Music on Mixcloud

A postscript to Taking Music For a Christmas Walk

As promised, some suggestions for DJs, producers etc to follow on Mixcloud.

What’s Mixcloud?

Mixcloud is a platform to which creators can upload sequences of music, for the rest of us to stream and listen to. These can be presented like a radio programme would be, or they can just be tune after tune, in the manner of a DJ set. And of course, the skilled turntablists can do their thing for the dazzlement of the rest of us.

Why Mixcloud?

It’s user-friendly. There’s an app for your phone, tablet or whatever which you can use as you would any other music streaming service. When I connect my phone to Apple CarPlay, it offers me Mixcloud as a listening option. If Mixcloud was the last thing I was listening to, it picks up right where I left off. Or you can use the desktop version while you’re working, or whatever.

It’s free. You can pay subscriptions to some shows which gives you extra features, but if you just want to listen to music, there’s no charge.

It’s fun. You can enjoy listening to types of music you know you like, or you can try something new (suggestions below).

It’s about the music. The shows or DJ sets are put together by people who know and love their stuff. The presentation may not always be as slick as you might be used to from broadcast radio, but the enthusiasm easily outweighs that.

Hang on, aren’t you Mr Analogue? Or at least Captain Physical Formats?

Yup. Too right I am. If I’m sitting down to listen to something, it’ll be on vinyl, CD, reel-to-reel tape or cassette.

But if I’m driving, or pootling around doing chores, or moving from one room to another, this is just convenient.

So, who should I listen to?

Here come a selection of my personal favourites. Explore the platform and you’ll doubtless find many others that you probably like more, but I enjoy these enough to want to share them with you.

Mukatsuku

Incredibly cool, incredibly funky. Soul, boogie, Afrobeat, disco, reggae, funk and more. It feels like you should be wearing your sharpest retro or vintage gear to listen to it. The party you wish you were invited to.

Kiss! Kiss! Bang! Bang! with DJ Honey

Every month, an amazing selection of female-fronted acts and solo women performers all on 45rpm vinyl from the Fifties to the Seventies. Soul, R&B, jazz, pop and funk that calls for a cocktail and white go-go boots, adorably presented and including surprise finds from Honey’s crate-digging expeditions across Europe, Australia, the USA, Japan and especially south-east Asia. You can watch as well as listen to Honey doing her thing, on a dream DJ set-up, here. Highly recommended.

Johnty Del Monte

Straight up, Johnty’s joyful and skilful mixes have kept me going through some tough times. There’s no higher praise than that. Hit ‘play’ and the sun breaks through.

The Vinyl Factory

If you’re even vaguely curious about new music on vinyl, the people who choose and play it and the kit it’s played on, you need to know about The Vinyl Factory. Sign up to their newsletter, listen to their mixes and your ears will open like a lotus at dawn.

Dollar Country

Something very different now. Dollar Country is presented by Frank the Drifter (nice nod to Hank Williams) out of Cleveland, Ohio. Frank scours yard sales, thrift stores and charity shops for country singles from the Fifties to the Seventies, diving into the $1-apiece bins in search of gold. But not the big hits. He’s looking for the overlooked gems on tiny local labels, private pressings, records that disappeared as soon as they were released. Some of them are extraordinarily good. Some of them are deeply strange. Frank’s just become a father so Dollar Country’s featuring guest hosts for a while, but can I recommend one recent show to you? To be honest, I loved this episode so much it’s a miracle I’ve not already grabbed you by the lapels, sat you down and made you listen to every second of it. Dollar Country 231: Welcome to Hardtimes is Frank at his finest. Crack open a cool one, and turn it way up.

Mark Beesley

If you’re very fortunate, and you pick the right evening to take yourself out for the night in Shrewsbury, Ludlow or even Birmingham, you might find yourself being served hot platters by the crew known as 2 Kilos of Funk. Mark Beesley is one of that mighty triumvirate. Impeccable selections, DJ sets for the heart, mind and feet.

Stereo Underground

Richard Latto has served the music lovers of southern England with Stereo Underground for ten years now. It’s a fantastic selection of indie, alternative and surprising stuff that’s been BBC local radio’s most downloaded show for quite a while. Except it’s not going to be on the radio anymore *deep sigh*. But not to panic, Richard’s moving it to Mixcloud. It’s not there yet, but be sure to follow for when it is. It’ll be worth the wait.

If you explore any or all of these, let me know what you think?

Meanwhile, there’ll be at least one Hello You podcast coming your way next week, so hit ‘Subscribe’ to make sure you don’t miss any of the action.

Have a great weekend!