Living Things Releases a Free Mixtape, Malocchio

Living Things, which still proudly claims St. Louis as its home, yesterday released a new, free mixtape on its website. Called Malocchio, the release is "influenced by the sounds of Afrobeat and psychedelic-era Nigerian dub," according to a release sent out by the band's publicist.

The genesis for this mix is rather interesting, as the email went on to note:

The sessions took place in Los Angeles at the band's studio, Berlin Family Basement, which is situated in the Laurel Canyon neighborhood, and in Kingston, Jamaica at Militia Sound. Malocchio is the first of two mixtapes by the band (Malocchio, Ayin Ha'ra ) each to be released in spring and summer 2011. The series will end with a release of Living Things' still untitled third full-length album out this fall.

The band went on a very inspiring and eventful trip to Jamaica, where they recorded 33 songs in six days. While getting very little sleep on their trip, they would take breaks to listen to Miles Davis' Bitches Brew, Parliaments' Maggot Brain, Neil Young's After the Gold Rush, Bruce Sprignsteen's Nebraska, Tupac Shakur's entire catalog and Odd Future. The band set up a makeshift studio in three hotel rooms in the city of Kingston, and the sessions yielded new material for the band to play. These sessions yielded material for the band's new mixtapes and forthcoming album.

Living Things will also be showcasing at SXSW in 2011, as a commented pointed out on our mega St. Louis at SXSW post.