Art Of Noise // Copy Haho

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Original photo can be found here.

The return of our sporadic mix-tape feature which sees us ask our favourite bands to create their own mix, artwork and give explanations on why they chose each track. Last year saw awesome mixes from Action Beat and Gregory & The Hawk. Go seek them out here.

So the first Art Of Noise mix of 2009 sees the guitar-slinging-indie-pop-noiseniks Copy Haho curate their own 10 track playlist. In doing so, they reveal a whole heap of influences that are hidden throughout their debut EP Bred For Skills & Magic (out now on Big Scary Monsters). From the epic gang rowdiness of Dexy’s Midnight Runners to the pop swagger of fIREHOSE. There is really something for everyone here.

So without further adieu, we shall hand you over to the very capable hands of Joe and Richard from Copy Haho. Enjoy.

mp3:> Copy Haho: ‘Art of Noise Mixtape’
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Dexy’s Midnight Runners: ‘Burn It Down’
Richard: “I’ve been getting obsessed with this band for the past month or two – we listen to ‘Come On Eileen’ on almost every journey to a show. This song sums up what made Dexy’s both stand out as a band, and also what they stood against, that is, the stagnant and stale punk scene – you’ve got the radio tuning into the garbage that they railed against – Sex Pistols et al, Kevin Rowland calling to his bandmates before spitting “Oh for God’s sake, burn it down,” before you’re punched in the face with a gang of brass instruments and the start of the best debut album of that era. Paul from Hot Club de Paris has an amazing story about Kevin Rowland, you should ask him about it.”

Calories: ‘Adventuring’
Richard: “Played with these guys’ old band Distophia quite a few times, and got this first release from Calories last week, it’s really ace! near-perfect indie rock, just in time for the days getting longer and the sun staying out for more than four minutes at a time. I completely recommend that everyone who reads this buys this album.”

The Halo Benders – ‘Don’t Touch My Bikini’
Joe: “Calvin Johnson & Doug Martsch’s mid-90s side-project. This track is from the album ‘God Don’t Make No Junk’. It’s got that Johnson swagger to it that makes so much of Beat Happening’s music really great. There’s also a few comical cartoonish samples in there to break up his rapper-like flow. A good song to play at a party.”

Spectrum: ‘How You Satisfy Me’
Joe: “Peter Kember post Spacemen 3 breakup. Wikipedia tells me this was their first single. Pretty much a pop hit – fuzzed up keyboards and a great chorus.”

Black Tambourine: ‘Throw Aggi Off The Bridge’
Joe: “Black Tambourine have been on my list of bands to check out for about a year now. Luckily, last November, I finally got ’round to buying the ‘complete recordings’ album Slumberland Records put out. It’s really great. Hooky indie pop with lots of distortion and some pretty dark lyrics, a combination I will never tire of!”

The Delgados: ‘Akumulator’
Joe: “Perhaps my favorite song of theirs (or a close second to ‘american trilogy’). Quite like Pavement had they listened to the Pastels and lived in Glasgow. I love the line ‘take me to a park, leave me there, sitting on the ground, smiling’.”

fIREHOSE: ‘Time With You’
Richard: “Minutemen finished when D.Boon was killed in a van/car accident. Sad times. Minutemen fan tracks down Mike Watt and asks him to start a band with him. Mike Watt – and George Hurley – agree, and continue to make amazing music with fIREHOSE into the 90′s. This is pretty much the perfect song for a Saturday Night Fever-esque strut/swagger down the street.”

Titus Andronicus: ‘Upon Viewing Breughel’s’
Joe: “A brilliant band. I saw them supporting Yo La Tengo at the Mccarren pool in brooklyn last summer and they blew me away! I remember the singer chopping at his beard with a pair of scissors mid-song, it made for quite a spectacle (and a moderately hairy stage).”

Van Morrison: ‘Caravan’ (from The Last Waltz or It’s Too Late To Stop Now)
Richard: “I can’t decide which live version of this song to include; the former features The Band and a bunch of stupidly good session musicians, the latter is about twice the length at 9 or so minutes, and features a lesser quantity of stupidly good session musicians. This song has the best brass arrangements I can think of, and the version on It’s Too Late To Stop Now features a young Van Morrison letting out a small guffaw, dispelling any rumour that he’s completely grumpy. I’ve included ‘The Last Waltz’ version here, but you should seek out the other version too!”

Life Without Buildings: ‘New Town’
Richard: “My favourite version of my favourite LIfe Without Buildings song, the studio version of which appears on my favourite album of all time. I’ve tried to explain why I like them so much in the past, and it just turns into a complete fanboy lecture. I think it’s fair to say that all of Copy Haho are obsessed with this band, and rightly so. It completely warrants a reissue so people can buy it here without resorting to import/ebay. Somebody buy the rights off of Tugboat/Rough Trade and do it!”