MUSICQUEST EXPLORER MIX #9 ◦ THE BEAUTIFUL & SUBLIME ◦ 31 SONGS ◦ TWO-HOURS & TWENTY-THREE MINUTES

From the top left, clockwise: we begin with three songs from Cloud that are exceedingly enjoyable because they are so creative and full of emotion. "Rainbow Road" is especially appealing because it captures the spirit of childhood -- just outstanding! Next, we move to a song by George Marinelli that is perhaps a little bit outside of his regular genre but so very good. It's now a favorite. I think you'll appreciate its compelling arrangement. Two songs from Aesthesys follow that are mysteriously intriguing, sounding like a movie soundtrack for a film full of suspense and wonder. The next two songs from Maliblue create a very cool vibe in the realms of Downtempo and Synthwave. Next, "Soul Chunk," by Effoharkay, is a Nu Disco and Futurephunk offering that I recommend. Two very good Indie Pop songs follow from Low Pink: "Keep Your Self Away" and "Feelings." These mellow and funky songs are perfect. ZK King's "Typhoon" is next -- a Downtempo, Chill song that will take hold of you. Next, I think you will enjoy the Pop song "Fix" by Market. It's gentle and dreamy. Then, we hear Yumi Zouma's Crush (It's Late, Just Stay) -- outstanding Dream Pop with a good R&B backbone. Two songs follow by Northern Lights that are Synthwave and first-rate: "Moonwalker" and "Racing Cars." Jaco Gardner's "Cosmos" is next, creating a spacey, ambient but driving vibe that is full of mystery with an infectious, steady cadence. Next, we present to you four songs in a row by Leo Almunia that are simply beautiful. They are definitely dreamy, highly creative, and musically interesting. Again, I strongly recommended them to you. Following that, we hear two songs from Bloodbath 64 that I really like, and I find the first one, "Magazines Pt. II," to be especially attractive. It's one of the best Vaporwave and Electronica jams I've heard in a good while and is now a favorite. Next up, Lars Lucy 8legions' song of the same name as the band (but with no spaces between the words) is another really appealing Electronica song from the Neatherlands that I think you will enjoy. It's creative and distinctive, and it immediately establishes an intense, recurring vibe. The next song, "How Ya Gonna Do It," by Buscrates and Kate Moe Dee, is an excellent R&B-Funky inclusion on this playlist that I recommend. Ice Choir follows with three new songs that are now in my frequent rotation. Those dudes can really write Synthpop-Electronica songs that I think will stand the test of time. Jackie Venson follows with three songs that are R&B-ish and really good. She's making a strong name for herself -- would like to see her live. We close out the mix with Ex-Olympian's "Voices in My Head," another creative and appealing expression of Synth-Pop

MUSICQUEST EXPLORER MIX #16 ◦ ALTERNATIVE ATTRACTION ◦ 77 SONGS ◦ SEVEN HOURS & THREE MINUTES

As the subtitle indicates, this mix moves toward Alternative sub-genres, beginning with four excellent songs from The Temples, a British Psychedelic Pop Rock band organized in 2012 by James Bagshaw and Tom Warmsley. This band, now composed of four full-time members, creates outstanding arrangements, reminding this fan of Australian artists such as Tame Impala, Pnau, and Empire of the Sun, among many others. Next, we hear “Concatenation” and “Everybody” by Missing Sons; the latter are led by El Ten Eleven’s Kristian Dunn and AWOLNATION’s drummer Hayden Scott. Their music can be described, perhaps, as Post-Rock, Experimental, and very good. Then, we hear an interesting track called “Lockdown” from Long Tall J. He musically articulates in a Prog Rock manner the recent Shelter-in-Place and Mask-Up way of life that resulted from the COVID-19 Pandemic. His song has a type of Grunge-ish cadence running underneath an equally questioning lead guitar that is searching for a workable, post-pandemic exit, figuratively speaking, of course. Next, “The Way It Is,” by Max Daniel, is a perfect Alternative, Art Pop song: gentle, gorgeous, and melodically pleasing. Then, we hear two Symphonic, Neo Prog Rock songs from The Arch Light, a studio project led by keyboardist and composer John Alacorn. These two offerings are also first-rate.

