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Malachai Makes MAGNET A Mix Tape

Bristol, England’s Malachai isn’t afraid of getting ugly. Indeed, not only is the word in both of the band’s two releases—last year’s The Ugly Side Of Love debut and sophomore album Return To The Ugly Side (due out February 22 via Domino Records)—but the duo samples with reckless abandon and experiments with sound in a way that just shouldn’t work. The twist, however, is that it does, and the word “ugly” is the furthest thing from your mind when you hear to the result. Check out the mix tape band members Scott and Gee made especially for MAGNET.

“Rainbows” (download):
https://magnetmagazine.com/audio/Rainbows.mp3

Slade “How Does It Feel”
Gee: My dad! Ha ha, no. I just think this is a great tune, great song from Sir Noddy—and “nearly” as bad teeth as mine. Beyond the skyscraper boots and daft attire, I think Noddy Holder was a genial writer. We seem to forget that, especially as we’re bombarded with that bloody Christmas tune every year. Video

Quasimoto “Come On Feet”
Scott: For me, Madlib (who is Quasimoto, as well as about 50 other alias) is the “king” of all things left field and all things hip hop. Have always looked to what he’s doing and how he’s doing it. Never one to take his foot off the gas and continually reinventing his art. Recently got a bit upstaged by new kids (on the block), like Flying Lotus and all, but they don’t come close to this man’s genius! Video is very lo-fi but has a real charm, just like Madlib’s music. Video

Homeboy Sandman “The Carpenter”
Gee: Love this. Both Scott and myself were big hip-hop heads through the ’80s and ’90s, but rarely does anything come out under that banner nowadays that moves either of us particularly, so it’s always nice to come across something as concise as this to remind you of what you loved about that stuff. Delivery, production—it ticks all the boxes. Well, ours anyway. Video

The Bees “Winter Rose”
Scott: Bit of a late comer to their album, which this track is lifted from: Every Step’s A Yes. Was well into their first record, Sunshine Hit Me, from 10 years or so ago and then lost a bit of faith in the albums which followed it. But from a bit of persuasion from various friends (whose taste I trust), I bought this LP and can’t stop playing. A great-sounding album and a nice visual to run with the single. Video

The Savages “The World Ain’t Round It’s Square”
Gee: Best ’60s garage to come out of Bermuda that I know of. Such an immense, abrasive vocal and wicked, off-key guitar solo, too, I love coming across stuff like this, I found this and Cavemen’s It’s Trash the same day. Gawd bless YouTube. Video

Liquid Liquid “Cavern”
Scott: 99 Records, 1984. Rare animated video from 1984. We all know the track which sampled it, but how heavy and current does the original still sound? You could still drop this in a club and it’d sound as good as any contemporary and would whip up the dance floor to boot. That reminds me: I must get a 99 Records T-shirt! Video

Esther Phillips “And I Love Him”
Gee: Staying in the ’60s for a mo, I have to draw attention to this, as John Lennon says at the start of this, it’s one of the best Beatles covers ever and to this day remains so. Her voice is complete bliss, and I choke every time I hear her sing it. Video

Best Coast “When I’m With You”
Scott: One of my fave tracks from 2010. Slightly disappointed when I bought the album and this wasn’t on there, but I managed to deal with it. Perfect video to a perfect Cali slacker track. Great melody, catchy, hot girl, burgers—what more can you ask for? Video

Broadcast “Black Cat”
Gee: Very sad to hear the news that Trish Keenan of Broadcast just passed away. They really brought something refreshing to the indie world, and it would’ve been interesting to hear what they would have gone to do. Thoughts are with those close. Video

Anika “Yang Yang”
Scott: Produced by a good friend of ours, Geoff Barrow. When he first played me the demos he was working on, I was lukewarm on it to say the least. When complete, he gave me a vinyl copy, and I really started to get into it. I think that five of the eight tracks are inspired cover versions, like this here, which is a great version of the Yoko Ono classic. Video