Ivory Tower Mixtape: A Wild Ride Through Soundscapes You Didn’t Know You Needed
So, I stumbled across this little gem the other day—Ivory Tower Mixtape by Various. It’s one of those albums that doesn’t really fit into a neat box, which is kinda why it works so well. Released in 2013 outta Australia on Ivory Tower Records, this thing is like a musical collage where pop meets jazz, electronic gets thrown in for good measure, and then they just go nuts with experimental and abstract vibes. Honestly? It’s messy but in the best way possible.
Let me break it down for ya. The genres listed are Pop, Jazz, and Electronic, but don’t let that fool you—it’s not your typical playlist fodder. There’s some indie pop sneakin’ around, breakbeats makin’ an appearance, and even free jazz doin’ its chaotic thing. And the styles? Experimental and abstract all over the place. This ain’t background music; it demands your attention.
Now, there are two tracks from this mixtape that stuck with me, and honestly, I can’t stop thinkin’ about ‘em.
First up, “I Can’t, I will never. I will never hurt. I will never hurt you (I feel a chill).” Yeah, yeah, long title, I know—but hear me out. This track feels like someone took all their emotions, threw ‘em into a blender, and hit puree. It starts off kinda haunting, almost like you’re eavesdroppin’ on someone’s inner monologue. Then BAM!—the beat drops, and suddenly you’re caught between wanting to dance and cry at the same time. It’s weirdly cathartic, like listening to someone unravel while somehow keepin’ it together. That combo of vulnerability and energy? Chef’s kiss.
Then there’s “Mangled Western.” Oh man, this one hits different. If spaghetti western soundtracks had a baby with glitchy electronica, this would be it. It’s got these twangy guitar riffs that feel straight outta a dusty saloon scene, but then they twist it up with these sharp, jarring breaks that pull you right back to reality—or maybe another dimension entirely. Every time I listen to it, I picture some surreal desert standoff in a movie that doesn’t exist yet. Like, Quentin Tarantino needs to hear this ASAP.
The rest of the album keeps the vibe goin’, too. Tracks like “Improvisation 3” and “Restless” keep things unpredictable, while “Nude Remix (Live)” brings this raw, unfiltered energy that makes you feel like you’re right there in the room with the artists. But honestly, the whole thing feels less like a cohesive album and more like peekin’ into a bunch of musicians’ sketchbooks. Some pages are masterpieces, others are scribbles, but it’s all fascinating.
Here’s the kicker though—this album shouldn’t work. Like, how does pop, jazz, electronic, and free jazz even coexist without imploding? But somehow, it does. Maybe that’s the magic of it. Or maybe it’s just proof that when creatives get together without overthinkin’ it, cool stuff happens.
Final thought? Listening to Ivory Tower Mixtape feels like finding a mix CD in the backseat of a stranger’s car and realizing it’s full of songs you didn’t know you needed. So if you’re lookin’ for somethin’ that’ll make your brain tingle and your feet move, give this a spin. Just don’t blame me if you end up dreamin’ about abstract cowboys or emotional robots afterward.
