Top 100 Tracks Of 2019: 75-51

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

#75: Flume ft. Vera Blue - Rushing Back (MJ Cole Remix)
While Flume had a huge year as countless clamored for his mixtape, you won't find any of those tracks here. Instead he appears in this list twice having released a few sick singles that made way for fantastic remixes. Here MJ Cole kills the catchy "Rushing Back" with a brilliant bleepy flip that makes masterful use of Vera Blue's vocals. A spine-tingling sensation.

#74: Jai Paul - He
The enigmatic master returned in 2019 and he seemingly hasn't missed a step with two sublime singles. And of course I gravitated towards the b-side, as "He" seemingly delivers more of that genius "Jasmine" vibe. It's soulful and ridiculously satisfying. And of course it showers its listeners in ethereal ecstasy.

#73: Barney Lister - Matchu
Not the only track in this list I first came across in a Magic Tape mix. Of course it's got the awesome alchemy one would expect for an inclusion in said series. It's beautiful, buoyant and oh so easy to dance to. That said, the slippery, squelching groove that emerges as the track progresses is some kind of sick, satisfying perversion.

#72: Angelov - Chero
An alien awakening, this is some serious top notch techno and one hell of a debut record. The whole EP is sick and I really thought about adding "Retrida" to the list but the vocal feel of this one took the cake. Like the others on this EP, Angelov's abilities shine the strongest when all elements come together in supremely satisfying syncopated fashion.

#71: Stanton Warriors ft. Sian Evans - Up2U (René LaVice Rooftop Remix)
Like so much of my favourite DnB this year, this one absolutely explodes out of the gate. It's got so much to like. The piano. Sian Evans' vocals. The way the two play together: <chef's kiss>. Then of course there's the drops that play like a defibrillator forcing you onto the dance-floor. A roaring success.

#70: Kölsch & Sasha - The Lights
The kind of epic, clean quality you would expect from a legendary pairing like this. Once you've heard that unreal lead line you'll never hear the track the same again, as you wait breathlessly for it to kick in. I know I'm doing that right now as I listen to it yet again. And as good as that lead line is, it's nothing without the duo's deliciously effective backing.

Enlightened Listening for May 12

A couple days late, but these tracks absolutely had to be shared. This week's Enlightened Listening gets underway with The Shapeshifters and Chic vocalist Kimberly Davis and the brilliant, biting brass of Glitterbox joint "Life Is A Dancefloor." Up next Paul Woolford unleashes an exceptional piano-led take on Hot Chip's heater "Hungry Child." The unstoppable force of Kölsch then ups the intensity with his remix of "Stella." Leading us further towards techno with a touch of midtempo, mau5trap once again wows with their recent releases through Sian's Ultraviolet EP 1.0. Marking the midway point in the playlist, Dimitri Veimar dazzles with 3 new originals alongside Dean Grenier's remix of the EP's title track "Planet." Changing gears, Pham returns with a diverse and delectable mixtape in Nostalgia. And indeed it is nostalgia you get upon seeing the title of Madeaux's massive "Black Magic Woman," a production worthy of one Carlos Santana. Next up Ninajirachi gives "303" some much needed movement, progression and captivating sound design, taking it from blah to banger. Finally, Night Bass bring us seven bangers worthy of their high standard; standouts include: "Desert Moon," "Killers" and "Fresh Prince." Enjoy everything below and find releases linked individually after the playlist.

The Shapeshifters - Life Is A Dancefloor (ft. Kimberly Davis)

Hot Chip - Hungry Child (Paul Woolford Sunrise Mix)

Jam & Spoon - Stella (Kölsch Remix)

Sian - Ultraviolet EP 1.0

Dimitri Veimar - Planet EP

Pham - Nostalgia

Madeaux - Black Magic Woman

Anna Lunoe - 303 (Ninajirachi Remix)

Various Artists - This Is Night Bass: Vol. 8

Enlightened Listening for August 10

Oh Fridays how I love you. Not only the promise of the weekend, but the new music you bring. No one can touch you. This week's edition of Enlightened Listening sees so many of my favourite artists dropping tracks. There's a couple incredible originals, awesome edits, mad mashups, and re-remixes. Look out for free downloads where available, stream away and read short descriptions below. ENJOY!

Savoir Adore - When The Summer Ends (Element Remix)*
I've been loving the range and diversity of Element's output and this only further exemplifies that. No it's not a trap banger, but yes it does indeed go off. A baile beauty.

MEMBA - Flash
Slaps and grooves with wacky wild design and the usual out of the world atmosphere. MEMBA are no flash in the pan talent, they just keep churning out quality at every corner.

Drake - Sandra's Rose (Crimsen Ghetto Remix)*
Not an "In My Feelings" mix? Yes, such a thing exists. Dope drum work and movement makes this an epic, dirty, dance all night kind of club cut. Kudos Crimsen!

618 - What You Do (Boe Boe Remix) [Sweater Disco Re-Remix]*
Another grooved out club cut, reliant on top notch percussion play. Sweater Disco doing what he does best, tweaking things to his liking, in this remix of a remix.

El Coco - Mondo Disco (Greg Wilson & Henry Greenwood Rework)
Drove home from the cottage last weekend to Greg Wilson's massive 3 hour Melting Pot set (here) and I never enjoyed leaving a cottage more. Not much to say here except enjoy this genius groove.

Piano&Specs - Flowtation Satellite*
Crafty combiners Piano&Specs caught my attention nearly a year ago with their "Sweet Dark Silence." Again they offer up an inspired rave classic made even more magical with provocative piano.

Tiga & Zyntherius - Sunglasses At Night (Dimitri Veimar Remix)
Turbo Recordings are on quite a roll and fairly so, they've got 20 years under their belts. From the package that includes Dense & Pika and Techno Seleba, I'm partial to Dimitri Veimar's mix. It keeps enough of the catchiness of the original, and Corey Hart namesake, while electrifying it to perfection.

Trentino & Usica - Cryme*
While I'll always think of Trentino as a DJ first, I've really come to love his productions. His remix of "La Player" hits my heart every time I hear it. Teaming up with Usica, who we've heard with friend of Bump In The Hump BLANSH, this track takes me back to the wild, and wicked bangers that Botnek used to drop with regularity. Drums and design on point, this one rocks hard and drops even harder.

Daft Punk - Robot Rock (KŸB Flip)*
The quality of Daft Punk's original will never cease to amaze me. Raw and ridiculously enjoyable, while the game has changed in the 13 years since its release, it's heartening to hear KŸB bring that same unvarnished intensity and gut-punch power to this killer recasting. Bass faces incoming!

*asterisks indicate track available for free download

Tiga's New Names Mix for Pete Tong

With any new year comes a renewed sense of purpose and optimism for the future. Many outlets present lists of who to watch; even the mighty BBC and Pete Tong have joined the onslaught of augury by welcoming in well known names to provide their own picks of potential. One of those trusted sources tapped was Tiga who provided a mix of the likes of Avalon Emerson, Justin Cudmore, and Dimitri Veimar, among others. This list of "New Names" speaks to Tiga's desire for edgier, more dangerous and risk-taking productions, as opposed to the conservative tilt he's noticed over the last few years.

While even Tiga admits Avalon Emerson is not necessarily new, she does provide much of what he's looking for in the progression of trance music. The break elements may not be overwhelming in her track "One More Fluorescent Rush," but they certainly are present and continue to run through the mix, as perhaps the single common thread. Following Dimitri Veimar's title track from the most recent Turbo Recordings release, comes Tiga's "favourite track," Beton "Directions," which can only be found in this mix and will be sure to have you coming back for more. It really is one of those special tracks whose strange, uniqueness is instantly captivating, taking me back to Tiga's own productions "Bugatti," "Mind Dimension" and Erol Alkan's "Move My Body."

As the mix moves on we get another "favourite track" in the "techno breaks" of Lo Shea's "Tundish." Not only is this a supremely cool and groovy track, but it's mixed with new Justin Cudmore, and man is it magical. Even in a mix meant to show off tracks, Tiga can't resist but show off his brilliance behind the decks. The theme of breaks only seems to get stronger in this final third of the mix, bringing in ABSOLUTE. and undeniable upstart Billy Turner whose not only released with Turbo, but alongside Skream. Wrapping things up Tiga announced his own name as one to watch, with particular attention to be paid to an upcoming collaboration with Kölsch. I'm salivating at the mere thought of such a matching of minds and cannot wait. If this mix was meant to whet our appetites for 2018, it was a rousing success. Stream the mix below via BBC's iPlayer until February the 4th and find the full show via Mixcloud here.

FOLLOW TIGA: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER

Dimitri Veimar - A8

Titans of techno, Turbo Recordings have just teased us with their 189th release. From Russian Dimitri Veimar, comes the 5 track Less Talk EP, which we can only assume is going to be awesome, as "A8," the second B-side, is like ecstasy applied directly to your ear canals.

Pressing play on this piece is like opening the door to a super club.The atmosphere immediately washes over you, pulling you into the dimly lit labyrinth. The low droning bass beckons you down it's deep cavernous corridors, passing a sea of faceless patrons, also wandering towards the siren song of Veimar's synths. You know you're coming close to heart of the club, as the beats become bigger, emboldening your senses. But that closeness can also be felt in the stifling heat as you approach the core. The crowd becomes ever denser, but your desire to discover the maker of this music becomes more overwhelming. Your heart feels like it's going to explode, as it flutters with incredible urgency.

What you don't realize is that the club is pumping the potent drug "A8" into the air, dosing you with its hypnotic effects. By the time you reach the center of the labyrinth, you no longer have any free will, you've become a slave to the rhythm. This is the dark beauty of techno, its epic, entrancing nature paints the most powerful of pictures, taking you back to those lost nights navigating the club looking for your friends. Dose yourself with "A8" below and download it in Less Talk, available May 5th. FOLLOW DIMITRI VEIMAR: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER