Enlightened Listening for November 20

We've made it through another week, and with that comes another edition of Enlightened Listening. Keeping things quick this week, I'll simply say that we've got a glut of great new releases from several of my favourites, including an 18-track album from Dance System that features India Jordan, Hudson Mohawke, UNIIQU3 and ABSOLUTE., and that's just the first four tracks! The playlist opens with awesome EPs from Rhett and Lindstrøm & Prins Thomas and continues with an incredible run of remixes around two collaborations from PAX & Gorgon City and Lee Foss, Detlef & Anabel Englund. Arranged for maximum flow, stream the playlist below and find each individual release at the bottom.

Rhett - All Ocean

Lindstrøm & Prins Thomas - III

Shuya Okino ft. Navasha Daya - Still In Love (Remixes)

Dua Lipa ft. DaBaby - Levitating (KUU Remix)

SeeMeNot - Chez Renee (Joe Goddard Remix)

PAX & Gorgon City - Alive

Route 94 ft. L Divine - Sad Songs (Skream Remix)

Romy - Lifetime (Planningtorock 'Let It Happen' Remix)

Lee Foss, Detlef & Anabel Englund - Thunder & Lightning

For Those I Love - I Have A Love (Overmono Remix)

Dance System - Where's The Party At?

High Contrast ft. Kae Tempest & Anita Blay - Time Is Hardcore (Remixes)

Enlightened Listening for April 17

Days and weeks are blurring together, so here's some new music to get lost in. This week's Enlightened Listening includes an incredible album from Hodge, the triumphant return of Jamie xx, a bunch of DnB, a ton of tech and some fun grooves in the finale. Listen through it all via Spotify below and find each release linked after the jump alongside a brief description. Enjoy and stay safe and sane!

Hodge - Shadows In Blue
A brilliant, cohesive and somehow diverse album. Incredible soundscapes that feel warm and welcoming. Not sure who I'd compare it to although Jamie xx comes to mind, but that's likely just recency bias.

Jamie xx - Idontknow
Masterful moving genius. There's so much to like here. Right back on that In Colour/"Gosh" quality.

Joji - Gimme Love
Can't say I know much, if really anything, about Joji, but I can say that this is awesome. I'm far more drawn to the upbeat first half, but the touching back half is beautiful nonetheless.

Bensley ft. Sarah Carmonsino - Secrets
The namesake original came out with the album, so this is really about Flite's fire remix. Builds brilliantly upon the aura of the original while working it into a much heavier, punchier production.

Urbandawn - Together Again (I Pray)
Divine DnB that's got both a banging get-down and propulsive, uplifting energy, especially through its vocals.

BCee - Griffins
Having Gramma Funk on the first track is an excellent indication just how groovy this EP is. No need to do any work, just crank this and you body will do the rest. Ridiculously infectious and fun.

YehMe2 - Keys To The Jeep (ft. Rome Fortune)
An inescapable house banger. The flow and beat match perfectly. Special props to the car alarm/horn samples.

Various Artists - In Flames / Radiate / Whisperings
Three equally epic techno tracks. "In Flames" flutters into the warped resplendence of "Radiate" while "Whisperings" doubles down on both, delivering a brooding obsidian conscience.

Mòo & Jo - Jupiter
Bibliothèque Records are quickly becoming one of my favourite labels as of late. Each of these tracks are excellent examples of the subtle, progressive strength I've come to love from their releases. Like Unknown Motive's "Chemistry," I'm sure one, if not both, of these will stay with me deep into the year.

Issac - Clavel
As epic as the last two releases are, neither quite compares to the 9.5 minute average length of the tracks here. Issac really lets each track breathe and grow. I'm drawn most to "Rimel," but I quite enjoy the guitar in both versions of "It's An Extreme Life."

Disciples - Only The Gods / Better On My Own
Was just thinking about Anabel Englund yesterday so this is a welcome treat. Two dope, deep house cuts.

Yung Bae ft. bbno$ - Bad Boy (Low Steppa Remix)
I definitely did not see this one coming, but I'm absolutely here for it. Low Steppa delivers his usual quality which only increases the already catchy nature of the original.

