Enlightened Listening for July 30

It's the Friday of a long weekend, so without further ado, I present this week's Enlightened Listening. Sorted from light, light-hearted and groovy to heavy, deep and banging, the 16 releases feature countless trusted names, several pre-album singles, and yes, a trio of awesome Anjuna offerings. Finally, I will note that, while not in the playlist, the two tracks I wrote about earlier this week, "Don't Tread On Else Matters" and "Only One," are just as highly recommended as the rest of these fine productions. Stream now the new music playlist below with each individual release linked at the bottom.

Pusher - Back In Time

Wave Racer - Look Up To Yourself

Parcels - Comingback (Single Version)

il:lo - Cesta

Bob Moses & Elderbrook - Inner Light

Powel - Chapek 9

Amtrac - MIDI Ceremony

Franky Wah ft. AETHO - Should Have Seen It Coming (Yotto Remix)

CamelPhat & Yousef - April (12" Version)

Jerro - Presence

Kiimi - Ritual

CHVRCHES - Good Girls (Prospa Remix)

Baauer & RL Grime - Fallaway

Cerdin - Evocation / Pretend

Mozey & Rusko - Tings

Hudson Lee - Reflex Angle

Enlightened Listening for July 12

This is, without a doubt, the largest ever edition of Enlightened Listening, and as a result I simply cannot address each of the 25 releases individually nor will I list them below. That said I do believe this is perhaps the best playlist in terms of fluid listening, so dive into the 42 track, two hour and 42 minute new music extravaganza below. It opens with some bright summery tunes that should certainly get your toes tapping. The fourth track in changes the mood a bit, especially as it comes from Cassius. Directly after that, Chris Lorenzo utilizes the classic Masters At Work sample, once again proving its timeless quality in his dope deep delivery. A few tracks later we see Cloverdale drop off an exceptional EP on Dr. Fresch's young imprint. Staying with newly founded labels, the legendary Tommy Trash graces Botnek's World Famous Headquarters with the ridiculous "Ripper."

The mood of the playlist shifts after that, turning towards extended engrossing numbers from Clarian and Tinlicker, the former giving us a fantastic cinematic EP. Then, the surprise of this Enlightened Listening, Devo (yes, the "Whip It" group) deliver a supremely cool cut that doesn't seem at all out of place in this playlist. Staying cinematic, Canblaster comes through with a literal soundtrack piece made for a video here. Keys N Krates follow that with an 11 track beat tape ahead the second single from Wave Racer's forthcoming album. Things then turn DnB with a triple shot from our UK friends. The energy is obviously up following that as SYN continues to kill it, delivering a diabolic banger in "New Rave." Two more Canadian kids then follow that in Kraysh and ZABO, the former completing his Void EP. In a fire finale of sorts, the power pairing of Eprom and G Jones send us spiraling into infinity.

LIZ - Pandemonium

There are very few 'pop' artists I enjoy more than LIZ. Over the years she's tapped some talented producers to bring to life her incredible artistic vision. Favourites include: Djemba Djemba for "Underdogs" with RiFF RAFF, Lido for "Y2K," SOPHIE for "When I Rule The World," Henrik The Artist for "Wild Target," and Wave Racer for "Queen Of Me." Yesterday she did it again as she linked up with Grammy nominated Finnish producer, Nico Stadi whose credits include Justin Bieber, Lindsey Stirling and Goldroom, to name just a few.

"Pandemonium" does a great job of living up to its complex and crazy namesake with its wild sound design and onslaught of effects. That said Stadi does a masterful job of keep it all taught, in its short pop delivery. LIZ's lyrics mirror the groove and get down of the bouncy bed, bringing her trademark throwback fun and goofiness, never more apparent than in the line "I make it pop like a VHS." And while there's always room for experimentation and progression in an artistic ouvre, consistency in the world your art creates is the best reward for your fans. That's exactly what we get with the look for "Pandemonium" which arises at the end of the music video from her previous single, "Super Duper Nova." Stream via Soundcloud below, and purchase from your favourite outlet here.FOLLOW LIZ: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER

Time For Another Playlist

Upon the suggestion of Brayden of Audiation, I've decided it was time to make another playlist, and while I believe he was recommending a curated playlist on Spotify, that's not really what I'm about. My focus isn't even properly a true focus yet a scattered selection of just about everything under the ever growing dance and electronic umbrella. And while I've got nothing against Spotify, Soundcloud is still the place for discovery and uninterrupted listening experiences (although I've heard of people encountering ads I've never experienced them myself, perhaps due to my adblockers). Anyway, I've taken up this suggestion and put together a little list of new tracks that I enjoy and think you might too. Of course it runs from dubstep and trap, to future bass, techno and everything in between. So there should be something for everyone but perhaps not, whatever. Playlist and short write-ups below.
Those tracks with an asterisk are available for free download.

LIZ - Queen Of Me
Been wondering where Wave Racer has been lately and I guess this is our answer. You can't deny his influence in the rise of future bass and it's proof that classic future bass can still sound fantastic all these years later. Add LIZ's always enjoyable lyricism and flow and you've got a perfect pop production.

Clarian - Under The Gun (Tiga Remix)
Tiga always wins no matter what he's doing. The atmosphere of the opening is so strong, and the slow burning, groove build godly. I can't be the only one who feels a little Toto "Africa" in there, can I?

Robotaki - Together We're Screwed (ft. Nevve)
Not many mix real instrumentation and electronic influences together as well as Robotaki. Nevve's voice is spectacular, and the way it winds around all the elements of the drop is quite simply genius.

Wraz - Reefa
No that's not actually a rasta delivering the vocals, that's Motus. An incredible production reminding us of dub's homeland. Truthfully I'm not the biggest dub fan, but when it's done like this I can't turn away.

Monolith Slip - TOKUGAWA*
Bassline footwork with a bedsqueak twist? What is this glorious heaven I've stumbled into? Just wow.

Blaize - Boujee*
Just when you thought we were done with "Bad & Boujee" this banging bass/g-house flip finds just the right mix between the original's allure and a dope driving drop. Especially well placed vocal chops.

Hanz Zimmer - Time (Paradoks Edit)*
The undeniable majesty of Hanz Zimmer rebuilt around a shuffling deep house groove. The shimmering top line is what's sold me on Paradoks' new version. Playful yet full of poise.

Mikes Revenge - Fire*
The most unabashedly banging track in this list. But that's not to say it's all heavy and no heart. The ringing bells are beautiful, especially in opposition to the turnt trap delivery. The amalgam of all things heavy in each of the differing drops keeps you on your toes and leaves your head spinning.

Mary J. Blige - Just Fine (Baron Fields Rework)*
Deliciously funky and groovy flip with some stunning vocal chops and synth stabs. You're definitely going to have to give this more than one play to get the gist of what Baron's done with this. Wild.

Tiber - Good 4 U

I don't know what is it, but there's certainly something going on on the opposite side of the globe. Whether it's Flume, Slumberjack, or Anna Lunoe, there's always some awesome Aussie tunes being cooked up. This fact was something my pal Colin at FUXWITHIT addressed nearly 3 years ago here. While there's no particular essence to Australian electronic productions, there seems to be no shortage of quality content. One of the latest examples of that excellence comes from Geelong's Tiber.

"Good 4 U," the lead single from his upcoming Moments EP, is smooth, sexy and just a little bit dirty. There's elements of the fresh future bass vibes the likes of Wave Racer and What So Not were so well known for, built around some strong vocal production. And while I absolutely love the chords and chops that come together at 0:41, it's his heavier and more violent electronic explosion at 2:17 that takes this track up to an 11. "Good 4 U" is gold with just a hint of grit. Get your copy from Trench Records, here.FOLLOW TIBER: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER

Elley Duhé - Immortal (Snakehips Remix)

Back in December singer/songwriter Elley Duhé dropped her debut track "Immortal," which has gone on to garner more than a million plays on Soundcloud alone. This morning megastars Snakehips have added their own touch to the ear-worming awesomeness of "Immortal." Their energetic and eclectic mix of sounds and styles instantly grabbed me, reminding me Wave Racer's remix of their own track "All My Friends," as covered on this blog here. It's smooth, super sexy, and slightly spicy. The bed that Snakehips have built brings the bounce big time and just feels so incredibly comfortable, that I want to lay in it all day and night. If I owned a radio station, I'd be sure to have this playing multiple times a day, it has everything: catchy vocals, exciting instrumentation and a groove that just doesn't die.FOLLOW ELLEY DUHÉ: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER
FOLLOW SNAKEHIPS: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER

Best Tracks I Heard This Week

With this busy week of seeing Booka Shade and Grandtheft, and their openers Doorly and Pusher, respectively, I've been inundated with great tunes. Add to that the plethora of productions I hear on a regular day and I've got more music than I can handle. So I figured I'd throw together a playlist in honour of the massive week of music I've come across, or at least the ones on soundcloud. Enjoy!

