Enlightened Listening for April 2

It's the first Friday of the month, and while it's a holiday, it's still Bandcamp Friday. Once again, we're hosting our weekly new music playlist Enlightened Listening on said platform. However, there is a bit of a change this month. One of my complaints with Bandcamp is the lack of ability to build playlists. Obviously, I wasn't the only one who noticed this glaring omission as Lon Beshiri built BNDCMPR, a new playlist platform for Bandcamp. While it's still a bit cumbersome, I was able to build a playlist for this week's Enlightened Listening. Find it here. Also cataloged alphabetically, find each individual release linked below. There's an incredible new album from Iglooghost, a flurry of fabulous edits from LUXXURY, an exhilarating freebie from Jelani and more! Dig in below and enjoy!

dj genderfluid - the loft remixes

Floret Loret - Undulations

Iglooghost - Lei Line Eon

Jelani - Arcane Interval

KOAN Sound - Chronos

LUXXURY - EDITS VOL. 3

Nicky Elisabeth - Celeste

Photonz - Saturn

The Shapeshifters - You Ain't Love (ft. Teni Tinks)

Enlightened Listening for January 29

While weighing in a hair lighter than last week's hefty harvest, this week's Enlightened Listening is no featherweight. Spanning 20 releases, this 82 track six-hour odyssey is built around a ridiculous number of remixes and a couple killer compilation/mixtapes. Of the latter two, The Magician brings together an all-star lineup for his milestone Magic Tape, #100, while James Grant & Jody Wisternoff curate a killer second CD for Anjunadeep 12. Both deserve full plays, and that's easy with both, as they're each released in seamless, mixed form as well. Now, as far as remixes are concerned, there are plenty to highlight. I love the 'Foals' remix of Everything Everything, especially as, with the Gentle Dom remix two weeks ago, it paves a unique path. BRONSON again score some sick remixes with Hayden James, obli and Patrick Topping delivering a diverse trio. Similarly stacked, the Aluna Renaissance (Remixes) boasts brilliance from the likes of UNIIQU3, TSHA and The Martinez Brothers. Capping the remix conversation, Olof Dreijer, Dimitri From Paris, and ASHE, work wonders with "Monument," "Finally Ready," and "Grey Skies," respectively. Finally, I'd be foolish not to further direct your attention to TroyBoi's warm, resplendent and ingenious EP, V!BEZ, Vol. 4. Have a great weekend and enjoy!

Everything Everything - Big Climb (Jack Foals Grouse Party Remix)

The New Division - Broken (Christopher Sky Remix)

BRONSON - BRONSON Remixes N°2

Colombo - Pleased

Aluna - Renaissance (Remixes)

SOPHIE - UNISIL

Shadow Child - 4U

TroyBoi - V!BEZ, Vol. 4

Röyksopp & Robyn - Monument (Olof Dreijer Remix)

Nile Rodgers - Do What You Wanna Do (The Reflex Clubbed Up Revision 2021)

A-Trak & WEISS - Funk U

Hot Chip ft. Jarvis Cocker - Straight To The Morning (Mighty Mouse Remix)

The Shapeshifters ft. Billy Porter - Finally Ready (The Shapeshifters & Dimitri From Paris Remixes) 

Felipe Gordon & Cody Currie - Atlantic Exchanges, Vol. 1

Various Artists - Magic Tape 100

NTEIBENT - Colours (Theo Kottis Remix)

Hammer - Patella

Crimsen & Feyln ft. Oliver Wickham - Grey Skies (ASHE Remix)

Various Artists - Anjunadeep 12 (CD 2)

TÂCHES - For You (My Love) / I See You In My Dreams

Top 100 Tracks Of 2020: 100-76

Starting today through New Year's Eve (Thursday), I'll be revealing my list of the "Top 100 Tracks Of 2020." The following is my disclaimer, as I feel it important to preface this kind of list with some insight into its creation and the methodology behind it. While I spent a lot of time seriously pouring through this year of music, this is not really a serious endeavour. No one was polled. Sales and streams are irrelevant. This is merely my fun way of sharing the tracks and artists that made my year better, in hopes they do the same for you. The rankings are not scientific or even fair, rather they are simply a reflection of how strongly I felt these tracks and how much praise I felt they deserved. 

You'll notice the thread of disco/funk continues to run through these year-end lists, while DnB and breaks appear more than ever before. Another trend continues as we see a further diminishing amount of club-type tracks included, primarily as circumstances changed consumption and led to the vast majority of my musical enjoyment coming on my many escapist bike rides. That said, the power of some of these tracks is unavoidable as they will assuredly kill when clubs come back.

Finally, I will once again say that this is by no means an exhaustive list; there are without a doubt exceptional tunes that somehow failed to make the cut. However, onward and, in this case, downward, from tracks 100 to 76 we go. Find the Soundcloud playlist here and Spotify here.

#100: Weiss & Harry Romero - Where Do We Go?

An early summer earworm. Makes masterful use of the sample from Alan Parsons Project "Games People Play." Not overly inventive or banging, but rather slick, smooth and altogether enjoyable. The first of many house tracks in this list that captured my heart this year, even if only for a moment.

#99: HAIM - I Know Alone

While it's been half a decade since I spent day after day with HAIM and Days Are Gone, the sisters and their work with Ariel Rechtshaid and Rostam Batmanglij remain close to my heart. A toss-up as both this and "Now I'm In It" are perfect for 2020, I landed on this garage joint thanks to its catchy, crisp and crackling production and overall atmosphere.

#98: MERCER - Lemonade

Fabulous French filter disco house. Almost too slick. Undeniably good and groovy. The kind of track that has you tapping your toes uncontrollably and later leaves you humming its magnificent melody.

#97: Nikki Nair - 3XL

An acid-induced fever dream. Propelled by Nair's potent percussion and scintillating synths. Like so many of the tracks in this year's list, "3XL" is all about the journey. There's no skipping ahead to a dope drop or sick section, rather one has to ride out this rolling wave of resplendence.

#96: SBK. - One Man

Perhaps the most ominous and irksome track in this list. Spine-tingling strings, all kinds of ingenious percussive hits and of course the equally screwface and shiver-inducing sub-bass. Truly diabolic dubstep.

#95: Soda State - Midnight

Among the year's most fun and funky productions. I know nothing about Soda State, nor had I ever heard them before this, however their inclusion in Magic Tape 98 made for an incredible introduction. An awesome mix of pop sensibilities alongside retro dance resplendence.

#94: SOSA - The Sax

A track so infectious that I can turn a blind eye to its misleading moniker. The trumpet (not sax) top-line is awesome, as are its babbling vocal bits, but it is the way those two elements play with the rollicking percussion that makes this track one of the year's best house offerings. Like many on this list, I expect this would have ranked much higher were clubbing possible in 2020.

Enlightened Listening for November 13

Another week is done and with it comes another installment of Enlightened Listening. This week's playlist features three highly anticipated releases alongside more than a handful of pleasant surprises. 

Starting with the anticipated offerings, ASHE launches his new label Ocean Dark with two of his trademark organic and chilling concoctions. TSHA's Flowers EP finds its conclusion with two more awesome and inspired collabs in "Renegade" and "Demba" featuring Ell Murphy and Trio Da Kali, respectively. Finally, after more than a year of anticipation and apparently five years in the making, The Vision's The Vision has come to fruition. With a handful of fabulous singles and countless killer collabs, it has the makings of an album of the year contender.

As for the aforementioned pleasant surprises, Sultan + Shepard start things off with another incredible EP on This Never Happened, continuing their ridiculously high-quality run of releases there. Another unstoppable pairing crops up next as Clarian returns to Anjunadeep with sublime Sunbeam. Staying with dynamic duos, Bonobo and TEED deliver a divine b-side to brilliant "Heartbreak." Rounding out the stunning selection of remixes of HiRUDiN, Octo Octa offers up an epic take on "Mountain Baby." The Prospa boys continue their incredible run with the classic vibes of "The Thrill," which after seeing a tweet say it sounds like Black Mirror's "San Junipero" I can't get out of my head. Finally, the playlist concludes with two top-notch remixes of The Shapeshifters' Billy Porter led "Finally Ready."

Stream this week's Enlightened Listening below and find each individual release linked at the bottom.

ASHE - Nocturne / Wintermute

Sultan + Shepard - Kelam

Clarian - Sunbeam

TSHA - Flowers

Bonobo & Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs - 6000 Ft.

Austra ft. Cecile Believe - Mountain Baby (Octo Octa's Contemplation Mix)

Prospa - The Thrill

The Vision - The Vision

The Shapeshifters ft. Billy Porter - Finally Ready (Remixes)

Enlightened Listening for June 26

While I said I was going to take the week off Bump In The Hump and blogging, I figured today was as good as any to break said 'promise.' However I will keep pretty close to it by simply listing this week's Enlightened Listening below, with no additional commentary. As usual it runs from generally lighter to heavier tracks, from rock/pop/disco to ever more banging house and DnB. Have a great weekend!

