Enlightened Listening for August 7 (Spotify Edition)

As mentioned in my previous post, the August 7th Bandcamp edition of Enlightened Listening, I've made two versions of the weekly release playlist with this one coming from Spotify. Here I've organized the 16 releases with the hopes of the 38 tracks playing out cohesively. There's numerous incredible remixes, several strong originals and an absolutely fabulous album from House Gospel Choir. Enjoy the playlist below, find each individual release linked at the bottom and have a great weekend!

Austra - I Am Not Waiting (Claptone Remix)

Jessie Ware - What's Your Pleasure? (Georgia Remix)

Myd - Together We Stand (Remixes)

House Gospel Choir - My Zulu

Amtrac - Between The Lines (Zimmer Remixes)

Sub Focus & Wilkinson - Air I Breathe

René LaVice & Jess Young - Bad Luck

Goldroom & Moontown - Guess I'm Jaded (The Remixes)

Jonas Blue & MAX - Naked (Armand Van Helden Remix)

Loud Luxury - Cold Feet (Cat Dealers Remix)

CamelPhat ft. Yannis - Hypercolour (Patrice Bäumel Remix)

Eelke Kleijn - Woodstock (Hernan Cattaneo & Soundexile Remix)

Mercer - Lemonade

Volac - Muchacho

BROHUG - Stealth

Lowdown - Ghetto Poetry

Enlightened Listening for February 7

After an epic six hour edition of Enlightened Listening last week, we've got a tight hour this week. It features an easy-going poppy intro moving through deep-house and disco before closing with club cuts and bass/g-house bangers.

Just before going to bed last night I caught the first new Bearcubs in a while and immediate fell for its sublime subtlety, which reminded me of SBTRKT. "Overthinking" is followed by another return from hiatus in Jack Garratt's "Time." Moving and beautiful it is exactly the kind of song that recaptures the love and passion Garratt incited in his fans. Captivating vocals continue to rule the roost as Amtrac glides in with glorious glistening groove "Accountable."

Phaeleh then follows with a touch of two-step which borders brilliantly between easy-going and energizing. Much like "Unity," Rylan Taggart's EP on This Never Happened is as enjoyable lying in bed as it is in the club. Staying hot Mat Zo is back on Anjunabeats with percussion-led affair "The Next Chapter."

The page then turns as disco enters via my favourite track of the list in Alan Fitzpatrick's fantastic Fully Charged Mix of Patrice Rushen. More piano power comes in as Yuksek graces Glitterbox for a gorgeous take on Risk Assessment. Bridging the gap between the hard hitting house still to come and the aforementioned disco, GRiZ gets funky with a club mix of "Could U" on Night Bass.

Finally it's time for fire and VOLAC brings us there, even if slightly understated, with the bumpy ride that is "Baby Boy." Stumbling towards the end of this Enlightened Listening, Walker & Royce get sneaky with their sick remix of "Loaded." Finally it's time to pay the tab as BIJOU makes it rain with menacing cut "Benjamins." Find everything via playlist below with individual links at the bottom. Enjoy!

Bearcubs - Overthinking (ft. narou)

Jack Garratt - Time

Amtrac - Accountable

Phaeleh - Unity

Rylan Taggart - Sail

Mat Zo - The Next Chapter (ft. GQ)

Patrice Rushen - Haven't You Heard (Fitzy's Fully Charged Mix)

Risk Assessment ft. Jemeni G - Remember Me (Yuksek Remix)

GRiZ - Could U (Club Mix)

VOLAC - Baby Boy

Destructo & Yo Gotti - Loaded (Walker & Royce Remix)

BIJOU - Benjamins (ft. Wifisfuneral)

Enlightened Listening for December 7

Here we are with another fantastic Friday of releases. This week's Enlightened Listening includes the likes of a couple killer EPs from Botnek and Volac, bass brilliance from LSDREAM and WHIPPED CREAM, and a long awaited collab from Slumberjack and TroyBoi. Listen/read below and enjoy!

Qrion - Pending Matters
The track she was using as an intro to her GAF tour. Beautiful and expansive. Can't help but feel a Jacques Greene vibe and lord knows that's a good thing.

Friendly Fires - Heaven Let Me In (Melé Remix)
Spoiler alert: The original is in my top 100, but this new version make take its spot and send it even higher in the standings. Melé's absolutely nailed the vibe and given us even more to groove to.

Bob Moses - Heaven Only Knows (FaltyDL Remix)
Love the dirty, dark vibes brought in for this mix, especially as they play again the piano chords.

LSDREAM - Shadow Self
Whatever moniker he uses, Sami Diament always puts his heart and soul into his productions. Clearly the case here, this isn't just a brilliant banger but a slice of modern humanity. I feel like LSDREAM and WHIPPED CREAM are on the same wavelength and the prospect of a collab is something I cannot get out of my head. Hopefully this note is enough for me to speak it into existence.

Slumberjack x TroyBoi - Solid
Speaking of killer collabs, when I first heard this at the TroyBoi/Slumberjack show over a year ago it was clear this was a weapon. Now in full form we're realizing the full force of Slumberjack's dope drum design and TroyBoi's top notch twists and turns.

Botnek - Can't Remember
After nearly calling it quits, Botnek really seem to have found their form with this new deeper house sound. As you would expect the collab with Aylen is all kinds of crazy.

Volac - Funky
Holy huge EP. Both tracks are absolutely massive floor fillers. Tech house quality design with just the right amount of funk and off-kilter groove to keep you entertained.

WHIPPED CREAM - Luv
While she calls this something different, it really feels like we're getting the most genuine WHIPPED CREAM to date. That said, it's almost impossible to pin down this track, but maybe that's what she's getting at.

Yultron - Slave To The Rave
Absolutely jacking stuff. A banger among a list of bangers. If you haven't lost your head yet wait for the second drop.

Bump In The Hump Sneak Peek: Angelz - Devils Remixes

The quality content coming from Quebec continues to fill Bump In The Hump. One of that province's most promising producers, Angelz is quite simply blowing up. He's been identified by boss-men Tchami, with releases on Confession, and Diplo with a Diplo & Friends mix, April 30th. His most recent enterprise is an expansive 8 track remix EP. "Devils" is remixed by the likes of LO'99, Noise Frenzy, and label mate Volac, as well as another I'll be playing tonight. Stream the remixes below & buy here. Along with Angelz, tonight's episode of Bump In The Hump is built up of some of the most moody, wonkiest, and bassiest tracks in its six season history. Among numerous artist debuts from across the country, you'll hear Internet Daughter & Eytan Tobin's latest collaboration, which was crafted during their still ongoing tour of Asia. There's also new Neon Steve, CYMN and Autoerotique. You can stream the hour of new Canadian music that is Bump In The Hump, live 6 PM EDT on Radio Humber here.

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Destructo & Volac - What I Got

Russian duo Volac have teamed up with don of west coast deepness, Destructo to create an edgy, grind it out, house number that further propels the combination of rap and hip-hop vocals with deep bass house grooves. Destructo has been cultivating this style for the last couple years, along with the likes of Dr. Fresch and Night Bass Records. "What I Got" is yet a further example of the quality that can come out this pairing of slick, intimidating vocals and stormy, ominous production. It almost has a bit of a callback to bloghaus, in its rough sound design, built around gritty vocals, à la "Beeper" or "Hustler."

Certainly the scene at large has changed, as well as the expectations of the particular sounds and their delivery, but if we were to hear "What I Got" 10 years ago, I imagine it would fit in fairly well. Perhaps the biggest differences between this and a decade prior, is its slightly more refined digital sound design, and its dependence on deeper drums to drive the groove. "What I Got" succeeds in combining scratching effects, an ever growing atmosphere of intimidation, and a surefire shuffling groove. It commands attention while not being overly needy, it just bumps along doing its thing. Whether two hours or 10 years old, "What I Got" is a potent production, that I'm sure will garner a lot of club play. Pick up what Destructo and Volac got, for free via The Artist Union, here.

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