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.

5 Tracks I Can't Stop Playing

I often consume music by playing the same few tracks over and over and over again. A select few tracks wake me up in the morning, clean me off in the shower, play me through making lunch, fine tune me before going out, or get me home safely. They are my most trusted tracks, and I feel like I don't share them enough, so here's five that I'm using right now. I've used Joe Goddard's album art above because these tracks are an aural home for me, their quality is comfortable beyond compare.

All of Joe Goddard's Electric Lines album is extraordinary, but "Home" is the best of the bunch. Just pure old school enjoyment. It's freeing and fun, filling my heart with love every time I hear it. It's got a cool music video to go with it too, watch here.

Better Call Saul had Todd Terje's "Alfonso Muskedunder" in this week's episode, and boy did it blow me away. The allure of this one is obvious. A 7/8 time signature with a mix of Frank Zappa and Pat Metheny, what's not to like? As above, the video (here) makes it even more enjoyable.

Came across "Emotinium" in a Boy 8-Bit mix for Annie Nightingale, and have been playing it nonstop ever since. That acid-tinged 303 line is perhaps the most mesmerizing lick I've ever come across. I like to think that Roy Of The Ravers is another one of Boy 8-Bit's many aliases (Roy Apron, R.D. Maurice, etc.) It's almost cracked my top 100 most played list already. Crazy considering its length.

Wrote about Leonce's "Flute Strike" (here) then found "Snakes" from the same Insurgency LP. First listen had me handing out 5 stars, but I really fell in love when it came on during a bike ride. I had to hear that playful lead line again, it's so catchy I couldn't help myself.

"Nightfall" came to me randomly from the Friends II release one night as I was headed to the club. Its beauty caught me right away and there was going to be nothing to stop me from hearing it again. There's some kind of magic that just grips me every time it comes on. Incredibly brilliant and beautiful.

Leonce - Flute Strike

Flutes and bass combine to full effect in the latest single from Leonce's Insurgency LP. "Flute Strike" is a stark, sensationally produced track that sends tingles up your spine with its eerie atmosphere. The build is brilliant, never dazzling or overwhelming the senses as each layer is added. The ATL producer polished each layer sharper than a diamond, and the subsquent combination is equally as stunning. Yet that's not even the best part. Sure it's amazing when all the elements come together, but the way that he mixes them, in and out and back and forth, is what makes "Flute Strike" a five star production. The playful progression throughout only adds to the overall unease of the atmosphere, as though being stalked by a woodwind toting maniac. The only defense is "Flute Strike" which you can stream below. FOLLOW LEONCE: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER