Greg Wilson - Live At WOMADelaide Festival

Somehow Mondays continue to be a difficult as ever, so instead of forcing myself to find a new release to write about I've decided to return to the always awesome and reliable work of Greg Wilson. The legend's mailout arrived in my inbox today showcasing his "Last Festival 'Til When?" blog post and what may end up being both his first and last festival set of the year. Just over two months ago, immediately before the global lockdown took hold, Wilson took the stage at WOMADelaide Festival in Botanic Park in Adelaide.

Spanning nearly two hours, the set is full of upbeat and uplifting disco, funk and soul classics as well as its fair share of more recent releases in said sphere. The likes of Poolside and Todd Terje lead the mix to the tune of their "Harvest Moon" and "Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes," respectively. Even more trusted names follow as the mix really starts to soar with Late Nite Tuff Guy, Psychemagik and Dr Packer waiting in the wings. The latter appears a couple times, but I'm most drawn to his seemingly unreleased take on The Spinners "I'll Be Around," which appears around the 47 minute mark. As always with Wilson's mixes, there's gems like that galore and who couldn't use an extra shot of Prince, the Gibson Brothers or Chic in their life? Treat yourself to the effortless ease and glorious grooves of this mix (along with free download) and follow Greg Wilson through both his socials and blog below.FOLLOW GREG WILSON: BLOG FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER

Backstage with Elazion and Odesho

Thursday night marked two firsts for me as I joined Elazion on his podcast. It was both my first podcast and my first time as the guest in an interview. In the nearly hour and a half conversation we touched on several subjects, mostly around my role as a radio host and blogger, but of course we dive deeper into a wider swath. There's a fair amount of insight into my process and history, as well as a ton of recommendations which I'll detail below. Get the episode on iTunes, Stitcher, Castbox & others here.
Recommendations, in the order they arise in the episode...

DJ Flipout/Skratch Bastid/Red Bull 3Style: DJ/MC associated with both Virgin Radio Vancouver and the Red Bull 3Style DJ competition. DJ/Global Ambassador for the Red Bull 3Style DJ competition. Both great Twitter follows.

Repost-Toggle for Soundcloud: An Chrome extension I use to streamline my feed.

Nero - Symphony 2808: My first encounter with electronic music re-imagined in an orchestral/symphonic format.

Pete Tong, Jules Buckley & The Heritage Orchestra - Ibiza Prom: The start of Pete Tong's venture into the orchestral realm, with a studio album of this concert (here) and two more after (below).

Pete Tong Ibiza Classics: A second orchestral album of re-imagined Ibiza classics.

Pete Tong - Chilled Classics: A third orchestral album with a mix of original productions and classic re-imaginings.

Ed Banger 15: Orchestral versions of classic Ed Banger releases celebrating their 15th anniversary. See live concert here.

Yanni: An incredible composer/producer/etc. Countless fantastic tracks and albums, but his live The Concert Event album was the one that hooked me, even better enjoyed if you watch the live videos.

Skratch Bastid & Afiara Quartet - Spin Cycle: A brilliant experiment combining scratching and strings. Also best enjoyed with accompanying video. See full concert at Koerner Hall here.

Skratch Bastid - Kenny Rodgers Tributes: Pretty self explanatory. Turntable tributes to The Gambler. First video here and a followup here.

Porter Robinson Monstercat Showcase: My peak Porter enjoyment. One of my favourite mixes of all-time.

Knife Party Essential Mix: One of the most incredible debut sets/Essential Mixes. Peak Knife Party.

Score: A Film Music Documentary: A fantastic doc on some of the major players in "the world's most widely known music genre" with interviews from John Williams, Danny Elfman, Hans Zimmer, etc.

Queen Of The South: One of my favourite TV shows, scored by Giorgio Moroder.

Breaking Bad/Better Call Saul: Incredible music direction. Particularly in the montage scenes. Two stand out in particular, at least in recent memory, both from Better Call Saul. BADBADNOTGOOD - Can't Leave The Night and Todd Terje - Alfonso Muskedunder.

The Wire: Every time I think back to the month or two it took me to binge it, I'm filled with nostalgia and the desire to relive what is widely considered to be the best TV show ever.

Explained - Music: Incredible, informative and logic-based mini doc on music. Narrated by Carly Rae Jepsen and featuring TOKiMONSTA.

The Nature Of Things - Sonic Magic: The Wonder and Science of Sound: Another incredible documentary, detailing the magic behind music and its multi-sensory qualities.

It's All Gone Pete Tong: The 'true story' of a DJ who goes deaf, but continues to produce through vibrations.

Daft Punk, Nile Rodgers, Pharrell, & Stevie Wonder: Perhaps my favourite ever Grammy performance.

The Night: A Nero 'side-project' between Alana Watson and Dan Stephens. Meanwhile Joseph Ray is doing solo work under his own name.

Bump In The Hump: Season 9 Intro

Seemingly long overdue, the ninth season of Bump In The Hump is finally set to premiere in its normal timeslot (Wednesdays 7-9 PM ET) this week. With the new season comes a reworked intro (below) and logo (above). Once again I've utilized some of my favourite tracks from the previous season, while keeping bits and pieces from intros of yore. In this intro you'll find the likes of Kotek, Ryan Hemsworth, thook, The Kount, Chromeo and of course Todd Terje and The Olsens.

As always the focus of Bump in The Hump remains on the latest and greatest in electronic and dance from across our vast country. Imitating the expansive and inclusive nature of our incredible homeland, the music showcased each week comes in all different shapes and sizes. In any given episode you're likely to hear acid-tinged techno, divine disco, menacing midtempo, fabulous funk, diabolic dubstep, hearty house, and/or delirium-inducing drum and bass, often back to back. It's always a party in itself  and will set you up for a weekend of partying, showcasing countless events happening across the 6ix.

