Enlightened Listening for December 18

In what will likely be the year's last edition of Enlightened Listening, we get one hell of a sendoff. Once again keeping things short and sweet, I simply recommend digging into each of these 16 releases. However, there are a handful of records that require just a little more love.

Atop a divine Danny L Harle take on The Corrs classic, Caroline Polachek indeed leaves me "Breathless." Turning the clock back even further, Derrick Carter, Dimitri From Paris, Seth Troxler, and Cerrone all put their touch on Fine Young Cannibals. Later, Lamorn delivers an absolutely genius remix of "Bridged By A Lightwave." LuckyMe and PC Music feature as the final two standouts with A. G. Cook remixes appearing on both; the former, a deluxe edition of Baauer's PLANET'S MAD, and the latter, an epic reimagining of Planet 1999's "Party."

Stream the playlist, sorted for maximum flow, below, and find each individual release linked at the end.

Michael Cassette - Temporarity (10th Anniversary Deluxe Edition)

Mat Zo - Petrushka (Extended Mix)

Yuksek - Beirut Ma Bet Mout

Alex Metric & Ten Ven - Qubit

Myd & Mac DeMarco - Moving Men (Gaspard Augé & Victor Le Manse Remix)

Django Django - Glowing In The Dark (Hot Chip Remix)

Caroline Polachek - Breathless

Harrison - Around You

Fine Young Cannibals - Fine Young Cannibals Remix EP

Hudson Mohawke - What U Need

New Order - Be A Rebel [Remixes Pt.1]

deadmau5 & Kiesza - Bridged By A Lightwave (Lamorn Remix)

Baauer - PLANET'S MAD (GLOBE'S CRAZY)

Planet 1999 - Party (A. G. Cook & Baseck Remix)

Pegboard Nerds ft. Elizaveta - Hero (Infected Mushroom Remix)

Nitti Gritti & Dr. Fresch - Cold Day In Hell

Top 100 Tracks Of 2019: 75-51

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

#75: Flume ft. Vera Blue - Rushing Back (MJ Cole Remix)
While Flume had a huge year as countless clamored for his mixtape, you won't find any of those tracks here. Instead he appears in this list twice having released a few sick singles that made way for fantastic remixes. Here MJ Cole kills the catchy "Rushing Back" with a brilliant bleepy flip that makes masterful use of Vera Blue's vocals. A spine-tingling sensation.

#74: Jai Paul - He
The enigmatic master returned in 2019 and he seemingly hasn't missed a step with two sublime singles. And of course I gravitated towards the b-side, as "He" seemingly delivers more of that genius "Jasmine" vibe. It's soulful and ridiculously satisfying. And of course it showers its listeners in ethereal ecstasy.

#73: Barney Lister - Matchu
Not the only track in this list I first came across in a Magic Tape mix. Of course it's got the awesome alchemy one would expect for an inclusion in said series. It's beautiful, buoyant and oh so easy to dance to. That said, the slippery, squelching groove that emerges as the track progresses is some kind of sick, satisfying perversion.

#72: Angelov - Chero
An alien awakening, this is some serious top notch techno and one hell of a debut record. The whole EP is sick and I really thought about adding "Retrida" to the list but the vocal feel of this one took the cake. Like the others on this EP, Angelov's abilities shine the strongest when all elements come together in supremely satisfying syncopated fashion.

#71: Stanton Warriors ft. Sian Evans - Up2U (René LaVice Rooftop Remix)
Like so much of my favourite DnB this year, this one absolutely explodes out of the gate. It's got so much to like. The piano. Sian Evans' vocals. The way the two play together: <chef's kiss>. Then of course there's the drops that play like a defibrillator forcing you onto the dance-floor. A roaring success.

#70: Kölsch & Sasha - The Lights
The kind of epic, clean quality you would expect from a legendary pairing like this. Once you've heard that unreal lead line you'll never hear the track the same again, as you wait breathlessly for it to kick in. I know I'm doing that right now as I listen to it yet again. And as good as that lead line is, it's nothing without the duo's deliciously effective backing.

