Enlightened Listening for March 26

Another week down means another edition of Enlightened Listening. While I've taken a bit of a writing hiatus, that doesn't mean I've stopped listening to music, thankfully so, as this week's haul features more than 100 tracks and eight hours of music.

There's a ton of DnB, starting with perhaps my most anticipated release of the year (one I've been waiting nearly a year for), Plantium Breaks' brilliant and energizing affair Everything. They're followed by another exceptional single from Low:r, who is in turn followed by albums from Hospital, with their stacked H25PITAL compilation, and Tyr Kohout, who delivers a dynamic debut.

Mixing things up a bit, Night Bass brings some bright new talent to their roster with Hans Glader's groovy Lumen EP. Even more groovy and electrifying, Proc Fiskal's Lothian Buses will have you bristling with bass, the same way Overmono's latest "Pieces Of 8" will have you in awe. And from awe-inspiring to yawn-inducing (in a good way), we get two downtempo/chill albums from Eli Escobar and Zeds Dead.

Starting anew, the middle fifth of this week's playlist moves through progressive and melodic house, including Grigoré on This Never Happened and two EPs from FiveP, of which Quantum most captured my attention. Another highlight arises shortly thereafter as five more tremendous talents remix BRONSON. And here I have to wonder about the TSHA remix, which shares an obscene amount of the same DNA as her Gabrielle Aplin-led original "Change." I love that track, but it's a bit strange seeing it used here as a remix, no? Anyway, we're in for a whole bunch of love and life in the final seven releases...

A trio of touching originals opens this final section as Franky Wah, Dombresky and Moullinex each work with exceptional vocalists (LOWES, Camden Cox and Selma Uamusse, respectively), delivering diverse yet, equally awesome productions. Following immediately after is our final remix of the playlist, pitting legendary MGMT against legendary Metronomy. And yes, the result is as cool as you'd expect. Now, before we weep to Kele (Okereke of Bloc Party fame) and "Smalltown Boy," we're treated to a couple life-giving originals from The Magician x Wuh Oh and Dimitri From Paris x Fiorious. While the former is more of your typical 'EDM' fare, the latter is as lush and 'organic' as it gets.

Stream the weekly new music playlist below and find each individual release linked at the bottom.

Platinum Breaks ft. Eden - Everything

Low:r - Oooga

Various Artists - H25PITAL

LSB & DRS - High As She (Break Remix)

Tyr Kohout - Accelerate

Hans Glader - Lumen

Proc Fiskal - Lothian Buses

Overmono - Pieces Of 8

Eli Escobar - Lullabies For A Sleeping City

Zeds Dead - Catching Z's

Grigoré - At The Edge Of The World

Drumstone - Lost River

FiveP - Quantum

FiveP - Lockdown

Feyln & Tristan Klampert - Halcyon

Avoure - Pangea

Henry Saiz - The Untold

BRONSON - BRONSON Remixes Nº.3

Franky Wah - Not In Love (ft. LOWES)

Dombresky - Do You Remember (ft. Camden Cox)

Moullinex - Ngoma Nwana (ft. Selma Uamusse)

Metronomy - The Look (MGMT Remix)

The Magician & Wuh Oh - LIFE

Dimitri From Paris & Fiorious - Music Saved My Life

Kele - Smalltown Boy

Top 100 Tracks Of 2020: 75-51

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

#75: Aluna - Body Pump (Sammy Virji Remix)

The more I think about this, the more I realize this is likely my favourite use of Aluna vocals. Her incredible versatility and dynamism work wonders on this ridiculously groovy bed. The track rolls on wonderfully throughout, but the real win comes in the final minute and a half as Aluna and Sammy really let loose. The former feeding her inner diva and the latter letting the brass bustle.

#74: Polaris - Distant

Much like "Kessel Run" in last year's list, Polaris stays stellar with rapturous piano and scintillating percussion. A blinding rush through star systems, this is as dreamy and divine as any of the tracks in this list - the first of many DnB tracks to crack the Top 100.

#73: Lifelike & Kris Menace - Discopolis 2.0 (Youngr Funkapolis Bootleg)

The way Youngr brings out the best of the classics he flips is simply stunning. Laying down a sick new drum bed is just the start as the guitars eventually guide the Lifelike & Kris Menace creation to funky new heights. It hits on all cylinders, never compromising the quality of the original while adding an awesome new spin and lush life.

#72: Caribou - Never Come Back (Four Tet Remix)

The quality of the original is forefront in this mix and maybe in a year in which clubs aren't closed, it supersedes the original. However, any chance at properly enjoying this in an all too crowded and sweaty club was foiled. That said, Four Tet has not disappointed with this dynamic and driving delivery. Its energy is utterly infectious and its breakdowns truly breathtaking. It's as if the original were bitten by a werewolf and this remix is its transformation.