HAIM - Women In Music Pt. III

Jessie Ware - What's Your Pleasure?

Breakbot - Be Mine Tonight

The Shapeshifters - Finally Ready (ft. Billy Porter)

DSK - What Would We Do (The Reflex Revision)

Midas Hutch - Freeze

Motez & Qrion - Slow Down

Amtrac - Stratego (Mindchatter Remix)

PRAANA - Samasta / Quiver

Howling - Lover

Hot Since 82 - Eye Of The Storm (ft. Liz Cass)

Djumba Soundsystem & NenaHalena - Sagas Of Iziki / Chapter I

Various Artists - Odd Ones, Vol. 1

The Juan Maclean - Here In The Twilight

T.Raumschmiere / Voigt & Voigt - Speicher 111

Jaded - Bounce (VNSSA Remix)

Dr. Fresch - It Don't Stop

Flume & Toro y Moi - The Difference (High Contrast Remix)

Izo Fitzroy - Red Line (Dr Meaker Remix)

Metrik - Ex Machina

Orbital - Chime (Pimms Bmore Remix)

Bristol and Brighton cross paths on my latest find from Soundcloud's The Upload feature. It sees the former's Freddy Pimms taking on the latter's seminal classic "Chime" by groundbreaking duo Orbital. Originally released in 1989, the Hartnoll brothers' acid house offering has received countless remixes, edits and covers from the likes of The Shapeshifters, Joey Beltram and others. Here Pimms relights its rave resplendence with a Baltimore breakbeat remix. While certainly taking place in the same soundscape, this new direction gives "Chime" a largely novel feel. The new bounce from both the bmore bassline and propulsive percussion keep the track feeling fresh and fun, while the familiar core of "Chime" grounds the experience in nostalgia. Personally, I find this mix particularly nostalgic as I have a fondness for both bmore and breaks - two of my earliest loves in electronic music. They work quite well with "Chime" and Pimms has certainly taken advantage of that fact. Get it free now here.FOLLOW ORBITAL: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER
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Enlightened Listening for February 28

I'm not certain but this is likely the largest edition of Enlightened Listening ever. Stretching across nearly 80 tracks and over six hours, it features five albums and has its fair share of groovers and bangers.

The first two albums, Daktyl's UNREALITY and Caribou's Suddenly, have had me waiting with bated breath and show off both artists' incredible and thoughtful craftsmanship. The same can be said for the third album in the playlist, Tycho's Simulcast, although I can't say I was aware of its immanence. As to be expected with Tycho, it is utterly gorgeous and warm, preparing us for the long summer days that lie ahead. Turning more electronic and jacking up the funky groove meter, Wajatta's (the combination of Reggie Watts & John Tejada) sophomore album is sensational and sure to inspire more than a smile or two. Equally uplifting and groovy, Yuksek's feature-laden NOSSO RITMO will be undeniable at beach parties everywhere.

Speaking of outdoor events, I hope Sébastien Léger is one of the artists TBA at the All Day I Dream event in Toronto July 18th (here). His third EP for them is another amazing one, as mystical and moving as ever. Picking up with a more driving beat, Colyn comes through Rose Avenue Records with two powerful cinematic numbers. Even more driving, HUNTER reconnects with Roshin for fat joint "Floating." The enigmatic genius of Prins Thomas follows that up with a gritty growler in "Graut" which also receives a wicked and warped remix from Fango. Bridging the gap from the techno to the DnB that's still to come are two unreal originals from HomeSick in "Ampgain" and "Closer."

Immediately capturing my attention, J Majik lives up to his name with a godly remix of Joris Voorn's "Messiah." Flames erupt as Brookes Brothers and Kove follow that with the irresistible Kathy Brown led "Burn." Things really get lit with the return of 13 who is followed by a record I cannot say enough about, SBK.'s "One Man." I know we're still just in the second month of the year but I'm positive it will be in my best of the year list. Another man who is sure to find himself in year end lists is Apashe who delivers another ridiculous single ahead of Renaissance. Turning towards house, BROHUG brings us to the final true banger of this playlist, unhinged heater "Party Out."

Making the transition from house to disco both in the playlist itself and in a single track, CastNowski's "Deep Down" is fabulously funky fun. Next up in that same vein is Mercer who drops a dope bass-line on Bob Sinclar's "I Feel For You." Moving more organic, Duck Sauce's "Get To Steppin" leads us right into our finale, The Shapeshifters' follow up to "Life Is A Dancefloor," the sublime "Second Chance."


