Cadiz – Michael Head And The Red Elastic Band (from ‘Artorius Revisited. YouTube.)
The Young Mr. Ruiz – Jim Ruiz Set (from ‘Korda 2 Komp’. Bandcamp)
Dreams – Astrid Madberg (Soundcloud)
Poison Ivy – Rose Elinor Dougall (from ‘Future Vanishes‘ EP. Soundcloud)
I Wish It Would Snow – Kitchens Of Distinction (from ‘Folly‘ LP)
A Brief Moment – danmariska (from ‘Bummer Songs’ LP. Bandcamp.)
Blackpool Tower (John Peel Session, 25 June 1991) – World Of Twist (from ‘Quality Street: Expanded Edition‘)
Midnight Boycow – Sexual Objects (from ‘Unpopular Culture / Social Insecurity’ package. Bandcamp)
Jessica Says – Dora Maar (from ‘Dora Maar’ tape. Bandcamp)
Heathwaite Wood – Ginnels (from ‘Plumes’ LP. Bandcamp)
sinus infection – the aquadolls (from ‘Stoked On You’ LP. Bandcamp)
Summers End – Typsy Panthre (from ‘Korda 2 Komp’. Bandcamp)
The Colour And Light Around Me – Anthony Reynolds featuring Colin Wilson (from ‘Rocket Girl 100’ LP. Bandcamp)
As We Turn – Toy (from ‘Join The Dots‘ LP)
Miss Out These Days – His Clancyness (from ‘Vicious‘ LP)
Harvest Rex – Say Jansfield (from ‘Unpopular Culture / Social Insecurity’ package. Bandcamp)
A Quiet Night In Copenhagen – Northern Portrait (from ‘Ta!‘ compilation LP)
Deep Pool – The Hang Ups (from ‘The Hang Ups’ LP. Bandcamp)
The Dreamer Song – The Boy Least Likely To (from ‘The Great Perhaps‘ LP)
The Long Way Home – The Magic Theatre (from ‘The Long Way Home’ LP. Bandcamp)

Download the mix here.

Aside from compiling my daily Advent (which if truth be told is written weeks in advance and scheduled for automatic updates and anyway is hardly ‘festive’ other than counting down the first 24 days of December) I’ve struggled to get into much of a festive mood so far this year. Blame it on what feels like endless recurring illnesses and the fact that it seems like I’ve barely seen daylight for what feels like an age. Certainly I have paid scant regard to any ‘Christmas’ releases, and had no plan to make any kind of Christmas mix. However a request from a former student on Twitter made me think ‘ah what the heck’, and so I cobbled together the following. It’s a combination of old and new favourites, picked up from here, there and everywhere. Some, like The Waitresses, are amongst the established canon of greats (though it wasn’t always the case – for a long time that song was unavailable anywhere) whilst others, like Decoration’s ace ‘I Just Froze’ are certainly in the Unpopular canon of greats even if nowhere else. There’s also a few I had kind of forgotten about, like Linda Scott, The Flirtations and Spearmint’s ‘Oklahoma!’ from that lovely little ‘concept’ record from (gulp) thirteen years ago… My, how time flies. Anyway, I gave the mix a test drive tonight and it certainly lifted my spirits. Or at least inspired me to lift a glass of spirits, which may arguably amount to the same thing. Cheers, and happy St Lucia’s day!

Christmas Time Is Here Again – The Flirtations
I Was Born On Christmas Day – Saint Etienne
Anorak Christmas – Sally Shapiro
Christmas Chimes – The Chills
Egg Nog – Luna
The Thought That Counts – The Lucksmiths
George And Andrew – Boy Least Likely To
Last Christmas – Coming Soon
Thanks For Christmas – The Three Wise Men (Aka XTC)
Christmas Day – Linda Scott
Baby, It’s Cold Outside – Allo, Darlin’
White Christmas – The Pipettes
Father Christmas – The Kinks
Christmas Wrapping – Waitresses
Stop The Revelry – Shrag
It’s Clichéd To Be Cynical At Christmas – Half Man Half Biscuit
Spend Christmas Day With Me – Darren Hanlon
Oklahoma! – Spearmint
I Just Froze – Decoration
I Will Cry At Christmas – Denim

Download the mix here.

Big Muff (Strikes Again) – Astro Children (from ‘Proteus’ LP. Bandcamp)
Brännö – Finnmark! (free download from February Records. Bandcamp)
Future Vanishes – Rose Elinor Dougall (from ‘Future Vanishes‘ EP. YouTube)
French Disko – Stereolab (available on ‘Refried Ectoplasm [Switched On Volume 2]‘ LP. Live on ‘The Word’)
I Worked Myself Up From Nothing – McCarthy (from ‘Banking Violence And Inner City Life Today‘ LP. YouTube)
Women’s Studies – Lloyd Cole (from ‘Standards‘ LP. YouTube)
Sorry For Laughing – Josef K (available on ‘Entomology‘ LP. (YouTube)
Can’t Put Your Arms Around A Memory – Wah! (YouTube)
Speedway Star – The Pastels (available on ‘Truckload Of Trouble‘ LP)
Danny Wood – September Girls (from ‘A Sunday Matinée‘ LP. Or on Bandcamp)
First Rule Of Book Club – Bubblegum Lemonade (from ‘Some Like It Pop‘ LP.
House with a Hundred Rooms – The Chills (from ‘Somewhere Beautiful‘ LP)
Now And Forever – The Wild Swans (from ‘Incandescent‘ vinyl reissue) 
They’re All Going To Laugh At You – Piper Laurie & Cast (from ‘Carrie: Original Soundtrack‘)
Wargames – Vital disorders (from 1982 7″. Unavailable)
Breathless – Sweet Valley Slumber Party (Bandcamp)
Steal Your Jokes – Dutch Barn (from ‘About Time’ EP. Soundcloud)
Brisbane – James X. Boyd & The Boydoids (from ‘Super Low’ LP. Bandcamp)
Frozen Atmosphere – Toy (from ‘Join The Dots‘ LP)
The Devil Has Come Home – Piper Laurie & Sissy Spacek (from ‘Carrie: Original Soundtrack‘)

Download the mix here.

Ufo – Black Hearted Brother (from ‘Black Hearted Brother’ LP on Slumberland. On YouTube)
Gaze – Astro Children (from ‘Proteus’ LP. Bandcamp)
Canterbury Go! – The Chills (from ‘Somewhere Beautiful‘ LP)
Hide and Seek – Flowers (from Oddbox 100 Club vol 1 #1 7″ – stream on Bandcamp)
Fame and Fortune and Cups of Tea – Girl President (from ‘Songs For Bleeding Gold’ LP. Bandcamp)
Lost Without You – Martha (from Oddbox 100 Club vol 1 #4 7″ – stream on Bandcamp)
Sale Or Return – Charlie Big Time (from ‘Sale Or Return’ EP. Bandcamp)
Kids Today – Lloyd Cole (from ‘Standards‘ LP)
Idaho – The Dambuilders (from ‘Yough Guy Problem’ mini-LP. On YouTube)
Insufficient Funds – The Courtneys (from eponymous LP. Bandcamp)
Gold Diggers – His Clancyness (from ‘Vicious‘ LP)
Locked Inside – Songs For Walter (from ‘Songs For Bleeding Gold’ LP. Bandcamp)
Dead Man’s Fall – Stevie Jackson (from (I Can’t Get No) Stevie Jackson‘ LP. YouTube)
An Exploded View – Sea Pinks (from ‘Exploded View’ 7″. Bandcamp)
The Young and Hopefuls – Northern Portrait (from ‘A Sunday Matinée‘ LP. Soundcloud)
Pin Me Up – Mavis Gary (from ‘Pin Me Up’ LP. Bandcamp)
All Up From Here – Males (from ‘Run Run Run/MalesMalesMales’ LP. Bandcamp)
Life is Swell – T54 (from ‘In Brush Park’ LP. Bandcamp and YouTube)
The Deadliest Day Since the Invasion Began – Dean Wareham (from ‘Emancipated Hearts‘ LP. YouTube)
You Steal The Scene – Stephin Merritt (from rarities and demos – private collection)

Download the mix here.

