Modular People

It's the festive season, which means there's sure to be feasts with family and friends, egg-nog, a lot of seeing the wee small hours of the night / morning and probably (hopefully) a heap of good-times with loved ones. With all of that, everyone needs a bit of quiet time too. That's something we've taken from a year of doing office yoga - the importance of balance.

So as we're preparing to spend some quality time with our nearest and dearest, we thought we'd leave you a bit of quiet, reflective sweetness in the form of this mixtape.

Like its predecessor, Modular Mixtape 2 - Midnight, this has been put together by the over-achieving Chris from the A&R Department. He's also shared a few thoughts on each.

Happy Holidays, enjoy!
Modular xxo

1) Brendan Canning - Take Care, Look Up
This track is a great drifter. It floats, and floats and floats. Before you know it, you are too. Brendan Canning is from the band Broken Social Scene, who quite frankly are one of my all time favourite bands.

2) Darondo - Didn't I
Darondo is an artist from the 70s who up until recently, was only known by the real soul-heads out there. That was before a certain show got their hands on this gem, and boy am I thankful they did. Although this is the standout, the entire album is one of beautiful hooks and musicianship.

3) Neil Young - On the Beach
Lifted from Young's 1974 album of the same name, it's truly a desperate affair. The guitar solo in this is one of my all-time favourites. Be sure to check the cover on the album if you haven't already done so. It's something else.

4) Cat Power - Fool
One beautiful woman singing one beautiful song. It is what it is.

5) Janis Joplin - Summertime
The Queen Of Blues. Her Southern Comfort soaked voice is one of loss and love and it definitely gets it's work out in this cover. Although it is probably one of the most covered songs of all time, this is the best in my opinion.

6) Can - Vitamin C
So many of today's current "experimental" bands owe so so much to Can. Wether they recognise it or not. Their brand of schizophrenic music probably went over the heads the every day listener, and although a fair chunk of their catalogue can be somewhat challenging, it's more than worth it when you come out the other side.

7) Penny & The Quarters - You and Me
You know that dude from 'Drive'? Yeah the next Steve McQueen - Ryan Gosling. He was once in a film about how no matter how in love you are with someone, one day its most probably going to end in a horrible horrible train wreck of emotions. Top stuff Gosso. ANYWAY, this was a track he performs for his babe (who later becomes a real piece of work). No one knows too much about Penny & The Quarters except for this song and supposedly the makers of the film have been looking for them since it's release because they now have a whole lot of royalties coming their way.

8) The Doors - Indian Summer
Such a well thought out song. Each instrument compliments the next, with Jim is at his crooning best.

9) Coma Cinema - Blissed
Coma Cinema is Matt Cothran from South Carolina. Matt makes some of the most poignant indie music I've heard in a long time. This is one of the standouts from his album - Stoned Alone.

10) The Boys Next Door - Shivers
Roland S. howard wrote this song when he was 16. To me, to be able to create such a perfect piece of music at such a young age is incredible. On the other hand, to be capable of creating such a dark piece of work at that age is quite unnerving. TBND version here is quite simply a timeless classic.

Shit, this was pretty depressing. Drake depressing... I'm sorry, but I hope you enjoy anyway.