Enlightened Listening for July 26

It's that time of the week, however the moment passed me on a busy day and I was unable to get this edition of Enlightened Listening posted on its proper day. Adding further insult to injury, I've got a massively bruised thumb so typing has been difficult. That said, the music goes on and you can find an epic playlist of new tunes below. Highlights include: Above & Beyond with Seven Lions; an 8-track album from Hot Since 82; remixes of Elephant Heart's "Lenguas" from Justin Jay and Kotek; the final two parts of Kotek's Sonoglyph Pt. 1 EP; a four-pack of fantastic singles from Bakermat, Friendly Fires, The Knocks & DJ Shadow; and DnB from Sub Focus and Bensley via his Muskoka LP. Enjoy!

Alex Metric & Ten Ven - Transmission 1 EP

The collaborative duo of Alex Metric and Ten Ven have already scored a screaming success this year with the ornate awesomeness of "Otic." This past week they teamed up again, this time building a bliss-filled three part EP on Diynamic Music. Transmission 1 takes on that same sensational house ethos, ushering in three equally beautiful and brilliant slow burning bangers. Consummately crafted, each note plays its role perfectly, maintaining and magnifying the melody at the core. Like "Otic" these are not flashy, jaw droppers, but rather soul inhabiting and infecting pieces. They are undoubted floor fillers, and prime-time pleasure packers.

The lead track "The Q" is perhaps the closest to "Otic" offering up big bounces and a magical melody built around a classic feeling drum design. The follow up, "Nebula" invokes an interstellar light show with its sweet and sour synths in an epic soundscape that is sure to leave you breathless. The finale "Plates" strikes me as the grooviest, most dance-friendly track of the EP. Progressive and playful, the drum-work drives the track with the perfect amount of punch amidst its synth stabs. While both of its predecessors are strong, this may be my favourite. That said the EP is a masterclass, with not just each note playing its role to perfection, but each track the same. "The Q" eases listeners in, "Nebula" builds on the bounce, leaving you begging for more, where finally "Plates" peaks in pure ecstasy. Get Transmission 1 from your favourite streaming source or digital outlet here, and join me in waiting for #2.FOLLOW ALEX METRIC: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER
FOLLOW TEN VEN: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER

The Magician - Magic Tape 78 (Recorded live in Miami)

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 Tape mix 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: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER

Alex Metric & Ten Ven - Otic

Apparently I missed the boat on this Alex Metric, Ten Ven collab "Otic," which has been building steam over the last month or so. But when I finally heard it last week in the midst of a slew of strong tracks on Pete Tong's show last Friday I was astounded. The sheer magnitude and sublime simplicity of "Otic" is unassailable. It is quite possibly one of the single greatest pieces of pure house music I've ever heard. And I think that's really the key, it feels and sounds pure; clearly conjuring up the notion of an instant classic. It has a soaring strength while remaining faithfully fixed to the floor; you are simultaneously spellbound to reach for the sky and guided by its groove, sending your hips and feet swaying and strutting. And fittingly to its title, "Otic" is of course pleasing to the ear. Each and every element not only satisfies, it soothes, stimulates and in the case of the low end, quite literally stirs.

Rarely do I get this excited for a track, or find it this easy to write about (more like gush about), but here we are; it's Alex Metric, so that shouldn't come as a surprise. I don't mean to leave Ten Ven out, and it seems it may be released on his label, When I Met You. And I say seems here, because while the image above has been circulated by both artists, the rest of the internet seems to say it will be released on Anjunadeep, as noted on the tracklist for Pete Tong and in the Soundcloud comments. Whatever the case, Alex said it is due out March 1st, so we can look forward to that next week. Until then enjoy the full stream below and be sure to follow both Alex and Ten Ven with their socials below.

UPDATE: Alex has confirmed March 2nd as the release date, indeed via Anjunadeep, see here.FOLLOW ALEX METRIC: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER
FOLLOW TEN VEN: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER