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Younghusband

The Beach Boys, Kurt Vile & The Cocteau Twins.

Posted 10th July 2011, 12:35pm in Soundtrack
Younghusband Euan Hinshelwood formed Younghusband after his former band The New Shapes parted ways, and to entertain himself when he wasn't fulfilling his role as guitarist for Emmy The Great.

Here he gives us a mixtape including the likes of The Beach Boys, Kurt Vile & The Cocteau Twins, while he explains the impact each track had on him growing up. Lovely.

Broadcast - 'Illumination'

It sounds really classic but also futuristic. The production is beautiful. I love how they use just one bass note and rhythm for the whole track alongside such a winding melody that could have accommodated many. Broadcast did that so well - complex songs presented simply. Just so sad Trish Keenan passed away.

Wire - 'Outdoor Miner'

A great pop song. Wire are so versatile. The lyrics for this songs are great, playful in a John Lennon sort of way. Wire formed in a college next to my childhood home. Brian Eno had left Roxy Music and was weirdly lecturing at Watford Art College and used to give Colin Newman a lift back to London every day. They would apparently talk about geometry and simplicity in art and music, which is prevalent in Wire. Pretty inspiring tutor to have.

Stereolab - 'French Disko'

This sums up everything that is brilliant about Stereolab. Pulsing, driving, repetitious, candy-like krautrock. I always play it out when I DJ. I love the french accent, the simplicity, the way the bass gradually drops down the neck whilst the vocal stays on the same few notes. It's a shame that Editors had to cover it, sullies it slightly.

Deerhunter - 'Spring Hall Convert'

I love how the intro sounds like a camp ghost. Bradford Cox almost sounds like a deceased member of Wham at some points, coming back to haunt with heavy guitars. I don't know if anyone else gets that. But I do.

Santo & Johnny - 'Sleepwalk Or Teardrop'

Heartache songs from the 50's/60's are brilliant. I've only recently found out about Santo & Johnny. I can really imagine the kids listening to these tracks in 1959, wearing amazing clothes, going to the drive in movie theatres, first loves, sports cars, burgers & milkshakes.

The Beach Boys - 'I Can Hear Music'

This song just has an inescapable childhood bond. Pretty typical, I guess - summer holidays, driving to the coast, feeling car sick but excited. Everyone has those songs, and they are often Beach Boys tracks.

Kurt Vile - 'Hunchback'

I don't know why but this song fills me with confidence whenever I listen to it. It's aggressive and relentless and has a swagger to it that I feel really comfortable getting into.


Cocteau Twins - 'Cherry-Coloured Funk'

I heard this track on a Saturday night - it was winter - about 3 years ago. I listened to it 20 times in a row. It's quite understated for The Cocteau Twins. The drums are so simple, a little nod towards The Velvet Underground, I think, and Robert Smith's phasing guitar is the perfect bed for one of Liz Fraser's most beautiful melodies.

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