Enlightened Listening for October 16

Happy Friday everyone! We've got a fabulous set of new releases for this week's Enlightened Listening. It features two full-length projects we've been building towards in the lush L.A. LP from Tensnake and CRi's captivating Anjunadeep offering Juvenile. There's also a number of personal favourites (TSHA, Eli Escobar, LeBaron James and Kardano), headlined by the triumphant return of Stephen Walking (who goes disco). Another unlikely disco turn comes from Matroda, while that genre gets another dose of new Duck Sauce. Other big names include Four Tet, BRONSON, No Mana and Lindstrøm & Prins Thomas, who are gearing up for a new album which is set to drop on November 20th. Finally, we get fierce in the final two releases as Somna & LTN turn up the heat before Barbosa's overwrought techno in EMERCIVE debut (ra). Find each of the releases linked below the playlist and have a great weekend!

Tensnake - L.A.

CloudNone & Direct - Told U

A Grape Dope - Rainbo Locals (Four Tet Remix)

TSHA - Change (ft. Gabrielle Aplin)

Eli Escobar - What You Said

CRi - Juvenile

Stephen Walking - You Gave A Lot And Now You Want It Back And Then Some

Pirra - Limousine Lies (Lindstrøm & Prins Thomas Remix)

LeBaron James - On My Mind

Matroda - Rescue Me

Duck Sauce - Mesmerize

Kardano - Forever

BRONSON - BRONSON Remixes N°.1

No Mana - Secret, Secret Level

Somna & LTN - Heatwave

Barbosa - (ra)

Enlightened Listening for September 25

Another Friday and another epic edition of Enlightened Listening. This week's playlist runs over 70 tracks and six hours and includes three massive albums (from Lane 8, Marie Davidson and Kölsch), three awesome EPs (from warner case, Sam Interface and Pastiche), more remixes than you can shake a stick at (including Eric Kupper's take on "The Whistle Song," Hot Chip's take on "Enola Gay" and Special Request's take on Baauer "HOME"), and finally some simply fabulous originals (including The Brothers Macklovitch, Bonobo x TEED and Karma Kid). Dig in below and enjoy!

The Brothers Macklovitch - I Can Call You

Eli Escobar - Give Love

Frankie Knuckles - The Whistle Song (Eric Kupper Sound Factory Re-Rub)

Quentin Harris & Jason Walker - Stronger (Mattei & Omich Remix & Vocal Dub)

warner case - dance music for dancing, vol. 2 (the remixes)

Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark - Enola Gay (Hot Chip Remix)

Bonobo & Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs - Heartbreak

Sam Interface - Pink Dolphins

Karma Kid - Freedom (Never Let You Go)

Lane 8 - Brightest Lights Remixed

Baauer ft. Bipolar Sunshine - HOME (Special Request Remix)

Marie Davidson & L'Œil - Renegade Breakdown

Kölsch - Now Here No Where

Pastiche - Together We Are

Speaker Honey - Space Arp

Bensley - Vex

Pearl Jam - W.M.A. (Mr Myth's "That Four Tet Set" Edit)

Dublin radio presenter Mr Myth shared a treat over the weekend recreating an edit of Pearl Jam's "W.M.A.," from their sophomore album Vs. A track he heard in a few Four Tet sets, and one he believes to be made by Kieran Hebden himself, Mr Myth couldn't find said edit anywhere, so he set out to make it himself.

Not a far cry from the original, Myth's "That Four Tet Set" edit leans into the driving drums while pulling back on the grunge guitar. The result is an epic dance affair that thrives through its upped tempo, energetic and even more groovy drum delivery, as well as its now more streamline, less Eddie Vedder/Mike McCready direction. It's a clean and killer combination of Jeff Ament's bass and Dave Abbruzzese's drums, expertly orchestrated by Four Tet/Mr Myth. In fact, one could say this version cuts to the core or emerges from the essence of "W.M.A.," as it most prominently features its two composers: Abbruzzese and Ament.

As he's done with his other edits of Electric Light Orchestra, Eli Escobar and Mr. Fingers, Mr Myth has enabled the free download for his "That Four Tet Set" edit "W.M.A." Follow his socials below and enjoy!

Mr Myth · Pearl Jam - W.M.A. (Mr Myth's 'That Four Tet Set' Edit)

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Enlightened Listening for September 18

Another Friday and another HudMo album? Yup! This week's Enlightened Listening features a whole bunch of Canadian content you'll certainly hear on Bump In The Hump (one of which you already heard) alongside some of the biggest, and my favourite, international artists. I'm still trying to squeeze every second of even remotely summer-like weather, so I'm again keeping the write-up short. Dig into the diverse playlist below, find each individual release linked at the bottom and have a great weekend!

