Enlightened Listening for July 9

After skipping last week, Enlightened Listening is back with more than four hours of new music that you need to hear. Closing the book on last week, I'll note that Daktyl's "Hyperion" is from then, but I prefer it to the new single from his forthcoming mixtape. It, like so much of this week's playlist, features an incredible energy, a wicked vibe, and dope drums.

The other theme appears to be long-form releases (LPs or mixtapes) with Hybrid, Wizard, DJ Ride, and Attacca Quartet, each crafting a unique, cool, and compelling journey. Rounding out that first half, I've gotta give a tip of the hat to Ninajirachi's NLV/Sable Valley release, which is an absolute gas.

Still, the dope drums persist into the second half of the playlist as things get a touch more spacey with an awesome yehno remix package, another unreal Skream ifeel EP, and an Amtrac solo effort on OPENERS. Turning more dancey, and ever more groovy, the playlist continues with intoxicating originals from KUU and Peggy Gou, and a trio of top-notch remixes from Tensnake, Gerd Janson, and ABSOLUTE. Finally, the cherry on top, Chilly Gonzales with one that's sure to make you grin, "Music Is Back." Dig in now below and find each individual release linked at the bottom. Have a great weekend!

Hybrid - Black Halo

Daktyl - Hyperion

Wizard - Viper

tails - tic tac toe (ft. laye & Kelland)

Ninajirachi - Dracodraco

DJ Ride - ENRO

Attacca Quartet - Real Life

Polaris - Love Letter

yehno - Tomorrow We'll Be Here Remixes

Skream - Instakord

Amtrac - Outer Station Support

KUU - Voices

Anti Up - Sensational (Tensnake Remix)

Peggy Gou - I Go

Flight Facilities - The Ghost (Remixes)

Chilly Gonzales - Music Is Back

Flight Facilities - The Ghost

Just a day after showcasing an hour of unreleased content against the backing of an immersive audio/visual experience, the Australian duo of Hugo Gruzman and James Lyell, aka Flight Facilities, has shared a new single on Future Classic. Complete with a simple yet striking video (below), "The Ghost" features an awesome acid onslaught amidst the very potent polish and playfulness that's made Flight Facilities such a success over the years. Like last month's "Light Up" with Channel Tres, this new single absolutely bodies the bass. Big chugging synths lead the way before the voice of "The Ghost" slithers its way into your ears, almost becoming one with the ever-expanding acid. And here, slithering is the keyword, as the essence of "The Ghost" zigs and zags its way into your unconscious. Quite like the obelisk in 2001: A Space Odyssey, as soon as you come into contact with this otherworldly power, you're invariably changed in some fundamental way. This unearthly, potentially evil, yet undeniably awesome energy takes hold in the second half of the track, as Flight Facilities go full fluoro with a phantasmagorical acid-laced finale. Get "The Ghost" from your preferred outlet here and stream below.

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Bump In The Hump Sneak Peek: Ever After

While summer started for most of Humber last month and I've been claiming festival season has already arrived, this weekend will mark the true kick off with hundreds of ravers, bass-heads and music-lovers alike heading to Kitchener for Ever After. As always I'll get you set with the Weekend Warmup which this week features six artists playing Bingemans Park. There's Price & Takis, Krimer, Excision, Downlink, Snails and friend of the show Bill Slinnton among a long list of locals playing the Ontario Stage. More info about everything Ever After on their website here and Facebook event here.

While I usually tease with a track or two, I'll simply leave Ever After's official Spotify playlist below.Of course there's more than just Ever After happening this weekend, so we look ahead to Flight Facilities Friday at The Phoenix Concert Theatre (RSVP/Tickets), and back at Hall & Oates' show at the ACC last night. There's also a handful of artist debuts to go along with one of the heaviest episodes to date. Catch Bump In The Hump live from 7-9 PM EDT via Radio Humber and find it, and all previous episodes, cataloged on Mixcloud here.

Enlightened Listening for June 1

Another Friday, another month, another batch of new music, another edition of Enlightened Listening. This week brings more from Chromeo and Claptone, the welcome returns of Joe Goddard, Sébastien Léger, Flight Facilities, Bob Moses, Chromak, Mura Masa and a cool collab from MNEK. As always stream via Spotify below and read brief descriptions at the bottom. Happy listening. Enjoy!

Chromak - Thoughts (ft. Tato Lopez)
As first heard in his episode of My Mixtape (here), this is one of the better examples of Chromak's breadth of music ability. It is cool and groovy, and big and bold with that brass. Perfect summer tune.

Bob Moses - Heaven Only Knows
Dreamy yet dark, beautiful yet bloodcurdling. I don't know what I'm more wrapped up in, the vocals or the top notch sound design. We know the sky is the limit for Bob Moses, but this may be their best yet.

