The frenetic world of electronic music is full of distractions and diversions, hindering the ability to find transcendent music. Let Oggie James be your guru and lead down the path to musical Enlightenment.
Album, song and event reviews, mixtapes, and radio shows, light the way to Enlightenment, conveyed by Oggie James.
Another week, another incredible edition of Enlightened Listening. Coming in at just under 40 tracks and 3 hours, there are all kinds of goodies in store here. First up, Brock Edwards dazzles with an awesome saxophone-led dub of his own "Up At Dawn." A second dub follows as MK makes good on his "Chemical" with a classic IV dub. Upbeat energy follows with a trio of DnB tracks, highlighted by a divine instrumental from Platinum Breaks.
Moving to longer-form releases, the next two come from Juelz and Feed Me, both bringing the bass with their own established brands of fire. Resetting things with a run of singles, the playlist pushes on with an invigorating take on Alan Parsons Project classic "Sirius," courtesy Armin van Buuren and AVIRA. Staying nostalgic, 1990-classic "The Age Of Love" gets a fearsome facelift from Charlotte de Witte and Enrico Sangiuliano. Finally, our run of fire ends with a bang thanks to the ingenious guttural growls of Kage in "The Zone."
Part punningly, part sonically fitting, the next three releases follow from "The Zone," as "Perpetual Motion" eventually leads to "The Hangover." The Fort Romeau mix of "Perpetual Motion" is equally epic and elegant, the following Neighbour remix of "Going Late" is groovy and gorgeous, and finally, Bush League's "The Hangover" is unavoidably infectious and undeniably head-pounding. Lastly, the playlist closes with lush, sensual stuff from Moullinex, Anderholm, and CRi, each of which features sublime, soulful synths.
Stream the weekly new-music playlist below and find each individual release linked at the bottom.
At some point today I decided I'd do a Throwback Thursday post and I tossed around a couple ideas, largely centered around incredible vocal performances. I thought about Gregor Salto and Funkin Matt's remix of Mariah Carey, Syn Cole's remix of Jennifer Lopez, Anabel Englund with Lee Foss and MK (either "Electricity" or "Ghost In The System") or MK's remix of HAIM. However as I listened to the latter on YouTube, my eyes were drawn to the name Julio Bashmore which reminded me of his work with Jessie Ware and in turn I was reminded of her track with Geeneus and Katy B.
Behold 2012's utterly breath-taking "Aaliyah." I'll start by saying that even on today's third listen, this time as the two divas sang live at Wireless Festival 2013 (see here), I was nearly brought to tears by the rush of endorphins as Jessie Ware came out for the second verse. These are two of my all-time favourite vocalists, both delicate and divine while remaining ridiculously powerful despite their restrained delivery. They both spin silky and sublime webs with their bewitching warmth. And it is this incredibly captivating and catchy quality that makes Geeneus' groovy bed such can't miss magic. The bounce is clean, crisp and beautiful. It flows fantastically through each verse and chorus letting its ever expanding luxuriousness lift up each vocal. This is never better noted than in the invigorating second verse in which Ware's whisper quiet vocals clash with the electrifying clicks and bleeps. There's no hope here but to give in to the groovy gorgeousness and bow down at the feet of this trio as they work their witchcraft/wizardry. The aura of "Aaliyah" is truly transfixing. Breath in its brilliance below.FOLLOW KATY B: FACEBOOKSOUNDCLOUDTWITTER FOLLOW GEENEUS: FACEBOOKSOUNDCLOUDTWITTER FOLLOW JESSIE WARE: FACEBOOKSOUNDCLOUDTWITTER
A quick turnaround from the last Enlightened Listening and a quick turn into the weekend leads to this brief look at a still fantastic and varied group of tracks. ASHE opens things up with a thoughtful EP that leans further into his acoustic techno. Next up a trance turn as Edu Imbernon delivers a dope Anjunadeep cut. Gorgon City stay hot with a tribute to Chicago house in "Elizabeth Street." After that is Annie Mac's hottest record, a genius growing groove from Theo Kottis. Building even bigger still, KiNK captures our attention with a brilliant recasting of Krystal Klear's exceptional "Euphoric Dreams." MK then delivers the first remix after the release of Mark Ronson's Late Night Feelings and as usual hits it out of the park. One of the most teased and highly sought after tracks of the year follows as David Penn sends us into ecstasy with his heart-melting remix. Gears change as the playlist begins to close with Flux Pavilion showing a new side that has me hearing classic Nero. Finally I get even more nostalgic with Infected Mushroom, one of my earliest loves, and their Monstercat killer "Kababies." Stream everything via Spotify below and get individual links at the bottom. Enjoy your weekend!
