Top tunes from WASHINGTON IRIVING, MOURNING BIRDS, TARA PRIYA, THE LOW COUNTRIES, BAMBI, PAUL TAYLOR, STYLUSBOY, JARBIRD, FRETT, INTERNATIONAL DEPARTURES, ECHOES & WIRES, OLA SZMIDT FEAT. ANDREW KEEBLE, POST-APE, JOSH SAVAGE, ADRIAN DUFFY & THE MAYO BROTHERS, ALEX HIGHTON, JOE LA POP and TIDY STREET

The BBC Introducing Mixtape is a 60 minute radio show and podcast broadcast on BBC Radio 6 Music from 2-3am every Sunday night/Monday morning. Each show is available as a podcast for 30 days at the BBC 6 Music downloads page. The full tracklists and start times are published here at Fresh On The Net with biog information supplied by the artists. Previous tracklists can be found via the MIXTAPE tab above or on the BBC website.

All tracks on the mixtape come from the BBC Introducing Uploader: some are recommended by BBC friends and colleagues – the rest are tunes I’ve discovered here while listening to our Fresh On The Net inbox. For more about how the process works see this post.

These are the listings for the episode broadcast at 2am on Monday, 4th November 2013:

WASHINGTON IRIVING – Palomides [Starts 0:13]
http://www.washingtonirvingband.com
“Washington Irving are an indie-folk band based in the great city of Glasgow, their numbers started small but grew and in time they were a sextet – adorned with musicians capable of wielding instruments such as the flute, mandolin and singing saw – not as background tidbits but as the main focal points of their arrangements. They’ve just released their first EP – Little Wanderer, Head Thee Home. You could argue the songs tell tales ages old in new form, or it’s a warning for those still young at heart to not stray too far from the embrace of their friends. The band are constantly trying to break free from Glasgows shackles and head out into the country – they’re playing Middlesborough and Newcastle on the 10th and 11th of December respectively and some dates in London yet to be announced!”

MOURNING BIRDS – Oh Yeh! [Starts 04:05]
https://www.facebook.com/mourningbirds
“Whilst their peers idly wait in the wings for guitar music to come to the forefront of everybody’s minds once again, Mourning Birds have made it their agenda to grab it by the horns and push it back into the limelight once more. Hailing from the middle of sweet F’ing nowhere and a by-product of Jack White being dragged through a torrent of The Ramones shit, this filthy three piece rock ‘n’ roll spectacle wring the clichés from the genre, leaving the best bits to pack more of a punch than a Keith Richards cocktail. Recorded with Rhys Downing (Pete Doherty, The Subways), ‘Oh Yeh!’ is the real sound bite in an era of rambling musical dissertations. . Jimmy Gilder (Vocals/Guitar), Bill Williams (Bass) and Sam Mitchell (Drums/Vocals) have condensed one hell of a riotous racket into 101 seconds pure garage carnage, wreaking havoc that will leave any doubters about as useful as a one man army febreezing a rock ‘n’ roll shit storm.”

TARA PRIYA – Who You Do [Starts 05:46]
https://www.facebook.com/tarapriyamusic
“The San Francisco-born daughter of a pair of UC Berkeley hippies, Tara Priya was raised on the Beatles, Bob Dylan, Billie Holiday, and a whole lotta Motown. After flirting with economics at Columbia University in New York, Tara graduated in a record two years and ran off to the LA music scene. The Indian-Persian singer-songwriter quickly made waves with her selftitled release Tara Priya – an homage to vintage soul with a dash of pop sparkle – and landed record deals in Germany and Japan, where her debut album hit #2 on the iTunes R&B/Soul charts and had a #1 single on radio. After a buzz-building showcase at SXSW and fresh praise from the Huffington Post (“the epitome of sassy”), Tara has landed in London, where she is currently living and recording her next album.”

