Texture Tape 017:

Coromandel FM


Interview by

This week, Coromandel FM takes us on a deeply personal and nostalgic tour of some of his favourites, old and new. Starting with some more thoughtful jazz numbers, the mix slowly and seemlessly builds into a finale of some seriously euphoric disco, underpinned by a continuous organic feel.

What were your ideas or plans going into the mix?

Although it would be nice to pretend I was an uber-cool mixing wizard who doesn’t need to plan, that sadly isn’t the case, but I find real joy in experimenting with a mix and weaving a narrative into it to give it a personal resonance.  Given that I’ll be moving on from Oxford in a few weeks I wanted to share something sanguine which encapsulates sounds from the range of music I’ve explored over the past four years.  The final product is roughly half and half non-dance to dance music and comes with hidden gems and recent favourites.

You’ve been running Neon Soup with your brother for a while now. What’s it like playing together as a duo – does each person try to pull in a particular direction?

I’m very fortunate to have been able to mix and perform with my brother this year.  I’ve always felt slightly at odds with underground music, not having many close friends who are interested in it, so it’s always been a very individual pursuit and I’m happy that Alex has become really interested lately.  Playing as a duo has been refreshing, especially with long sets where we can really delve into our libraries.  I’d say Alex leans more towards quicker, heavier stuff in general, but we manage to strike a balance and his track recs are on the money 99% of the time (up from 1% around 2012).

What have been your favourite recent releases?

I’ve been really digging the music of 2XM who have been releasing like mad recently: their Astral Lakes EP a couple of months back and their hip-hop tinged Chill Tools beat tape last week are super nice listens.  Cleanfield’s funky Haute Cuisine EP on Outplay is another highlight from this month.  Also, Rupert Clervaux’s After Masterpieces LP recently out on Whities comes highly recommended – a really unique blend of poetry and expansive soundscapes

Is there a show you would love to go back in time and experience?

Probably Aphex Twin at Field Day in 2017.  My head near exploded just watching the NTS livestream – I can only imagine what it must have been like in that audience.  Sensory blitz.

How do you organise your music?

Haha, this is embarrassingly extra but I’ve found it useful to create folders that correspond to areas on a visual map which links and overlaps genres/moods.  The map is my own conception and would be pretty much meaningless to anyone else, but it helps when navigating between musical styles and traversing a big library quickly to find the right track to cue.  If I’m lazy with organising new tracks (and I often am) I use a number of more general crates which are differentiated by energy.

A track you’ve always wanted to play out but never had the chance?

Avalon Emerson’s ‘Let Me Love & Steal’ which sadly isn’t very cocktail bar friendly.  It could be a long time until I’m in a position to play something with this much energy

Your dancefloor saver?

I have a new one as of late which is included in this mix!  Tech Support’s makeover of A.F.G’s ‘Loved By You’ is an outrageously fun slice of Italo and I’m yet to play it out without someone asking about it.

Your favourite club?

To be honest I can’t see past the Bullingdon for this one – some of my favourite nights in Oxford have been spent in that back room.  Watching Midland do his thing there a couple of years back completely sold me; I was smiling all night and most of the next day as well.

The soundtrack to your funeral?

I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve drifted off to HNNY’s epic 22 minute remix of Dante’s ‘Champagne Problems’ – no better track for going into the long sleep.

And on a lighter note, the tune you’ll still be listening to in 50 years?

‘Grafts’ by Kara-Lis Coverdale is both stunning and timeless – just amazing.

Tracklist ~
Daniel Thorne - Fear of Floating
BADBADNOTGOOD - Confessions Pt. III (feat. Colin Stenson)
Sad City - Steady Jam
Rupert Clervaux - L'Amore Che Muove Il Sole (w. Anna Homler & Eben Bull)
Placid Angles - 1700
Otilo - Serpent
The Field - Something Left, Something Right, Something Wrong
LT - Exact Science
Tornado Wallace - Kingdom Animalia
Eluize - Home
Quart - Symphonium
ANF - Mary Lynne
O'Flynn - Desmond's Empire
Doza - The Nautilus
Jun Kamoda - Hakoniwa Disco Strut
The Heartists - Belo Horizonti
A.G.F. - Loved By You (Tech Support Edit)
Tigerskin - This Place Is Empty Without You