Greg Wilson - Live At WOMADelaide Festival

Somehow Mondays continue to be a difficult as ever, so instead of forcing myself to find a new release to write about I've decided to return to the always awesome and reliable work of Greg Wilson. The legend's mailout arrived in my inbox today showcasing his "Last Festival 'Til When?" blog post and what may end up being both his first and last festival set of the year. Just over two months ago, immediately before the global lockdown took hold, Wilson took the stage at WOMADelaide Festival in Botanic Park in Adelaide.

Spanning nearly two hours, the set is full of upbeat and uplifting disco, funk and soul classics as well as its fair share of more recent releases in said sphere. The likes of Poolside and Todd Terje lead the mix to the tune of their "Harvest Moon" and "Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes," respectively. Even more trusted names follow as the mix really starts to soar with Late Nite Tuff Guy, Psychemagik and Dr Packer waiting in the wings. The latter appears a couple times, but I'm most drawn to his seemingly unreleased take on The Spinners "I'll Be Around," which appears around the 47 minute mark. As always with Wilson's mixes, there's gems like that galore and who couldn't use an extra shot of Prince, the Gibson Brothers or Chic in their life? Treat yourself to the effortless ease and glorious grooves of this mix (along with free download) and follow Greg Wilson through both his socials and blog below.FOLLOW GREG WILSON: BLOG FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER

Public Enemy - Rebel Without A Pause (Rhythm Scholar Maximum Rage Remix)

Believe it or not Soundcloud's The Upload feature has once again outdone itself, delivering a couple really cool tracks (amidst a mountain of mixes I couldn't possible begin to summit). Appearing right near the bottom was a lengthy title emanating from an account called Hip-Hop Remixes. Accounts like this instantly sound warning bells as they all so often end up being repost networks and/or spam profiles. However the track's title was enough to get me to press play, and within seconds I was sold.
Largely a mashup of Public Enemy and Rage Against The Machine, "Rebel Without A Pause" is actually a megamix of sorts combining the likes of James Brown, Billy Joel, Herbie Hancock and more. Now of course this is a breathtakingly cool combination and legitimate banger, but the really cool find behind this whole thing is the Rhythm Scholar, who seemingly gives all of his countless mashups/remixes away for free. He's got a killer catalog of creations of this ilk, re-imagining classics like Warren G and Nate Dogg's "Regulate," Chic's "Good Times," Tears For Fears "Head Over Heels," and even more recent stuff like "Uptown Funk." While not all of these are going to be for everybody, there's at least a handful of really fun stuff to get your hands on, and free at that. I've linked all the Rhythm Scholar's socials and website below, so check them out and enjoy your digging!

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Top 100 Tracks Of 2018: 25-1

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

#25: Bicep - Opal (Four Tet Remix)
A match made in heaven and speaking of heaven, this may be its soundtrack. It is epic resounding resplendence, brilliant bleepy beauty, a sweep you off your feet soaring success. Like a journey deeper into your unconscious mind, things get both more murky and more clear at the same time. If there's any track in this list that is best suited for a spiritual awakening it is this. Turn off all your lights, lie on the floor and let Four Tet transport you to his higher plane of existence.

#24: Bunji Garlin & Busta Rhymes - Drop It
(As featured on EFYE) I can't think of any track that can quite compare to the dueling fire flows in this, except for the other time these two locked horns on "Differentology." As I said the first time I wrote about this, it's as though Bunji and Busta both go super saiyan at the same time murdering everything in sight. That said you cannot leave out 1st Klase who's production is pure perfection, doing not just the big things right, but paying attention to the little details in the bed squeak, panning and more.

#23: The Night - Set Me Free
No, this is not Nero, but I don't care, it's genuinely gorgeous, funky fun. I'm not sure I'll ever properly get over Alana Watson's voice, she is an absolute sensation, especially atop this dazzling display. The whole track flows like a fantastic voyage aboard the world's most luxurious yacht with a continuous, never ending party. It is flashing lights and flights of fancy, free of fear and devoid of despair. It doesn't get any more upbeat or outrageously uplifting than this ringing resplendence.

#22: Planningtorock - Beulah Loves Dancing
I cannot help but 1) grin ear to ear and 2) sing along to the lyrics, whenever this one comes on. It is exceedingly catchy, heavenly, heartening and brilliantly built. The way the strings play is gorgeous and groovy and the way the electronic bits slide around them is truly sensational. Add in the story elements, and their roles in Powerhouse, and you've got the best track on one of the best albums of the year.

#21: Kevin de Vries - Aratak
Apart from perhaps #7 in this list, there may be no more powerful track released this year. Seeing Monika Kruse drop it with the Eiffel Tower in the background only adds to this incredible intensity, as does the way she played with it. That Cercle set is when I really fell for it, but there's no discounting the unreal alien design and fantastical flare of the studio version. Afterlife as a whole had a fantastic year, but this big build and even more epic release makes for one of the best tracks of the year.

Enlightened Listening for September 28

Another busy Friday for new music. This week's Enlightened Listening includes 3 albums, ranging from RYAN Playground's debut, to The Knocks' second, and CHIC's ninth, It's About Time. Then there's the milestone that is Westwood Recordings 100th Release, a massive 25 track compilation. I also highlight singles from Pusher, thook and legends The Chemical Brothers and The Prodigy. Finally. one my favourite tracks of the year Sammy Bananas' "Cherry Soda" gets a VIP version. Enjoy it all below!

