempter, aka manolo camp, have always been cooperation and collaboration. manolo works with artists all around the world. this has given him a very open minded view on many different aspects of music and sound. through it all, manolo maintains his individuality, and does not worry about his work being "unpopular". these strong factors make manolo's contributions often disputed but always interesting.

Hoehenkoller carries the tags #soundtrack and #Swiss Alps over at Soundcloud. Enjoy a trip to the Alps.

Manolo Camp - Hoehenkoller

YEIZON - Up Up Up Up Up (YEIZON Remix)

We can feel the CC love in this one. YEIZON is a South Korean music project that is harnessing the power of Creative Commons licensing to get the music out.  

This tune, posted at ccMixter.org is a remix of a tune by State Shirt who is an active mixter at the site.

The musicians involved in the project come out of the K-Pop scene in Seoul and have coalesced to created this cooperative approach to developing their sound.

Here is the story of YEIZON from their Facebook page:

YEIZON is a music project and a movement that consists of 7 musicians who are rappers, producers, songwriters, vocalists, and percussionists. They’re actively doing their own music activities in the K-Pop, but they got together to quench the thirst for music that cannot be solved in the existing rules of the music industry. Actually, with various kinds of pressures to produce the music that makes more money, it’s difficult for the musicians to follow their belief in music. YEIZON is trying to solve these problems by decreasing the dependency on mass media and existing music distribution channels, and distributing their music via social media under Creative Commons License.

This remix was created and performed for a special live performance of the tune for the Seoul Digital Forum 2012. YEIZON did a speech session and a live performance with Creative Commons Korea.

If you are looking for more music, YEIZON also have a tune on the recent CC Affiliates Mixtape.

Let's share the music and pass it on.

YEIZON - Up Up Up Up Up (YEIZON Remix)

Hans Atom - Persephone

Photo by Eugenia Loli

Early February always harkens thoughts to the tale of Persephone...so alone.  A much better story than one about a groundhog and his shadow...

Hans Atom posted this one to ccMixter.org last week.  The vocals are posted to the site by mixter Snowflake.  Really beautiful.

Hans has this to say:

A Wavepop-Remix of snowflake´s famous, enchanting, beautiful yet dangerous siren pella, that lured many ccmixters to destruction.

Take a listen and enjoy thoughts of more winter.

Hans Atom - Persephone

COFFEEEUROPE ft Jeris, Susie Q. Smith & Patricia Edwards - Tattoo (Candy Flowers Edit)

COFFEEEUROPE is fast becoming one of my favorites on ccMixter.org.  No doubt about it.  This mix is smoking hot.

This track is built on a spoken word piece by Suzie Q called Tattoo.  Suzie Q has been featured on other ccMixter tracks posted in these pages.  This one sizzles with or without being mixed.  I just listened to it by itself and Wow.

This remix was posted in March 2014.  Here is what mixter, SackJo22 had to say:

Smoothly cool yet simmering. Coffeeeurope sets the passion of Suzi Q. Smith against a chill jam that places Jeris (with Admiral Bob) and Patricia Edwards in all the right places to fuel the heat.

COFFEEEUROPE ft Jeris, Susie Q. Smith & Patricia Edwards - Tattoo (Candy Flowers Edit)

Ashwan - Mauerspechte (the light) ditto ditto

‘Electric Relaxation’ by ashwan.

Wow.  Ashwan and ditto ditto in the same post.  I'm in ccMixter.org heaven.  Longtime mixter, Ashwan (2005) incorporates work by another longtime mixter, ditto ditto (2007) to create this amazing remix.

Ashwan is an artist as well as being a music producer.  He was born in Liverpool and now lives and works in Barcelona.

Ditto Ditto has been on the ccMixter scene since 2007 and has appeared in these pages before.  He is a skilled mixter and has also contributed some wonderful samples over the years.

Also, contributions come from Forensic, Ms. Vybe, and Snowflake.  Here is what Ashwan had to say about this piece:

I got seduced by Ditto Ditto’s remix of Snowflakes ‘The Light’, and inspired by the anniversary of the Berlin wall coming down recently and how that can function as a metaphor for the groundbreaking work that everyone involved in ccmixter is doing.

Always amazed at what a little time at ccMixter will turn up.  Turn it Up!

