Enlightened Listening for April 23

Another week brings another edition of Enlightened Listening. It seems the theme this week is breaks, as the first five releases feature said percussion prominently. More drum mastery follows as Squarepusher and Pusher blast off brilliantly. A bit of reset occurs in the middle as The Chemical Brothers wow with epic single, "The Darkness That You Fear." Riding that reset, a couple exceptional EPs follow as Amtrac & The Juan Maclean combine for Grit and Recondite delivers Bird to Afterlife. Turning to house, Vibrancy shares their sensational second edition of the Exhibits compilation series. Bringing in a bit of soul, Shift K3Y & Tinashe propel the playlist into divine disco vibes from Horse Meat Disco and Prins Thomas. Finally, we close with a gorgeous, groovy joint from Great Good Fine Ok. Stream the weekly new music playlist below, and find each individual release linked at the bottom. 

Bicep - Siena / Meli (I) / Light

Nathan Micay - Industry (Green Light/Fun Night Breaks Mix)

Mr. Sosa - Coco Drums

Aeron Aether - Samsarana

Niteplan - Waiting For You / Hold On

Squarepusher - Theme From Ernest Borgnine

Pusher - I Can't Believe It (ft. Danae Greenfield)

The Chemical Brothers - The Darkness That You Fear

Amtrac & The Juan Maclean - Grit

Recondite - Bird

Various Artists - Vibrancy Presents: Exhibits Vol. 2

Shift K3Y & Tinashe - Love Line

Horse Meat Disco - Love If You Need It (ft. Fi McCluskey)

Midnight Magic - Beam Me Up (Prins Thomas Diskomiks)

Great Good Fine Ok - Real

Enlightened Listening for January 22

After what I thought was an incredible haul with last week's Enlightened Listening, this week's harvest is more than three times the size! Of course, there are a few releases we've been building towards here with early singles from Bicep's Isles and Logic1000's You've Got The Whole Night To Go, but there's so much more than that! There are two Tim Reaper EPs, including his fabulous and incredibly hyped (deservingly so) Special Request remix EP. There are two other solo albums as bass legends DC Breaks and Flux Pavilion drop DCXV and .wav, respectively. In other shorter offerings, there are seven incredible EPs from the likes of Kessler, Low Poly, Apashe and Tiefschwarz. On the other side of the spectrum, Afterlife offers up an epic 25 track, nearly three-hour compilation in Unity Pt. 2. Showcasing high octane tech house, Cloverdale's rounded up a half-dozen tracks for his label Vibrancy's first compilation, Exhibits Vol. 1. Rounding things out, there's a handful of singles and remixes, including CamelPhat's take on London Grammar and Undercatt's take on Robert Mills' "Children". Stream the new music playlist below and find each individual release linked at the bottom. Have a great weekend!

Bicep - Isles

Kessler - Ambivalent

Tim Reaper - Teletext

Special Request & Tim Reaper - Special Request & Tim Reaper

S9 - Get It Right

DC Breaks -  DCXV

Low Poly - Dreamstate

Dr Meaker - Atoms

Apashe ft. Tech N9ne - Insane (Remixes)

Flux Pavilion - .wav

London Grammar - Lose Your Head (CamelPhat Remix)

BAILE - Visage

Logic1000 - You've Got The Whole Night To Go

Robert Miles - Children (Undercatt Remix)

Dennis Ferrer & Disciples - Whisper (with James Yuill)

Bob Moses - The Blame (Helsloot Remix)

Tiefschwarz - Dance Tili You Popo #1

Various Artists - Tale Of Us Presents: Unity Pt. 2

Modul Kollektiv & Gespona - Viebar

Various Artists - Vibrancy Presents: Exhibits Vol. 1

Enlightened Listening for January 15

If this week's edition of Enlightened Listening is any indication, 2021 is sure to be an incredible year for music. Here we have 20 new releases running 3 hr 33 min (repeating of course). But seriously, this playlist is overflowing with quality through its sensational singles and resplendent remixes. While I'm recommending each of these releases, there are a few special ones I need to note.

First, there's the magical compilation from All Day I Dream, then TSHA's tear continues with her remix of KUU. Another rockin' remix follows shortly thereafter as Marsh brings some mayhem to "Eternal Summer." And I guess remixes are the theme of the week as the trio of Metronomy, Autechre and Zach Witness take on Myd, SOPHIE and Armand Van Helden, respectively. Each incredible in their own right, these are three of the most unique and inspired remixes I've come across in months. Enjoy the weekly new music playlist below and find each individual release linked at the bottom. Cheers!