 

Our next song, “Summer of Love,” is from Shiva the Destructor’s March 2021 album “Find the Others.” This Psychedelic Rock Band is based in Kyiv, Ukraine, and they have created superb songs with extended play times. If you like these kinds of vibes, then be sure to investigate this band as they are leading the way. Our next artist, Chance de la Soul, has produced a really likable Future Funk song called “Sit Back,” which is one of my favorites on this mix because it is Trance-like yet also imaginatively dreamy. Another intriguing song follows: “My Fault,” by 3d Blast and Dan Mason. This release is perhaps categorized as Vaporwave, but it reminds me, at least to some degree, of the musical feel of Bibio’s “K is for Kelson,” “All Their Sisters,” “You Were Right,” and “Don’t Summarize My Summer Eyes.” I have not heard that kind of creative sound anywhere else until “My Fault.” Bedroom Alternative Pop follows with “Pocket Lullaby” by Nature’s Neighbor. This song is utterly beautiful, faultless, and especially good on headphones! Next up, we enjoy “Pagan Dream Machine – Vibrasphere Mix” by Entheogenic. This Psychedelic, Electronica-Trance offering is as adventurous as it is musically engrossing.

 

We next take an extensive tour through some of Underworld’s best tracks, beginning with “8 Ball.” Underworld needs no introduction, of course, since they are one of England’s best known (and internationally respected) Progressive House & Techno bands. If it has been a good while since you have listened to these musical masters, then enjoy this absorbing, escalating, and passionate journey. Following Underworld, we shift gears and head in another direction, enjoying "Are You Listening" and "Wounds of Love" by Ours, an Alternative Rock band led by multi-instrumentalist Jimmy Gnecco from America. For a song that is a bit asymetrical yet interesting, we next hear "Interstellar Something" by Voronoi. This track would have worked well in Blade Runner 2049's soundtrack or for that matter could have been utilized in Oblivion's (2013 sci-fi film) soundtrack going into the climatic scene that ended the Tet's apocalyptic rein of Earth.

 

We head back to 1960's Psychedelic Rock and Pop with three songs from London's The Superimposers: "Seeing Is Believing," "The Beach," and "Would It Be Possible." These songs are groovy and will quite possibly make you think of and/or miss the late 1960s. Then, we move into a somewhat heavier vibe with VOLA's "Napalm" and "Freak." This Danish Prog Rock Band is highly talented and warrants your attention if you like thoughtful, complex, and enlivening Rock. We follow VOLA with Yogi Lang's beautiful "Early Morning Light." Lang is a founding member of and the lead singer for RPWL, which began life in 1997 as a Pink Floyd Cover & Tribute Band (out of Germany) but soon became its own highly respected force in Prog Rock Music. Speaking of Pink Floyd and the 1970s, the next three songs are by a band called The Lens that I only recently encountered. Mike Holmes, Peter Nicholls, and Martin Holmes originally formed this band in the mid-1970s and later went on to create the Neo-Prog band IQ. Next, we hear four excellent songs from Steve Thorne, a veteran British multi-instrumentalist and founding member of Colony Earth and the Salamander Project.

 

We next shift to a track that is probably not considered "Alternative" in South Africa but is definitely refreshingly unusual here, and that is "Lilizela Mlilizeli" by Mahotella Queens. I suspect you will enjoy this track, as it captures an off-continent, optimistic soulfulness. Next, we present "Coleen feat. The Dap-Kings Horns" by The Heavy, and I cannot find words to describe adequately this British band that launched in 2007. On Spotify I actually encountered this term in the band's description area: "funksoulhiphoprandbrockdance." Check out their songs on this mix and see what you think, as I really dig these dudes, and clearly many others do, too. For example, their song "How Do You Like Me Now" has 96,122,657 plays on Spotify! The Heavy make me think of James Brown, The Wise Guys, Amy Whinehouse, Prince, and Smash Mouth blended into a new sub-genre unique to itself.

 

California's Cola Boyy, also known as multi-instrumentalist Matthew Urango, is next, and he combines several styles, creating his own blend of Nu Disco and Pop/Funk. I encourage you to check-out this relatively new artist; he's got it goin' on, and I suspect we will hear much more from him. We follow Cola Boyy with three tracks from "Summer Selections" from the NuNorthern Soul label from Spain (released in May of 2021) that are in the main Downtempo and Balearic. Give them a listen as they are exceedingly gentle, rhythmic, and enjoyable. Following those offerings, we hear "Rainmaker" by John Carroll Kirby, which happily remains in this Electronica groove; then, we hear something unique and especially interesting: Bullion's "O Vermona" and "Hula." Every now and then I come across an artist who just has that Alternative Vibe that I find so appealing and original. I cannot recommend enough those two songs! Speaking of high levels of creativity, we next hear "Temple in the Trees" and "Slacker Sauce" by Brian Donohoe (with two distinct collaborators) that are difficult to classify -- Alternative, Downtempo Jazz comes to my mind. That hardly matters, though, as what counts is that their music is excellent. The next band, Happy the Man, fits right into this groove, and I've included their "Mr. Mirror Reflections on Dreams" and "Slipstream."

