Enlightened Listening for June 19

It's only been two weeks since the last Bandcamp day but they've gone bimonthly in June, donating their share of profits on this Juneteenth to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. Of course that means this edition of Enlightened Listening is once again hosted on Bandcamp. This week you'll find Baauer's sensational sophomore album PLANET'S MAD, a trio of EPs, a couple free downloads and a 10 artist charitable collaboration. Find each release below with brief accompanying description. Enjoy!

Lost Desert - Lost Desert & Friends
As the temperatures continue to rise, I can't think of a better catalog to enjoy in the shade with a cold drink. A touch heavier than most of the previous ADID releases, but the slow burning brilliance of it remains. Personal favourite: "That Moment And You."

Moon Boots - Pure Moons Vol. 1
More easy flowing deep house/disco/dance cuts. Electronic escapism. Personal favourite: "Sundae."

Gregory Porter - 1960 What? (Ahmed Sirour Remix)
Incredible tribute mix made with a number of classic samples as well as a chant from this year's BLM march in Seattle. The passion is palpable and the energy infectious. My favourite release of the day.

DAVIE - Testify
Another impassioned and soulful affair. Instantly catchy. Sure to have you tapping your toes and clapping/snapping along. Expect big things from DAVIE and Defected.

Ticklish - The Way I Love You
Beautifully crafted, especially as the vocals and strings sew it all together. Top notch Ticklish.

Juelz - Renegade
How seven producers managed to make a singular track so seamless is a stunning feat. It's a wicked ride that feels like a megamix of all things Sable Valley. Watch out for the reprise in the last minute.

Baauer - PLANET'S MAD
An album/project like no other. Short of literally making a new planet, Baauer has done it all. It comes with its own full length video (here) and even more immersive content on Spotify (see here). Further proof that Baauer is in a league of his own. Personal favourites: "PIZZAWALA," "AETHER" & "HOME."

Masayoshi Iimori - Wonky Rave
The title says it all. Iimori offers up a trio of truly turnt tracks, each more brain-battering than the last. Explosive energy and gut-wrenching grit amidst some supremely satisfying rave sounds. Personal favourite: "Wonky Rave."

Jesse Zimmerman - Gamma
Fitting final track as we enter into the void. Dark synthwave affair clearly inspired by the cyberpunk movies Zimmerman was watching when this was written.

The Magician - Magic Tape 97

Finally, the first new edition of the vaunted Magic Tape mix series since COVID-19 captured the world's attention in early March. The Magician is back with an hour made up almost exclusively of new and forthcoming material.

Opening up this new set is the simply sensational Chemical Brothers cut "Catch Me I'm Falling" from No Geography. It is followed by a beautiful, yet unidentified scintillating synth number which has an undeniably familiar feel, yet I can't quite put my finger on who either the vocalist or producer is. As the mix continues to pick up steam we get brand new and forthcoming releases from Mohawk & The Kid and Myd (respectively) before The Magician's "You And Me" appears to receive a sublime, striding remix from another yet unidentified source.

This same formula of new followed by forthcoming tunes is replicated as Boys Noize's Defected affair "Mvinline" is followed by a trio of yet unreleased offerings from Theo Kottis and Mozambo, with the former absolutely rocking resplendent. In terms of overall trajectory this is where the mix really peaks as both Tchami's "Buenos Aires" and Alex Preston & Rion S' "Love Somebody" deliver incredibly infectious energy. Finally, The Magician crafts a killer come-down with Moullinex's remix of Poolside "Sunrise Strategies" and Justice's remix of Frank Ocean "Dear April." Find the 'full' tracklist as identified by the prolific Zinderlong at 1001tracklists here and enjoy the mix in its entirety below.

The Magician · Magic Tape 97

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Mighty Mouse - Summer 2019 Mixtape

Disco magician Mighty Mouse has just offered up his latest mixtape with over an hour of gorgeous grooves and intoxicating edits. Right from the jump the "Summer 2019 Mixtape" is downright divine, opening with dope Defected release The Vision's "Heaven" and half of the duo, Kon's edit.

Killer cuts continue to flow with Mighty Mouse's own edit of Diana Ross riffing relentlessly onward. After the heat of James Curd comes back to back cool numbers from Coflo and Jasper Street Co., both of whom take us to disco church. The next Mighty Mouse edit comes in the form of Change's incredible beauty "Angel In My Pocket" which is yet to be released, but I'm hoping comes available in the next email update (sign up here). After some awesome horns and brilliant bongos, we're greeted by the giant groove of Boston Bun's "Don't Wanna Dance," which is the kind of track that sure to "Blow Your Mind." And jokes aside, the next track of the same name lives up to its title as the sample at its core, "The Rubberband Man" is one of my all-time favourite tracks. Wrapping up the mix Mighty Mouse unleashes yet another edit, this time taking on ABBA before bidding adieu with the sensational "Thunder In My Heart."