Fridays never disappoint, but this one seems special with a number of my favourite names returning with new releases. Henrik The Artist once again puts on a clinic of unique quality. Paul Mond plays with our heart strings. Camo & Krooked kill it on UKF. Jake Robertz follows with a sick six track EP. We then change gears for two, top-notch, uber-cool creations from Red Axes and ABSOLUTE.. Then comes MK with yet another inspired remix, which leads into a genius, jaw-dropping original from Haywyre. Finally, PINEO & LOEB drop the best cover album of the year in ELEVATION. Stream this week's Enlightened Listening playlist below and find individual releases linked at the bottom. Enjoy!
Continuation of the list started yesterday: from 100-76, which also includes my disclaimer/preamble. Soundcloud playlist here and at the bottom.
#75: Cloverdale & OSOTYT - Funky Junky
Where disco was the biggest riser in my listening habits in 2017, that title goes to funk in 2018. That said, house is still my bread and butter, so the combination of the two here is an obvious fit. The drops are solid to say the least (with some special stank on the second), but for me it's the sections around the drops that propel this track into the countdown. The funky scratching in the conclusion nails my tastes so much so that I had to include it in my new intro for the 8th season of Bump In The Hump.
#74: Moullinex ft. Georgia Anne Muldrow - Say It Slow (Wild & Free Remix)
A bright and beautifully bouncy number right from the get-go, but once those shimmering synths join the action, I'm hooked. Add in some slick little solos and flourishes and you've got a truly divine disco number. It is fabulously full of life and brilliantly buoyant, and while it's supposedly slow, it hits on all cylinders pumping out one of the more pleasurable pieces you'll hear all year.
#73: Hoodboi - True Colors Hoodboi showed us a new side of his artistic abilities with Breathing Room, and that title track could very well have been in this spot. However, "True Colors" makes the cut as a result of its restrained, uber smooth roll out. It is like waking up to the world with new eyes, seeing shapes and colours with a renewed, childlike wonder. Full of heart and feeling it may not dazzle with banging bass or an overwrought melody, but rather it kind of floats down into your consciousness like a feather in the wind.
#72: RealMind - Actif (ft. Billboard)
Some tracks leave you speechless, and I knew this one was going to do this to me, but I could not let it go uncovered. So here's my go at it. The levels or acts as "Actif" progresses are incredible, and the fact that these two have tied them together so seamlessly is even more so. The opening build is beautiful, but boy is the punchy push into the second section some kind of special. And really that's the key for me. The way it kind of clicks and stomps and wobbles is stunning, especially as it kicks back in following the obsidian third section. And yes, if you're getting deadmau5 vibes you're not alone.
#71: Chromeo - One Track Mind
With Head Over Heels firmly in the running for album of the year, I think back to the first time hearing it in full and the laughter and joy it brought me as I drove to that night's baseball game. I'll say that this isn't the only album cut on this list, and for a bit this was the one. Actually I still go back and forth, but here we are at forth. Smooth grooves, cool call and response, and one hell of a build towards the triumphant final frame that is sure to send shivers down your spine. I can't help myself, I'm obsessed.
#70: Benny Bridges - Are You Okay?
As a part of Justin Jay's Fantastic Voyage Facebook group I got an early copy of Benny Bridges' EP and this came on in my car without proper attribution. I had to know who it was because it bumped so good. The drums and bass combine brilliantly, but it wouldn't be half as good without the extra little effects further punctuating the already punchy affair. Simple yet strong, there's no denying this delivers.