 

Next, we enjoy "Homage" by Mild High Club -- chill, gentle, and melodic with a hint of Psychedelic Rock. The next two songs are some of my favorites, especially the first one. I am taking about "She Loves Him" and "Feed Da Alligator," both by Beatific and Marshall Watson. Treat yourself to these deeply satisfying vibes. In similar vein, we next hear Mildlife's "Rare Air" and "The Magnificent Moon." Both songs are outstanding examples of exceptionally good Alternative Electronica! Closing out this section, we listen to "If We Don't Make It (Ronin Dub)" by UNKLE. It's another solid offering from the realms of Electronica.

 

Coming to the end of this MusicQuest Explorer #16 Mix, we move back to Alternative Rock with four selections from American Jam band Umphrey's McGee. I think you will like these tracks -- so original and interesting. Then, we once again return to Electronica, closing out with M83's "Lune de fiel" followed by "No Fun - RUFUS Remix" by The Presets and RUFUS DU SOL. Both are excellent tracks and highly recommended.

 

MUSICQUEST EXPLORER MIX #10 ◦ MOVEMENT TO INTENSE ROCK 'N' ROLL (MADE ESPECIALLY FOR SIR JACKSON) ◦ 48 SONGS ◦ THREE HOURS & THIRTY-SIX MINUTES

From the top left, clockwise: we begin with several songs from Muse. This English band is one of the best in the world at this time, in my opinion. I make that assertion because they are musically deep and highly original. Muse does not really do the "formula" thing at all; rather, they break new ground with each album release. I really respect Muse and recommend them to you. Turn up the volume and enjoy the voyage. Our next artist, Bart Graft, from Ireland, is known more for his appealing Synthwave music, but he does from time to time release a song with an infectious, dominating lead guitar, generating a really good Prog Rock arrangement, which is definitely the case with "Shoplifting" from his outstanding album The Mall Scene. I do not need to say much about our next artist, Steve Vai, as he is internationally well known and admired. I placed four of his songs on this mix that are extremely cool and musically potent -- enjoy! Next, we've got an excellent song, "Rocktronic" from Frank Klepacki, that fits perfectly into this Rock vibe. It's high-octane. You will want to keep the volume up. Similarly, "Private Dancer," by Battle Tapes, maintains the tension and excitement, keeping us in the red zone. We continue the Rock-Electronica feel for three more exceptional songs by Maserati. Then, we change gears a bit, moving toward straight-up Rock with the song "Waves" by Hum. It's a little more laid back but just as musically interesting with its own intensity that prepares us for J.D. Simo's three songs that are so good that you may need to play them over and over before moving on from there. He's channeling Stevie Ray Vaughn and Jimi Hendrix but with his own distinctive style that goes straight to your head and heart simultaneously. Up next, we hear several spectacular songs from Prince. Not long before his untimely death, he was yet again breaking new ground, generating still more Funk-Blues-Rock that is the musical bomb! Check out these songs and be amazed at how this 1980s musical marvel reinvented himself with still more creativity and originality in the 21st Century. Coming off of Prince, we enjoy several songs from Nick Perri and The Underground Thieves that utilize a Bluezy Rock vibe that I think you will really enjoy. Long Distance Calling follows with "Curiosity pt. 1 and pt. 2." These are definitely Prog-Rock-ish, establishing a melodic, infectious style. Next, we have two songs, "Cats & Dogs" and "We Don't Dream," by the Disappointed that I really like. They, too, take us down a more Prog-Rock pathway. SLIFT follows with "Ummon" and "Altitude Lake." Both are Psychedelic Rock songs with an ax to grind -- excellent! Next, we head into three songs from Ty Taylor that are Rock-Melodic yet intensely appealing with especially interesting lyrics. From there, we explore three songs from Dark New Day that are Grunge-ish and musically satisfying -- just superb.  One of my favorite songs in this mix is next: "Mockingbird" by Nine Miles Down. It's harsh and alluring at the same time and opens the door perfectly for the next band. KXM takes us on a musical tour that is really gritty yet emotionally pleasing. We end with Lo Pro's "Battle Song," which is as beautiful as it is powerful. I love these songs and, again, recommend that you turn up the volume!