Various Artists - A Winter Sampler III

Dezza & Lauren L'aimont - Settle (Remixes)

Japanese Television - Beecage (Gabe Gurnsey Remix)

KUU - We'll Always Have This Dance (TSHA Remix)

Ross From Friends - Burner

Bicep - Sundial

Moullinex ft. GPU Panic - Inner Child (Patrice Bäumel Remix)

Logic1000 - Medium

Booka Shade - Forest Of Etta

Dosem - Eternal Summer (Marsh Remix)

The Knocks ft. Foster The People - All About You (Gentle Dom Remix)

Pezzner - Body Language, Vol. 22 (Remixes)

The Magician - One Vibration (ft. CLYPSO)

Myd & Mac DeMarco - Moving Men (Metronomy Remix)

SOPHIE - Bipp (Autechre Mx)

Armand Van Helden & Riva Starr ft. Sharlene Hector - Step It Up (Zach Witness Remix)

Curtiba - High On You

Riton x Nightcrawlers ft. Mufasa & Hypeman - Friday (Dopamine Re-Edit)

Rohaan - Limewire

DJ Danny - On A Mountain

Top 100 Tracks Of 2020: 25-1

The conclusion of the list started Monday from 100-76, which also includes my disclaimer/preamble. The middle sections can be found here: from 75-51 & 50-26. Find Soundcloud playlist here and Spotify here.

#25: London Grammar - Baby It's You (Kölsch Version) [Extended]

When I first saw that Kölsch had remixed London Grammar, this was what I was expecting. Instead, I saw a tight four-minute affair, that while good enough to make a list like this, felt entirely underwhelming. Glorious and gargantuan, this is the perfect track to take us into our final tier. It showcases both Hannah Reid's vocals and the original instrumental beautifully while extrapolating on their excellence. As with so much of London Grammar's catalogue, it is best when given time and space to breathe. It's stunning in its simple beauty, standing resolute against the abyss. A tempered touch from Kölsch, this is a masterpiece and yet another example of the power of the extended mix.

#24: Edu Imbernon ft. Mordem - Underwater Breathtaking (Innellea Remix)

While not technically an Afterlife release, I first encountered this epic in a mix of theirs. It's got everything I want from a track like this: big dramatic movement, spellbinding synths, killer sound design and a riveting vocal to tie it all together. The massive movement throughout this seven-minute affair is all too enthralling. Innellea immediately grabs you by the hand and pulls you into his underwater inferno, brandishing you with his scalding sorcery and abysmal black art. It is another one of those epics whose infectiousness leaves you powerless to its unearthly energy and uncanny charm. Just tell me you don't get swept away by those synths...

#23: Armand Van Helden & Riva Starr - Step It Up (ft. Sharlene Hector)

While there are still house tracks left in this countdown, this is without question one of the greatest iterations of the foundational genre. It reminds listeners of the two producers' legendary statuses, especially as every element in it tickles the senses. The piano, the strings, the diverse drums, the vocals, the bevy of effects; they all combine in crazy infectious fashion, each sparkling and gold-plated. It really is a diamond-clad delivery that hits on every single note. It's no game-changer, it's just a gloriously good time, especially as we're wowed by the barking vocal chops.

Bicep - Apricots

After sharing ray of sunshine "Atlas" in the darkness that was the early days of COVID, the Bicep boys are back with the second single from just-announced album Isles. Due out January 22nd on Ninja Tune, the new 10 track sophomore saga is set to feature more original vocals than ever before as well as a deeper dive into the duo's diverse inspirations.

Today's single, "Apricots" features two vocal samples, one from a Malawian folk group and another from the Bulgarian State Choir, both exceptionally placed amidst the duo's sublime synths. Having begun as an ambient, beatless piece (which may very well have been excellent by itself), the thumping kick drum, slick snare clicks and otherwise mostly subtle percussion provide a brilliant backbone for the fluttering synths and ethereal atmosphere. While it doesn't deliver the same bewitching breaks as either "Glue" or "Atlas," there is no shortage of seduction in "Apricots" whose warmth and alchemy is undeniable, especially in the fabulous final flourish starting at about 3:15.

Serene and spellbinding, get "Apricots" now with pre-order here and take the experience up a notch with the accompanying music video from BAFTA-winning director Mark Jenkin, here.

