Art Of Noise // Active Child

Our sporadic mix-tape feature returns with someone that has well and truly won over our hearts and speakers over the past couple of months. Pat Grossi aka Active Child is a name that you’ve no doubt read an awful lot about on these pages lately. With a recent appearance on Song Of The Day, plus the announcement of a headlining performance at a ”TLOBF presents” show next month – Grossi is currently straddled on the top of a long list of incredible artists emerging from Los Angeles at the moment (see also; Kisses, Teen Inc.).

We asked Pat to put together ten of his favourite songs and talk us through the reasoning of each choice. What follows is an interesting insight into Grossi’s rich and varied musical palate. You can stream / download each of the mp3′s separately, or grab the complete compilation as a .zip file at the bottom of the post. Enjoy.

Chromatics: “I Want Your Love”
Put this track on, loud, and drive somewhere. One of the best freeway songs i’ve ever heard, and living in LA you spend a fair amount of time on freeways. From deep gritty synth and delayed muted guitar to beautiful breathy vocals from Ruth Radelet, doesnt get much better for me.

Glass Candy: “Rolling Down the Hills”
On the rare occassion that I do go out and end up dancing in some dark club with friends, I always hope somewhere deep down that this song will come on. But it never does. So good, I cant get enough.

Sally Shapiro: “He Keeps Me Alive”
More silky smooth lady vocals plus a production style that i am incredibly envious of. Sally Shapiro has this effortless quality to her voice that leaves you feeling like she does an entire song in one take.

Empire Of The Sun: “Without You”
What can I say, I’m a sucker for sappy romantic songs. I feel no shame when blasting this song at a red light mid day Pasadena. Plus Luke Steele has this simultaneous grit and shine to his voice that is really like nothing else out there right now.

Mirage: “Lake of Dreams”
My obsession with Italo-Disco continues…..this time with Mirage and nine minutes of robotic dance funk that drifts in and out of dream mode. Really love all the synth textures in here.

John Maus: “The Silent Chorus”
I am on my bike in Denver with this in my headphones. Its late July 2008, 3 am, muggy, warm, and perfect. Lightning cracks in the distance and makes a silhouette of the treeline. It drizzles a bit and the streets begin to steam, releasing the days heat. This is the first time I hear this song. One of the rare moments when you cease to be just a listener and become a character within the narrative of the sound.

Broadcast: “Arc of a Journey”
Was introduced to this group a a few years ago by a good friend and found myself searching for everything they had ever released after just a few listens. Tender Buttons is still one of my favorite albums start to finish, which is hard to find. Love all the nuance. I need more noise pop in my life.

Kraftwerk: “The Hall of Mirrors”
One of the most entrancing songs I have ever listened to, but what Kraftwerk song isnt entrancing to a certain point. To that point of about four minutes in when you come to and realize you have been led into the mind of a psychotic electronic mastermind. i always find myself turning this track up more and more as it progresses, until the sharp synths leave a ringing in my ear. Headphones encouraged, unless you happen to be on a freeway. in which case headphones are illegal and dangerous.

The Knife: “You Make Me Like Charity”
The oscillating synth lead in this song guts me every time, and to boot the track never gets old. Just long enough to absorb and short enough to put on repeat.

Atlas Sound: “Quick Canal”
I have probably listened to this song more than any other in the last six months. One that comes in and out with such ease. It has no beginning or end, just plays out beautifully. Halfway through swallowing itself and reemerging more choatic yet still calm. And deep within the layers, hidden, are the profound thoughts of Laetitia Sadier:

“i thought saints were born saints
i looked in the dirt
and found wisdom is learnt
through a costly process
of success and failure ”

DOWNLOAD ALL TRACKS
Art Of Noise #9 :: Active Child
PC: right click and choose “save as…”
MAC: CTRL + click and choose “save link as”

Artwork photograph by Neil Krug.