Mixtape | Summer breeze

Every season has a soundtrack. But summertime seems to be more musically inclined. Bands tour, records are released, fans travel to festivals and more over, music begins to grow and weave its way into the morning sun and the afternoon breeze.

My favorite songs for summer are ones that whisper warmth, utter breezes and tell a tale of long nights and sunny days. With a drink in hand soaking in the sun, I want the feel and the sound of summer to be relaxing, like every day is a vacation (even if I happen to be sitting at my desk.)

From classics to new gems, this week’s mixtape is one of simple delights all full of summertime feelings.

It’s completely appropriate that this mixtape opens with the iconic song of summer for four decades – “Summer Breeze.” The twist is, however, instead of the original Seals & Croft overplayed yet sentimental version, you hear the 1974 Isley Brothers version.

This funked-up cover livens up a worn-out theme song, adding some flavor and a bit soul.

Trailing after a few abstract pieces, you hit “Heaven,” the title track and an impeccable piece of music from ever-evolving indie rockers The Walkmen. Yet again a group unconcerned it seems with what others are doing, but only with taking care to hone their own creativity.

Nuzzled in between well-seasoned indie wave band Echo & the Bunnymen and modern noise psych artist Pretty Lights, “Heaven” stands its ground. You can grab this now, out on Fat Possum Records as of May 29.

A summer mixtape can’t be complete without a Beach Boys song and this one has a lesser known, yet, as always, fitting tune to close with. “Feel Flows,” written by Carl Wilson and Jack Riely for the 1971 Beach Boys album “Surf’s Up!” is notable for the out-of-body reverse echo effect overlaid onto Carl’s voice. It may be just what takes the song to that next level.

Still emanating that golden glow of a Beach Boys song, yet otherworldly, “Feel Flows” wraps everything we love about summer into one flowing musical experience. It’s the perfect ending to a perfect summer’s day. To hear this transcendent tune along with the whole mixtape, start summer off and feel the flow with Twinkle’s Summer Breeze Mixtape on Spotify.

 

Listen to Twinkle’s Summer Breeze Mixtape on Spotify.

Track Listing: 

1. "Summer Breeze" - Isley Brothers

2. "Ice Cream Truck" - Casiotone for the Painfully Alone

3. "Summerbaby" - Polaris

4. "Seven Seas" - Echo & The Bunnymen

5. "Heaven" - The Walkmen

6. "Summer's Thirst" - Pretty Lights

7. "Wait For The Summer" - Yeasayer

8. "Sky Blue Sky" - Wilco

9. "A Summer Wasting" - Belle and Sebastian'

10. "Stay In The Shade" - Jose Gonzalez

11. "Summertime" - The Zombies

12. "Summerdreamer" - The Daysleepers

13. "Ocean In The Way" - Dinosaur Jr.

14. "The Only Place" - Best Coast

15. "California" - Delta Spirit

16. "Summer Girl" - Family Of The Year

17. "Summer Wind" - Lesli

18. "This Summer" - Superchunk

19. "Feel Flows" - The Beach Boys

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Find Twinkle on Foodspotting, Tumblr and Twitter and at twinklevanwinkle.com.

Twinkle VanWinkle ponders, creates and discovers cool stuff about music, movies, food, fashion and so forth. Her thoughtful writings and interactives give great advice about healthy food, cooking tips, DIY projects, fashion and more. She’ll teach you a thing or two about music as well. Along with producing dynamic entertainment content for LIN Media, she is a mother, musician and social media fanatic.