Complete Us The Circle

Complete Us The Circle is the collective title for a series of four compilations originally created between 2005 and 2011. While stylistically different, they’re all linked by a common theme – the 1970s and my memories of that decade – coupled with the strains of nostalgia that lie within. This recycling of retro aesthetics can take many forms: these mixes deal with autumnal folk, electronic hauntology and lounge / easy listening.

Folk, Lower
This feast of folk dates from the summer of 2005 and was originally a run of just three CDRs – all given away to readers of Thumped.com.

01 The Watersons – Hal-an-Tow
02 Pentangle – Let No Man Steal Your Thyme
03 Sweeney’s Men – Willy O’Winsbury
04 Anne Briggs – Blackwater Side
05 Roy Harper – You Don’t Need Money
06 Fairport Convention – Fotheringay
07 Incredible String Band – Koeeoaddi Then
08 June Tabor & Maddy Prior – Singing The Travels
09 Planxty – The West Coast Of Clare
10 Shirley & Dolly Collins – Geordie
11 Richard & Linda Thompson – We Sing Hallelujah
12 Vashti Bunyan – Rainbow River
13 The Three City Four – Across The Hills
14 Bothy Band – Do You Love An Apple?
15 Ashley Hutchings & Others – Staines Morris
16 Andy Irvine – Autumn Gold
17 Steeleye Span – The Dark-Eyed Sailor
18 Bert Jansch – I Am Lonely
19 Sandy Denny – The Music Weaver
20 Martin Carthy – Famous Flower Of Serving Men

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Play Safe
This is the 2017 remaster. I have tidied up the dead air, corrected the varying sound levels and given the HTV West Ident its own track. Originally published in January 2009 – a run of 20 CDRs. There were also a number of download options from Megaupload and later on, Divshare. It was my first attempt at a hauntology compilation and I think it still hangs together quite well. The sources are varied – public information films, snippets from VHS tapes, a smattering of library tunes, spooky television themes and some “modern” electronic soundscapes courtesy of the Ghost Box label.

01 PIF – Menace
02 John Baker – Good Morning Wales
03 Johnny Johnston – HTV West Ident
04 Sidney Sager & The Ambrosia Singers – Children Of The Stones
05 Belbury Poly – The Willows
06 The Advisory Circle – Civil Defence Is Common Sense
07 Andy Mackay – Armchair Thriller
08 Delia Derbyshire & Brian Hodgson – Legend Of Hell House
09 Belbury Poly – Lord Belbury’s Folly
10 PIF – The Fatal Floor
11 Cliff Johns – Goofy
12 Laurie Johnson – Thriller
13 Paddy Kingsland – World Of Science
14 John Baker – Au Printemps
15 PIF – Peaches And Hammer: Old Man
16 The Advisory Circle – Frozen Ponds PIF
17 The Bruton Beat – Dragster
18 Brian Bennett & Alan Hawkshaw – Dossier
19 Belbury Poly – Farmer’s Angle
20 PIF – Ply Group
21 John Baker – Woman’s Hour (Reading Your Letters)
22 PIF – Play Safe: Kites And Planes
23 Peter Howell – The Astronauts
24 PIF – Rabies Advice
25 Belbury Poly – Tangled Beams
26 The Advisory Circle – Nuclear Substation PIF
27 Johnny Pearson – Mini Walking, Mini Clarinet & Mini Movement
28 The Advisory Circle – Mind How You Go
29 Jean Bell – The Owl Service
30 PIF – Lonely Water
31 Ruby – Bart
32 Threads – Words And Pictures

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The World We Knew
A lounge and easy listening trip which was my entry in the annual Very Good Plus Christmas mix swap of 2011.

01 The Graham Walker Sound – Crossroads
02 The In-Keepers – Stirrup Cup
03 Zack Laurence Orchestra – Son Of A Preacher Man
04 Franck Pourcel – Francais, Francais
05 Bernard Cribbins – One Man Band
06 Sakkarin – Sugar Sugar
07 Cliff Richard – Take Action
08 Julie Felix – Mad John’s Escape
09 Tony Hatch and Jackie Trent – Gotta Get Away
10 Sounds Orchestral – Shackled
11 Guitars Unlimited – I’ll Never Fall In Love Again
12 James Clarke + Sounds – One Morning
13 Unknown – The Italian Theme
14 Cilla Black – Faded Images
15 Brian Abbs and Nola York – Mystery Man
16 Paddy Kingsland – Wombulator Rock
17 Sir John Betjeman – Lenten Thoughts
18 Norman Percival Orchestra – The World We Knew
19 José Pirata – I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles
20 Kenny Everett – And Now For Another Train Number

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I Could Set It To Music
Lastly we have another lounge set with some seasonal touches. This was compiled for the 2010 Very Good Plus Christmas mix swap.

01 David Snell – Trumpet Voluntary
02 The King’s Singers – Monday, Monday
03 Franck Pourcel – Days Of Pearly Spencer
04 Neely Plumb – My Funky Valentine
05 Bing and The Birds – Listen, Kissin’ And Fizzin’
06 Young Generation – Ba Ba Da Ba
07 David Macbeth and Mirelle – Day By Day
08 Jonathan King – Round, Round
09 Peter Bye, Roger Hurrell and David Winter – Lord Save Me
10 Joe Dolan – Something Happens
11 New Temperance Seven – Footprints On The Moon
12 Barrie Moore Combo – Requioso
13 Tony Mansell Singers – Scarborough Fair / Canticle
14 James Last – Greensleeves
15 Brendan Balfe – The Set Of Drums
16 Peter, Ross and Oliver – Drums
17 First Impression – Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
18 Roger Whittaker – I Don’t Believe In If Anymore
19 James Earl Adair and Raewyn Blade – Clap Your Hands And Be Cheery
20 Cyril Ornadel and The Stereo Action Orchestra – Sleigh Ride