For the last of my 2018 monthly mixtapes, which i’ve been doing throughout 5:4‘s 10th anniversary year, i’ve gone seasonal and turned to the theme of Christmas. However, while that theme permeates all the choices i’ve made, the result is quite far from the kind of conventional upbeat playlist we’re using to hearing this time of year. i haven’t in any way set out be deliberately contrary, still less put something together that’s sarcastic or ‘alt Christmas’, but i’m conscious that this is a distinctly subdued and contemplative mixtape (something i’ve reflected in the cover artwork). Like compositions, mixtapes are very personal things, and i guess this collection of music is just what i particularly wanted to be spending time with at the moment.
No need for a breakdown of what’s included this time, i think the music pretty much speaks for itself. 60 minutes of mysterious, melancholic and magical music to provide perhaps a darker, deeper hue for the festive season. Here’s the tracklisting in full, together with links to obtain the music.
• Jon Opstad – Spiked Drink (from Black Mirror – White Christmas (Original Television Soundtrack))
• Anduin + Jasper TX – …Walking In The Snow. (from The Bending Of Light)
• Ouvrage Fermont – Phobos Snowflake (from Stormtronics Vol 11)
• Carter Burwell – Christmas Trees (from Carol (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack))
• Laura Sheeran – Winter’s Call (from Murderous Love – free download)
• The Legendary Pink Dots – Hypothetical Angel [excerpt] (from Festive – free download)
• Krzysztof Penderecki – Symphony No. 2 ‘Christmas Symphony’ – Lento [excerpt] (from Orchestral Works Vol. 3)
• Brian Whitman – City sidewalk steadfast clime (from A Singular Christmas – free download)
• Kalevi Aho – Acht Jahreszeiten (Eight Seasons) – IV. Weihnachtsdunkelheit (Christmas Darkness) (from Theremin and Horn Concertos)
• Frank Zappa – Xmas Values (from Civilization Phaze III)
• Stendeck – Like Snowflakes On My Fingers (from Scintilla)
• Thomas Newman – Christmas Drive (from Less Than Zero (Original Motion Picture Score))
• Pantha Du Prince – The Winter Hymn (Ambient Version Instrumental) (from The Triad (Ambient Versions))
• Monolake – Infinite Snow [excerpts] (from Silence)
• Philippe Cam – Unicef Christmas Card [excerpt] (from Elektronische Musik – Interkontinental)
• Tor Lundvall – The Falling Snow (from Ghost Years)
• The Stranger – Silent Night – Holy Night (from The V/Vm Christmas Pudding)
• Michael Oliva – Dover Beach – A Memory of Winter (from Nocturne – Rarescale plays Michael Oliva)
• David Willcocks – Gabriel’s Message (from A Canterbury Christmas)