Ashwan - Mauerspechte (the light) ditto ditto

Elijah Lucian - CalendarGirl - June (Elijah Lucian One Hour Beat)

The voice takes me back to the mid-aughts...say about 2006-2007 when CalendarGirl, aka singer song-writer Tamara Barnett-Herrin was laying down tracks for the mixters at ccMixter.org.  Of course, those tracks haven't gone anywhere and in July 2014, Elijah Lucian provided a fresh, updated take on her "June" tune.

Mixter Spinmeister interviewed CalendarGirl in 2008 and here is a taste:

In October 2006, singer song-writer Tamara Barnett-Herrin from London in the UK published a one sentence challenge to herself and to remixers around the World Wide Web: “I write one song a month. You remix and feedback. We make a record.” This experiment in songwriting and remix culture unlike any other yielded over 300 remixes, setting a new record at ccMixter. Twelve of them have been chosen to be published in an album titled Calendar Songs Volume I. Known to the ccMixter community as Calendar Girl, she has graciously agreed to an interview with ccMixter.

Take a listen.  Very nice...almost magical.

Elijah Lucian - CalendarGirl - June (Elijah Lucian One Hour Beat)

Wuszu feat. Masia (beat.Wuszu) - TO JA

This is like a decade old, but somehow I missed it back then and think it needs to be out in this feed.  You know that feeling.

Wuszu had a brief six month run at ccMixter.org with some great Polish rap.  The website is still there but not active.

Can't tell you more, but a source I respect (Ashwan) has a little more to say:  

I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THESE GUYS ARE SAYING, SO I CANNOT ENDORSE THEIR IDEAS, BUT THIS IS SOME NICE INTERESTING R’N’B STYLE HIP HOP COMING STRAIGHT OUTTA……….POLAND! I CLICKED ON SOME OF THEIR LINKS AND FOUND SOME NICE ENERGY THERE TOO.
www.sprawdztebity.za.pl
HAVE TO SAY THOUGH, THE REAL REASON I RATE THIS SO HIGH IS FOR THE VOICE OF MASIA…EVERYTHING IS VERY GOOD, BUT SHE IS EXCEPTIONAL.

More Masia, please.

 Wuszu feat. Masia (beat.Wuszu) - TO JA

MC Jack in the Box - Disko Halo

Long time mixter, MC Jack in the Box dropped this one at CCmixter.org in the middle of November.  A member of the site since 2004 this was his first tune shared there in 2 years.

We have enjoyed MC Jack in the Box at BWSC for quite a while now.  And this one doesn't disappoint.    

The San Francisco-based artist has some info at his website:

I’ve been doing live recording for about 15 years now, and cut my teeth learning how to multitrack on a Tascam 01 4-track and moved up to a Portastudio 488. I began recording band practices and multitracking original songs, but moved into remixing about 10 years ago. 

If you aren't familiar with the ccMixter concept it is good to know that mixters can build on other's contributions using Creative Commons licenses and the site provides the nexus for this collaboration.  On this tune, MC Jack in the Box mixed up contributions from bigbonobo_combo and FORENSIC.

We are happy to share.

MC Jack in the Box - Disko Halo

Alex Beroza - Red Light

Francisca Ulloa - Light/Dark

Wow.  Late night in a hotel room in Montreal...a little time with ccMixter comes up with this gem. 

Wow.  Alex Beroza is a huge contributor to the the remix site and this is outstanding.

The vocals come from HelenaJ who has contributed two uploads to the site including Red Light.  A number of mixters have worked with Red Light and Alex rocked it.



Here is the story on Alex:

living - Antwerp, Belgium  

occupation - designing & making jewellery. 

free time - making music.

Wow.

Alex Beroza - Red Light

keytronic -Der Traum Unterm Baum (feat. Maike und Frida)

A sweet, beautiful Christmas tune from longtime mixter, Keytronic.  The piece features his young daughter and a friend and if it doesn't settle you down for a cozy Christmas Eve, I don't know what will.  

Keytronic had this to say:

This is now the result featuring my Daughter Frida and Maike (a very good Friend). 

I believe this is a wonderful christmas song and my second self composed song ever.

