Let the Giving Begin

For the past 2 years I've put together Christmas-themed mixes as my little gift to my readers. I'm very proud of those mixes and had been collecting songs throughout the year to make another one this year. However, the plate that is my life is filled, overloaded, heavy. There simply is not going to be enough time this year for me to properly put a Christmas mix together. But, but, but! My mixes from the last 2 years are still available. So if you missed one, or want to relive my version of what perfect Christmas time hang out music is, here you go:

A Hallelujah Chorus: Mike Downey's Holiday Tendency, 2005

I Believe In Everything: Mike Downey's Holiday Tendency, 2006

Like I mentioned, I had been collecting songs this year for a new Christmas mix. When I'd come across something interesting I'd download it and keep it in a distant corner of my hard drive until December. Here's a digital version of a New Order Christmas flexi I came across. It's weird and interesting. It's what a Christmas decorating session with a robotic maid hanging the lights while the humans get drunk on spiked eggnog might sound like:


Ode to Joy - New Order
Rocking Carol - New Order

Some background info on this release from a very good New Order Discography site I found.

7": UK 1982 (Factory FAC 51b) [flexi] *
3:33 Rocking Carol
3:55 Ode to Joy

* Limited edition of 4400 given away at the Hacienda Christmas Eve 1982.

- Also available as a test pressing.
Nowhere on the flexi does it say that it is New Order performing the songs, but it has been confirmed later that it actually is New Order. The tracks were recorded the year before for a local TV special.
The flexi was given away in a brown bag stamped with "FAC51 HACIENDA". The bag also contained a party hat, a whistle, a coiled streamer, and a yellow and navy blue piece candy (shaped like a rock).

Looking into the very near future, other free stuff coming at you will be The Unreleases vol. 6 (the Final? podcast of rarities from my archives) and a mixtape put together by me for Heroes Vs. Villains / Mixfriends.

Looking into the distant future, this Spring my 2nd full length will drop. It's called Hold Horses. Secret tip: if you sign up for the above mixtape you'll get a teaser track from my upcoming album. I won't release any other songs from the album until probably Feb 2008. So, go get signed up!

Happy Holidays folks.