NOTE : I deleted the original post as not to confuse my mix with one that is commercially available here:
https://lovefingers.bandcamp.com/album/fingertracks-vol-1
I try really hard to not be the type of guy that pretends he is aware of music or culture that actually passed me by. There is an awful lot out there and being open to new things is really important. The reason I say this is because it helps explain the subject of my post today. Its about an amazing website called
Now I want to start off by saying that I grew up with the idea that the full length LP was king. My serious record digging period was from 1984 to 1992. I didn’t have tons of cash at my disposal when I was in my early teens so I tended to focus on albums that had the most bang for the buck. Entire albums with music I liked or with the least amount of duff tracks. I also tended to pick things based on how the cover looked. That fact, along with the use of musical knowledge I picked up along the way influenced what I was willing to check. For example, in my little world, “progressive” rock meant the years from 1969 to 1973 typically. If it fell after that, I generally passed. Also if there were a few tracks that were just not to my liking, I just dropped the whole album and moved on.
I have had a theory for a long time about how generations younger than me, who grew up with the internet at their disposal have a vastly different way of looking at music. Its like the whole world of music was just dropped at their doorstep and most of the “genres” had been established by this point. They had the opportunity to jump in and check it all at once. They tend to have lots less bias and much more open ears. The other thing is that when the deep excavation started where people really started “digging” through pop music history, there were people that took the time to find these real diamonds in the rough. Stellar tracks on mostly terrible albums or things that just got overlooked for some reason
One person who to me is the ultimate champion of this idea is Andrew Hogge, better known as DJ Lovefingers.
I was looking for what I suppose we might call “Balearic” music last year and a friend of mine said that I should check out lovefingers.org. I may have been vaguely familiar with it during the mid 2000’s but I don’t think it registered. Anyhow, once I jumped in I found this amazing treasure trove of tracks. Andrew did the most amazing thing in my opinion which was uploading 1 track a day from 03.15.06 to 12.31.09. In this 900+ track archive are just some truly amazing music. Some of the stuff was music that I had love and valued for many years that were maybe my little secrets but there was so much more. All sorts of genre and style. I managed to get every single track and in the coming year I hope to share mixes of my favorites from this site. Its also influenced me to start doing my own mixes that are more genre hopping than I typically do. I really enjoy that and I think its a very valuable way to learn about new music.
I have uploaded the mix here and I also have it as a soundcloud link if you wish to snag it
Here also is Andrew’s R.A. listing with links to all his social media. You may know him better as the label honcho for ESP Institute.
This mix is filled with amazing tracks from the site. Some of this leans a bit more towards the dance/funky side but its all the better for it I think. Things I grew up loving like track from Nash The Slash, Crass & Erkin Koray. A total surprise in a Eurythmics track I never knew about that’s just fantastic, and now a track I certainly passed over seeing it many times in my collecting days but it has become a fast favorite and that’s one from Daevid Allen & Euterpe.
His labor of love really helped and influenced me and I hope that it might do the same for you. I think its important to recognize those who make the time and effort to educate and spread the love of music. It can be kinda thankless but it makes such a difference and I want to highlight his contribution.
If your interested in this mix, please check out this compilation handpicked by the man himself
Thanks also to jonny for help with the graphic templates for this mix and all of zikzak
https://jonnyej.co.uk