BICEP · BICEP | APRICOTS

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Fehrplay - Through The Glass

Norwegian sensation Fehrplay continues to set a high standard, both with his progressive/melodic productions and his label Mood Of Mind. Yesterday set a new milestone, scoring his tenth EP on his own imprint. Spaces is a two-sided affair lead by the expansive and interstellar exploration that is its title track. The b-side, "Through The Glass" leverages that same penetrating progression and rambling wanderlust, while playing more through its percussion and bleepy, almost Bicep-like, top line. The dope drum bed does indeed propel the track from the jump and throughout, bouncing brilliantly alongside the analog lead, ultimately opening a sweltering wormhole. It is in this massive midsection, bolstered by the broad and fulsome foundation, that both the weight and gracefulness of "Through The Glass" become apparent. An exceptional display of Fehrplay's tremendous talent and razor sharp skills, "Through The Glass" and Spaces can now be found at any of your favourite online retailers/streaming sources.

MOOD OF MIND · Fehrplay - Through The Glass //MOM013 OUT NOW

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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.

Four Tet - Essential Mix (17.03.18)

Last weekend I was away and never got the chance to take in Four Tet's triumphant return to the Essential Mix. That said I was certainly enjoying his remix of BICEP's "Opal," as was my dad, who I had to explain the proper formatting of original artist - track name (remixer), so that he too could enjoy the eight minute epic. Finally I'm back home, nearly back to my normal routine, and able to sink my teeth into Four Tet's masterful mix. As Pete Tong says in the intro, Kieran Hebdan is "in the middle of an incredible run" and graces us with some never before heard tunes. As always his selection is eclectic and built around exquisite beauty. There's of course a slew of his own tracks, with standards like Ben Klock and Emmanuel Top to go along with surprises like Britney Spears and Selena Gomez. It is a beautiful two hour episode of atmospheric excellence expertly mixed with just the right amount of oomph and vocal diversions. There are times where you'll find yourself flush from the carefully crafted charm of the mix, agape at the wonder it instills, and others where you'll want to run to the nearest floor to get your dance on. Four Tet delivers, as we ought to expect, so whether you're nursing a hangover, catching up on some work, or just looking for a new mix to make your day better, look no further. Steam via BBC Radio One here, Soundcloud here, Mixcloud below, download here, and find tracklist here.FOLLOW FOUR TET: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER

Enlightened Listening for March 9

The digging has been done, I've collected a number of tracks throughout the week, and some new ones fresh off the press, of course being Friday, so here we are with another edition of Enlightened Listening. While there's numerous EPs and albums out today, I've stuck to singles for this post. There's highly anticipated remixes from Hunter Siegel and Four Tet, a stunner from Madeaux, and some temperature changing trap from names that are new to me. Find all it cataloged in the playlist below, read mini-descriptions following that, and grab your free downloads where available (marked by asterisks).

SOPHIE - Faceshopping (Madeaux Remix)*
The impossible task of wrangling and remixing SOPHIE has finally been achieved. Again Madeaux has treated us to some of the strongest sound design around. His reconstruction of the previously pulverizing track is truly a treat to behold. Special shout outs have to go to Cecile Believe's vocals and Madeaux's treatment of them in the second half of the track.

Big Mak - Mr. Downtown
If this sounds familiar then you've got an excellent ear. Big Mak has taken to the soundtrack of That Thing You Do! and flipped the fictional Freddy Fredrickson track into a fantastic trap lounger.

Yuto - Dear Africa*
The plucks and percussion combined in this trap joint are absolutely fantastic. You'll get bent and twisted to this on the floor, and that's before the drops which will have you writhing rhythmically. Wow!

Ekali & Zhu - Blame (Hunter Siegel Bootleg)*
Premiered at No Neon's 3rd anniversary, shortly after the original's release. That should give you some insight into how much it spoke to the Dark Plur himself. The roughness of that early version still stands strong, but the tweaked and polished final product makes this even more hype.

HXRY - Chicago*
Sneaky deep grooves that seem to bubble up out of nowhere. Just try to name all the samples.

Twinscale - Pandora (ft. Bobby Saint)*
Rapid fire groove that keeps bumping, forcing your feet to the dance-floor. The little cuts and sweeps add a level of excellence that really makes the instrumental special. However, the addition of Bobby Saint's vocals are what put this track over the top.

BICEP - Opal (Four Tet Remix)
These two names alone ought to have you drooling, and boy is this take on "Opal" appetizing. I dare say an instant classic, that just locks you in, making the eight minute cut seem like a mere moment.

First Love - Don't Say Goodnight (FunkyDeps Edit)*
Fantastically fun freak-out of an edit. The horns, bass groove, and keys are top notch, but when you add in those drop dead gorgeous vocals you're talking about an all time great cut. How's your heart feel?

Cyclops & Briden - Perseus*
Ending with a bang, this track absolutely nails the balance between future bass and hard trap. Hits with much of same intensity as RL Grime, that is surrounded by sublime swells of future bass. Brilliant.

Top 100 Tracks of 2017: 75-51

Continuation of the list started yesterday: from 100-76, which also includes my disclaimer/preamble. Soundcloud playlist here and at the bottom.

#75: WRLD - Everything (ft. Ashdown)
One of only two DnB tracks on this list. It is delightful and spectacular sci-fi fun. The groove and its subsequent glitches are genius. It reminds me of Fred V & Grafix, which is saying something, and boy oh boy could I get into a set of this kind of liquid lusciousness.

#74: Falcons - Want Your Body
I can't count how many times I've heard this track, yet I still feel like it eludes my ability to properly characterize its quality. It's kind of sneaky, yet once it kicks in there's no avoiding its allure. The drum work is absolutely ingenious, propelling the production into a stratosphere unrivaled by any other tracks released this year. It is original and excellent, truly in a class of its own, but that's standard for Falcons.

#73: Ayo - Name Game
(As featured on EFYE) When a track doesn't need quality speakers to sound massive you know you've got something special. The bass Ayo's dropped here is quite simply the biggest thing in this whole list. In fact I'm fairly certain that if you play this on a big system, a hole in the time-space continuum is ripped open. Heed his advice and "play that shit again" and again and again.

#72: OAKS - Vibrations
Another almost old-school style track that takes me back to my early days exploring electronic music. It's got a great club churning groove that plays so perfectly with the synths and overall atmosphere. It's both wild yet some how still tempered in its tech house delivery. I swear I hadn't realized it until I played it live on Bump In The Hump, but I stand by my comparison to Boy 8-Bit, my favourite electronic artist.

#71: Jaxx Da Fishworks - Round Em Up
The typically house heavy BADLQQK crew had a huge year, and while there were several standouts, (particularly their RQQKIES) it was actually this breaks track that most caught my attention. Of course drums are the most important aspect of breaks, and boy do they ever do damage here. It's wobbly, warped and wicked good fun. And it's not just BADLQQK who had a big year, expect to see another track from Jaxx work its way into this list.

#70: Bicep - Aura
(As featured on EFYE) The unreleased Bicep track finally got its release after more than a year of magical teasing, and while it'll be remembered by most as a delirium-inducing demo, there's little better than having a full official release to play when and where we want. While I'll always be a sucker for their remix of "Tears I Can Afford," this may be Bicep at their best, navigating the line between a knock you off your feet, wall of sound and a feather-like tickling of your senses. Simply sublime.

Shortlist For Album Of The Year

It's that time of year. Time to look back at some of our favourite moments. While I'm working on crafting my top 100 tracks countdown, I've decided to come through with a 'shortlist' of my favourite albums of the year. I've gone with 17 to tie in with the year itself and will cut down to a select few to tackle on a more in depth basis. For now I'll just share the list in alphabetical order, while saving the review and my reasoning for those that make the cut in the coming weeks. Of course this is by no means a scientific undertaking, just the simple act of sharing the music I most enjoyed this year (electronic or not). Enjoy!

• Bicep - Bicep
• Cashmere Cat - 9
• Everything Everything - A Fever Dream
• HAIM - Something To Tell You
• Hal Incandenza - Calor
• Jacques Greene - Feel Infinite
• Joe Goddard - Electric Lines
• Kölsch - 1989
• Krafty Kuts x Dynamite MC - All 4 Corners
• LCD Soundsystem - american dream
• London Grammar - Truth Is A Beautiful Thing
• Mura Masa - Mura Masa
• Oliver - Full Circle
• Pete Tong with Jules Buckley & The Heritage Orchestra - Ibiza Classics
• Sasha - re-Fracted: Live At The Barbican
• Sinjin Hawke - First Opus
• TroyBoi - Left Is Right

Bicep - Aura

Belfast boys, Bicep have finally broken their silence, and in a big way at that. For months more than a year now, fans have been living off live versions of a particular unreleased Bicep record, anxiously wringing their hands in hopes of getting a full version of the mysterious magic. One of the first videos appeared nearly a year ago to the day, when they closed their Parklife set with the track in question (watch here). But no longer are us die-hard fans relegated to relive brilliant Bicep sets through video recordings, as the track now has a name and is officially released today. Get "Aura" here.If you weren't familiar with the unreleased demo version of "Aura" that Bicep have been playing out, it shouldn't take long for you to enjoy the stream above and bask in its dreamlike demeanor. In typical fashion, Andy and Matt have laid down a brilliant bed, on which their unparalleled playful progression can bounce along as freely as a child frolics in the summer sun. Their build is always big and bold, but never bulky or immobile. They always carefully tread the line between a knock you off your feet, wall of sound and feather-like tickling of your senses. And that's the true genius of Bicep, perhaps best on display here with "Aura," although I'll always hold a special spot in my heart for their remix of Brassica "Tears I Can Afford."

As if getting our hands on "Aura" weren't enough, there's also a 12" mix available today, and with this release comes the announcement of their debut full length album. The eponymous 12 track LP is set to drop September 1st via Ninja Tune, with "Aura" in place as the concluding capstone (pre-order here). Along with the album announcement, Bicep are headed on tour. See if they're in your city here.

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Glenn Morrison - Into The Deep (Ewan Pearson Remix)

For most DJs there is no higher honour than to have Pete Tong include their track in his Weekend Hot Mix. This past Friday, Toronto's own Glenn Morrison received that distinction when Ewan Pearson's remix of his track "Into The Deep" played across the hallowed BBC Radio One airwaves. Many a time, I've found myself ripping tracks right from the radio to include Pete's inimitable voice, that adds so much depth and intensity to the track. His delivery is simply legendary, and is a testament to his 20+ years as a staple on perhaps the greatest radio station our world has to offer. The fame of Pete may yet be rivaled by the two contributors to this track, as both Morrison and Pearson are legends in their own rights. This trifecta of techno gods combine to make an already hot mix, pure fire.Ewan Pearson's contribution to "Into The Deep" is pure perfection, sending Morrison's original further underground for an unreal, old school, never ending dance-off. The movement is a thing of beauty. It starts off with the atmosphere of a desolate wasteland, with ominous echoes in the distance. Pearson then transmutes those echoes into the melody, reverberating with more intensity. About halfway through, the vibes become less ominous and more uplifting, as the technologically created horn blips penetrate the atmosphere. This is where the track really excels, it becomes free, expansive, playful and utterly enjoyable. It is vibes like this, that always make me imagine the glory days of everyone in a club doing both, their own thing, but also moving in some strange unison. Like my post from two weeks ago about Bicep, it is the epic length and progression of this production that I cannot help but fall for.

Unbelievably, this track is available for free download (without Pete's voiceover), via hypeddit.

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Brassica - Tears I Can Afford (Bicep Remix)

Over the course of the last year I've found myself gobbling up just about everything Belfast duo, Bicep have put out. It all started when I came across a series of posts about their Boiler Room set at their hometown AVA Festival. While it features many of their tracks that I've come to love it was their original production, "Just," that really got me hooked - that and the guy in the red track suit who emerges as the star of this show (see him popping a pill ~23 min, smoking a joint ~41:30, and "feel my bicep" ~53 min).

Of course, part of the hype of this show was the number of unreleased and exclusive tracks the Feel My Bicep label founders played out, including their collab with Hammer "Dahlia" and their remix of 808 State's "In Yer Face." Both took an awful long time to get official releases, but when a track is so good that it can survive and maintain hype for that long, it's probably a good strategy to hold it back and make people come to your shows to hear it.

Another such track immediately grabbed me but I had to wait for, was their mix of Brassica's "Tears I Can Afford." The slow burning build and alien elements of it quickly overwhelm your senses and have you reeling in anticipation of what's to come. When shortly after the two minute mark those keys creep in, the track really begins to hit its stride. It becomes an audio epic and Bicep add and subtract elements. Dynamics, acid and propulsive percussion lift the Brassica original to new heights, soaring so close to the sun that it blurs your vision. This mix is so unabashedly beautiful that it is sure to have you welling up in its presence. No need to wait, it can be yours now, via Bandcamp, here. FOLLOW BICEP: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER