Chris Recommends:
Acos Coolkas – First 2012 Mix

I’ve been neglecting this site for a little while, sorry about that.  Here’s a little mix  from Acos Coolkas that I picked up this morning.  The title leaves a bit to be desired, and it’s pretty short, but it’s spacey and deep so it definitely hits the spot.  Check the track list on their Soundcloud, and download it via the player below.

|  February 23rd, 2012  |  Published in Recommendations

The Rapture – How Deep Is Your Love? (Chris Hires Remix)

Just a little something I’ve been working on, now available for free download.

How Deep Is Your Love? (Chris Hires Remix) by Chris Hires

|  December 22nd, 2011  |  Published in Music

Top 10 For 2011: Dance Music

#10: Poolside – Harvest Moon

#9: Breakbot – Fantasy (Jacques Renault Remix)

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|  December 22nd, 2011  |  Published in Recommendations

Top 10 For 2011: Everything Else

#10: Washed Out – Soft

#9: M83 – Midnight City

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|  December 22nd, 2011  |  Published in Recommendations

Chris Recommends:
Resident Advisor’s RA Exchange Podcast

Resident Advisor’s podcasts have been killing it for years now, but it wasn’t until a few months ago that I started getting into their Exchange series.  Rather than DJ mixes, the Exchange series is a series of interviews with legendary musicians and producers.  They really are a treasure trove of information, and any musician can benefit from the perspective that each episode offers. Whether it’s Dixon talking about growing up in East Berlin, Greg Wilson talking about DJ contracts in the 70s, or DJ Harvey’s hilarious stories about running amok in NYC during the 1980s, it really does make for a fantastic resource. And it’s free! Don’t sleep.

RA Exchange
Subscribe to RA Exchange in iTunes

|  September 28th, 2011  |  Published in Recommendations

Chris Recommends:
Mark McGuire – A Young Person’s Guide To Mark McGuire

Mark McGuire’s a guitarist from Ohio, maybe slightly more well known for his involvement in the cult band Emeralds.  He popped up on my radar at the end of last year, but he’s been getting a lot of listens from me recently, especially with all of this gloomy weather we’ve been enjoying in NYC this week (not being sarcastic, I’m psyched on it).  His sprawling, swirling and droning guitar works just really add a nice cinematic touch to early autumn weather.  This album collects selections from his enormous back catalog (at 13 albums in the last four years, prolific only begins to describe it), and true to its title, it does give you a pretty good idea of what he’s all about .  Even though it’s two discs and nearly 2.5 hours of music, it’s just the tip of the ice berg.  So, if you’re still hungry for more, I also give a hearty recommendation to his Living With Yourself LP, which offers some poignant meditations on family and childhood.  Check out “Stranger Than Paradise,” then maybe go buy it (or stream it on Spotify? I think people are doing that these days) if you like it.

Mark McGuire – Stranger Than Paradise (right click, save as)
Purchase A Young Person’s Guide To Mark McGuire

|  September 8th, 2011  |  Published in Recommendations

Too Many Heartaches

Too Many Heartaches by Chris Hires

A quick edit I threw together over the weekend, something for the beginning of the night.  No download for now, but if it hits 250 plays I’ll give it up for free.

|  August 8th, 2011  |  Published in Music

Chris Recommends:
A Winged Victory For The Sullen – Steep Hills Of Vicodin Tears

Picked this one up via Altered Zones and have been listening to it almost ritually since then.  A Winged Victory For The Sullen consists of two composers, Adam Wiltzie (of Stars Of The Lid) and Dustin O’Halloran (whose recent album, Lumiere, has also been in heavy rotation for me lately).  ”Steep Hills Of Vicodin Tears” is a gorgeous, cinematic piece, the kind of thing you’d want to hear while watching the sun rise.  The track is taken from their upcoming self-titled album, set to be released via Kranky and Erased Tapes on September 12th.

A Winged Victory For The Sullen – Steep Hills Of Vicodin Tears

|  August 1st, 2011  |  Published in Recommendations

Chris Recommends:
Poolside’s Day & Night Mixes

Really excellent pair of mixes from the guys in Poolside.  As you may have guessed, one is a daytime disco set, great for the beach or (believe it or not) the poolside.  The second is a little dancier, a great transition from dusk to evening.  Both easily get the seal of approval.  No track lists, but you probably know a lot of these jams already.  Stream/download them here:

Poolside – Day mixtape by Poolside Music

Poolside – Night mixtape by Poolside Music

|  July 22nd, 2011  |  Published in Recommendations

Everything You See Is A Reflection II

More lazy balearic and electronica jams for seaside sunsets.  Stream and download it below, and then check out the tracklist by clicking the “read more” link.

Everything You See Is A Reflection Vol. II by chrishires
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|  July 12th, 2011  |  Published in Music