(download full album) [138MB]
There is an alternate dimension where the Cold War on Eath was not so chilly. While the time prior to 1979 happened just the way you remember, the 1980 election of Ronald Reagan started a domino chain that brought about the worst disaster in American history. The nuclear attack from the Soviet Union left less than 50 million souls alive in the United States and a dystopian wasteland Mad Max would envy.
The faux-documentary Reaganland presents this harrowing anachronism through the eyes of the youth rising from the ashes of their home. By 1983, 2 years after the attack, remaining Americans spend their days working to rebuild the American dream in whatever odd jobs they can. Children and teens are left to fend for themselves. An escape from the haunting glory days is found in art, especially music. An unexplained synergy that had not been seen since the 60s took hold of basements and garages from coast to coast. Without the totolitarian influence of popular radio, strange psychedelia merged with the FM synthesis technology of the time and created a hazy kalaidascope of music born of the necessities of preserved instruments. Those who were not playing the music were participating in the "sneakernet" network, which allowed the trade of 8-track tapes and records across the country. The music became the education, the culture, and the lifeforce for young adults with literally nothing else to call their own.
The original soundtrack for Reaganland is performed by various bands and musicians who portray the bands visited in many oases across the country. Washed Out and Ice Choir soundtrack the saccharine ethereum coming out of the crowded beaches of Los Angeles that kids have made their makeshift home. John Maus and Blouse personify the gritty ballads coming from the leveled alleys of Long Island. A Gap Between and Com Truise treat us to the instrumental jazz-influenced jams coming from the half-flooded French Quarter of New Orleans. This is only a taste of a fantastic soundtrack to the melancholy story of a ravaged America and the flowers growing through the busted concrete sidewalk. Enjoy the soundtrack, because sadly this film does not exist yet.
Well, it does, in my head.
Lets drop the pretention now. This is just a Chillwave compilation, really. You know that. I'm just self indulgent and I love concept albums and the idea of alternate histories.
Chillwave has become something of a joke within the indie music community, but as a child of the 80s and a fan of all the music that inspired the movement, I've never found it a laughing matter. There were the early stars like Washed Out and Neon Indian and there were the surprising finds hiding in the basements, bedrooms, and bandcamps that I knew the world needed to know about.
Reaganland is a little of both, and a lot of awesome.
Enjoy!
1. A Gap Between - Orange Horizon
2. Toro Y Moi - Blessa
3. Ice Choir - Teletrips
4. Neon Indian - Should Have Taken Acid With You
5. Small Black - Camoflage
6. John Maus - Head For The Country
7. Brothertiger - You're Afraid
8. Ray & The Prisms - Astrograph
9. Twin Sister - All Around And Away We Go
10. Com Truise - Sundriped
11. Casa del Mirto - Weak
12. Active Child - Call Me Tonight
13. Soft Lightning - Press Rewind
14. Neon Indian - Deadbeat Summer
15. Washed Out - Feel It All Around
16. Blouse - Videotapes
17. M83 - Skin of the Night
18. Ford & Lopatin - Everything Is Working
19. Emeralds - Genetic
These mixes are compiled by myself to promote good music only, NOT to take money away from these artists. Please support the artists you like. And to make it fair, I ask you to delete these files within 24 hours.
btw, We're always curious to hear your feedback on mixes. Let us know what you think about this one, past mixes, or the site in general by leaving a comment. Please?
1 comment:
Hahaha you certainly had me fooled! As usual, great selection man! Gonna load this into me iPod now. Thanks!
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