The Ten Commandments of Public Life – The Wolfhounds (from ‘Divide & Fall’ 7″. Bandcamp)
Hey Boy (After Billy) – The Wednesday Club (from ‘Dry Humps’. Bandcamp)
The Music Is Alive With the Sound of Ills – Chris T-T & The Hoodrats (from ‘The Bear‘ LP)
Delphine (With A Purpose) – Trick Mammoth (Bandcamp)
Night Of The Wailers – The Rosy Crucifixion (from Rosy Crucifixion/Wharves split LP. Bandcamp)
Loudest Mouth – The Gooch Palms (from ‘Novos’ LP. Bandcamp)
Extinction Bop – Parasite Diet (from ‘Parasie Diet 2.0’ EP. Bandcamp)
Sarah – Dark Furs (from ‘Dark Furs’ EP. Bandcamp)
Thick Syrup – The Wharves (from Wharves/Rosy Crucifixion split LP. Bandcamp)
Steeple Walk – Day Ravies (from ‘Tussle’ LP. Bandcamp)
This Picture Is Nailed On My Heart – Border Boys (from ‘Tribute’ 12″. YouTube)
No, Joy – The Pleasures Pale (from eponymous LP. Tape rip on ‘I Remember Dayton’)
No-one Can Hold A Candle To You – Raymonde (from ‘Babelogue‘ LP. YouTube)
Nightschool – Ancient Times (from 7″ on Soft Power. Bandcamp)
Can You Ever Trust A Man Who Thinks Matt Damon’s Really Cool? – The Spook School (from ‘Dress Up’ LP. Bandcamp)
Home Video – Mavis Gary (Bandcamp)
Let´s move on out of here – Coach Station Reunion (from ‘Lost Album’. Bandcamp)
Adolescence – Prefab Sprout (from ‘Crimson/Red‘ LP)
The Bluebell Wood – The Wild Swans (from ‘The Coldest Winter For A Hundred Years’ deluxe LP. From Occultation)
Tiny Moments Tiny Omens – Kitchens Of Distinction (from ‘Folly‘ LP)

Download the mix here.

Gods – SEX DREAM (from Bleeding Gold 7′. Bandcamp)
Dear Sweetheart – So Sexual (from ‘Transient Scenes’ double 7″. Bandcamp)
Hieroglyphic – Ancient Times (from 7″ on Soft Power. Bandcamp)
Happy Anniversary – Best Friends (from 7″/comic on Art Is Hard. Bandcamp)
Jesus Christ – Chris T-T & The Hoodrats (from ‘The Bear‘ LP)
You’re So Vague – Agony Aunts (from ‘Big Cinnamon’ LP. Bandcamp)
Nothing But Love – Scott Fagan (from ‘South Atlantic Blue’ LP)
Jasper Johns – Comet Gain (from ‘Tigertown Pictures’ LP)
Young and Insane – Advance Base (from ‘Tomorrow’s Homes Today’ EP. Bandcamp)
With Whom To Dance? – The Magnetic Fields (from ‘Get Lost‘ LP)
Push It – Stephen Duffy (from ‘The Ups and Downs: A Very Beautiful Collection‘ LP)
Stay Inside – danmariska (from ‘Bummer Songs’ LP. Bandcamp)
Reality School – Day Ravies (from ‘Tussle’ LP. Bandcamp)
Surburban Grind – The Sweets (from ‘Smooch’ EP. Bandcamp)
Trick or Treat Dancefloor – Cherry Glazerr (from ‘Papa Cremp’ LP. Bandcamp)
On The Beach – Beach Arabs (Bandcamp)
Ghost at a Party – The Black Tambourines (from ‘The Black Tambourines’ LP. Bandcamp)
Born Yesterday – Dream Boys (from ‘Dream Boys‘ LP)
Gust – Georgiana Starlington (from ‘Paper Moon’ LP. Bandcamp)
From Tomorrow – The Oscillation (from ‘From Tomorrow’ LP. Bandcamp)

Download the mix here.

Tough Crowd – Dios Mio (Bandcamp)
Ether – Gang Of Four (From ‘Entertainment‘. On YouTube)
Josephine – Skinheadlaundry Biblerevival remix – Ubertino da Casale – Flies on You (from the ‘Josephine’ Remix EP.Bandcamp)
Frankie Teardrop (Proto) – Revolutionary Corps of Teenage Jesus vs. Suicide (from ‘Daddy Died – A Brooklyn Nightmare‘ On YouTube)
Made To Stray – Mount Kimbie (from Cold Spring Fault Less Youth‘)
Baby Blue – King Krule (from ‘6 Feet Beneath The Moon‘)
Lately I’ve Found Myself Regressing – The Superman Revenge Squad Band (from ‘There Is Nothing More Frightening Than The Passing Of Time’. Bandcamp)
Somewhere In China – Secret Goldfish (available on the Bentboutique collection)
McBee – the Middle Ones (On WIAIWYA 7″. Bandcamp)
Teenage Girl – Cherry Glazerr (from ‘Papa Cremp’. Bandcamp)
Radio Spot #2 Revlon: Natural Wonder – The Shangri-Las (available on ‘Myrmidons Of Melodrama‘)
Born Yesterday – Dream Boys (from ‘Dream Boys‘)
Lay Myself Down – Mazzy Star (from ‘Seasons of Your Day‘)
Construction Time Again – Twin Library (from ‘They Were Marked As Targets’. Bandcamp)
Star Crawl – Crystal Stilts (from ‘Nature Noir‘)
Vesper Two – Trick Mammoth (from ‘Demos’. Bandcamp)
Algebra – Ginnels (from ‘Plumes’. On Bandcamp)
Anna, My Dear – GIORGIO TUMA with LAETITIA SADIER (Bandcamp)
Let the Night Win – Au Revoir Simone (from ‘Move In Spectrums‘)
Is the Sky the Limit? – Grant Hart (from ‘The Argument‘)

Download the mix here.

Drifting – Tape Waves (from ‘Tape Waves’ EP. Bandcamp)
Who’s Going To Love You Now – MONEY (from ‘Shadow of Heaven‘ LP)
Cling Film – The Sea Urchins (available on the ‘Stardust‘ LP)
reprise – Moscow Olympics (Bandcamp)
We Are All Bourgeois Now – McCarthy (available on ‘That’s All Very Well But?‘ LP)
Working Class Jacket – My Favorite (from ‘Love At Absolute Zero’ LP. On YouTube)
I Was Drunk – Paul Simpson (from ‘Man In A Burning Anorak’ Vol 2)
Live At the Witch Trials – The Fall (from ‘Live At The Witch Trials‘ LP)
Josephine (Cyborg death squirrel remix by The Shend) – Flies on You (from the ‘Josephine’ Remix EP. Bandcamp)
This Is Motortown [Solid Chrome] – The Very Things (from ‘Motortown‘)
Electrons Rising – Crystal Stilts (from ‘Nature Noir‘ LP)
Reunion Message – Younghusband (from ‘Dromes‘ LP)
Indie King – Randolph’s Leap (from ‘Real Anymore’ mini-LP. Bandcamp)
Human Heart – Sad Day For Puppets (from ‘Come Closer’ LP. Bandcamp)
Teenage Clothes – Heathers (from ‘Teenage Clothes’ 7″. Bandcamp)
Big Bruiser – The Fabergettes (from ‘Big Bruiser’ EP. Bandcamp)
Cuddles – No Ditching (from ‘Face Ache’ EP. Bandcamp)
Love You Here – Sebadoh (from ‘Defend Yourself‘LP)
sweet darling rock & roll is what i love – James X. Boyd (from ‘Rock & Roll’ EP. Bandcamp)
Candy Darling – Mavis Gary (Bandcamp)

Download the mix here.

Cold Hand – Sad Day For Puppets (from ‘Come Closer’ LP. Bandcamp)
Weekends – WESTKUST (from limited edition 7″. Bandcamp)
I Was a Teenage Girl – Sauna (from ‘Cheap Date’ LP. Bandcamp)
2 Kewl 4 Skool – The Wild Ones (from ‘Nasty Habits’ EP. Bandcamp)
Early Riser – The Good Sports (Bandcamp)
Endless Drain – Major Leagues (Bandcamp)
New Sparkle – Rexine (Bandcamp)
Jet Pack – Dog Party (from ‘Lost Control’ LP. Bandcamp)
Sour Grass – Tiger Trap (from ‘Sour Grass’ EP. YouTube)
Month Long Sleep – PUPS (from WIAIWYA 7″. Bandcamp)
Purge Your Inner Tory – Colour Me Wednesday (from ‘I Thought It Was Wrong’ LP. Bandcamp)
Duplicity and knowing – Secret Beach (from ‘Turn It Off’ LP. Bandcamp)
Sweetheart – Elizabeth Morris (from ‘Optimism’ EP. Bandcamp)
Elissa Says – JAMES X. BOYD (from ‘James X. Boyd & The Boydoids’ LP. Bandcamp)
Here She Comes – Ghost Wave (from ‘Ages’ LP. Bandcamp)
(Here’s to) The Ghosts of The Past – Dot Dash (from ‘Half Remembered Dream’ LP. Bandcamp)
Cars & It’s Autumn – Cloud (from ‘Comfort Sogs’ LP. Bandcamp)
Nick’s Song – Songs For Walter (Bandcamp)
Is Anybody out There? – The Ballet (from ‘I Blame Society‘ LP)
Strange Pleasures – Still Corners (from ‘Strange Pleasures‘ LP)

Download the mix here.

Shut – Colour Me Wednesday (from ‘I Thought It Was Morning’. On Bandcamp)
Sunshine Thuggery – The Siddeleys (from 1988 EP. On YouTube)
Into My Arms – Bloods (On Bandcamp)
You Held My Heart – The Flatmates (from new 7″. Order on Bandcamp)
We Get By – The Gooch Palms (On Bandcamp)
Flag Pin – The Human Hearts (from the ‘Flag Pin’ EP. On Bandcamp)
Bloom/Decay – Dot Dash (from ‘Half-Remembered Dream’. Order on Bandcamp. Free track on Soundcloud)
Stick Around – The Eversons (from ‘Creepy’ single. On Bandcamp)
Summer 3D – WESTKUST (from new 7″. On Bandcamp)
Gold Leaf – Soft Arrows (from ‘All Through The Sinew’. On Bandcamp)
Japan To Jupiter – Kitchens Of Distinction (from new album ‘Folly’. Pre-order here. On YouTube)
Saturday Knife Fight – BELLE GHOUL (On Bandcamp)
Colors In The Whites Of Your Eyes – Heaven (from ‘Telepathic Love’. On Bandcamp)
Over You – Dear Georgiana (On Bandcamp)
THE CULT OF LESS (alternate version 2012) – lispector (from ‘Life Without A Map’. On Bandcamp)
Windy – Ruthann Friedman (from ‘Windy: A Ruthann Friedman Songbook‘. On YouTube)
I´m only sleeping – One Man Bannister (from ‘Evolver’. On Bandcamp)
Secret Song – CRISTINA QUESADA (from ‘Pineapple Princess’ EP. On Bandcamp)
The Unsent Letter – Jack Hayter (from ‘Audio Anti-Hero’s “Commercial Suicide Sampler”‘. On Bandcamp)
A Country Heart – Twin Library (from ‘Moss Pop 2008-2013’. On Bandcamp)

Download the mix here.