Perfume Genius - Slip Away (Mura Masa Remix)
Just another incredible example of Mura Masa's undeniable genius. The levels and layers of sounds, melodies and movement, and their intermingling, give me goosebumps. It is unlike anything I've ever heard, except it's exactly what I expect from Mura Masa.

Chromeo ft. DRAM & Jesse Johnson - Must've Been (Phantoms Remix)
A stark contrast from the previous three remixes of "Must've Been," Phantoms drive it deep into a dimly lit tunnel. That said, the funk at the core still stands strong in this stripped down delight.

Sébastien Léger - Naive / Tristesse
As I tweeted yesterday I woke up to "Lost Miracle" and wondered when we'd get new Seb, and here it is. Once again we're treated to his extended and progressive genius as "Naive" arises effortlessly out of the opening and blossoms beautifully. "Tristesse" takes a darker more demure direction, while still offering up the shimmering spirit of play that makes all of Leger's productions such vivid dream sequences.

MNEK - Colour (ft. Hailee Steinfeld)
Whatever instrument(s) it is that opens this track nails the rainbow resplendence of its title. It is a pure pop production, but one that I can get behind and groove to. A worthy companion to "Never Forget You."

Claptone - Stronger (ft. Ben Duffy)
Like Chromeo, Claptone has been on one hell of a streak with singles and corresponding remixes. This latest is a light guitar groover whose crisp cool nature and eventual bass bounce are sure to satisfy.

Joe Goddard - So Much / Human Touch
The lead track feels like the perfect combination of everything Joe Goddard, as though "Home," "Lose Your Love" and "Music Is The Answer" all became one. That said there's also a touch of Peggy Gou and "It Make You Forget" in there somewhere. I just love this "So Much." The b-side is more drum dominant, but still features the sublime synth designs that puts Joe in a league of his own. A delightful dream.

Flight Facilities - All Your Love (ft. Dustin Tebbutt)
Another track I tweeted about yesterday (here), and while I recommended Alex Metric, Aeroplane or both (Metroplane) remix it, "All Your Love" is beautiful in its own right. Tebbutt's vocals are an awesome addition leading the serene soundscape deep into your soul. Indietronic at its best.

May 28 Disco Delights

Scrolling through my Soundcloud I found the usual onslaught of pop/rap remixes/bootlegs and clips of dubstep tracks, but I'm finding disco edits sprinkled in more and more. So much so that I've decided to share some of today's finds paired with a couple I never got a chance to showcase previously. Check out the playlist below, grab the free downloads where available and get your week off to a strong start.

Flight Facilities ft. Broods, Reggie Watts & Saro - Stranded (Late Night Tuff Guy Remix)*
Supremely smooth delivery from the legendary down under disco deity. Truly an awe-inspiring production from every angle. Each element plays its role perfectly, seeming organic and effortless.

Lindstrom ft. Ronika - Didn't Know Better (Remix)
Beautiful, bright and bouncy number that thrives through its drums and synth work pushing the original to new heights. When Ronika and the original return the anthemic quality kicks in, reminding us that Lindstrom is a leader in all things disco house.

T-Connection - At Midnight (Soul Bombs Rework)*
It's hard to make it through a disco set without coming across either SanFranDisko's edit or any other Soul Bombs production, but this version differentiates itself with a more high tempo, jacking groove. It is a filter fun fest that exploits the awesome bassline, punchy percussion and sweet strings.

Sister Sledge - We Are Family (Barry Harris 2018 House Remix)*
Yet another classic track retouched by Barry Harris. While it's called house, the heart remains defiantly disco. Great groove led by a funky fat bassline, warm chords, and pleasurable piano.

Peter Gabriel - Steam (Petko Turner Funky Edit)*
The prolific Petko continues to impress with each subsequent edit. Although the original is already funky, this version is even more so. It adds extra oomph focusing on drums while sneaking the horns in underneath the wall of thundering percussion. Turner's treatment of the vocals deserves an extra nod.

Philip Bailey & Phil Collins - Easy Lover (Mean Fiddler 12 Inched Regroove)*
Maybe it's just me but little can compare to disco edits of 80s classics. Like LNTG's edit above this too is satiny smooth. The cool and captivating core of the original remains relatively intact while extended for extra enjoyment and dance-floor filling fun.

* denotes free download

Charts and Recent Favourites

Charts can countdown the top tracks or they can quite simply be a collection of recommended tracks, a al Beatport. Everyone's done one, even Obama. Of course that means you can't possibly listen to all the tracks on everyone's chart, but like mixes, the DJs behind them can become trusted taste-makers. That being said, I've been inspired to make my own 'chart' or playlist of recent favourites after having enjoyed nearly all the tracks in Boy 8-Bit's aptly named Boy 8-Bit's "Want You" To Buy These Chart. Note that like his chart, it's not necessarily all brand new productions, but rather productions new to me.Not much to say about the tracks except that they are all super strong productions, generally on the more relaxed housy side. Just some good clean fun. Also note that the final three tracks are only available via Soundcloud's annoying GO feature, but I've linked them via Spotify below.

1. Four Tet - Scientists
2. Jim-E Stack - Deadstream
3. Flight Facilities ft. Emma Louise - Arty Boy (Swindail Remix)
4. Sébastien Léger - Model D
5. Boy 8-Bit - Want You (Mason Remix)
6. Tale Of Us & Vaal - Monument (Barnt Remix)
7. D33J - Wisp (ft. Baths)
8. Hercules & Love Affair ft. Sharon Van Etten - Omnion (Joe Goddard Remix)
9. Joe Goddard - Home (Eric Kupper Remix)
10. The xx - On Hold (Jamie xx Remix)

Throwback Thursday: Friendly Fires - Paris (Aeroplane Remix)

For this week's installment in my Throwback Thursday series, it gives me great pleasure to reintroduce the world to one of the catchiest and most beautiful melodies, situated around some of the most infectious vocals and bumping basslines, Aeroplane's remix of Friendly Fires' "Paris." Simple soaring beauty propels Aeroplane's remix right from the start, with its subtle disco percussion and sprightly synth plucks. Add the depth of the bassline, and the track really starts to take off. The lightness and ethereal quality of Au Revoir Simone's vocals shoot "Paris" into the stratosphere, imbuing the track with a heavenly essence. The sheer magic of Aeroplane's mix seems to be utterly endless, whether it's the progressive playfulness of the melody and percussion, the sweeping atmospheric movement, the manipulated madness (starting at about 4:17), or the slow but steady release of tension with the final, exalted flourish (at about 6:34); everything Aeroplane puts into his remix exudes lush and rapturous elegance. If you are at all familiar with Aeroplane's catalog, this will come as no surprise to you, his productions are quite simply aesthetic beauty in their most concise and profound form.

I first came across his remix of "Paris" when he was the 500th DJ to do an Essential Mix back in 2010. In that mix (which lives up to his incredible standards of beauty), it was mixed with Flight Facilities' "Crave You" to create one of my favourite mashups ever. Find both (available for free download, courtesy the man himself), the full Essential Mix, and the recreated mashup, below. If I may further add two more suggestions of Aeroplane tracks that you simply must hear, I highly recommend his remixes of Gypsy & The Cat's "The Piper's Song," and The Human League's "Never Let Me Go." Get on board the Aeroplane of awesomeness and travel to a simpler, more beautiful time. SUPPORT AEROPLANE: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER

Riggadale - Cuddle Season 5

Toronto's own Riggadale, graced us with the fifth installment of his Cuddle Season mix series. This one is delivered in perfect timing for the immanent snowstorm, for which hunkering down, wrapping yourself in a blanket and cuddling with your significant other has become a necessity.

Riggadale's half hour of down-tempo vibes are sure to warm the soul. Incredibly smooth mixing and smart track selection make this Cuddle Season installment a mesmerizing masterpiece. With the necessary nod to the 6ix god, Drake, in his "Change Locations," and inescapably awesome remixes from Snakehips and Shlohmo of Flight Facilities "Heart Attack" and Lianne La Havas "Forget," respectively, Riggadale delivers a mix deserving of comparison to Ta-ku's now infamous "Drive Slow, Homie"mix series. Whether it was a conscious nod to Ta-ku or not, the inclusion of Stwo's "Haunted" with the line "Drive slow" is simple perfection. Whether it's the delightful Darius track "Helios," Lido's touching take on Alessia Cara's "Here" or the ingenious inclusion of "How Deep Is Your Love" a cappella, Riggadale has crafted a magical mix, worthy of countless repetitions.

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Snakehips ft. Tinashe & Chance The Rapper - All My Friends (Wave Racer Remix)

Australian DJ and producer, Wave Racer, has followed up with Flash Drive EP with a swanky remix of Snakehips' sensational single, "All My Friends," featuring both Tinashe and Chance The Rapper. The original has garner support from all over the scene and has seen a number of remixes from the likes of 99 Souls, PREP, and MVJESTY. Personally, my favourite is the Wave Racer version; easy listening, catchy and just the right production for Wave Racer's unique, bright, bouncy and bumping style. Between the jumping bassline, bright bell chime sounds, popping bubble fills, video game sound effects clips, and echoing vocal manipulations, Wave Racer has absolutely hit this remix out of the park. There are very few producers whose catalogue is entirely 4 and 5 stars in my iTunes library but it seems Wave Racer is incapable of producing anything even close to mediocre. Whether it's original productions like "Stoopid," "Streamers," or "Bubble Wrap," or a remix like "Always," "Stand Still," or "Ryan Must Be Destroyed," that sparkling Wave Racer sound that is so utterly infectious, makes everything better.