Enlightened Listening for December 4

It's the tenth and final Bandcamp day of 2020, and once again they're waving their revenue share until midnight PST. Below I've cataloged (alphabetically) 16 new releases as part of this all Bandcamp edition of Enlightened Listening. Of course, I'm recommending this entire eclectic collection of releases, but I'll briefly showcase a select few next.

Leading the way, akaMatisse, the keys of Keys N Krates, launches his first solo release in fabulous fashion - perfect for a rainy or snowy day. Following right behind that, TEED stays hot with a wicked groovy remix of Darkstar. Further down the list, we find one of my most anticipated releases of the year in Kotek's Sonoglyph Pt. 2, which further illustrates his inimitable talent and approach. Staying with top-notch Canadians, Nathan Micay's mark on the new HBO show Industry is indelible as he's scored the soundtrack, and it's out now on LuckyMe. Immediately after that is the title track from OAKK's forthcoming EP WAARP, which drops in full on December 11th. Finally, Zeds Dead deliver 10 'new' tracks from their vaults (originally made sometime between 2008/9).

akaMatisse - On My Way To Heaven

Darkstar - Text (Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs Remix)

The Emanations - The Love

Kitchen Cynics - Beads Upon An Abacus

Kotek - Sonoglyph Pt. 2

Kuma - Null And Void

L Nix - DNB Selections Vol.01

Luke Sentric - Ingredients

Melleefresh & dj genderfluid - I Want You

Nathan Micay - Industry

OAKK - WAARP

Sebastian Knight - Hit It Remixes, Pt. 1

Substance - Plants

Ticklish - Reboots Vol. 9

Tripzy Leary - Vibrations

Zeds Dead - THE LOST TAPES VOL. 1

Four Tet - 🔴🌏⭕🔵🌕📀🌍⚫💿🌎🐦🐧🐤🌎💿⚫🌍📀🌕🔵⭕🌏🔴

On one hell of a roll, Kieran Hebden, aka Four Tet, continues to churn out mesmerizing productions at a dizzying rate. Just last week, he dropped a divine remix of Krust's "Negative Returns" and since authored the followup to his 2011 collaboration with Burial & Thom Yorke in vinyl-only release Her Revolution / His Rope. But that's not all, Friday he's set to be featured as part of a 40-piece locked groove, charity compilation in support of the ACLU and Liberty UK. Alongside the likes of HAIM, Mura Masa, Overmono, Skrillex and others, the compilation features 1.8-second (one bar) circular grooves that repeat until the needle is raised. However, this is not the loop Four Tet is spinning.

Tuesday, Hebden marked the first of December with a seemingly infinite loop entitled "🔴🌏⭕🔵🌕📀🌍⚫💿🌎🐦🐧🐤🌎💿⚫🌍📀🌕🔵⭕🌏🔴." Playing since 5 PM GMT, it's currently unclear whether this is an extension of the loop from the aforementioned PLZ Make It Ruins' Locked Grooves 12" or something else entirely. Paired with cool art from Anna Liber Lewis and additional merch designed by Lewis (available here), this infinite loop brings together Four Tet's trademark breathtaking ambiance, sublime, plucky percussion and savvy sample work. Lacing the acid touched track with what appears to be Ariana Grande vocals, it seems unlikely that this loop will find a proper release, but we can certainly hope. Listen live here, find a ripped, nine-minute section on Soundcloud below, and follow Four Tet's socials at the bottom.

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Nikki Nair - Power Tool EP

Breaking from their tech-house status quo, Friday saw Dirtybird deliver an unreal EP from man-on-fire, Nikki Nair. Further straying from their two-track EP pattern, Power Tool features four inspired and ingenious productions that both; bridge breaks, DnB and old-school Dirtybird vibes, and apparently foreshadow "the label's future direction in 2021." So back to the future it is with this wicked EP.

Immediately awesome with its off-kilter groove and breaky drum beat, the EP opens with "Power Tool" which sets the scene for what I expect to be Nikki Nair's big coming-out party. Building around a sample from Notorious B.I.G.'s "Everyday Struggle," the title track is one hell of a screwface-inducer. There are no big drops or specific standout moments in this track, nor the EP itself, but rather the whole thing remains an incredible ride across a highly infectious and masterfully crafted Dirtybird debut. 

Following the pneumatic power of the synths in the opening track, Nair scales things back in the subtle sophomore selection "In My Car." With a laidback acid energy and brooding beauty, it too showcases Nair's knack for crisp percussion and deft, understated style. And here I have to note its resemblance to the equally simple and equally satisfying Benoit & Sergio affair, "Walk & Talk."

Picking the energy back up as Power Tool turns to its second half, "3XL" again sees Nair use highly altered vocals around an infectious, percussion-driven track. With a dreamy and delicate baseline, this track may be the most immersive and progressive of the bunch as it evolves into a fabulous, acid-driven fever dream. Along with the title track, "3XL" is my favourite of the bunch and a surefire addition to my Best Of 2020.

Closing out this incredible EP, "Automatic" appears as a spiritual successor to "Power Tool," again utilizing some massive, body-moving synths atop a brilliant breakbeat. The rollout of this one is wicked and, like "In My Car," it reminds me of another old-school classic in the earthshaking sub-power of Boy 8-Bit's "Fogbank." Now, I'm not usually one to compare pieces, as they ought to be able to stand on their own, but I do so here to illustrate just how highly I think of these productions from Nair by comparing them to two personal favourite and timeless classics.

Find Nikki Nair's fabulous Dirtybird debut Power Tool via Bandcamp below and everywhere else, here.

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