Take a listen.  I'm sure that you will want to add this to your holiday collection. It stands out among all the great tunes being posted to ccMixter.org this holiday season.

keytronic -Der Traum Unterm Baum (feat. Maike und Frida)

Photo credit: Lucie Bluebird-Lexington - For winter dreams

Diaphane - This is Not Love

Beverley Goodwin

With love always  - Some Rights Reserved

Very sweet and as some folks at ccMixter noted, "a little shy."  A lovely piece that is built on mixter Post_'s instrumental bit called "Not a Love Song".  Diaphane has done something really wonderful.

I took a moment to listen to the two pieces back-to-back at the songs Derivation page...yes, really wonderful. 

The tune was posted at ccMixter.org on November 21.  As I mentioned there were a lot of comments.  I particularly liked this back and forth:

Diaphane - This is Not Love

Stefan Kartenberg (featuring Kara Square) - Hibernate 'Til New Year's Day

This holiday remix was just posted this morning at ccMixter.org.  A very nice mix indeed.  Stefan has definitely got it.

Here's what artist Kara Square had to say about Stefan's work:

Excellent!!! Truly. Joyous. Fun. You rocked this, Stefan!!

Yes, the Black Sweater, White Christmas vibe is getting rolling and ccMixter's Songs of the Season remix collection provides a lot of inspiration.


 Stefan Kartenberg (featuring Kara Square) - Hibernate 'Til New Year's Day

Loveshadow - Kisses On Lips ( The Mistletoe Mix )

This Loveshadow mix was posted at ccMixter.org in November of 2007.  It was featured on a Black Sweater, White Christmas radio program, but never got a BSWChristmas post.  Here goes...

Mistletoe Dance, Photo by

Allison Marchant

Loveshadow's work forms part of the backbone of ccMixter.  And that is part of the joy of the creative commons remix site.  A collective dedicated to putting a wide variety of really great sounds out there and then building on the body of work...always building.  If you haven't been there, well...

The building block that Loveshadow used here was provided by a year-long project by calendargirl to put up a vocal track each month to challenge the mixters.  Some great tunes were generated including this one.

Mixter Gurdonark (friend of BSWC) explains:

I like that you make this mix so much fun. It’s great that you play in the field of holiday novelty, and yet you do more than merely an obvious send-up, but create your own mistletoe- verse in which this song makes sense. The interweave of vocal and insturments is good, and the little sequenced keyboard/bell around where the lyric “spider” pops up is good.

But mostly, you stretch, and you go places that people sometimes imagine they’re too hip to go, and you show there’s a lot of fun up on them thar asteroids.

I don’t think they’ll be playing this one at Billy Bob’s Texas in Fort Worth any time soon, but it’s great to hear the nods to country in this wonderfully odd mix.

Merry Christmas...enjoy the season.

Loveshadow - Kisses On Lips ( The Mistletoe Mix )

Texasradiofish - Holiday Funky Blues (featuring Snowflake)

More Songs of the Season from ccMixter.org for your seasonal enjoyment.  This one is a straightforward blues project.  Smooth, delightful and poignant.  Texasradiofish mixed it up from vocal supplied by fellow mixter, Snowflake.

Texasradiofish is Electronico and ElRon XChile, musicians, composers & producers living in Galveston County, Texas.

Here are the words of Snowflake: 

wow, fits like an old soft shoe! amazing. i’m pleased as punch! i’ll be playing this on our famous Loveis Shrimp Boat (where he lost an eye in a fishin’ accident) - we’ll ring in the season with the down home blues.

Follow the Songs of the Season link to find a veritable smorgasbord of holiday music...something for everyone's taste, believe me.

Texasradiofish - Holiday Funky Blues (featuring Snowflake)

Scomber -Winter (Here comes the Snow*)

Featuring mixter Loveshadow, this remix from ccmixter.org's Songs of the Season - Remix project is a lovely, jazzy ode to my favorite season.  Looking out the window I see snow on the ground and the lyrics of this tune really get at the core of the experience:  

Then here comes the snow 

Hope to catch it fall! 

Think of me when summer’s light has ended 

shadows dark my warm extended 

‘cause here comes the snow 

(Here comes the snow)

It is really nice to dip back into the ccmixter winter sounds.  I'm going to keep an eye on the project to see how the season unfolds.

Scomber -Winter (Here comes the Snow*)