THE LOW COUNTRIES – The One Who Got Away [Starts 08:55]
http://thelowcountries.co.uk
“The Low Countries are Nigel Parrington and Els D’hooge, an Anglo-Flemish duo signed to cult indie label: Nub Country Records. They write and perform harmonious, melancholic, and sometimes uplifting songs in a folk-pop-acoustic hat. The Low Countries release their sixth (and final) album on the 7th of October 2013 through Nub Country Records and Van Steene Music Publishing Ltd. The Invisible Ray blasts out eleven eclectic and melodious tunes that cover the gamut of human emotions. Sci-fi paranoia, Tony Hancock’s demons, prescription pills, Inspector Morse, A&R people – these are just some of the subjects covered by The Invisible Ray. Two years in the making and destined to enjoy immense worldwide indifference. You can’t beat the ray. Catch them before they disappear.”

BAMBI – Reap From The Dying Love [Starts 10:49]
https://www.facebook.com/bambihq
“Originating from Essex, Bambi are a new London based indie band. Having been together for only 7 months, they’ve already supported Tom Odell, Professor Green and Mark Ronson on the main stage at this year’s Brownstock Festival. They’ve also played with Family Rain on Walt Disney’s official premiere party for The Lone Ranger, and self-released their first track All Along. The song instantly caught the attention of Top Gear’s Music Team wanting to include it on the show. They have a rapidly growing online fanbase with their #Bambinos. This is their upcoming new single Reap From The Dying Love, available for sale and download 17th November.” So far so factual. Then their PR person gets a bit carried away…

The single is, apparently “filled with guitar riffs, reverbs, groovy beats and stunning vocals. This young four-piece are very familiar with combining a perfect ratio of structure and melody. Their lead singer knows exactly how to make his vocal melodies sound pleading and emotional without forcing a single note out. The overall production is ethereal, fast paced and executed in a very constructed way… a definition of a perfect familiar sonic blend topped with reverb and hooky riffs.” Gosh.

PAUL TAYLOR – Bells On Sunday [Starts 14:24]
http://paulstephentaylor.bandcamp.com
Bells On Sunday is a piano improvisation recorded by by Paul Taylor this August at The Sage in Gateshead where he performs regularly in a solo capacity – and has also provided accompaniment for local showings of silent films. Along with Christian Alderson and Jason Etherington, Paul is one third of the improv trio The Long Lonesome Go who performed at 2011’s TUSK Festival for experimental music – their work has been described as “reminiscent of Les Dawson at his very best”. He also plays keyboard with his brother’s band Simon Taylor and The Sundowners, who release their debut album at Bar Loco in Newcastle on November 16th. Paul’s own solo album Askance was released on Friday (November 1st 2013).

STYLUSBOY – Eyes Form Tears [Starts 18:41]
http://www.stylusboy.co.uk
“Stylusboy‘s enchanting lo-fi folk is the creation of Coventry chap Steve Jones and Northern lass Rachel Grisedale. With arresting melodies and poignant lyrics Stylusboy bring their particular brand of warm lo-fi folk to life. Their music is deliberately stripped-back, purposefully honest, capturing raw emotion at its heart. Hospitality for Hope, the debut album is out November 18th on Polly Paulusma’s label Wild Sound Recordings.” Forthcoming shows: The Malt Cross in Nottingham on Nov 12 and Stylusboy’s album launch show takes place with a full band lineup in Coventry at The Tin Music and Arts a week on Saturday (Nov 16).

JARBIRD – More Bad Celebrity Poetry [Starts 21:21]
https://www.facebook.com/JarbirdMusic
“Hey Tom – it’s Ric Hollingbery here from Pengilly’s https://vimeo.com/27441656. You’re the first person I’ve emailed about this, but… I’ve got a new five-piece band called Jarbird and we’ve just uploaded our first tune to BBC Introducing and I thought maybe you’d like to hear it? We recorded it in Wales – it was produced by Rob Ellis (PJ Harvey) and engineered/mixed by David Pye (Wild Beasts). We were listening to your show as we cooked ourselves dinner and if that isn’t a sign I don’t know what is. We just supported Active Child in Leeds and Peter & Kerry at the Hoxton Bar and Kitchen.” The video for Bad Celebrity Poetry (below) has already had over 2,000 views…