#69: TroyBoi - Frustrated (ft. Destiny)
No one does it quite like TroyBoi. Sick with strings, wicked with wobbles, vicious with vocals and top notch with twists, he really does it all. And it's all here in perhaps his best work to date. The intro teases perfectly and you know you're in for something special, but like "Do One," his other single released on that very same day, there's no way of predicting the warped genius in store. Scary good stuff.
Over the past few months I've called house not just my home, but the heart of electronic music. There may be no better example than this multilayered track from Craig Knight, a remix of Mall Grab's "Feel Good House." Sampling the same piece as one of my favourite tracks, Nero's "Must Be The Feeling," they both pay homage to "Time To Move" from Carmen. So from 1984 and electronic music's infancy to the familiarity of Nero in the electronic music explosion to Mall Grab's 2018 house recasting in electronic music's golden age. And with that comes the onslaught of endless remixes of today. But that's not all the intrigue with this track; it started out as a Mall Grab instrumental but was officially released under the name Young Romantic and "Move," and that's actually where the album artwork is taken from. So perhaps this mix ought to be labeled as a remix of "Move," but whatever you want to call it the allure is undeniable. Filter heavy, fun, funky and freeing, the blend of piano house and disco vibes make this version really pop. It's got the power of MK and the ease of french house with just the right amount of percussion interplay. Download "Feel Good House" for free via Hypeddit here.FOLLOW CRAIG KNIGHT: FACEBOOKSOUNDCLOUDTWITTER FOLLOW MALL GRAB: FACEBOOKSOUNDCLOUDTWITTER
Another Friday another epic list of releases. This week I've decided to focus almost exclusively on singles (remixes included) from my favourite names. However I've returned to Soundcloud this week to accommodate the newly launched mix series from Falcons. Catch up on this week's Enlightened Listening with the playlist below, and descriptions with asterisk indicating free download at the bottom.
Hunter Siegel - Fading (ft. Melanie?)
Just in time for his latest No Neon date, Hunter returns with his first original in forever. It's clear however that he's not lost a step with walloping wubs and killer chops. If you'll pardon the pun, the future looks dark and stormy for the dark plur himself.
Brya - Neon Lovin'
Disco funk theme engage. This is one of the two artists I wasn't familiar with prior to today, but it didn't take long for me to realize this was a hot groove and the kind of future (insert genre) I enjoy.
NOTD ft. Bea Miller - I Wanna Know (Pusher Remix)
Like Hunter it's been forever since we've had new Pusher, and like Brya it's immensely pleasing to have neon nobility back in the game. Be sure to check out his new video series "Music Minutes." Silicon Scally - Rift
Drawn in by the Central Processing Unit label, I'm happy to have come across Scally and this EP, from which "Rift" is my favourite. It is a brilliant blend of old school electro and techno, that shows off the underlying life of overtly electronic productions. Genius.
Pete Shelley - Witness The Change (SanFranDisko Remix)*
Despite spending less than eight months in the 80s it will forever feel like home for me. The more I get exposed to it, especially through trusted sources like SanFranDisko, the more I love it. Fancy a groovy cruising track? Well look no further.
Bensley - Do It Again (ft. Armanni Reign)
When drum and bass is done right there isn't much better, especially when it has strong vocals. You can trust Bensley to bring that killer quality, as this one goes off with undeniable energy and ease.
MDK - X Buster*
The wubstep warrior and chiptune champion is back with this piece of playful power and fun funk.
Sam Smith - Pray (MK Remix)
After the success of his remix of "Money On My Mind" it should be no surprise that this follow up is just as good. Truthfully everything MK touches turns to gold, but there's just something about the way he chops Sam Smith's voice; add that to the choir and you've got some sublime, heavenly house.
Poolside - Feel Alright (Yuksek Remix)
The disco grooves just don't stop. Yuksek blesses the piano, guitar and drums, making a musical bed that you cannot sleep on but must simply bounce on all day and night.
Amtrac ft. Anabel Englund - Old Times (Skream Remix)
Talk about a trio of all stars. This jumped off the screen and into my soul, but even better blasted out the speakers. However I've fallen face down and cannot get up after those pans punched through the wubs. Skream has been making top notch tracks for years, but it feels like this last year or so he's settled into his golden age of supremely satisfying and epic electronic tracks.
Falcons - Fluidity Mixtape Vol. 1*
For years Falcons has been at the intersection of rap and electronic, especially with his bootleg remixes (see his Loosies release), but it looks like now he's really ready to showcase that skill with this Fluidity mix series, from which each individual edit/bootleg/mashup will be released a month later. Peep the tracklist here and whet your appetite, or just take my word and enjoy the awesomeness.
IT'S THE WEEKEND! As if that weren't enough to get you excited, how about an onslaught of amazing new music to fill it? Back with another edition of Enlightened Listening comes EPs from Peggy Gou and AC Slater; singles from Attlas and Chromeo; albums from Booka Shade and Daniel Avery; and remixes from MK and Akira Akira & Hikeii. As is seemingly always the case, house is represented in all shapes and sizes, with a fair amount of funk, plus a killer club cut to round it out. Stream all the new music via Spotify below, and read brief descriptions after the jump. As always, enjoy!
Peggy Gou - Hundres Times
Finally the EP is complete. As free and fun and its partners, this one pulsates with a classic club sound.
Daniel Avery - Song For Alpha
The kind of quality that we've come to expect from Phantasy Sound and Daniel Avery. Almost orchestral in its arc, running from techno and house to chill and ambient. Adding to the all around epic brilliance, it has its own full length visuals, which you can lose yourself to here.
Attlas - Treehouse
I'm always astounded by the colour and quality of Attlas' productions, particularly the more techno tilted tracks like this. This one tickles, teases and downright pleases. It's hard not to lose yourself.
AC Slater - I Wanna Show You
The title track will win you over by bringing the piano back to bass house. "Amen Tribe" may lead to the floor spontaneously combusting as shufflers set it alight. The little extra effects and punctuations only further the fantastic groove of "Can't Come Down." This Young Lyxx track may be the best of the bunch.
Booka Shade - Cut The Strings
The thought of a new Booka Shade album is appetizing in itself, and having already covered "Night Surfing" here, saying I was excited for its release would be an understatement. I absolutely love "EMS Love" and "Confessions," and the deeper we get in the album the more impressed I get. The run from "And You?" through "Tyrell" makes this one of the early front runners for album of the year.
Ross From Friends - Aphelion
Beautiful and chill chords of all kinds mixed around masterful drum work. I hadn't been big on Ross From Friends, but the live stuff from Maida Vale last week had be hooked. Find it here.
SG Lewis - Dusk
Downright delightful depiction of the most beautiful time of day. So fantastically full of groove that despite the sun going down you'll be energized to dance all night long. My personal favourite: "Aura."
Of course Miami Music Week was top of mind the last little while and while many compilations have come and gone, The Magician's 78th edition of his Magic Tapemix series is an undeniable standout. Recorded live in the middle of Fool's Gold's takeover of 1-800-Lucky (between sets from A-Trak and MK), the hour long selection is all sorts of spellbinding sorcery. It features a handful of brilliant brand new jams including Duke Dumont's "Inhale," Peggy Gou's "It Make You Forget," and the Alex Metric/Ten Ven collab "Otic." Yes these are all familiar and fantastic tracks, and of course it features The Magician's masterful mixing mysticism, but the best bits are forthcoming releases from A-Trak & YehMe2's "Prayer Hands" (out Thursday) and Supermini's remix of Crush Club "We Dance." Get tracklist via 1001tracklists, stream below and begin your week with this bewitching wonderment.FOLLOW THE MAGICIAN: FACEBOOKSOUNDCLOUDTWITTER
It's hard to believe that 1) this time last year we were gearing up for the The Hoxton finale and 2) that No Neon has been one of the coolest parties for 3 years now. Further, playing the comfy confines of CODA, and their superb sound system, made No Neon's 3rd anniversary even more unbelievable.