With the last 'new' episode of Bump In The Hump stretching back to August 28th, there's no shortage of new material for me to wade through, so expect the next few episodes to be jam packed with incredible tunes. I'll be teasing more in the coming days, but until then check out the new intro below. Cheers!FOLLOW OGGIE JAMES: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER

Thanksgiving Throwbacks

After an uneventful scroll through my Soundcloud feed this morning, I changed gears to focus on tracks not released this year, but indeed played an immense role in my year. So here's a quick taste of some throwback tracks that I'm awfully thankful for. Enjoy via playlist and read brief descriptions below.

Shina Williams - Agb'oju L'ogun
First heard in an Erol Alkan mix. Minimal yet massive, majestic groove-fest.

Poolside - Harvest Moon
First heard in a Greg Wilson mix. As if Neil Young recorded the original on a moon. Weightless wonder.

Turbotito and Phillipi & Rodrigo - Canção Para Laia (JKriv Remix)
First heard in a Kölsch playlist. Brilliant blend of techno, acid, and funky electronic grooves.

The Salsoul Orchestra - Salsoul Rainbow (Dimitri From Paris DJ Friendly Classic Re-Edit)
First heard in Horse Meat Disco's Essential Mix. Sublime strings, godly grooves in a pure disco delight.

Ignition - Sunday Secret Lover (Greg Wilson Edit)
Can't exactly remember where I came across this, but I feel like someone asked about it on Twitter, inciting me to look it up myself. My favourite Greg Wilson edit, in large part due to the section at 2:42.

Michael McDonald - Sweet Freedom (Live)
First heard this version on PBS' Soundstage, but it was the 12" version that got me hooked. I've always enjoyed MM's voice but it's the horn riffs that kept me coming back. My favourite track to throw on as I'm walking home, whistling and singing all the way.

Average White Band - Pick Up The Pieces
Another one first heard in a Greg Wilson mix, although it feels so familiar. Can't help but get lost in this funky groove. Very few tracks induce such a confident strut the way this does.

Todd Terje & The Olsens - Baby Do You Wanna Bump
Right up there with my favourites song of the year, so it's weird I can't remember where I first heard it, although I feel it was another Erol Alkan nod. Cannot get enough this groove or the horns. Top Terje.

Paul McCartney - What's That You're Doing (ft. Stevie Wonder)
Another one first heard in Horse Meat Disco's Essential Mix. Jumped out at me immediately, like "damn, I need this" only to have jaw drop to find out it was McCartney. One of the funkiest riffs ever.

Bump In The Hump: Season 8 Intro

As you've likely heard by now, the new eighth season of Bump In The Hump premieres tomorrow on Radio Humber. I've already posted the new accompanying promos and video, made by Javon Anderson and Joseph Kan respectively (here), but if you're a keen observer you'll note one of the biggest components on the season changes is the new intro. Well here it is, comprised of music released during the seventh season with a few cheeky samples. There's bits and pieces from: Bito, Chromeo, Cloverdale, The Funk Hunters, The Gibbs, Kotek, LIINKS, OSOTYT, thook, Todd Terje and The Olsens, with individual tracks linked on the Soundcloud page here. Check it out below and enjoy!Catch the Bump In The Hump premiere tomorrow night from 7-9 PM EDT, live via Radio Humber.

Greg Wilson - Credit To The Edit 3

When it comes to disco edits, there aren't many more trustworthy names than Greg Wilson. Not only are his yearly "20 Choice Edits And Reworks" lists of undeniable quality, but his own edits offer up the same strength of free flowing fun and genius groove work. This past Friday we were treated to a ten-pack compilation, the third in the Credit To The Edit series, and first since 2009. Like the two previous installations, which hosted exceptional edits of 1gnition, Roxy Music, Yello, Chic and others, this too brings electro- and italo-disco to the likes of Psychemagik, The Chakachas, and more.The first track "Glad To Know You" is perhaps a DJ's greatest friend, an edit of an edit, from the always excellent Todd Terje; a perfect opener, not just for the compilation but indeed a party. The party picks up and threatens to go all night with the nonstop playfulness of "Cocaine Blues." Things only get bigger and more eventful with "Hold On" as the acid slowly eats away at the classic grooves. "Jungle Fever" further fills the fun quota with a sublime slow burner with plenty of brass breadth. Things then get twisted with the funky filter fest that is "Change The Beat." And this really kicks off the more electronic tilted second half of the release.

"Mink And Shoes" is rife with wicked and wild wobbles that is sure to infect everyone it comes in contact with its alien appeal. We stay high in the sky for "Magic Fly" which offers up more interstellar ecstasy, as Wilson and Peza punch up the groove of the classic Space track. The following track "Bad Times" opposes the previous instrumental perfectly, offering up the incredible performance of Captain Rapp on top of a more full foundation than the already ingenious original. The penultimate track "Crystal World" is about as fun, funky and cool as it gets. The drums, bass, strings, and horns all ooze with an exceptional energy and groove. And finally "Wonky Baseline Disco Banger" is exactly what disco edits are all about, it is just surefire fun, that shirks all pop music norms and delivers a dance all day groove.

After nearly a decade without a Credit To The Edit package, and disco undeniably on the rise, this couldn't have come at a better time. Be sure to follow Greg Wilson and pick up the album via iTunes.

FOLLOW GREG WILSON: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER

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.