FRETT – Malmö [Starts 25:35]
http://frett.co.uk
“FRETT are a Indie/ Electronic duo from Suffolk who have been very busy over the summer promoting heir latest release EP2 with live dates all over the UK including the London circuit. Festival dates over the summer included Beach Break Live, Wilkestock and the main stage at the 2013 Brownstock festival. Radio coverage has included XFM, Radio 1 and Kerrang Radio as well as various local radio stations. Simon Li from Universal Records has described their work as “intelligent” and “well crafted”. Frett are currently writing and recording EP3 which they hope to release around Christmas and promote in the new year with further live UK dates. Meanwhile they play The White Horse in Sudbury on 13th December.”

INTERNATIONAL DEPARTURES – Carrying Caroline [Starts 29:51]
http://www.international-departures.co.uk
“I’m back in the studio in a few weeks” says Henry Carden “to record some more songs with Paddy Jordan (Young Rebel Set, Chapman Family etc) which will appear on the debut International Departures album at some point in 2014, hopefully April/May. In the studio, I write all the music and play all instruments, then the songs are finished off via tunesmith Chris Charlton who writes the lyrics and vocal melodies for a different guest vocalist on each track. So far Chris himself has sung on one song, Joe Hammill from Cattle & Cane on another – and we’ve got various other Yorkshire & North East luminaries lined up for the rest of the tracks. Although we never planned on doing International Departures live, the kind people at NARC Magazine have asked us to play their stage at the Stockton Calling festival next April, so we’re putting together a band for that. Whether or not me or Chris will be in the live line up is another matter!”

ECHOES & WIRES – High Hopes & Expectations [Starts 33:01]
http://echoesandwires.com
“Echoes and Wires is the project of myself, Ross Drummond – a songwriter from Aberdeen, Scotland – and best described (by me) as “Overcast Alt Pop”. I didn’t get to grow up in sunny California, so overcast is about as close as I can get to sunsets and beaches. Echoes & Wires releases its debut four-track EP Comic today (Monday November 4th). It’s available from the Echoes And Wires Bandcamp with each song accompanied by its own comic. I collaborated with 4 incredibly talented illustrators and writers who each created a comic from the lyrics of my songs (never having heard the music). Previews of the comics can be seen on my website. Every handclap, harmony and lap steel part was lovingly recorded in my bedroom this summer – and I’m hoping to take the songs out onto the road over the coming 12 months, as well as writing and recording Release Number Two.”

OLA SZMIDT feat. ANDREW KEEBLE – Elephants Above [Starts 36:33]
http://soundcloud.com/olaszmidt
“I’m a Leicester based Vocalist, Pianist, Flautist, Composer and improviser” says Ola Szmidt. “Having studied Jazz Improvisation with legendary free jazz improvisers Keith and Julie Tippett, I specialise in live looping and electronics using voice, flute, toys, detuned guitars and ethnic instruments. I’ve recently supported Laetitia Sadier and am due to open for Emily Wells in December. Elephants Above is the shortest song I’ve written and story it tells is is mine – and real!” Ola was responsible for vocals, lyrics, arrangement and production, while Andy Keeble is the guest guitarist on this track.

POST-APE – Limbs In The Dark [Starts 38:12]
https://www.facebook.com/postape
“London producer Post-Ape makes experimental, dystopian new wave music inspired by the likes of Depeche Mode, Gary Numan, Brian Eno and Tom Vek. New track ‘The World Is Over’ is due for release on December 2nd.”

JOSH SAVAGE – Quatre Épines [Starts 42:23]
http://www.joshsavagemusic.com
“Born in London but growing up in Paris, Josh Savage has been heavily influenced by the eclectic mixture of music and culture around him. These experiences range from singing as a treble soloist, playing trumpet in jazz bands, acting as a slapstick evil chinese sidekick in university musicals to performing his own songs at gigs. Now based in Winchester writing and recording in both English and French, Josh can often be found performing solo, with his string trio or – on occasion – a full band.” The guest voclaist on Quatre Épines is Angéline Morand and the title is a quote from The Little Prince: “My flower is ephemeral, and she has only four thorns to defend herself against the world and I have left her on my planet all alone!” Josh’s upcoming live dates include The Square Brewery in Petersfield this Wed (Nov 6) as well as shows in Arhus (Denmark), Totnes, Bristol, Winchester, Paris and Norwich. For public UK dates see his Songkick page.

ADRIAN DUFFY & THE MAYO BROTHERS – Push Those Keys [Starts 46:03]
http://adrianduffy.com
Adrian Duffy And The Mayo Brothers consists of sibling Adrian, Melvin and Chris Duffy. Although their family hails from Mayo, Ireland, the brothers have spent the best part of the last 30 years living in and around most of South London – including stints in Herne Hill, Kingston, Morden and Lewisham. Additional musical input comes from respected Mayo musicians Ray Duffy (banjo, mandolin) and Vince Martyn (tin whistle). Push Those Keys comes from their forthcoming EP Someone Like You which will be followed by a new album and tour of the UK and Ireland next May. Their previous single Everytime The Love Strikes/Storm Breaking – on their own indie/DIY label SR Records – spent seven weeks on RTE Radio 1’s playlist last year.

ALEX HIGHTON – You Don’t Own This Life [Starts 49:07]
http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/nobodyknowsanything
After growing up in Liverpool, and then spending a decade in London, Alex Highton decamped with his family to rural Cambridgeshire. What he found was an England he didn’t know existed and a life he didn’t know he was looking for. With no expectations at all he wrote and recorded a bunch of songs that chronicled his journey from the city to the country. The result was his acclaimed debut album, Woodditton Wives Club. Alex is currently recording a followup album and once again crowdsourcing the funds to release it via Pledge Music. “I’m making the new record at home right now, in my battered old studio, with a little help from some friends (I’m not so technical) and, in my best efforts to not be too “English”, I’ve got to say, I’m pretty excited at how it’s turning out. I need your help to help with the manufacture, press and radio promotion of the record. As you probably know, I don’t have some big fat record label behind me and I’m well aware that without your involvement I may not be making records at all.”

JOE LA POP – Oscillate [Starts: 53:07]
http://soundcloud.com/joe_la_pop
“Intergalactic Music Producer and Sandwich Enthusiast” Joe La Pop is the alter ego of 24 year old producer and musician Joel Harrison. Originally from Blackpool and now based in York, he finds himself “travelling through time and space – cherrypicking all the most hypnotic sounds The Universe has to offer”. This immaculate oldschool house track – as with his previous tracks that we’ve enjoyed here at Fresh On The Net – seems to prove that he’s still loving every minute of the journey.

TIDY STREET – Mary Jane [Starts 57:29]
http://soundcloud.com/tidy-street
“Tidy Street met whilst studying at University of Bristol, starting out as the folk duo of Gabriel Churchill and Georgie Dale. The pair started crafting soft, subtle and touching songs, but the outfit soon transformed into a full electric band. They have become known for their catchy guitar lines, anecdotal lyrics and the harmonious juxtaposition of male/female vocals. 2013 has been a bit of a whirlwind for the band: sold-out shows in London and Bristol; an online endorsement from Russell Brand; chaotic house-party shows and featuring as Track Of The Week on BBC Introducing In The West. Other weird and wonderful gigs have included playing at a makeshift rave in the middle of the woods of Oxford, to physics professors at the Cambridge Ball, and to a crowd of 7000 spaced out hippies at Nozstock Festival. It’s anyone’s guess as to what is round the bend for Tidy Street.”

ARTISTS: A Word Of Warning…
After appearing on The BBC Introducing Mixtape you may well receive unsolicited email from at least one plugger saying they heard your track on the show, thought it “sounded fantastic”, and are wondering if you’re looking for promotion for your releases.

Please check out The Pros And Cons Of Pluggers before responding to any unsolicited emails from anyone suggesting that YOU should pay THEM for services of any kind.