Enlightened Listening for June 4

After a week off, we return to our new music playlist in a big way. This week's edition of Enlightened Listening features fifteen releases, largely in the funky sphere, but gets further driving and dark the deeper it goes. If there is one theme, it is the guitar (bass and otherwise). The oft underused instrument plays a varied role in several of this week's standout tracks, including particularly enjoyable iterations from ARTY, Myd and Lamorn. The latter mau5trap release, along with singles from Gaspard Augé and Rampa, and minds&machines' "Resurrected" make up my favourite four tracks of the week. The final third of the playlist, which holds all of the longer releases, features the second sensational EP from Hyunji-A in as many weeks, the deadly good debut EP from Afterlife & Tale Of Us founder Anyma, and another epic delivery from Drumstone, who continue to amaze at every turn. Finally, there's a massive compilation in Interzone that features killer new content from Cardopusher, Gesaffelstein, Djedjotronic and more! Stream everything now below and find each release linked individually at the bottom. 

CHVRCHES - How Not To Drown (ft. Robert Smith)

ARTY - One Night Away

Elohim - Strut (Myd Remix)

Lamorn - Physical Layer

Jessie Ware - Hot N Heavy

David Penn - Lift Your Hands Up (ft. Ramona Renea)

Gaspard Augé - Vox

Xinobi - Birds & Smoke

Rampa - The Church

Booka Shade - Essential Chrome

Hyunji-A - Chapter One

minds&machines - Resurrected

Anyma - Sentient

Drumstone - Freedom Call

Various Artists - Interzone

Top 100 Tracks Of 2020: 100-76

Starting today through New Year's Eve (Thursday), I'll be revealing my list of the "Top 100 Tracks Of 2020." The following is my disclaimer, as I feel it important to preface this kind of list with some insight into its creation and the methodology behind it. While I spent a lot of time seriously pouring through this year of music, this is not really a serious endeavour. No one was polled. Sales and streams are irrelevant. This is merely my fun way of sharing the tracks and artists that made my year better, in hopes they do the same for you. The rankings are not scientific or even fair, rather they are simply a reflection of how strongly I felt these tracks and how much praise I felt they deserved. 

You'll notice the thread of disco/funk continues to run through these year-end lists, while DnB and breaks appear more than ever before. Another trend continues as we see a further diminishing amount of club-type tracks included, primarily as circumstances changed consumption and led to the vast majority of my musical enjoyment coming on my many escapist bike rides. That said, the power of some of these tracks is unavoidable as they will assuredly kill when clubs come back.

Finally, I will once again say that this is by no means an exhaustive list; there are without a doubt exceptional tunes that somehow failed to make the cut. However, onward and, in this case, downward, from tracks 100 to 76 we go. Find the Soundcloud playlist here and Spotify here.

#100: Weiss & Harry Romero - Where Do We Go?

An early summer earworm. Makes masterful use of the sample from Alan Parsons Project "Games People Play." Not overly inventive or banging, but rather slick, smooth and altogether enjoyable. The first of many house tracks in this list that captured my heart this year, even if only for a moment.

#99: HAIM - I Know Alone

While it's been half a decade since I spent day after day with HAIM and Days Are Gone, the sisters and their work with Ariel Rechtshaid and Rostam Batmanglij remain close to my heart. A toss-up as both this and "Now I'm In It" are perfect for 2020, I landed on this garage joint thanks to its catchy, crisp and crackling production and overall atmosphere.

#98: MERCER - Lemonade

Fabulous French filter disco house. Almost too slick. Undeniably good and groovy. The kind of track that has you tapping your toes uncontrollably and later leaves you humming its magnificent melody.

#97: Nikki Nair - 3XL

An acid-induced fever dream. Propelled by Nair's potent percussion and scintillating synths. Like so many of the tracks in this year's list, "3XL" is all about the journey. There's no skipping ahead to a dope drop or sick section, rather one has to ride out this rolling wave of resplendence.

#96: SBK. - One Man

Perhaps the most ominous and irksome track in this list. Spine-tingling strings, all kinds of ingenious percussive hits and of course the equally screwface and shiver-inducing sub-bass. Truly diabolic dubstep.

#95: Soda State - Midnight

Among the year's most fun and funky productions. I know nothing about Soda State, nor had I ever heard them before this, however their inclusion in Magic Tape 98 made for an incredible introduction. An awesome mix of pop sensibilities alongside retro dance resplendence.

#94: SOSA - The Sax

A track so infectious that I can turn a blind eye to its misleading moniker. The trumpet (not sax) top-line is awesome, as are its babbling vocal bits, but it is the way those two elements play with the rollicking percussion that makes this track one of the year's best house offerings. Like many on this list, I expect this would have ranked much higher were clubbing possible in 2020.

Enlightened Listening for May 1

After the massive success that was Bandcamp's first Friday foray into forgoing their cut of revenue, the popular online music outlet is turning the trick again. As I did last month this week's Enlightened Listening is again hosted on Bandcamp, but with the lack of a playlist creator, you'll have to scroll through the alphabetized list below. I've included brief descriptions, but really the music should speak for itself. Be sure to support the artists if you enjoy. If it's pay what you want, a follow or share is the least you can do. Have a great weekend!

Austra - HiRUDiN
So often a stunning combination of spine-tingling vocals and moving musical beds. She doesn't release often, but when she does it's always incredibly well done. Standout tracks: "Anywayz," "Risk It" and "I Am Not Waiting."

Bakongo - Bopster / Anytime
The kind of drum dominated tracks we've come to expect from Roska Kicks & Snares. Incredibly crisp productions all around, but it's the glow of "Anytime" that makes it my favourite of the two.

Boys Noize - STRICTLY BVNKER
Twitch live analog sessions from Boys Noize's 'BVNKER'. Often dirty and distorted, these tracks are fire and scream chaos. And that's the brilliance of Boys Noize, he cultivates that chaos and somehow culls it into a singular theme. My favourite: "Moonsrad."

Calibre - Shelflife Six
13 track only ever heard in his sets, this album spans 20 years and showcases the ridiculous quality and lifespan of Calibre. One of the best examples of the breadth of musicality at the heart of DnB. Standout tracks: "Things Like This," "Crazy For You" and "Be Beautiful."

Daktyl - Ozymandias Beat Tape 1
Simply one of my favourite artists when it comes to creating soundscapes. Uber cool and equally unique, Daktyl's productions are always inspired and more than that, his musical ability is always front and center. One of the better beat tapes you'll ever come across. Standout tracks: "A Slow Walk," "IQ" and "Warning Signs."

East Avenue - Inner City Dubs Vol. 8
Two deep, funky jungle/garage tracks that ooze with groove. Both are sure to bring the dance-floor to life, but I'm more partial to the gooey nature of "My Future."

Good Room - 'Alone Together' Good Room Relief Compilation
A diverse compilation ranging from disco to techno with the likes of Martyn, Baltra, The Juan MacLean and Fort Romeau. There's wicked rollers, balmy bass-heavy bangers and even a slow burning jam or two. Standout tracks: "Trip Into The Good Room," "Diamond Head" and "Why Want."

Heller & Farley Project - Ultra Flava (Remixes)
Defected really know how to tease, I've been waiting for the David Penn remix for a while and it's finally here. It features his incredible work on the keys and just feels so fabulous. The Darius Syrossian mix is nothing to scoff at either with its masterful mix of atmosphere and power.

Ital Tek - Outland
An engrossing and adventurous album that is sure to transport its listeners to incredible new worlds. At times utterly atmospheric, others truly turnt and twisted. An exceedingly adept electronic offering that largely evades the foreign feel of electronics. Standout tracks: "Open Heart," "Deadhead" and "Oblivion Theme."

Leonce - Nothing To Declare
Something about Leonce's productions, dating back to Insurgency, screams godly to me. Equally almighty, this new EP delivers the dope drum work I expected alongside unholy atmosphere and killer club appeal. Absolutely love "Hyperion."

