Nonesuch Homecoming And Merrymaking – NHAM Mixtape 13
Radio Free Fedi returns to action for a one off festival this month: RFFF. It runs throughout July and we broadcast a special live NHAM mixtape show at the beginning of the event, showcasing acts performing live at the festival. Therefore all of the tracks in this mixtape have been chosen from those performers.
As always there is also a radio show version of this mixtape with me chatting between the tracks. That can be found on Audio Interface ( @audiointerface) from the first Monday of the month as well as featuring in NHAM Radio‘s Mixtape Monday slot.
⬇️ Click the first track to begin playing and keep the page open to hear the mix in full.
[If viewing from the Fediverse you need to click here to listen to the mixtape on NHAM]
1. Take It if You Want It by Shannon Curtis
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@shannoncurtis
This has got to be up there as one of my favourite Shannon Curtis songs. Perfectly capturing that 80s vibe and adorning it with lyrics attuned to the politics and crises of the present day.
2. Double You Slash Hackers (AxWax 2023 Remix) by Delegates of Culture
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@axwax
In the last millennium AxWax made hip hop. Now he makes stuff with synths. This 2023 remix of one of his old hip hop tracks is a combination of both. Delegates of Culture were a collective of 10 artists from five countries, including AxWax on beats and Skuff and Ill Seer with the rhymes.
3. 1.1.0 by control
CC-BY-SA
@controlfreak
With director and filmmaker Cameo Wood on vocals this is control, aka controlfreak aka our glorious Hamster – the man behind RFF and RFFF. The man we have so much to thank for in helping build the amazing community of independent bands and artists we have in The Fediverse. Much that has come since RFF in terms of promotion of independent musicians in the Fediverse – the NHAMs, the TIBRs, the Audio Interfaces – we’re all standing on the broad shoulders of the one little hamster called control.
4. yaoi gagarin by pulu
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@ahihi
Miranda from Helsinki aka Pulu makes some incredible sounds. The last couple of releases for bonkwave compilation albums testify for that. Written in Sonic Pi (a live coding environment based on Ruby) the short but sweet yaoi gagarin comes from the 2024 album, ‘nested’, having been written for Alternative Party 2024’s Obscure Music competition, which it won first prize!
5. Bercée d’illusions by sknob
CC BY-NC-SA
@sknob
I remember first listening to this when it came out last year and being utterly blown away. It was one of those moments – headphones on, active listening – I was overcome and transported in my head to a huge theatre surrounded by an orchestra playing the track. It’s part of the Cities EP containing four very different tracks all well tied together by the theme of living in (or not living in) cities. The EP is an absolute triumph. I’ve gladly purchased my copy and I’d encourage you to as well: It’s available on @mirlo for any amount – pay what you feel.
6. Growing pains by sgrow
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@lislegaard
sgrow is one of Norweigan soundscape artist Kristoffer Lislegaard’s projects, collaborating with his wife Vilde Ilkama Nupen. They made four releases between 2013 and 2019 of which Growing pains was on the ultimate one, Circumstance II. Since then Kristoffer has done some fantastic stuff both in collaboration as Øy and his solo work. Most recently he released the live set of his performance when he open for Autechre in Oslo.
Hot off the press: A fifth sgrow album is due to be released early in 2026!
7. Skinicism by Doctor Body
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@alisynthesis
Atomospheric sounds and a mesmerising vocal performance from Doctor Body – one of at least four pseudonyms used by Alison Wilder. Doctor Body is actually a collaboration between Alison and Greg Wilder, her ex husband with whom she does a fantastic podcast called Too Much Music.
8. Adding Up To Nothing by Sockpuppet
CC BY-SA 3.0
@fluffy
With both haunting and jaunty qualities, this is a lovely lo-fi tune from Sockpuppet aka fluffy. It’s the final track from the 2015 album Refactor.
9. Sorry You Died by bgm
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@bgm
A little earlier this year bgm put out the video for this track, shot some 10-15 years ago, and it moved me to tears. Sorry You Died was about his family cat. He thought it would be a good idea to record the acoustic guitar in a boathouse, sitting on a gas can, swatting at mosquitoes, for “atmosphere”. The recording subsequently came out on the album “They Don’t Run Your Life.”
10. Plume by Calin Dica
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@akash
Calin Dica said the baroque cello melody came by itself over a rather classical harmonic progression and that the lyrics were inspired by a good friend who could have become a lover in another arc! I love the feel in this song. The evocation in the vocal is very strong and makes me want it more. I have no idea what is actually being said as my French is sadly non-existent, so it’s all vibe driven.
11. Secrets by Meljoann
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@meljoann
Earlier this year we serialised the album Status from which this track comes. Pure sugary retro pop with Motown bassline as Meljoann herself says. A hit from an album of hits. Check out the fantastic video and read more about it.
12. Never Meet Your Heroes by Futzle
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@futzle
The typical brilliant blend of intelligent wit and musical nouse from Futzle also known as Deborah Pickett. Never Meet Your Heroes is from the EP “Futzle: the Musical” and it brings the perfect mood to leave as an outro to this month’s celebration of all things Fedi music.
#FediMusic #festival #Hot #mixtape #music #MusicFestival #NHAM #NHAMmixtapes #playlist #RFFF #RFFF25