Daktyl - UNREALITY

Caribou - Suddenly

Tycho - Simulcast

Wajatta - Don't Let You Get Down

Yuksek - NOSSO RITMO

Sébastien Léger - Secrets

Colyn - Concepts Of Love

HUNTER - Floating (ft. Roshin)

Prins Thomas - Graut

HomeSick - Closer

Joris Voorn ft. HÆLOS - Messiah (J Majik Remix)

Brookes Brothers & Kove - Burn (ft. Kathy Brown)

13 - Atomic

SBK. - One Man

Apashe - Work (ft. Young Buck)

BROHUG - Party Out

CastNowski - Deep Down

Bob Sinclar - I Feel For You (Mercer Remix)

Duck Sauce - Get To Steppin

The Shapeshifters - Second Chance (ft. Kimberly Davis)

Throwback Thursday: The Shapeshifters - Lola's Theme

Fifteen years ago this month the then duo of The Shapeshifters unleashed the undeniable majesty of "Lola's Theme" on the world." In fact tomorrow marks the 15th anniversary of its immediate chart topping success in the UK. Jacking up a Johnnie Taylor sample from the 1982 track "What About My Love," Simon Marlin and Max Reich added vocals from Cookie and one of the world's most played disco house tracks was born. Not only was its success sweeping, but its groove certainly could be described as such as well. It is a spinning in ecstacy type production and has spawned countless remixes and recastings, in large part thanks to the captivating quality of its epic orchestra-like allure. In fact as I write this I'm listening to Spotify's playlist of tracks named "Lola's Theme" and I barely noticed a difference as Pete Tong, Jules Buckley and The Heritage Orchestra's version played.

Watch the original video and find a few of my favourite versions (minus Prydz) in Spotify playlist below.

Enlightened Listening for May 12

A couple days late, but these tracks absolutely had to be shared. This week's Enlightened Listening gets underway with The Shapeshifters and Chic vocalist Kimberly Davis and the brilliant, biting brass of Glitterbox joint "Life Is A Dancefloor." Up next Paul Woolford unleashes an exceptional piano-led take on Hot Chip's heater "Hungry Child." The unstoppable force of Kölsch then ups the intensity with his remix of "Stella." Leading us further towards techno with a touch of midtempo, mau5trap once again wows with their recent releases through Sian's Ultraviolet EP 1.0. Marking the midway point in the playlist, Dimitri Veimar dazzles with 3 new originals alongside Dean Grenier's remix of the EP's title track "Planet." Changing gears, Pham returns with a diverse and delectable mixtape in Nostalgia. And indeed it is nostalgia you get upon seeing the title of Madeaux's massive "Black Magic Woman," a production worthy of one Carlos Santana. Next up Ninajirachi gives "303" some much needed movement, progression and captivating sound design, taking it from blah to banger. Finally, Night Bass bring us seven bangers worthy of their high standard; standouts include: "Desert Moon," "Killers" and "Fresh Prince." Enjoy everything below and find releases linked individually after the playlist.

The Shapeshifters - Life Is A Dancefloor (ft. Kimberly Davis)

Hot Chip - Hungry Child (Paul Woolford Sunrise Mix)

Jam & Spoon - Stella (Kölsch Remix)

Sian - Ultraviolet EP 1.0

Dimitri Veimar - Planet EP

Pham - Nostalgia

Madeaux - Black Magic Woman

Anna Lunoe - 303 (Ninajirachi Remix)

Various Artists - This Is Night Bass: Vol. 8

Mousse T. ft. Cleah - Melodie (Tensnake Remix)

Friday marked the release of a trio of remixes of veteran German producer Mousse T.'s "Melodie" featuring vocalist Cleah. Joining the package that includes his own 'disco shizzle' remix are equally adept artists in The Shapeshifters and Tensnake; the former providing a pristine, ringing remix with the latter laying down a more luxurious, almost loungy groove. Always the author of breathtaking beauty, Tensnake's take on "Melodie" buoys Cleah's already ethereal vocals into clouds of cashmere with his sublime sound design. That said, the design is nothing without captivating chords and potent placement, both of which appear throughout Tensnake's remix. Slow burning brilliance through warm risers and directional drums keep the nearly seven minute cruising with no chance of boredom. Get all the remixes of "Melodie" for stream and download via Mousse T.'s own Peppermint Jam Records, here.FOLLOW MOUSSE T.: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER
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