Enlightened Listening for August 7 (Spotify Edition)

As mentioned in my previous post, the August 7th Bandcamp edition of Enlightened Listening, I've made two versions of the weekly release playlist with this one coming from Spotify. Here I've organized the 16 releases with the hopes of the 38 tracks playing out cohesively. There's numerous incredible remixes, several strong originals and an absolutely fabulous album from House Gospel Choir. Enjoy the playlist below, find each individual release linked at the bottom and have a great weekend!

Austra - I Am Not Waiting (Claptone Remix)

Jessie Ware - What's Your Pleasure? (Georgia Remix)

Myd - Together We Stand (Remixes)

House Gospel Choir - My Zulu

Amtrac - Between The Lines (Zimmer Remixes)

Sub Focus & Wilkinson - Air I Breathe

René LaVice & Jess Young - Bad Luck

Goldroom & Moontown - Guess I'm Jaded (The Remixes)

Jonas Blue & MAX - Naked (Armand Van Helden Remix)

Loud Luxury - Cold Feet (Cat Dealers Remix)

CamelPhat ft. Yannis - Hypercolour (Patrice Bäumel Remix)

Eelke Kleijn - Woodstock (Hernan Cattaneo & Soundexile Remix)

Mercer - Lemonade

Volac - Muchacho

BROHUG - Stealth

Lowdown - Ghetto Poetry

Enlightened Listening for March 27

We're returning to as close to a normal edition of Enlightened Listening as we can during this COVID-19 pandemic. This week's playlist opens with a trio of exceptional albums, dives deep into dance before turning to techno and hard hitting house. There's a bunch of big names and a whole host of truly top notch releases. Stream below and find brief descriptions after the Spotify embed. Stay safe & enjoy!

Nicolas Jaar - Cenizas
Delicate and moving pieces, largely made up of organic instrumentation. A divine dive, perfect for piquing your palate ahead of a bunch of other brilliant releases.

Robotaki - The Grand Mirage
Each early taste has been sublime and Robotaki has instilled that unique quality throughout.

Louis La Roche - Saturday Night Griever
A feature heavy album, that doesn't feel like the slightest bit disjointed as though it were a bunch of singles slapped together. That said, it often does slap. Really enjoyable and dance friendly.

falcxne - Studio 54
Even more slaps here. Fantastic funky stuff. Worthy of its iconic title.

Duck Sauce - Captain Duck
My favourite Duck Sauce single and sample yet. Unfortunately the extended mix is not on Spotify. Enjoy it in its full glory here.

DJ Fresh - Drive (Skream Remix)
Skream stays hot with this jacking mix. Yet another notch in his belt; is there anything he can't do?

warner case & Subrinse - impeccable
The off-kilter delivery of warner case is back in brilliant form. An instantly catchy, feel good club cut.

CastNowski - I Can Show You
CastNowski's capacity to craft quality house cuts in all its sub-genres is incredible, but I like him best in this more jacking, funky, disco-adjacent style. Groovy baby!

Tensnake ft. Fiora - Automatic (Remixes)
Holy stacked remix package, Batman! Gerd Janson, Kraak & Smaak and a Tensnake VIP?! I'm weak!

ABSOLUTE. - My Love
This man cannot miss. The original is awesome, but like with "String Theory" I'm drawn to the breakbeat VIP. If you're not on the ABSOLUTE. bandwagon yet, you're missing out big time.

Bicep - Atlas
Must I say anything more than new Bicep? I guess that's the point of this post, but really, they speak for themselves. An instant joy. The kind of track we need in these dark days. A ray of hope and light.

Kölsch - Time / Sleeper Must Awaken
See what I mean about a bunch of big names? The usual stunning, epic quality of Kölsch.

Sian - Electricity
Everything this man's put out on mau5trap has been excellent and the same can be said here. Killer crackling cuts that ought to inspire a bout of shadow boxing or a wicked round of an FPS melee.

BROHUG - Mixtape 1
The sick single "Detox" was in this playlist two weeks ago and the rest of the EP lives up to that lofty standard. Ridiculously banging bass house that thrives through exceptional sound design.

Dr. Fresch & FREAK ON - THICCC
Darker and dirtier than the above, believe it or not. I have not looked at the waveform but I can assure you it lives up to its title. This is some fat ish.

Enlightened Listening for February 28

I'm not certain but this is likely the largest edition of Enlightened Listening ever. Stretching across nearly 80 tracks and over six hours, it features five albums and has its fair share of groovers and bangers.

The first two albums, Daktyl's UNREALITY and Caribou's Suddenly, have had me waiting with bated breath and show off both artists' incredible and thoughtful craftsmanship. The same can be said for the third album in the playlist, Tycho's Simulcast, although I can't say I was aware of its immanence. As to be expected with Tycho, it is utterly gorgeous and warm, preparing us for the long summer days that lie ahead. Turning more electronic and jacking up the funky groove meter, Wajatta's (the combination of Reggie Watts & John Tejada) sophomore album is sensational and sure to inspire more than a smile or two. Equally uplifting and groovy, Yuksek's feature-laden NOSSO RITMO will be undeniable at beach parties everywhere.

Speaking of outdoor events, I hope Sébastien Léger is one of the artists TBA at the All Day I Dream event in Toronto July 18th (here). His third EP for them is another amazing one, as mystical and moving as ever. Picking up with a more driving beat, Colyn comes through Rose Avenue Records with two powerful cinematic numbers. Even more driving, HUNTER reconnects with Roshin for fat joint "Floating." The enigmatic genius of Prins Thomas follows that up with a gritty growler in "Graut" which also receives a wicked and warped remix from Fango. Bridging the gap from the techno to the DnB that's still to come are two unreal originals from HomeSick in "Ampgain" and "Closer."

Immediately capturing my attention, J Majik lives up to his name with a godly remix of Joris Voorn's "Messiah." Flames erupt as Brookes Brothers and Kove follow that with the irresistible Kathy Brown led "Burn." Things really get lit with the return of 13 who is followed by a record I cannot say enough about, SBK.'s "One Man." I know we're still just in the second month of the year but I'm positive it will be in my best of the year list. Another man who is sure to find himself in year end lists is Apashe who delivers another ridiculous single ahead of Renaissance. Turning towards house, BROHUG brings us to the final true banger of this playlist, unhinged heater "Party Out."

Making the transition from house to disco both in the playlist itself and in a single track, CastNowski's "Deep Down" is fabulously funky fun. Next up in that same vein is Mercer who drops a dope bass-line on Bob Sinclar's "I Feel For You." Moving more organic, Duck Sauce's "Get To Steppin" leads us right into our finale, The Shapeshifters' follow up to "Life Is A Dancefloor," the sublime "Second Chance."


Daktyl - UNREALITY

Caribou - Suddenly

Tycho - Simulcast

Wajatta - Don't Let You Get Down

Yuksek - NOSSO RITMO

Sébastien Léger - Secrets

Colyn - Concepts Of Love

HUNTER - Floating (ft. Roshin)

Prins Thomas - Graut

HomeSick - Closer

Joris Voorn ft. HÆLOS - Messiah (J Majik Remix)

Brookes Brothers & Kove - Burn (ft. Kathy Brown)

13 - Atomic

SBK. - One Man

Apashe - Work (ft. Young Buck)

BROHUG - Party Out

CastNowski - Deep Down

Bob Sinclar - I Feel For You (Mercer Remix)

Duck Sauce - Get To Steppin

The Shapeshifters - Second Chance (ft. Kimberly Davis)