Plastician - Deep In The Drives
A lush collection of deep dub from the legend. The moods and scenes in these tracks are immaculate and moving. They're largely chill and laidback, but there's a couple sick cuts as well. Standouts: "Alone Time," "Gully" and "Jackal Riddim."

plusol - Lineage
I've been touting this through its singles and I'm glad it came out today so I could include it in this list. It features plusol's unique combination of electronic and organic instrumentation, alongside his cinematic approach that is both beautiful and banging. Listen all the way through, but if you need one selling point, look no further than the fabulous finale "Limitbreaker."

R&S Records - In Order To Care
A massive compilation with the likes of Fracture, Or:la and Special Request offering up sensational singles. Wildly varied through its 43 tracks, but all worthy of the R&S Records stamp. All proceeds go to PPE for the NHS, only further making the £10 price tag, for so many tracks, even more of a steal.

Rohaan - Bleach
The meteoric rise of Rohaan continues and rightfully so as Bleach is brilliant. Mat Zo and Tek Genesis are killer cosigns, just as the tracks here are capable of killing with their heart palpitating qualities.

Too Slow To Disco - Yacht Disco Edits
Another massive compilation, this time featuring the likes of LeBRON, Air Zaire and Yuksek. These edits all share the same sublime thread of gorgeous disco and get off to an incredible start with the divine "Waiting," my favourite of the bunch. Other standouts include: "Hold Tight" and "Right On Time."

Unknown Mobile - Leafy Edits Vol. 1
I'm partial to all of Unknown Mobile's edits so no surprise he's on this list. Four fun and often energized cuts here. "Paradise" is just that, while my other favourite "Underground" is shimmering and gorgeous.

Top 100 Tracks Of 2019: 25-1

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. Soundcloud playlist here and Spotify here.

#25: London Elektricity - Final View From The Rooftops (ft. Cydnei B.)
I still remember the first time I ever heard London Elektricity. A friend showed me "All Hell Is Breaking Loose" and I lost my mind. While it took a touch longer for this track to send me into such a tizzy, I was indeed left in awe. Of course it's incredibly crafted, showing off Tony Colman's exceptional aptitude, but more than that it's immersive, building an uber cool and ridiculously detailed world around you. Its magic is like the scene in Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince when Dumbledore rebuilds Slughorn's house.

#24: Peggy Gou - Han Pan
Another year, another incredible couple of tracks from Peggy Gou. While it seems most prefer "Starry Night," once again I'm drawn to the b-side. Really either could make the cut but there's just something about "Han Pan" that tickles my fancy a touch more. The driving quality of its groove, the propulsiveness of its percussion and the gorgeous, almost regal, quality of its overall mixture is truly magical. It's got Gou's genius written all over it, and I for one can't wait for next year's batch of brilliance.

#23: Polaris - Kessel Run
My favourite DnB track of the year, this one is utterly wondrous. Its atmosphere is euphoric, dazzling through its diverse and long list of instruments. It roars and purrs, sprints and spins, floats and flails. It has and does it all. Sax solo? It's got that. Disco strings? That too. Its brilliance is simply unavoidable, uplifting and energizing each listener five minutes at a time.

#22: Dua Lipa - Don't Start Now
Easily my favourite pop track of the year. You know it's good when it gets remixes from the likes of Purple Disco Machine, Dom Dolla and others, yet none come remotely close to the captivating and seamless quality of the original. I had a fight with a friend on NYE when he said there must be a ghost producer (he mentioned Calvin Harris), but whether it's Ian Kirkpatrick alone or not it's one of the best productions of the year. There's endless details and it flows ridiculously well, oh and how about that bass line? My god.

#21: Daphni - Sizzling (ft. Paradise)
Dan Snaith is back in a big way. We've got a couple new Caribou tracks already and there's an album right around the corner. However his Daphni output has been the winner. Growing out of a DJ tool, this one is an instant sensation. Its energy is ridiculous, just like its catchiness. Pressing play is like setting the dance-floor on fire causing each dancer to stomp out the flames in glorious unison. A wicked original from Paradise, Snaith has added the perfect electronic touch and wound up with an unstoppable weapon.

#20: Citizen Kain - Indigo
Speaking of weapons, here's the first of two from Tale Of Us' Afterlife Voyage Mix to make this closing section. An obvious and epic banger, everything about this track screams power. The drums and bass absolutely hammer away, while even the brighter, top end percussive bits deliver a crisp metallic crack. The synths are ridiculously sick, made even better by the banging bottom end. The build is beyond big and with it the drop must be even bigger, and Citizen Kain has certainly delivered. It'll leave your head spinning, jaw agape, while you pick up your teeth with a broken arm. Techno doesn't get much better than this.

Enlightened Listening for October 11

This week's edition of Enlightened Listening delivers a wide range of house records, highlighted by an ingenious album from Chris Lorenzo, from which we've already heard a number of singles but whose breadth truly makes it a masterpiece (see the likes of "Memories Fade," "Here Kitty," "Take Me As I Am" and "City Traffic"). There's also a couple exceedingly cool originals from the legendary likes of Flux Pavilion and Mat Zo, the former straying from his usual dubstep fare while the latter offers up an extended DnB joint.

That takes care of the final two releases in the playlist below, while things start with a fantastic remix from Bit Funk who once again showcases sublime sound design. That is followed by the latest David Penn/Defected release and just like like his "Big Love" remix this one is certain to get rinsed out endlessly thanks to its incredibly catchy craft-work. After that comes Phantoms' remix package for "Say It," which delivers dance-friendly energy on each of the three offerings. And that's exactly what we get with Max Styler's "Echo Over Me," a beat so powerful that your body will move uncontrollably.

In another unreal onslaught of power, YYVNG's debut on Botnek's World Famous Headquarters is sure to leave your head spinning. Finally, Syn Cole's "Cool With That" has captured my attention with simple, understated craftsmanship, particularly with the little bass riffs, but even more so the way it it all meshes with Golden Age's vocals. Stream via playlist and click through to individuals releases below. Cheers!

Dance Yourself Clean ft. Lollies - Your Love (Bit Funk Remix)

David Penn - Stand Up (ft. Ramona Renea)

Phantoms ft. Anna Clendening - Say It (Remixes)

Max Styler - Echo Over Me

YYVNG - WYNEHOUSE

Chris Lorenzo - Late Checkout

Syn Cole - Cool With That (ft. Golden Age)

Flux Pavilion - I Will Stay (ft. Turin Brakes)

Mat Zo - Emotion Sickness

Enlightened Listening for July 5

A quick turnaround from the last Enlightened Listening and a quick turn into the weekend leads to this brief look at a still fantastic and varied group of tracks. ASHE opens things up with a thoughtful EP that leans further into his acoustic techno. Next up a trance turn as Edu Imbernon delivers a dope Anjunadeep cut. Gorgon City stay hot with a tribute to Chicago house in "Elizabeth Street." After that is Annie Mac's hottest record, a genius growing groove from Theo Kottis. Building even bigger still, KiNK captures our attention with a brilliant recasting of Krystal Klear's exceptional "Euphoric Dreams." MK then delivers the first remix after the release of Mark Ronson's Late Night Feelings and as usual hits it out of the park. One of the most teased and highly sought after tracks of the year follows as David Penn sends us into ecstasy with his heart-melting remix. Gears change as the playlist begins to close with Flux Pavilion showing a new side that has me hearing classic Nero. Finally I get even more nostalgic with Infected Mushroom, one of my earliest loves, and their Monstercat killer "Kababies." Stream everything via Spotify below and get individual links at the bottom. Enjoy your weekend!

ASHE - Letters To Myself

Edu Imbernon - S.Y.L.

Gorgon City - Elizabeth Street

Theo Kottis - Turning Around

Krystal Klear - Euphoric Dreams (KiNK Remix)

Mark Ronson ft. Camila Cabello - Find U Again (MK Remix)

Pete Heller's Big Love - Big Love (David Penn Remix)

Flux Pavilion - Somebody Else (ft. GLNNA)

Infected Mushroom - Kababies