Find the full tracklist here, download the mix free here and follow Mighty Mouse for more below.FOLLOW MIGHTY MOUSE: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER

Enlightened Listening for March 23

A day later than usual, but with the futuristic leanings of so many of the releases in this edition of Enlightened Listening, you could say it's actually early. Of course everyone is talking about Flume's fantastic return, but equally brilliant and epic is Shlohmo's The End. Taking a different approach to the future, Henry Saiz plays with his synths in mystifying fashion for Digital Mirages Vol. 1. After that comes a trio of techno releases including the utterly intoxicating "Puppets" from Patrice Bäumel, Denis Horvat's Miracle Of The Rose EP from which "Noise" made waves in Tale Of Us' Afterlife Voyage 013 mix, and a stunning collab between Kölsch and Sasha. House then follows with Jack Back dropping a dope Defected release and Matroda's mean The RED Tape - Side A EP. Finally, the enigmatic and always adventurous Mr. Oizo offers up 4 more pieces of mind-fuckery, concluding in the auspicious "Nuque." Find the full playlist below and each individual release linked at the bottom. Enjoy!

Flume - Hi This Is Flume

Shlohmo - The End

Henry Saiz - Digital Mirages Vol. 1

Patrice Bäumel - Puppets

Denis Horvat - Miracle Of The Rose

Kölsch & Sasha - The Lights

Jack Back - Survivor / Put Your Phone Down (Low)

Matroda - The RED Tape - Side A

Mr. Oizo - Rythme Plat

Enlightened Listening for February 22

When was the last time Fake Blood, Feed Me and Rusko all had new releases? It's got to be damn near a decade. That trio, along with a strong selection of EPs and a couple sublime singles make this edition of Enlightened Listening one to remember. Find brief descriptions below along with stream.

Yuksek - I Don't Have A Drum Machine
Maybe not the most inventive or game-changing track you'll ever come across, but a beautiful, groovy homage to the life and love inherent in disco.

Haywyre - Panorama: Form
Another exceptional EP from Haywyre, both in the cohesiveness of the tracks and the dazzling display of musicianship in each. Form makes his tour even more of a must see.

Low Steppa - You're My Life
The kind of quality we've come to expect from both Low Steppa and Defected. Delightfully dancey.

Undercatt - Cadabra / Vegas
Big time builds whose payoffs are more than worth the wait. That said, the journey is an enjoyable one.

Fake Blood - The Fear / Garms
Theo has not lost a step, he's as unique and hypnotizing as ever. Dark and brooding brilliance.

Blossom - Big Shot
Night Bass never misses and Blossom brings some really tough stuff for her debut there. The blend of bass house, garage and grime, especially in "Anime" is sick.

Feed Me - High Street Creeps
Not quite the same raw, raucous electro I first enjoyed from Feed Me, but still as powerful as ever. The diverse deliveries include fire in "Barrel Roll" and "Satanic Panic" and resplendent restraint in "Feel Love" and "Defiant." Certainly Feed Me's most polished product.

Modeselektor - Who Else
Wickedly cool creations, at times incredibly jacking and perhaps even killer in "Fentanyl," others more melodic and slow burning. Straddling the line between the two, "Wealth" is my favourite of the bunch.

Rusko - MEGARAD
While there's been countless artists follow in the footsteps of Rusko, no one does it quite like him and this EP is the perfect example of that. He and the EP have both got range and energy for days, and I fully expect these tracks to be rinsed for for the foreseeable future. I'm here for all of the tracks, but I just can't get enough of the nostalgic vibes "Hardcore Raven" doles out.

Enlightened Listening for November 23

Whether it's with unexpected gems in the return of Grandtheft or anticipated releases like that of Culprate's Others, Fridays never disappoint. Today's Enlightened Listening includes an epic orchestral tribute to the first 15 years of legendary label Ed Banger, the second single from Haywyre in as many weeks, an A-Trak remix on Defected, Boy 8-Bit on RKS, a brilliant Night Bass package, what seems like Booka Shade's dozenth quality release of the year and another ingenious EP from Djedjotronic.

Orchestre Lamoureux & Thomas Roussel - Ed Banger 15

Haywyre - Storyteller

Ferreck Dawn & Robosonic - In Arms (A-Trak Remix)

Boy 8-Bit - Back 2 Back

Sinden & LO'99 ft. Capo Lee - Natural High

Booka Shade - Rosebud

Djedjotronic - Cruising

Culprate - Others

Grandtheft - Jackson Pollock (ft. Cadence Weapon)

Shakedown - At Night (Purple Disco Machine Extended Remix)

There's no doubt disco is on the rise as of late with Chromeo's Head Over Heels looming large, Diplo joining the fray with Silk City, and A-Trak spinning a disco set during Coachella weekend. All that said, there is perhaps no better indication of disco's latest revival than seeing Purple Disco Machine atop both the Beatport and Traxsource charts. At this very moment the German's remix of classic 2002 Shakedown track "At Night" looks down on all other tracks, regardless of genre. I'm not sure I've ever seen this before, but after a full stream and further thought it's easy to understand why.

Frankie Knuckles said it best, calling house disco's revenge and while people are still ravenous for the likes of dubstep, future bass, trap and other genres, house will always be the heartbeat of electronic (dance) music. "At Night," and Purple Disco Machine's updated version more specifically, blurs the line between the two brilliantly. It has all the hallmarks: a groovy syncopated bass line, glitzy guitar riffs, sublime string swells, intoxicating vocals, and a playful pluckiness that in this extended mix allows for effortless all night dance enjoyment. It is abundantly bouncy, keeping your body vibing from your head to your toes, filling each four-on-the-floor bar with a feeling of freedom and confidence to groove in whichever way you want. And in the end this is exactly what makes disco, house and truly all of electronic music so special; it works on such a visceral level, both singularly personal and as a shared community. There really is no better feeling, so try it for yourself via Defected Records, here.
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