Download: The Avalanches – “Big Tent Set 2006”
Enigmatic plunderphonics crew The Avalanches only has one official album under its belt, but it’s a doozy: 2000’s Since I Left You, which many people consider to be a classic in not only the fields of sample-based and dance-oriented music, but independent music in general. Unfortunately for eager fans, the much anticipated followup to the album has yet to come, though the band has sparingly let out numerous hints about its supposedly eventual release. The silver lining is that The Avalanches have not been completely absent in terms of releasing material. Most recently, the group took to their Facebook to post a link to a new mix, which you can download for free by registering on their website.

The title “Big Tent Set 2006” is self-explanatory, for the mix is a live set the band performed at a festival in 2006. According to their Facebook post, the set was “80’s influenced,” and it certainly shows, with song choices spanning from 80’s pop staples like Salt ‘n’ Pepa’s “Push It” to the oddly effective “Livin’ on a Prayer” from Bon Jovi. The eclectic range doesn’t stop there, however, with an abundance of house music, including Mylo and multiple instances of Daft Punk, sharing the spotlight with Gnarls Barkley’s “Crazy” and My Bloody Valentine’s “Sometimes.” It isn’t quite a new album, but this mix nevertheless shows The Avalanches’ remarkable ability to assemble highly creative, emotionally sound, and often simply fun sample-based music.