Paraleven - Retrograde Mixtape IV

A little serendipity here as yesterday's post about SWIM (here) led me to this mix from Paraleven: a powerful three-hour affair with healing and harmonizing at its heart. The fourth edition of the Atlanta-based producer's Retrograde Mixtape series comes just like the others did, in line with Mercury being in retrograde. As with each previous edition, Paraleven has been tuned the mix to 432 Hz; a small shift from the standard 440, but one said to be mathematically consistent with the universe and warmer feeling due to its longer wavelength. But beyond the x's and o's nitty-gritty, this mix struck a chord with me thanks to its incredible curation and seamless mixing.

As the first half-hour of the "Retrograde Mixtape IV" washes over me, I'm struck by the fact that I've barely noticed any transitions, just as no track has truly stood out. This is not to say that the mix has been faceless or mere background noise, but rather that it's been immensely easy to enjoy. Of course, there are little moments that speak to me more than others, but they are more of an ethereal feeling, a sonic time and place. For example, Double Touch's "Greatest Day" is full of the feeling of flying, as though it transforms you into a gull soaring over a tropical island paradise, floating on the warm vocals of Reigan. The next track, Dosem's "Eternal Summer" builds on that breathtaking beauty while shifting the soundscape to a busier locale. It is at this point that I cannot help but think of this mix as perfect for slow panning aerial shots of vacation destinations and naturescapes worldwide. It reeks of natural beauty and organic power.

Without going any further into the mix, as we're not here for the finer details but rather the larger harmony, "Retrograde Mixtape IV" is indeed a resplendent respite. For fans of All Day I Dream, Afterlife, Anjuna, Colorize, This Never Happened and melodic house & techno more largely, this mix is a cannot miss. Stream now below, find the tracklist here, and be sure to follow Paraleven's socials at the bottom.

Paraleven · Retrograde Mixtape IV

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SWIM - Love

Some vocals are so incredibly iconic that they can span decades, genres and all kinds of editing. It seems no matter how I encounter Leona Lewis' timeless classic "Bleeding Love," I'm always left in awe. Of course, the titular lyrics are immanently memorable but I'd venture to claim that the line used in the track below is just as much so.

"Love," from mysterious Melbourne-based producer SWIM, leans into the line "I'm in love with you," giving it a new dreamy analog bed. A triumph I encountered courtesy of Soundcloud's The Upload feature, this five-minute affair creeps quietly through its opening section, applying a cool calm from which Lewis' vocals emanate immaculately. As the crisp, yet inconspicuous percussion pushes "Love" ever higher, the vocal chops and synths really begin to soar, striding brilliantly and confidently towards the climactic final two minutes. And it is this fabulous final combination that makes "Love" such a beguiling beauty. SWIM combines all the best elements of his production in one momentous minute, authoring an utterly euphoric trance. Pair it with the Youtube visualizer and you might get a different feeling, but the immensely soulful strength of "Love" continues to pervade. Stream the seductive single below, get it now via pre-order of Somewhere, Somehow and follow SWIM's socials at the bottom.

SWIM · Love

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