Set & Drift presents the Minstrel Fridays podcast, a series of mixtapes from creative minds across the globe. Minstrel Fridays lets you peek inside the head of artists, musicians, designers, architects, philosophers, bikesmiths, etc, through the universal medium – musical inspiration.
What I did with this mixtape is compiled a selection of all the most recent music I’ve been listening to while working on this show. The majority of these songs stayed in the order that I’ve been listening to them when I sit down and work for the day.
except for a couple of the bands the rest are close friends. but it’s not that we want to show off here… it’s just that we all belong to a small scattered loving family, making music, bags, paintings, films, designs, etc and i [think] this is a perfect opportunity to share a bit of how we sound like in Spain (plus some geographical data) when you scratch a little bit in the surface… at casa peSeta there’s always a nice melody when you drop by.
she just released her first album… only in cassette. her band is called Lorena Álvarez y su Banda Municipal (basically Laura and me, and sometimes also Roldán and Laura’s boyfriend, sax player Andrés Arregui). she started writing songs recently and now she can’t stop. from San Antolín de Ibias, Asturias, she’s currently living in Berlin, and she is also a painter.
Palo Alto is an orchestra man with whom we’ve done this year the official bags of Primavera Sound. some people say he looks a little bit like Roldán, from the first song. there’ll also be a DVD with a video like the one we made for New Museum last year. Here’s the teaser:
LaJR : Todo va a ir mejor (AA records)
Laura’s brother, Rafa, band, originally from Gijón, Asturias. making beautiful sounds since the nineties. Rafa has a recording studio in the countryside of León (www.grabacionesdecampo.com) that we all love to visit…
traditional (real classic) song that once was once censored by the Franco dictatorship. amazing that those stupid things sometimes happens. unfortunately, Miss Gámez ain’t part of this little family of ours…
Manuel Vallejo : A mi mata la pena
from a wonderful compilation of songs from all over the world called Mata la Pena. flamenco rules…
Antonio González El Pescaílla : Levántate
one of our favorite artists ever. he didn´t record much because he was kind of eclipsed by his wife, Lola Flores. he is The Rumba like Little Richard was Rock and Roll.
Las Hermanas Diego : Potros Salvajes
Kantia has also started singing recently and she´s right now finishing her first album at Rafa´s studio. María Valle plays with her (and sings on “todo va a a ir mejor” by LsJR). they´re both from Maliaño, Cantabria.
Tresestrellas : lover lover lover (AA records)
María’s former band, with brothers Javi and Carlos Aquilué, from Huesca. they don´t play anymore but i just keep listening to their songs come rain or shine.
Kiev Cuando Nieva : el procedimiento (from “Todos los ademanes”, AA records)
the Aquilué brothers and Antxón (now living in Lithuania) have released a couple of wonderful albums. there’s no band like them in the rest of Europe or even in their hometown, Huesca, Aragón.
La Estrella de David : Tremendas Amazonas (canadá)
we’ve listened to his records at casa peSeta like a thousand times… he’s from Barcelona and he´s always been involved in nice bands like Beef or Telefilme…
This mix represents some of the things that I have been listening to obsessively for the past six months or so. There are some old favorites like The Dead Weather, and Grinderman. Some new stuff from some other old favorites like Dr. Dog and Iron and Wine. Some of my favorite songs from friends like The Howls, Transfer, and Belle Brigade. There is also a track from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs IS IS EP that I came across while researching producers for our new record. All in all, it’s a collection of the stand by bands and songs that never leave the rotation of music that I listen to at home, or in our tour van. Hope you enjoy!
Jay Porter (mastermind behind North Park restaurants The Linkery and El Take It Easy) put this mix together from his new pad in Ensenada, just South of Valle de Guadalupe. Check out some of his recent musings, including his Biased Guide to Mexican Wine Country, and enjoy the mix!
Feel Good Inc. (Gorillaz ft. De La Soul) + Fela Kuti – mixed by Amerigo Gazaway
Our Lady of Stalingrad – The Secret History
So Beautiful or So What – Paul Simon
Sonidero Total!!! – Sonido San Francisco
I Just Wanna Be Your Everything – Andy Gibb
Make A Plan – Saturday Looks Good To Me
Suedehead – Morrissey
OK! Do You Want Something Simple? – The Gift
Los Angeles Guitar Dream – Spanish Prisoners
Despedida – Juliete Venegas
Take On Me – A-ha
Dragon Park – Amerigo Gazaway
Bizarre Love Triangle – New Order
Crystal Blue Persuasion – Tommy James and the Shondells
2012 is gonna be a year about mixing it up a bit with the old, the current & the new. Simply, having fun and keeping it real in all matters of life. Last year brought me many challenges all around, personally and in business, life tests. Had time to reflect on what’s important over the break: family, friends, loved ones, music, food & realized how beautiful it can be when it all comes together. Real good food & music are universal & timeless. Lets take on this year with an attitude about inspiring, sharing & enjoying. After all, it’s supposed to be the last year according to the Mayans. YEAR OF THE HOMI!