Billed as a Hunter Siegel open to close set, he was actually joined behind the decks with Autoerotique, who Hunter said has been part of the most No Neon B2B sessions. No word whether this was because Hunter's "entire music collection [got] corrupted" the night before. While both brought out some new weapons, including a banging remix of Ekali and ZHU's "Blame," the night focused in large part on throwbacks, paying homage to the history of this epic party series.
I've compiled a short list of tracks played last night, starting with perhaps the No Neon anthem, "OTF" which was premiered at one of the previous shows. It also runs through a spell of dubstep, culminating in the sublime switch from the original into Sub Focus' remix of Rusko "Hold On." Hunter also managed to work in multiple MK tunes, including "Look Right Through" and "My Head Is A Jungle." He truly touched on every genre in the epic set, with only the smallest of samplings below. Enjoy!FOLLOW HUNTER SIEGEL: FACEBOOKSOUNDCLOUDTWITTER FOLLOW NO NEON: FACEBOOKSOUNDCLOUDTWITTER
The Haim sisters have once again released one of my favourite albums of the year, with Something To Tell You, the follow up to their genius debut Days Are Gone. That 2013 album spurred several superb remixes from the likes of MK, Cyril Hahn, Duke Dumont and others. I fully expect this collection of tracks to tempt producers to take on the vocal talents and magical melodies of HAIM, reworking them for the DJ decks. The first such remix comes from Michael Tucker, aka BloodPop (and previously Blood Diamonds). While he's remixed "Little Of Your Love" you may also be aware that he helped produce "Want You Back," the lead single from Something To Tell You. Stream below, and purchase here.What I like most about this mix is the way BloodPop stays true to the original, while playing with all of the elements that make HAIM more than just a rock band or a pop trio. "Little Of Your Love," like much of the album, showcases prolific pop production abilities from Ariel Rechtshaid and Rostam Batmanglij, which BloodPop has zeroed in on and utilized expertly. The main melodies and vocals remain intact, while being re-birthed as a snappy synth driven singalong. The clicks, clacks and snaps of the reworked percussion work perfectly with HAIM's unique style. However the cherry on top of this mix is BloodPop's chords which are imbued with an astonishing amount of love. It's incredibly easy to enjoy, and I cannot wait for more mixes like this in the coming days and months.
Deep house continues to dominate much of the popular portion of EDM's crossover into mainstream consciousness. It's tracks like Alex Hobson's remix of Benny Benassi and Chris Brown's "Paradise" (already a crossover in itself), that prove EDM (whether you like that title or not) is here to stay. People like music that they can feel, that they can move to, and that they can sing along with. While the vocals in Alex Hobson's mix are thoroughly manipulated, there's still the familiarity of the original, but in my estimation these dub vocals fit better with this deep house re-rub. And who can really be upset with less Chris Brown? Pitched up and down, the crooning is captivating, incredibly emotive and wholly melodic, harmonizing perfectly with the production, in an almost MK manner. This is truly the strength of this mix, and its tremendous crossover appeal; through artists like MK, the dub vocal ridden, deep house sound has found a home in the ears of electronic enthusiasts and top 40 followers alike. Alex Hobson has repackaged the original, with an inescapable groove, full of feels, dripping with dark, danceclub vibes. I love this one and think many more will too. Share it with your friends and make Chris Brown cool again.
"Paradise" is easily attained, entirely free of charge, here. FOLLOW ALEX HOBSON: FACEBOOKSOUNDCLOUDTWITTER
My body is worse for wear, but my mind has never been so satisfied. This year's edition of Bestival exceeded even my grandest expectations. From Maddmon's opening set under the Big Top Saturday, to The Cure closing down the Main Stage Sunday, and all of the surprises in between, the ethos of BestivalIncrease The Peace rang true throughout. I've never been to any festival that can rival Bestival's family-friendly inclusiveness, genius curation and undeniably loving atmosphere.
I was disappointed to leave the island venue, in spite of the frustrating ferry service, but Woodbine Park actually ended up being as good, if not better than last year. The stages were significantly closer than last year, with a little bit of sound bleeding from the Big Top to the Main Stage; enough to cause Robert Smith to have his headphones at maximum volume, so he could stay on beat. The Bollywood stage was a brilliant reprieve, removed from the hustle and bustle of the rest of the venue. Even further removed, in a quiet, wooded corner of Woodbine Park, the Sunday Best Balearic Beach Bar was the ultimate chill zone for people to relax, lie under the shade of the trees and refresh your soul with therapeutic, ecstasy inducing vibes. Rounding out the Bestival atmosphere were a Dr. Suess-esque bicycle with dozens of drums and noise makers for people to play, the infamous Inflatable Church and Cosmic Commune, which hosted plays and other intimate performances. Standing on the hill that held the I<3BESTIVAL sign, you could take in all three stages with Toronto's skyline in the distance.
The sound system under the Big Top was quite simply bonkers, and although there were less 'bass acts' and less room under the tent (than the previous year), the lineup utilized it to the fullest with standout sets from locals Maddmon, Thugli, Shaun Frank, HRMXNY, and Pusher, legendary live performances from Porter Robinson and Madeon, banging bass from Smalltown DJs, 4B, Malaa, Unlike Pluto and Tchami, welcome changes of pace from Giraffage, Skylar Spence, Classixx and Thomas Jack. But the standout performance from the Big Top came from Reeps One, who absolutely blew me away with his unfathomably awesome beat-boxing skills.
The Bollywood Stage's visual marvel was only surpassed by its monstrous musical magnitude. Throughout the weekend I found myself going back to Bollywood more often than I had planned; its open air allure was led by an anything goes, never-ending dance-off. On my first journey around, exploring the festival grounds, I caught the end of Jonathan Rosa's set and the beginning of Rob Da Bank's which, apart from Lee Foss dropping MK's "Reverse Skydiving" remix, was my Bollywood highlight. Welcoming the early crowd, the Bestival founder led off with Prince's "I Wanna Be Your Lover," in perhaps the most fitting set starter possible.
What sets Bestival apart from other festivals, is its unwavering commitment to fostering rising and local talents, and showcasing acts that otherwise would not play Toronto festivals, especially alongside electronic acts. The Main Stage saw alternative, rock, new-wave and cross over acts from Tame Impala, Odesza, Jamie XX, Grimes and The Cure. It would be nearly impossible to put together a lineup that so perfectly bridges the gap between the sounds of the Bollywood and Big Top stages, while maintaining a slightly more rock focus. I don't know that the real EDM heads would venture from their bubble, but I can say that those five acts mentioned above strike me as the perfect stepping stones, to a wider appreciation for music and art as a whole. For in the end that is what Bestival does best, showcasing the infinite possibilities of art in all its forms, and expanding your mind.
I went to Bestival to see The Cure, among a number of electronic acts, but came away having rekindled friendships, met dozens of like-minded music lovers, and sharing in the experiences of a lifetime. I cannot wait for next year's edition of Bestival; if there were such a thing, I'd buy a lifetime membership.
Yet again Marc Kinchen (MK) has graced the world with two more masterful remixes. Friday, marked the release of his remix and dub versions of RUFUS' divine track, "Say A Prayer For Me."
Alongside remixes from Alex Metric and Mazde, MK performs some of his trademark messianic mixing, giving "Say A Prayer For Me" his club blessing. Placing our hand in MK's, he leads us on a mystical journey, lead by swelling synths, god-like bass rhythms and pious percussion. Its refined and subtle in it's ascendancy; we wave goodbye to our flawed corporeal forms as Kinchen canonizes his listeners with his immaculate groove. The holy spirit runs deep as the baptismal water flows over us, as Father MK washes us clean, absolving us from the debauchery of the rave culture.
The supernatural power of MK's remix is perhaps best seen in the powerful bassline conversion, at the 3:40 mark. MK has answered prayers that we didn't know we had. He is quite possibly the saviour of the EDM bubble, with his playful, thought provoking and progressive productions. I highly recommend picking up his RUFUS remix for your daily prayers and his dub for those darker moments in your life (Beatport link here). Check out more of MK's hymns here and add them to your daily prayer routine.
