Lettice Rowbotham & Fenna Rhodes - Wave (Youngr Bootleg)

Tremendously multitalented Manchester product, Youngr is at it again with another awe-inspiring bootleg. Performed entirely on his Roland Fantom (see video below), Dario Darnell once again presses all the right buttons, firing off the drum, cymbal, string and synth samples with playful precision.

"Wave," by Lettice Rowbotham and Fenna Rhodes, features gripping violin, immaculate vocals and indeed a deft electronic backing, and Youngr does a dutiful job at keeping the soul of said original alive and well. That said, this new version of "Wave" is decidedly more electronic, more groovy and more dancefloor-filling. The vocals and violin continue to serve as the punctuating highlights, but the new underlying electronics take "Wave" to new energizing heights. The fun of this bootleg is undeniable and, especially if you're watching the video, utterly infectious.

Play along with Youngr below, get a free download of the "Wave" bootleg via Soundcloud and be sure to follow his socials (at the bottom) for more! 

FOLLOW YOUNGR: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER YOUTUBE

Top 100 Tracks Of 2020: 75-51

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

#75: Aluna - Body Pump (Sammy Virji Remix)

The more I think about this, the more I realize this is likely my favourite use of Aluna vocals. Her incredible versatility and dynamism work wonders on this ridiculously groovy bed. The track rolls on wonderfully throughout, but the real win comes in the final minute and a half as Aluna and Sammy really let loose. The former feeding her inner diva and the latter letting the brass bustle.

#74: Polaris - Distant

Much like "Kessel Run" in last year's list, Polaris stays stellar with rapturous piano and scintillating percussion. A blinding rush through star systems, this is as dreamy and divine as any of the tracks in this list - the first of many DnB tracks to crack the Top 100.

#73: Lifelike & Kris Menace - Discopolis 2.0 (Youngr Funkapolis Bootleg)

The way Youngr brings out the best of the classics he flips is simply stunning. Laying down a sick new drum bed is just the start as the guitars eventually guide the Lifelike & Kris Menace creation to funky new heights. It hits on all cylinders, never compromising the quality of the original while adding an awesome new spin and lush life.

#72: Caribou - Never Come Back (Four Tet Remix)

The quality of the original is forefront in this mix and maybe in a year in which clubs aren't closed, it supersedes the original. However, any chance at properly enjoying this in an all too crowded and sweaty club was foiled. That said, Four Tet has not disappointed with this dynamic and driving delivery. Its energy is utterly infectious and its breakdowns truly breathtaking. It's as if the original were bitten by a werewolf and this remix is its transformation.

Caribou - Never Come Back (Youngr Live Cover)

If somehow you've managed to remain woefully unaware of the tremendous talent that is Manchester's Dario Darnell, aka Youngr, I'm here to set you straight. Quite simply put Youngr has been on a hot streak all year. In January he authored a 10 track album of originals in Memories and recently followed that with a brilliant bootleg project in which he takes on the likes of Lifelike x Kris Menace, Autoerotique, Phats & Small and several others. While listening to the productions themselves is a fun experience, the best way to witness Youngr's brilliance is through his live performances. Just as he shared a full live version of his Bootleg Mixtape, Vol. 01 (here), last week he appeared on ORLOVE's weekly series "Under The Covers" with a take on Caribou's "Never Come Back" (below).

Starting right from the opening vocal chops, Youngr covers the Caribou track in real-time. As you can hear in the Soundcloud version below, this is a rehearsed routine but one that still takes incredible skill, concentration and flexibility. Watching Youngr command countless instruments so seamlessly, and then play with their layering, is all kinds of awesome. The cover, which begins as a simple rebuild, quickly becomes a jam session as Darnell caresses the keys before firing off a flurry of fills on the drum kit. Sadly, it all ends quite quickly, inevitably leaving us hungry for more of his fabulously fun energy. So this is where I again recommend Youngr's incredible live performance of his Bootleg Mixtape, Vol. 01 (here), a tremendous feat by not just him but the camera crew, production team and other behind the scenes entities. An equally talented producer and performer, Youngr is undeniably one to watch going forward, especially as it seems like he's already working towards a follow-up to his Bootleg Mixtape with a new take on classic "2 People." Find Youngr's socials linked below and enjoy the ride!

Youngr · Never Come Back - Caribou - Youngr Bootleg Video Mix Audio 1.2

FOLLOW CARIBOU: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER

FOLLOW YOUNGR: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER

Enlightened Listening for August 14

The weeks continue to fly by and the mountains of new music continue to grow. This week's edition of Enlightened Listening features a pair of triumphant returns, several sensational singles, numerous killer collabs, another inspired slice from Hudson Mohawke and Sable Valley's massive debut compilation.

Kiesza's Crave marks the diva's first album since her traumatic 2017 car accident, and it's clear that she's come back stronger than ever. After going without an original in 2019, Marie Davidson is back to her old tricks with the sensational "Renegade Breakdown." Following the brilliant Brassica Crystal Sea EP last month, Feel My Bicep's followup Field Day delivers the kind of quality we've come to expect from the London label. More trustworthy labels follow as Ben Böhmer delivers another exceptional cut to Anjunadeep, and Lane 8 joins Yotto and his label Odd One Out.

Once again teaming up with Voicians, No Mana's "The Same Way" delivers electro ecstasy. Two dope, deep collabs follow that with "Love You Feel" and "Love Die" as the playlist heads into house. Upping the summer feels, Ibranovski's "Surfboard" and Goddexx's "Ask Me What I Need" are sure to make you move, while remixes from Plastic Plates and Youngr follow up with fabulous funky versions of "So Afraid" and "Discopolis 2.0," respectively.

Despite clamouring for more of Tiga and Hudson Mohawke's hardcore romance, the latter delivers the next best thing in his remix of twst, a track we first heard in their mix for Annie Mac. Another highly awaited release follows that as we get the final three quarters of Murlo's Primed For Primal. We're in full screw-face territory now as QUIX and Juelz link up for calamitous collab "Chicane." Finally it's fire on fire on fire with Sable Valley Summer Vol. 1 which is jam packed with weapons from RL Grime, Cozway, Holly, Jon Casey and more. Enjoy it all via playlist below and find individual releases at the bottom.

Kiesza - Crave

Marie Davidson & L'Œil Nu - Renegade Breakdown

DeFeKT & Extrawelt - Field Day

Ben Böhmer - Zeit & Raum

Yotto & Lane 8 - Buggy

No Mana - The Same Way (ft. Voicians)

Tom Budin & HI MOTIVE - Love You Feel

Good Times Ahead, Dave Nada & Tittsworth - Love Die (ft. KLA)

Ibranovski - Surfboard

Goddexx - Ask Me What I Need

Amtrac ft. Alex Metric - So Afraid (Plastic Plates Remix)

Lifelike & Kris Menace - Discopolis 2.0 (Youngr Funkopolis Bootleg)

twst - Are You Listening (Hudson Mohawke Remix)

Murlo - Primed For Primal

QUIX & Juelz - Chicane

Various Artists - Sable Valley Summer Vol. 1