Horse Meat Disco - Message To The People (ft. Amy Douglas & Dames Brown)

Eli Escobar - Blue Magic

Bullion - Yawn

Sofasound - You Been On My Mind (ft. falcxne)

Damian Lazarus - Flourish

London Grammar - Baby It's You (Kölsch Version)

Jody Wisternoff - Nightwhisper (Remixed)

Sonja + MOUR - Root

Will Easton - Apex

TDJ - TDJ001

Broken Future & STUND - Technium

Cloverdale - Keep Dancing

Kryojen - Infinite

Hudson Mohawke - Airborne Lard

Holly - Just Enough (ft. Baauer)

Blanke - Change & Decay: The Fall

Enlightened Listening for November 15

This week's eclectic edition of Enlightened Listening ranges from disco and jazz to bass house and techno. It features the legendary Pat Metheny, who while not really an obvious fit on this blog is perhaps the epitome of what I mean by Enlightened Listening - someone you may have never heard, but who in turn opens your eyes and ears to something new and undeniably interesting. Of course there's a handful of the more typical fare from some of my favourites in Eli Escobar, Joris Voorn, the Night Bass crew and HUNTER (Siegel).

Eli Escobar opens the playlist with new album Last Summer, which leads into equally excellent endeavor Four from Joris Voorn. They're followed by the first of two new duos in this playlist: C.Y.M. who is Mike Greene of Fort Romeau and Chris Baio of Vampire Weekend. After that is Oliver Koletzki's epic album Fire In The Jungle, which in turn leads us to our second new duo. The incomparable Joy Orbison has joined forces with Overmono and together they've unleashed "Bromley," the a-side to forthcoming "Still Moving." Singles continue as Dirty South dazzles with Marion Amira, and MJ Cole brings a brilliant bounce to Flume and Vera Blue. The Funk Hunters then follow with a groovy get-down, before Golden Features and The Presets send us into incredible house EP Raka. Finally it's banger time as Night Bass celebrate their 100th release with a compilation of some of their most trusted names. And speaking of trusted names, Hunter Siegel has ditched his often misspelled last name and opted for a new sound in "I Don't Forget." Enjoy via playlist below and find individual links at the bottom.

Eli Escobar - Last Summer

Joris Voorn - Four

C.Y.M. - C.Y.M.

Pat Metheny - America Undefined

Oliver Koletzki - Fire In The Jungle

Joy Orbison & Overmono - Bromley

Dirty South - All I Need (ft. Marion Amira)

Flume ft. Vera Blue - Rushing Back (MJ Cole Remix)

The Funk Hunters & A.Skillz - Body Move

Golden Features & The Presets - Raka

Various Artists - Night Bass: One Hundred

HUNTER - I Don't Forget (ft. Roshin)

Enlightened Listening for November 8

Keeping the write-up short and sweet for this week's Enlightened Listening. That said the playlist is just short of 40 tracks and three hours. It's bookended by epic albums from SebastiAn and Grum, and you'll find a couple EPs from the house sphere on either side of them, where Shaun Frank hits the bass, while Le Youth puts forth some progressive beauty. A couple of my favourites offer exceptional remixes, where Sinjin Hawke and Zora Jones take on Murlo's magic and ABSOLUTE. stuns with Big Wild. There's two more power duos, in 2¢'s brilliant banger "REBEL" and the latest taste of TNGHT II. While Mura Masa and slowthai are not an established duo I'm sure hoping we get more of their mix, as "Deal Wiv It" is awesome. Finally, a trio of solo singles from Skream, Eli Escobar and Jessie Ware. Enjoy!

SebastiAn - Thirst

Shaun Frank - Activ8

TNGHT - First Body

Murlo - End Of The Road (Sinjin Hawke & Zora Jones' Flashback)

2¢ - REBEL

Mura Masa - Deal Wiv It (ft. slowthai)

Skream - Pussy Pop

Eli Escobar - (All Night) Rhythm

Jessie Ware - Mirage (Don't Stop)

Big Wild ft. Rationale - 6's To 9's (ABSOLUTE. Remix)

Le Youth - Aquiver

Grum - Deep State

Eli Escobar - Live At House Of YES (Oct. 11 2019)

We all know what day it is. And because of that I struggled a bit to decide what to write about. Should I share a mix? Do a Throwback Thursday? Lean into the moment fully by doing something specifically spooky? While scrolling through my twitter feed Eli Escobar gave me an easy out, combining all three as he shared a recording of his set at Brooklyn's House Of YES earlier this month.

This nearly hour and half long set seems firmly rooted in the 80s and to my ear that's when the best Halloween records were released, however there's no overtly evil tracks in here. Rather Eli goes in with sensational synth-based tracks featuring giant grooves. The track selection is top notch, thoroughly rocking the house with funky french stuff in the opening, the bizarre brilliance of Divine's "Native Love" and the Village People's boisterous "New York City" in the middle, before the ever present power of The Pointer Sisters "Dare Me" and Phyllis Nelson's "I Like You" at the end. It should be noted however that these tracks are likely all of Eli crafting, saying in a tweet "I think every track here besides one or two is a personal edit."

If you're looking for a funky, fun and infectious dance mix that will have you powering through nearly an hour and half of whatever you're doing then look no further. Follow Eli Escobar below and be sure to look out for his forthcoming album Last Summer, which is due November 15th. Happy Halloween!FOLLOW ELI ESCOBAR: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER