The first mixtape released on Best Effort is by Naarm (Melbourne) based DJ/ writer, Sophie McAlister. A Sooky La La at heart, this mix is comprised of Sophie’s most sentimental songs which seem to exude the palpable feeling of Saudade, a Portuguese word that can be described as ‘a pleasure you suffer, an ailment you enjoy.’
The tracks weave through 110 minutes of unrequited love and melancholic sounds that range from MPB, Psych, Folk, Middle Eastern Jazz and Soul, evoking a deep sense of nostalgia and longing. Crafted with heartbreak from reel to reel, these feelings on tap(e) hope to offer tender respite to the listener’s jaunt down memory lane. With a nod to the past and anticipation for what’s to come, this tape invites you to welcome new spirits from the unwelcomed lull of recent despondency. Sometimes revelling in our most forsaken experiences can spark new life into what used to consume us with grief.
Post-punk meets a very classic alt-rock sound on the new record from this Chicago group. RIYL The Breeders, Dinosaur Jr, and Yo La Tengo. Bandcamp New & Notable May 4, 2024