Pusher ft. Mothica - Clear (Shawn Wasabi Remix)

The second official remix of Pusher's track "Clear" with Mothica, dropped today, one week ahead of the full remix EP's release on Black Butter Records. First Graves upped the intensity with rattling future bass slaps, now Shawn Wasabi has added his trademark kawaii sensibilities. Like the beyond brilliant lyrics, these remixes are great combinations of "so dark but delicate" and "rough around the edges" production from the original that lends so perfectly to both Graves and Shawn Wasabi's styles. I had thought Henrik The Artist's remix of Shawn Wasabi's "Burnt Rice" was the best combination of producers, but Wasabi's remix of Pusher and Mothica might just have upped the game. Pitting artists and tracks against each other is actually the opposite of the ethos of these tracks. These artists share the same taste and often share each others tracks. Most recently I caught Pusher pressing play on Henrik The Artist's "Lose You" during his set at Bestival. In fact my dream lineup would feature those three alongside Mija, Vindata, Mura Masa, Flume, Ryan Hemsworth, Chet Porter, Lido, LH4L, Danny L Harle, Dombresky, SteLouse, and Wave Racer. If only I had to power to bring all these people together; that's the dream. Anyway, get excited for next Friday, as there's sure to be even more exciting remixes of the already incredible "Clear."

SUPPORT PUSHER: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER
SUPPORT MOTHICA: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER
SUPPORT SHAWN WASABI: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER

Strider White - Future Paradise

While Friday was full of fanfare for an overwhelming number of big name releases, such as Keys N Krates' Midnite Mass, Flume's "Never Be Like You," and Brillz' Geekin' Remixes, to name a few, a rising star from Edmonton, Strider White, quietly dropped off a free three track EP, Future Paradise.

Strider, who has been releasing tracks since this time in 2014, has seen a growth in his style and sound, and assuredly his production capabilities. Finding influences from Datsik, Wu-Tang Clan and more evident in Future Paradise, the likes of Mord Fustang, Wave Racer and Pusher. The first track "Once Again" has the feels of a Keys N Krates, Alison Wonderland, or even a Flume production, with floating ethereal synths contrasted with hard hitting percussion. The vocals samples evoke spine tingling chills as it's listeners embark on a cosmic journey. The dreamlike voyage hits a speed-bump with the start of the second track "V P R W V E," that ups the intensity and tempo, in some sort of interstellar Nintendo themed melee; the Wave Racer and Pusher influences are front and center. Rife with 8-bit Nintendo samples, the playful production is rapid and raucous. It's the perfect combination of Jersey Club, Kawaii and future beats; its many movements and manipulations make it so adventurous, fresh and new while remaining familiar and ever so comfortable. The final track "With U" leaves that comfort behind in favour of bent and dissonant, alien synth warbles, essentially book-ending the EP, letting you down easy with this lounge inspired chill-out. The continuity and storytelling of Future Paradise is simply sublime, showcasing the range and artistry in Strider White's arsenal. Be sure to grab your copy of the EP free and check out more of his eclectic and ever growing catalog.

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Snakehips ft. Tinashe & Chance The Rapper - All My Friends (Wave Racer Remix)

Australian DJ and producer, Wave Racer, has followed up with Flash Drive EP with a swanky remix of Snakehips' sensational single, "All My Friends," featuring both Tinashe and Chance The Rapper. The original has garner support from all over the scene and has seen a number of remixes from the likes of 99 Souls, PREP, and MVJESTY. Personally, my favourite is the Wave Racer version; easy listening, catchy and just the right production for Wave Racer's unique, bright, bouncy and bumping style. Between the jumping bassline, bright bell chime sounds, popping bubble fills, video game sound effects clips, and echoing vocal manipulations, Wave Racer has absolutely hit this remix out of the park. There are very few producers whose catalogue is entirely 4 and 5 stars in my iTunes library but it seems Wave Racer is incapable of producing anything even close to mediocre. Whether it's original productions like "Stoopid," "Streamers," or "Bubble Wrap," or a remix like "Always," "Stand Still," or "Ryan Must Be Destroyed," that sparkling Wave Racer sound that is so utterly infectious, makes everything better.

Monday Mashed Up Mix #2

Each Monday I post a little mix of less than 30 minutes for your listening pleasure. It contains a variety of electronic music mixed and mashed up to varying degrees. The music is always first and foremost while DJing and mixing skills are meant to take a back seat. It includes some brand new stuff but also some forgotten gems and whatever it was that had entered my consciousness. I'll be hosting them on my Dropbox page for your listening and downloading pleasure, MONDAY MASHED UP MIX VOL 2. You can find the tracklisting and links for each track after the break...