DiRTY RADiO & Jafunk - The Baddest
Any track that starts like this is a winner in my books. Fun, easy-grooving funk.

Fakear & Alex Metric - Carrie
What language is this? Doesn't matter. The music is more than enough for me. Delicate and divine, it's a bed I'd love to lay in until the end of lockdown.

The Nights - Without You (Qrion Remix)
Can't remember the last time Qrion released a track I wasn't a fan of. Here she sends the deep original soaring off into the sunset.

Throwback Thursday: Katy B x Geeneus x Jessie Ware - Aaliyah

At some point today I decided I'd do a Throwback Thursday post and I tossed around a couple ideas, largely centered around incredible vocal performances. I thought about Gregor Salto and Funkin Matt's remix of Mariah Carey, Syn Cole's remix of Jennifer Lopez, Anabel Englund with Lee Foss and MK (either "Electricity" or "Ghost In The System") or MK's remix of HAIM. However as I listened to the latter on YouTube, my eyes were drawn to the name Julio Bashmore which reminded me of his work with Jessie Ware and in turn I was reminded of her track with Geeneus and Katy B.

Behold 2012's utterly breath-taking "Aaliyah." I'll start by saying that even on today's third listen, this time as the two divas sang live at Wireless Festival 2013 (see here), I was nearly brought to tears by the rush of endorphins as Jessie Ware came out for the second verse. These are two of my all-time favourite vocalists, both delicate and divine while remaining ridiculously powerful despite their restrained delivery. They both spin silky and sublime webs with their bewitching warmth. And it is this incredibly captivating and catchy quality that makes Geeneus' groovy bed such can't miss magic. The bounce is clean, crisp and beautiful. It flows fantastically through each verse and chorus letting its ever expanding luxuriousness lift up each vocal. This is never better noted than in the invigorating second verse in which Ware's whisper quiet vocals clash with the electrifying clicks and bleeps. There's no hope here but to give in to the groovy gorgeousness and bow down at the feet of this trio as they work their witchcraft/wizardry. The aura of "Aaliyah" is truly transfixing. Breath in its brilliance below.FOLLOW KATY B: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER
FOLLOW GEENEUS: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER
FOLLOW JESSIE WARE: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER

Enlightened Listening for April 27

Another Friday another epic list of releases. This week I've decided to focus almost exclusively  on singles (remixes included) from my favourite names. However I've returned to Soundcloud this week to accommodate the newly launched mix series from Falcons. Catch up on this week's Enlightened Listening with the playlist below, and descriptions with asterisk indicating free download at the bottom.

Hunter Siegel - Fading (ft. Melanie?)
Just in time for his latest No Neon date, Hunter returns with his first original in forever. It's clear however that he's not lost a step with walloping wubs and killer chops. If you'll pardon the pun, the future looks dark and stormy for the dark plur himself.

Brya - Neon Lovin'
Disco funk theme engage. This is one of the two artists I wasn't familiar with prior to today, but it didn't take long for me to realize this was a hot groove and the kind of future (insert genre) I enjoy.

NOTD ft. Bea Miller - I Wanna Know (Pusher Remix)
Like Hunter it's been forever since we've had new Pusher, and like Brya it's immensely pleasing to have neon nobility back in the game. Be sure to check out his new video series "Music Minutes."

Silicon Scally - Rift
Drawn in by the Central Processing Unit label, I'm happy to have come across Scally and this EP, from which "Rift" is my favourite. It is a brilliant blend of old school electro and techno, that shows off the underlying life of overtly electronic productions. Genius.

Pete Shelley - Witness The Change (SanFranDisko Remix)*
Despite spending less than eight months in the 80s it will forever feel like home for me. The more I get exposed to it, especially through trusted sources like SanFranDisko, the more I love it. Fancy a groovy cruising track? Well look no further.

Bensley - Do It Again (ft. Armanni Reign)
When drum and bass is done right there isn't much better, especially when it has strong vocals. You can trust Bensley to bring that killer quality, as this one goes off with undeniable energy and ease.

MDK - X Buster*
The wubstep warrior and chiptune champion is back with this piece of playful power and fun funk.

Alexander Robotnick - Problèmes d'Amour (Petko Turner's 808 BD Edit)*
The Petko polish shines strong on this one. While sonically it's entirely unrelated to Silicon Scally, they both sound like machines coming to life and breaking out on the dancefloor.

Sam Smith - Pray (MK Remix)
After the success of his remix of "Money On My Mind" it should be no surprise that this follow up is just as good. Truthfully everything MK touches turns to gold, but there's just something about the way he chops Sam Smith's voice; add that to the choir and you've got some sublime, heavenly house.

Poolside - Feel Alright (Yuksek Remix)
The disco grooves just don't stop. Yuksek blesses the piano, guitar and drums, making a musical bed that you cannot sleep on but must simply bounce on all day and night.

Amtrac ft. Anabel Englund - Old Times (Skream Remix)
Talk about a trio of all stars. This jumped off the screen and into my soul, but even better blasted out the speakers. However I've fallen face down and cannot get up after those pans punched through the wubs. Skream has been making top notch tracks for years, but it feels like this last year or so he's settled into his golden age of supremely satisfying and epic electronic tracks.

Falcons - Fluidity Mixtape Vol. 1*
For years Falcons has been at the intersection of rap and electronic, especially with his bootleg remixes (see his Loosies release), but it looks like now he's really ready to showcase that skill with this Fluidity mix series, from which each individual edit/bootleg/mashup will be released a month later. Peep the tracklist here and whet your appetite, or just take my word and enjoy the awesomeness.

Enlightened Listening for March 2

It's Friday which first and foremost means new music. So here we are again with a compilation/playlist of new music for your weekend. As usual we range from club cuts, house (bass, disco and otherwise), and funky groove numbers. There's names we've seen on this blog before: Pied Piper, Henrik The Artist, Aylen, Amtrac, and Night Tempo; and new names like Calli Boom, Swill, and Mansa '91. Stream this week's Enlightened Listening and read brief descriptions below. Asterisk indicates free download.

Nathaniel Knows - Hungover (ft. King Tutt)*
Fall in love instantly with that flittery bass groove, then have your heart ripped out by that ratchet drop.

Calli Boom & Swill - Impact*
Tripped up trickles of percussion send your eyebrows upward while the drop leaves you floored.

Samba Soul - Mambo #5 (A Pied Piper Jumpy Club Regroove)
The expansive excellence we've come to know and love from Pied Piper. Don't be surprised if you start dancing involuntarily as if you were in the classic "Cuban Pete" scene from The Mask.

Henrik The Artist - Everytime We Touch (Drippy Dolphin Remix)
Henrik's refresh gets a jumpy jersey club-eqsue recast. Perfect for freaking out a dancefloor.

Wuki & Wax Motif ft. Earlly Mac - Buns (Aylen Remix)*
I always bow to Aylen's bass design and while this one isn't groundbreaking it's undeniably groovy. Certainly capable of commanding a crowd, getting pairs of feet aplenty flying across the floor.

Mansa '91 - Hollah*
While the image and title give it away you might not catch onto the cheeky "Hollaback Girl" changeup until the whole horn lick comes through. Like the Drippy Dolphin above, the jumpy chaos of this track makes for a fun and screw-face filled dancefloor.

Amtrac - Old Times (ft. Anabel Englund)
Talk about a perfect pairing, finally a true collab between these two. Fans of Anabel's work with Lee Foss and MK will certainly love this. Her line "There's magic in the air" takes on extra meaning.

Night Tempo - Just Be Yourself
I first came across Night Tempo exactly a month ago today, so it's only fitting there's more music, and from the still forthcoming Moonrise album. Seriously, is there anything cooler than this combination of genre tags? Vaporwave, synthwave, disco, dance, chill, deep house, and french house. I think not.

Jengi - Good Good (Midas Hutch Remix)
It's named twice because both the vocals and the instrumental are good. Midas is one of the smoothest operators out there. His stuff always slithers into your soul, satisfying with sublime sonics.