RYAN Playground - 16/17

The Knocks - New York Narcotic

Nile Rodgers & CHIC - It's About Time

Pusher & Caroline Kole - B T D T

Sammy Bananas ft. Kaleena Zanders - Cherry Soda (VIP Mix)

Various Artists - Westwood Recordings 100th Release

The Chemical Brothers - Free Yourself

The Prodigy - Light Up The Sky

TYNAN & thook - Voidless

Greg Wilson - Credit To The Edit 3

When it comes to disco edits, there aren't many more trustworthy names than Greg Wilson. Not only are his yearly "20 Choice Edits And Reworks" lists of undeniable quality, but his own edits offer up the same strength of free flowing fun and genius groove work. This past Friday we were treated to a ten-pack compilation, the third in the Credit To The Edit series, and first since 2009. Like the two previous installations, which hosted exceptional edits of 1gnition, Roxy Music, Yello, Chic and others, this too brings electro- and italo-disco to the likes of Psychemagik, The Chakachas, and more.The first track "Glad To Know You" is perhaps a DJ's greatest friend, an edit of an edit, from the always excellent Todd Terje; a perfect opener, not just for the compilation but indeed a party. The party picks up and threatens to go all night with the nonstop playfulness of "Cocaine Blues." Things only get bigger and more eventful with "Hold On" as the acid slowly eats away at the classic grooves. "Jungle Fever" further fills the fun quota with a sublime slow burner with plenty of brass breadth. Things then get twisted with the funky filter fest that is "Change The Beat." And this really kicks off the more electronic tilted second half of the release.

"Mink And Shoes" is rife with wicked and wild wobbles that is sure to infect everyone it comes in contact with its alien appeal. We stay high in the sky for "Magic Fly" which offers up more interstellar ecstasy, as Wilson and Peza punch up the groove of the classic Space track. The following track "Bad Times" opposes the previous instrumental perfectly, offering up the incredible performance of Captain Rapp on top of a more full foundation than the already ingenious original. The penultimate track "Crystal World" is about as fun, funky and cool as it gets. The drums, bass, strings, and horns all ooze with an exceptional energy and groove. And finally "Wonky Baseline Disco Banger" is exactly what disco edits are all about, it is just surefire fun, that shirks all pop music norms and delivers a dance all day groove.

After nearly a decade without a Credit To The Edit package, and disco undeniably on the rise, this couldn't have come at a better time. Be sure to follow Greg Wilson and pick up the album via iTunes.

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Sunday Disco Delights

Yada yada yada, I love disco. Disco, disco, disco. There's nothing that I go to more frequently or enjoy so unabashedly as much as disco. Whether it's the strings and things, funky bass, gooey grooves, loving lyrics or just the anything goes ethos, I just cannot get enough of disco old and new. It's just the perfect mixture of live elements with repetitive electronic grooves. Today I've decided that I ought to showcase a small sampling of some of my favourites of the moment, from some of my most trusted sources. There's the ever awesome and expanding library of Funkingham (specifically Pimpin Willie) remixing the sublime Sade, the preeminent Dimitri From Paris, and supreme being SanFranDisko. The other two tracks are just as juicy and jam worthy; Cordycep I found through Greg Wilson and the "Everybody Dance" edit comes courtesy Dimitri From Paris, who referred to it as his all-time favourite. I leave you now to enjoy these disco delights and hope they give you strength this Sunday.Note that every other track is available for free download. Don't sleep!

Greg Wilson @ Glitterbox, Hï Ibiza (15.09.17)

I've said it before and I'll say it again: I love disco. Not just because it's where DJing started, nor merely as a result of it's light and fun nature, but also that it's efficient and reliable (a line I'm borrowing from Kyle Kinane, who last night claimed German Techno is not good music but rather reliable).

A disco groove is an easy one to fall into with its four on the floor backbone. It's always there and while each second may not be utter excitement, it's truly epic long-form dance music, the kind you can rely on whenever you need a pick me up. It can serve as a subtle background beat or a groove guaranteed to get you moving.

Now, I try not to focus too much on disco because there's just so much of it that I could tie up all my time sharing it, but as I'm busy preparing a new season of Bump In The Hump in between attending comedy shows for JFL42, I've decided to showcase a mix I just came across: the legendary Greg Wilson's live set at Glitterbox. It kicks off with a killer Chic sampler in Chewy Rubs "Future Freak," before getting deep with strings and things from First Choice with "Doctor Love." We might have to start calling Greg Wilson, Doctor Disco because the medicinal vibes continue with Dr Packer's rework of Oliver Cheatham tune "Friday's Enemy." The blessed beats continue to churn with Cordycep's "7 PM" and Babert's "Boogie Oogie." The fun filled hour then finds its finishing line with the majesty of Marshall Hain's "Dancing In The City." You too can dance (where ever you want), as the full mix is available for download, absolutely free here, and be sure to check out more of Mr. Wilson's work below.FOLLOW GREG WILSON: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER