Enlightened Listening for June 12

After last week's Bandcamp edition of Enlightened Listening we're back to our usual home on Spotify. This week's nearly eight hour long playlist features a staggering 85 tracks including 45 from one massive charitable compilation CARE4LIFE which supports the NHS. Said compilation includes big names Daniel Avery, The Chemical Brothers, Luke Solomon, Damian Lazarus, Joe Goddard, Jamie Jones, Pete Tong and so many more. It closes with a a killer DnB cut from 3Strange and the playlist itself does too with a Special Request vs Paul Woolford remix of CLIPZ. Otherwise you'll find that this week's playlist is largely funk and disco driven with amazing offerings from Roosevelt, Cavego, Chromeo and a handful of others. Somehow Ejeca is back with another new EP, just as Tensnake, Tinlicker and Yotto each stay hot with a trio of sick singles. Rounding things out there's standout remixes from Jacques Greene, ABSOLUTE. and Lonely Boy and an epic vocal techno EP from Charlotte de Witte. Find each individual release linked after the Spotify embed below. Enjoy!

Amtrac - No Place (Remixes)

Ejeca - Polar Nation

WhoMadeWho - Synchronicity I

Yotto - Tarantia

Tinlicker - Sleepwalker

Tensnake - Simpansi

Roosevelt - Sign

Cavego - Dovregubben

Kapote - L.O.V.E. 2020 (NYC Tribute)

Chromeo - Quarantine Casanova

Flevans - Realisation (Remixes)

Haska & Salif Keita - Madan (ABSOLUTE. Edit)

Charlotte de Witte - Return To Nowhere

Various Artists - CARE4LIFE

CLIPZ ft. Ms Banks, Ms Dynamite & Jaykae - Again (Special Request vs Paul Woolford Remix)

The Magician - Magic Tape 85

If you enjoy a mix of all things funky and electronic The Magician's Magic Tape series is always worth a listen, with this latest edition a prime exemplar. Magnificently mixed, this hour long 85th iteration sees the whiz bring an incredibly keen focus on current releases alongside the awesome alchemy these tapes are known for. Most every track is released in the last month with a few still forthcoming in an A-Trak remix of "In Arms" and originals from Dom Dolla and Boston Bun (via 1001tracklists).

More than the nuts and bolts, The Magician picks tracks that fit perfectly together, combining in a powerful progression. The steps each track change signifies is part of the greater movement that he is authoring. It's all too easy to get swept up in Jengi's vital spirit in "Ice Tea" and move to an even more scintillating substance in Cavego's "Vår I Øyer." The twisted takeover of the beyond brilliant "Beulah Loves Dancing" puts takes the mix back down to earth, but boy does the dance spirit remain, as it does throughout. That three track opening is a microcosm of this Magic Tape, especially as it begins to rebuild immediately with the massively funky march of Jarami's "No Chance."

The ups and downs come and go, but all the while the big picture moves ever forward. Huge, full bangers hit in the middle of the hour as Prospa and Cousn slam the speakers. In perhaps the best move of this whole mix The Magician moves from "Juggle" to the Weiss dub of "Missing U" dragging the tape out of the dark by the light of Robyn. That is all to say the following four tracks are unreleased, ending finally with the Moon Willis remix "Hear The Music." So truly whatever your appetite, Magic Tape 85 has the funk to fill it. Enjoy and follow The Magician's socials for more below.FOLLOW THE MAGICIAN: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER

blende - Back To Summertime (ft. Mattie Safer)

London's Johan Blende, otherwise known as blende, nails the mood of the moment with his track "Back To Summertime." Of course that's what most publications are writing about, proclaiming this or that the song of the summer. I don't want to fall into that trap, so I'll just address it here, then let it rest. I feel more inclined then ever to find warm, bouncy and uplifting music, rather than dark moody bass bangers, and of course "Back To Summertime" fulfills that desire, both musically and lyrically.

blende has built this track around Mattie Safer's vocals, getting groovy right from the start. It's a kind of freeing funk, that only requires a mere toe tap but might just lead to being enveloped in ecstasy. I cannot help but think of Chromeo, perhaps my favourite purveyors of electro funk. Obviously blende's production shares a lot of similarities, especially in regards to the guitar work, but it's the the overwhelming warmth and fun that ties the two together so tightly.

There's a lot of promise in "Back To Summertime," both musically and thematically; and I'm certain that between the original and the accompanying remixes (from Cavego and This Soft Machine), blende will be bouncing out my speakers all summer long. Stream and/or download the EP here. FOLLOW BLENDE: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER
FOLLOW MATTIE SAFER: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER