Alright.

Cole. twennyfi5e. You could say I like music somewhat but that might be an overstatement. Feel free to tell me to shut up, I tend to ramble. Hello/Sorry/Thank You in advance.

[coletaylorarkinstalll]

2016's Best Releases (30-21)

30 UMFANG Discwoman 08

This Discwoman mix was a none stop thrill ride from start to finish. Driving through a wave of squelching acid and slashing hot bash your head in techno. A real no let up affair. Whereas many mixes like this become tiring, the stamina comes in the way the dingy, naughtier moments weave into the harder hitters. When your mix is racing away and your flying high on the elation of it all, its a hard come down and that’s where UMFANG wins with this hour long joyride.    She also issued a FACT mix which was much in the similar vain, but this wins on the basis it feels raw, and under thought, without compromising one bit. A white hot hour of hysteric, euphoria.

29 Lloyd SB Boida Flare

As i’ve already touched upon, 2016 was the year of the EP. It just seemed to be the best way of hitting a hefty mark without having to stuff in the blanks with pointless filler. Lloyd SB was testament to that on the Nervous Horizon released ‘Boida Flare’. Starting with the smash and grab of the title track, he lances into the trance like stabs and hits of ‘Hypercube’. At its peak, its unquestionably one of the best club tracks this year. 'Peaches Palace’ is much the same but is a great lesson in restraint and tittering on those aforementioned stabs. 'Pirate Bay’ then fizzles away on a teaser of a rhythm, before both Wallwork and TSVI help out on 2 equally enticing productions and remixes.

28 Bjarki Æ

Nina Kraviz had a banner year for her трип imprint. Much of that owed to releasing a small part of Bjarki’s hardrive. ‘Б’ , ‘Lefthanded Fuqs’ & final single ‘Fresh Jive’ being just a fraction. So 3 and a bit records in one year was a tough choice to for me to pick the prize. ‘Æ’ takes the plaudits however, for mixing ambient structures within trippy technoid framework. Some hard “B04″, some softer than a pillow in “Amelyn” and the inbetween “B07″.    It’s taken nicely as a whole with the rest of 2016′s catalogue of work in truth, all 3 seemingly taken in at night, enhancing the feverish hues of everything on offer. The vacuum space atmosphere of  ‘Б’, the slammed out acid of ‘Lefthanded Fuqs’ but the Autechre and Aphex Twin nod in ‘Æ’ stands for its engaging of the hard and soft with ease.

27 Al Dobson Jr. Rye Lane Volume II & III

Rhythm Section International is a tidy little label that releases all kinds of disco, house, beat driven boogie flavours. Imperative jaunty, rays of endless sunshine. Along with Duke Hugh’s tidy little creation 'Canvas’ & Dan Kye’s disco mush release 'Joy, Ease, Lightness’ they also gave us the loitered worldy beat tape by Al Dobson Jr. The Follow Up to the first Rye Lane, II & III is an expansion of the first both in length and quality.    For almost an hour, we’re treated to Al’s psyche of drum patterns, a slew of samples, as well as house and jazz, in shortform. Cultural informity also plays a huge part, with stop offs in 'Guyana Special’, 'Overseas Lebanese’, 'African Salon’, 'Guadeloupe Meditaaao’ & 'Peru Timing’. It’s a trip through sounds and flavours, I also think it’s a nice gateway into other associations for instrumental hip hop heads too.

26 Night Slugs Allstars Volume 3

The 3rd installment in the Allstars series, and an entry point into a label I will be observing far more in 2017. This sticky humid assortment owed much to Bok Bok & Sweyn J’s attempts. The rest of the NS crew all gravitate towards that direction. DJC’s 'C100’ is a filthy flyover before Hysterics and NA, bring some filthy sweat. The 3 guest spots on the comp never shade over the production side either, credit is due, to the swarming ‘Good 2 U’ , starring Semma, the oozing, ‘Sweet Spot’, with L-VIS 1990 & Ronika and ‘Unlimited’ with Flirta D and his hyper esque rhyming.    Other highlights come in Girl Unit’s overdue yet standard “Allstars” appearance 'Queen B’, Jam City’s 'Direct Drums’ distorted clammy based contortions. ‘Funky 1irst’ & ‘Cyberia’ by Helix and Neana respectively keep the club vibe up to the boil. A lauded 3rd installment, one that stands on a steeped pyramid alongside 1 & 2.

25 Peggy Gou   Mixmag Impact

What an extraordinary year Peggy Gould has had. The Berlin based Korean released 4 consistently impressive EP’s (topped by the latest ‘Seek For Maktoop’ effort), A kooky collab for the SIA2016 Project and endless high quality entries in mix series for Solid Steel Radio Show, Phonica Records and FACT Magazine.    Picking something to highlight an extremely impressive year was hard, but her mix for ‘Mixmag Impact’ from May would be a fine place to begin. The track selection is on point as any other of the aforementioned podcasts, but where this one wins is the fun of it all. It just sounds like it was a blast to mix, like she was sipping on some wild Cuba Libre or something. ‘Alliance’ by Nu Guinea, the 1, 2 of S.L.F.s ’Show Me What You Got (Acid Mix)’ / Tribal Infusion ‘Sumba-Lumba (S-Man’s Got You In A Trance Mix)’ is joyous selecting at it’s best. Ending with a Ron Trent and her own ‘Day Without Yesterday’ finale, more than tips the iceberg. Needless to say she’s on my 2017 live wishlist.

24 Venezuela 70 Cosmic Visions Of A Latin American Earth: Venezuelan Experimental Rock In The 1970s Soul Jazz Records

Soul Jazz Records continue their ongoing observations into the endless musical scenes that have cropped up throughout the world in the last century. Whether that’s the early rap and disco party starting Boombox 1, the calypso, highlife, juju & apala of Nigerian Freedom Sounds! Or even the 4th volume in the New Orleans Funk series.    The astonishing Venezuela 70 offers more than just a look at the so called Experimental Rock of the sub title. Its psychedelic without being inflated with haze, its ambient, without coaxing you into a sleep. The latin analysis ventures through jazz, careening without ever really rotating around club like values of modern day dance.    The whole thing is an ever expanding musical brew of ideas and interpretations into everything the title suggests, but is never as dreary as the said title may lead you to believe.    If you nick one retrospective before Christmas ensues in a couple of days time, go with this.

23 Gundam Summer / Dummy Mix 338

Gundam has always struck me as a producer/DJ who parties in the grime and club circles of London but often goes unnoticed in comparison to heavier hitters. Yet he releases an awful lot, whether that’s his own mash ups, 8 bar wifey productions or sets of mixes. He even has a slot on Radar Radio, With some of his best this year coming in the shape of this harder dubplate infused set in May and the reversed ambient entry in November just gone. August saw the excellent 'WAIFU' released but having only just heard it, is a little late to get in any running.    His Summer mix for Dummy is everything you could want rattling out of your car stereo with the red hot tarmac steaming below. R&B, Radio Rap as well as plenty of tasty edits to boot. The preceding tough productions by some of the scene’s contemporary originators pepper the gaps in fine fashion, making for a tautly wrought, flexible hour and 15 minutes worth.

22 CHI The Original Recordings [Original Release: 1985]

Reissued neatly alongside “The Bamboo Recordings”, “The Original Recordings” is a den of jammed out meditation. A surrounding record, that could easily be mistaken for a psychedelic rock outfit. Make no doubt about it, you’ll fall into another realm with this. Whether its the dark trudge of “Before The Mountain”, the clanging “Hopi” & “Twisted Camel” or the ever expanding “Mahat”.    The Dutch collective drove out into a duo called CHI Factory for the Bamboo set, and is just as enticing, yet this is far more encompassing.

21 Basco Gamebient Mix

Press C to Chill. Basco’s Gamebient mix slipped out of nowhere in June this year, and what really owes to its charm, is the cull of music and where it came from. All video game soundtracks, you’d be forgiven for thinking this might be a zany OTT mix, but it’s not.    From the moment you hear the dark bloom of the PlayStation start up theme, it trickles in and out of the shady corners of enveloping gameplay. It’s one of the most listened to ambient releases for me this year, at 40 minutes its a agile burst of drowsiness. That it’s a free download is unbelievable.

[coletaylorarkinstalll]

2016's Best Releases (40-31)

40 Rich MacFarlane (1080p) Inverted Audio 201

1080p has to be one of the best labels on the planet right now, without anyone really knowing it. Purveyors of wonky, deep, ambient, house, jungle, techno and basically any other club based underground dance form. Here the man at the top of it all Rich MacFarlane puts together a somewhat “Greatest Hits” mix for IA. Featuring some of the many gems that have dropped on the label so far. I think the best way of putting it, is that it’s a set gorgeous hypnotic ambience.

39 Factory Floor 25 25

Factory Floor’s debut was a smart record but perhaps lacked any mesmeric groove due to it’s start, stop approach. Now down to a duo, they’ve hit the nail on the head here with striking concussions. It’s an electro record that bounces around on acid, and although its not an instant catch, the hypnotising rhythms start to hold you under a spell, by the end of it’s 55 minutes, you’ll find it hard to climb out the lull.

38 Local Action Records Stranger Things Special on Radar Radio

Stranger Things was a Netflix Original Series that took the world by storm towards the middle of 2016, a bit of a marmite program that you either loved or hated. Personally, I loved it. However as good as it was, it was the overreaching OST that stood out. That soundtrack by Kyle Dixon & Michael Stein was of much inspiration to many a producers, and Local Action’s show here proves as such. With unheard odysseys and experiments from many fresh and old faces in the game, there’s more to this than meets the eye. A tantalising 2 hour special to delve into.

37 Kaytranada 99.9%

An R&B, rap and hip hop melting pot of potent grooves. This was made for unwinding, whether that at home or after a long week at work in the party. Some bedazzling ditties here, in the likes of “Got It Good” which features Craig David (trust me, its tight), “One Too Many” & the retiring “Leave Me Alone” featuring Shay Lia. There’s also an outtakes mix for this album, cleverly titled 0.001% which is worth a look too while you cosy down this December.

36 Botany Deepak Verbera

One of the better ambient albums this year was this overlooked gem by Texan Botany, AKA Spencer Stephenson. Although moving in ambient chimes, ‘Deepak Verbera’ also inflicted cute tidy jazz movements upon the listener, inducing an easy slumber. Partnered with his Exclusive Mix for The Wire Magazine, it’s a heady 1, 2.

35 Slackk Winter Tape Grime Mix

All credit to Slackk, he’s been in my end of year rundown every year for the last 3 years, for all different types of releases. This though, is so well suited to its title matter its untrue. Starting with the likes of Murlo before running the gauntlet with dubs that will warm your cockles in the dark and cold nights. Its a riveting set and one along with Martha’s Hyponik mix that I keep coming back too for the unheard of club pressure.

34 Jubilee After Hours

After Hours is a love letter to the sticky night life of Miami. Released on Mixpak in late September (why?) this a superb ode to a red hot summer, but the music featured feels like it emanates from the heat of M.I.A . Sound wise its a radiating club draw. Humid Bashment with strange alien-esque melodies, house, and some bang on contemporary electro. The two guests spots are also highly tasty too.

33 Nitetrax Detroit Techno Special on NTS Radio

OK, I promise this is the final radio show in the top 50, but, Damn! what a show it is. In a word, Classic. If you know anything about Detroit and Techno, Nitetrax’s NTS spesh is essential listening. If you don’t, expect lucid pads, a fine collection of smothering kicks and a shroud of acid licks. A lot of radio shows tend to drag on but this is a fleeting yet highly satisfying 2 hours.

32 Silk Road Assassins Reflection Spaces

SRA Debuted on Planet Mu (µ-Ziq) this year, with a tight near half hour re-imagining of dark, muggy, dystopian atmospheres. The early promise showed in demos converges here with an almost futuristic downbeat vision. If you’ve ever gone out on a day where its neither sunny nor hammering down with rain (in other words “mild”), this is the perfect release to soundtrack it. If you want something in the way of their club sets, check out the 147th Truants Mix.

31 Lone Levitate

Lone is a producer who stands alone in his individually. His sound has always been highly recognisable, yet here he is releasing a D&B breaks record that although is throwback in sound, is never a record that takes the piss, and definitely sits in his select discography for being of itself, filling it with that stunning blend of melancholia. Shown in closer “Hiraeth”. Yet the likes of “Backtail Was Heavy”, “Vapour Trail” & “Triple Helix” all hit with precise measurement. His Phonica Podcast is a tasty introduction to his sound and influence. Apparently there’s a four four release coming out next year, with this approach, it could be high.

[coletaylorarkinstalll]

2016's Best Releases (50-41)

OK, so before I launch the end of year rack up, I want to clarify a few things… Firstly, no matter how hard I try, there are only 24 hours and 7 days in a week, so I will inevitably miss great releases depending on how I prioritise them. This has happened in the past, only for me to find them in the following January and be royally annoyed. It’s life, I’ll get over it. This is also MY list, like it or lump it!

   Secondly, the title reads “Releases”. This isn’t a best album blog. Mainly because not all the greatest music is coming from albums right now. EPs & mini albums are just as solid efforts by their makers as albums may be, so their inclusion is deemed worthy.    Mixes can be crammed full of innovation, giving us bangers, an insight to ones record bag or just something completely different altogether. Compilations are also admitted for the very same reason. Radio sets? more on them later.    Finally, reissues & retrospectives. I can hear screams for this, and I do agree. Yet I’m not exactly entering Led Zepp’s or Sabbath’s debuts in. These are reissues, that without that aid would never have reached my ears. On top of that, if they’ve stood out better than the current crop of records through play-ability or likeability, it’s a no brainer.

   Will also post up my tracks of the year before my top 10, so keep an eye out for that, there’s some nifty buggers in there.

   Anyway, far too much chatter, Let’s descend….

(All links available wherever you wanna click)

   Despite a select few, there were a number of noteworthy EPs out this year that really do deserve a mention, as its a format artists and producers continue to look to as a way of releasing a solid cohesive effort without the fat of an album weighing it down. Shouts must go to Odeko, Darq E Freaker, Boxed, Dark0, Yaroze Dream Suite, Charli XCX & SOPHIE, Palms Trax, Fox, DJ Marfox, Laksa, Distal, Gnork & Syer B

50 Rhucle Fantastic Garden

Lean ambient daydreaming from Constellation Tatsu cohort Rhucle. Based in Tokyo, Japan seems to be a fertile ground for solid gold ambient music. This is just one of the endless stream of endearing releases from CT. Weaving precious soundscapes in and around a cloudy haze. Sleep On!

49 Youandewan There Is No Right Time

An eclectic selection of house styles on Aus music. There have been numerous releases this year, that have nailed that low slung groove of house and deep house with aplomb and Ewan Smith’s debut album is no different. Tracks like “Be Good To Me Poly”, “Waiting For L”, “Our Odyssey” & “Left On Lucy” leave you in awe. If you wish to size up his skills as a DJ, then look no further than his Phonica Mix.

48 Raga Vibrations NTS Radio Show (19th September 2016)

I bent the rules slightly here, and do so further up the list, with good reason. Raga Vibrations is a show presented monthly on NTS by ambient hero Jefre Cantu-Ledesma and Greg Davis, but their show from the 19th September is a great place to start. Featuring a woozy selection of Indian music, this is a serious trip. You can light some incense, play this loud and zone out or turn down low and let the hypnotic litany take you away. Strangely versatile music.

47 Willow Workshop 23

Manchester’s very own Willow released a splendid four-track debut on Workshop this year. For a first release it’s wondrous. There’s an almost Burial-esque sprinkling of magic dust over the whole thing, giving it that late night bus sheen. Instead trading the sensitive core of Burial’s work with smoked out deep house deflections. The only thing that really lets it down is its far too short length, but then i’m just picking pointless bones.

46 Yamaneko Project Nautilus (Keygen Loops)

A fairly opaque record with dim shards of light reflecting in on personal reflection. Made on the back of a turbulent time in Yamaneko’s life, the record is a stunning contemplation. Subtitled ‘Keygen Loops’ the music is a nod to video game soundtracks in the most subtle but striking way. Instantly beautiful and is the second notch in the ‘Nautilus’ trilogy, Starting with ‘Dawn’ and finishing with ‘Dusk’ also out this year.

45 Lena Willikens Dekmantel Podcast 070

The highly consistent CologneDJ/producer and head of the Cómeme record label puts out another unrivalled mix. Lena has to be one of my favourite selectors and always knows how to fuck with your head with her mixes, always offering a simmering hotchpotch of psychotomimetic sounds. This podcast is just as terrifyingly entertaining as her others.

44 Cooper Saver Été d'Amour Sunset Mix

Cooper Saver’s heady brew for Le Bain’s Été d'Amour Sunset series is everything you’d want from a series bearing such a name. Sly, wonky deep house, balearic overtones, twinkly keys and smudged out ambient. An almost utopian mix of beached out oddities. Not what you really need to be told about on a best of list in the arctic chill of December, but time flies friends.

43 Martha Hyponik Mix 278

Weightless club abstractions and chilly ambient musings from the Radar Radio host. Wrap up toasty and make time for this on your commute this winter as it doesn’t disappoint. Will be keeping an eye out for her show in the new year too, as this mix showcases a dizzying array of fresh talent.

42 Steve Hauschildt Strands

Depending on which way you look at it, the subject matter of this record is a decisive one. Hauschildt detailing that “The title alludes to the structural constitution of ropes as I wanted to approach the compositions so that they consisted of strands and fibers which form a unified whole”. With that in mind, it’s a perfect explanation of the music on ‘Strands’. Eight weaving, liquid like compositions, that although breathe in lucid ways, are also incredibly complex. His entry in the Truants series is a tidy partner to the album too.

41 A-Trak Bloghaus Revival - Part 2

The first part of this Revival was absolutely ragin’. Part 2 almost tops it, even if its for that Myspace throwback cover alone! If you’ve caught any of the Bloghaus stuff from back in the mid to late noughties you’ll know what to expect. Noisy as fuck. banging tunes that would light up any party if you knew what was good for ya! FACT’s feature on Bloghouse is also a decent read if your ears enjoy what they hear.

[coletaylorarkinstalll]

The Playlist - (Round 4 - 27/08/2015)

Firstly, apologies... This has taken an age, and far too long to finish up and put out there. Between poor internet signal and returning to work (OMG! The pain!!) I’ve just not got round to it. Tracks have been assigned but not much else. I know what your all thinking.. “Lazy buggaa!” and yes your completely right, I'm writing a blog for gods sake! Luckily (or should I say Unluckily?) I'm as dead a door stop today, so can hardly move. My pain is everyone else’s pleasure though as this blog has finally been written. So, I finally got round to listening to FACT Magazine’s best tracks of the decade so far (That’s 2010-2014 btw). Some absolute beaters and hooks in there, some of which feature here, some of which don’t (It’s my blog, not FACT’s!). Hopefully I can take in more music than I have been lately for the next edition, because my ears are like a desert right now, dry. Don’t think it will be much of a problem though with Hooton Tennis Club’s new album among others, and a huuuuuge month in September for new releases upon us all.

Enjoy!

TRACKS

DRAKE - ‘Fireworks (Deadboy Remix)’ Complete rehash of the Canadian God, Drake . Deadboy has done a number on this and truly made this his own. One of few moments where a remix outdoes its original on every level. Reminiscent of all those memories of times gone by when your perfectly happy, the moments where you think “this will never end!”, but eventually does. Deadboy pulls up the “All I see is fireworks” line muting it to give it that nostalgic past tense tinge. Most people who hate Drake wouldn't touch this with a barge pole, but they should. Completely ethereal. Probably best to put this on last thing at night. You may lie awake wondering though...

JOEY ANDERSON - ‘Above The Cherry Moon’ Another track from FACT magazine’s best tracks of the decade so far. Joey Anderson seems to be a master at these kind of fucked up dope jams. This one is a near 9 minute acid cruncher. Greeted with a heavenly female vocal, fleeting about “the astral plane” before acidic warbles and a steady but lethargic beat, has your brain warped in another plane. You could imagine this in some dank, sweaty warehouse night in Manchester back in the 90′s (If it hadn't been released in 2013). Later on it continues to shuffle along picking up on drum pads and psyched out vocals from the former. One that perhaps was made for the substances, great no less. BLAWAN - ‘Getting Me Down’ Perhaps the best track from the FACT list was this. This is huge. No disrespect to other genres of music, but this is the one. Blawan cooks up something fine with a Brandy sample and some sick dubs. There’s not much to say about this number. If you don’t dance to this, you don’t have a pulse. Blawan’s rugged skeletal techno beats play over a sweet R&B cut from one of underrated queens in Brandy. Hate to quote the club again here, but come on, this would be crazy. Can’t believe I'm coming to the party on this 4 years late. Urgh! “Maybe all you needs, a shoulder to cry on...”.

STUDIO - ‘Self Service’ Moving away from the lists, I finally got round to listening to Studio’s excellent ‘West Coast’ album from 2006. I could've entered any track from it on here, but I'm gonna go with ‘Self Service’ because it slips into the system the silkiest. Balearic grooves galore. Hot summer weather is what you want for music like this. So if your in the UK that boat has already sailed. Sailing and a boat is just what you need here in all truth. Trickling vocals which recall a touch of Stone Roses tumble on by while you sway. As mentioned the whole album is in a similar vein and should hit you up in the same way. Highly recommended! P.S. Make sure you get the full version of this - fuck edits! DREXCIYA - ‘Journey Home’ Oh Drexciya! The kings of all the seas and all waters! Is there a better musical act who capture the feeling of the water and its aquatic nature into a tasty tekno form? This was originally from an off kilter single/EP but with the help of some true enthusiasts, Drexciya’s back catalogue was culled into 4 compilations entitled ‘Journey Of The Deep Sea Dweller’ (I know, cool right??) for our listening pleasures. This feels like it hits hard, but infests itself into 5 minutes of deep water adventurism which could work as well in a submarine as in the car, driving down the motorway. We all know it’ll be the submarine though...

KATIE PEARL - ‘Make It Official’ This may not be everyone’s cup of tea. So called R&G (Rhythm & Grime) was the UK’s version of R&B. Although the singers had a lot in common with that of the US, the beats were taut, and hit heavier like Grime itself. This is one of the tracks from a lost 2002 album which never quite saw the light of day (It’s downloadable through the link now though - for free). Some of the other tracks on the album are ever so slightly jarring, but this is a breeze. You can tell the talents are those of the British Isles, featuring a huge hook and big horned beats from DaVinche. I’d also recommend ‘Ghetto Kyote’, ‘Slow Ya Roll’ & ‘Won’t Cry’ if this does tickle your fancy. NEW FOUND GLORY - ‘What’s Your Problem? (Failure’s Not Flattering)’ Pop punk? why not? I adore NFG’s 2004 record ‘Catalyst’. Even the soppy moments get me in full voice. This has to stick out as the best though. It’s out of control from the get go. With that off the wall refrain of “What’s Your Problem??”. It’s easy to see where bands like Four Year Strong’s influence come from in stuff like this. The synth additions, the chugging build ups. Ever so slightly cringy but still top notch lyrics. It’s all a perfect recipe for perfect pop punk. Best to take it easy on trying to sing this though, I rip my throat trying to imitate.

OUTBOXX - ‘Lost Soul’ Outboxx are easily one of my favourite house acts at the moment. Their 2013 beach ready anthem ‘Through The Night’ with Naomi Jeremy was bliss, so I was surprised to hear they had an album. ‘Lost Soul’ is from the self-titled debut. Most of the tracks album are in the same vein as the former track, slow rolling smooth house but ‘Lost Soul’ is an exception. A gorgeous soulful vocal underpins the Bristol duo’s solid production, with ease but never unties the finished product (like so much chart fodder heard these days). If you love the smooth goodness of the trio, their FACT mix is also worth your time. Just wish somebody would bring them to Brum!

THEESATISFACTION - ‘EarthEE’ Having seen these 2 support Shabazz Palaces a couple of years back. I can attest to their talent. They usurped Shabazz Palaces far and away on the night. They dropped they’re debut LP ‘Awe Naturale’ not long after, full of schewed soul vocals and patchwork hip hop beats. It was great but they’re new album ‘EarthEE’ really delivers and feels like the fully formed idea the duo are looking for. Erykah Badu is a clear look up point, but tracks such as the title track are painted in cosmic colour and fleeing uttered tones. Whereas the debut felt it had something missing, this album overflows with ideas and sketches cooked up perfectly.

IGLEW - ‘Urban Myth’ I thought i’d end the entry on this majestic forlorn weightless track. First heard this last year in Sharp Veins’ ‘Functions Of The Now - IX’ mix for Truants. Then again in Dark0′s ‘Music To Orbit The Moon To...’ mixtape for i-D Magazine (both of which are worth your download). Slightly eerie, and to quote the mix by Dark0, orbital. It will feel like your floating into nothingness, having the same effect as the later’s ‘Sweet Boy Pose’ and its many edits. Although the track sounds incredibly lost, there’s also that touch of hope in the crippling melodic chords. Cant help but feel melancholy to this. The fact that this falls under the grime spectrum shows how vast the genre really is. Snap it up at Gobstopper Records!

Until next time, ta ra bit… CTA. 

  P.S.  There goes my heroes, watch them as they troll!

[coletaylorarkinstalll]

The Playlist - (Round 3 - 30/07/2015)

Hello again.

I guess this is the Tame Impala special. I could’ve picked many (I mean many) tracks from the brilliant, recently released ‘Currents’ album, but I felt it was the wrong thing to do. In revisiting their back catalogue I felt a sweeter idea would be to pick a track from each of the 3 records released. Easier said than done....

The rest of this round up features a ton of weed smoking lovelies, in one way or another. Some heavy, some chilled...

Yeah, I suppose this week’s edition is like a hot hot chilli, A bit much to take in, but with enough sour cream/guacamole dip on the side to ease you off. Be warned.

All this said I am still struggling with quantity control. I’m still hearing far too much to be classed as healthy. I’m obese on music.

One final point to touch on, Best Friends, who I spoke about in my previous post were a drunken rocker’s treat on a Saturday night, and were only the sweet cherry to the beginning of a messy night.

Enjoy.

TRACKS

TARQUIN - ‘Kid U’ Recent Gobstopper signee Tarquin comes up with some industrial tinged tools. Ive hardly spoke about my interest in instrumental grime on this blog yet. Mainly because I have to give shit a break. This plays along on a vocal snap that’s reminiscent of some fractured garage vocal from the noughties. The instrumental whip rattles around on some kung fu riddim. Real grower this too. B-side ‘Lost My Marbles’ is a bit less grime and a bit more experimental, but this is still an incredibly promising debut single from this talent. As of writing this he’s also dropped a mix for Hyponik which should feature some decent heat. More please.

NEW MUSIK - ‘Warp (Ilo Edit)’ On my musical adventures in the past week or so, I opened a link from one Shanti Celeste (I’ve spoke about her before on this blog). Published by the Boiler Room, it was an article about tracks with great re-edits/remixes. Although tracks such as Funkineven’s remix of Adjowa’s ‘Red Leather’  were solid as rocks, this one stood shoulders above everything. It’s just one of those sounds that just melds itself to you. This video is actually a cut on the 9 minute original (the final 3 minutes are some pointless meandering), but for the first 6 minutes or so, you can’t imagine much more beauty than these. The band who it was remixed from are New Musik. I’ve heard comparisons to them being the Hot Chip of the 80′s. Their music and videos suggest such craziness. FELIX DA HOUSECAT - ‘B 4 Wuz Then’ AKA the coolest DJ name on the planet. Picked up ‘Metropolis Present Day? Thee Album’ for a quid on amazon recently (Brand New?!?!) after reading some positive words somewhere on FACT Mag’s pages. This taps into the aquatic/solar vibe I was feeling in my first post a month ago. The house beat worms this way and that, etching itself into your bodies ethos. The sort of music you want to hear inebriated at 4am in the morning, a quite gorgeous number. The rest of said album features some other tasty cuts too (’Marine Mood’, Submarine’, ‘Little Bloo’) FLATS - ‘Moonwalk’ Brain damage enhancer. This bangs away at your senses. Possibly not a track preferable if your much a fan of, well, noise. Had to listen to this album again, it’s been too long. Building on the promise of the fast, and slightly punk edged early EPs. Flats come out with ‘Better Living’ 30 odd minutes of an endless barrage of noise. Far more heavy and with sludged riffs galore, this was meant to signal the band as a force, especially after positive press from the mainstream indie quarter of NME. Currently however the band is on hiatus, vocalist Dan Devine (son of Creation Records’ head honcho Alan McGee) is in prison for drugs rehabilitation.

ENTOMBED - ‘Blessed Be’ I did warn you shit was going to get gnarly early on, but this is the heaviest trip on this week’s menu. Entombed are possibly the best death metal band that were. ‘Clandestine’ is an absolute beast of a record, and perhaps outmuscles ‘Left Hand Path’ & ‘Wolverine Blues’ for pure riffage. The riffs on ‘Blessed Be’ are absolutely slammin’. If I could skate, Entombed would easily be one of the bands i’d skate too. It doesn’t really stop at this track. ‘Stranger Aeons’, ‘Severe Burns’, ‘Evilyn’, you name it, every track crushes some serious brain. Ok ok, so this isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, hell, it’s not a genre of music I keep up on these days, but if anyone (in any genre) does something well, it’s a privelege to behold. Kudos on that artwork too.

FUZZ - ‘Rat Race’ Coming out the blocks sounding like Ozzy’s fronting someone other than Sabbath. Charles Moothart takes over Ty Segall’s vocal duties for at least, this track. Fuzz are back on a sweet as fuck noodling hook. ‘II’ will be released on 23rd October, which frankly is a crime when you drop 2 sludged out cuts (Also check ‘Pollinate’) as tasty as this. Any possible meanderings to other genre’s go completely out the window at around 2 minutes 30, when surely the only thing you need is a desert full of weed, and a bong glued to you hand. Thier 2013 album missed out on my album of the year by the slightest of margins, I’m sure these new beasts will also take the goddamn biscuit come October.

TAME IMPALA - ‘I Don’t Really Mind’ ‘Innerspeaker’ Favourite… Where the love affair all began. The smoothest most laidback record of recent years. If ‘Desire Be Desire Go’, ‘Solitude Is Bliss’ & ‘Jeremy’s Storm’ don’t sell you, Once ‘I Don’t Really Mind’s finale stomps away, you’ll surely be a fan. I remember seeing Tame Impala at the Academy 3 in Birmingham not long after this record dropped. Looking back it was crazy to think coming in late I got front row. Memories aside, it was nearly 2 hours (!?!) of cosmic smoked out jams. Kevin Parker playing with nothing on his feet didn’t even ruin the night. Nevertheless I’ve not seen them since, maybe I should. One memorable night. TAME IMPALA - ‘Keep On Lying’ ‘Lonerism’ Favourite… This has to be Tame Impala’s best jam by a country mile. I had a real dilemma with this pick. The skitty kraut of ‘Why Won’t They Talk To Me?’ needed to go in, but playing this again.. Wow! So relaxed, the party chatter 2 minutes is ace, it welcomes in the tasty guitar line that underlines this whole joint, sliding the track into cruise control. Nothing on ‘Lonerism’ tops this track. Jeeze, ‘Elephant’, ‘Feels Like We Only Go Backwards, ‘Apocalypse Dreams’... Impossible. This is the haze you’ll be enruptured with, when seeing them live. Also if you get sick easy, only listen to the youtube vid. The visuals are a bit groovy.

TAME IMPALA - ‘Eventually’ ‘Currents’ Favourite… Yes, it’s the Single but I had no choice. This is the track I’m singing in the shower, when I wake up in a morning, washing up, ironing. You name it, I’m singing ‘Eventually’. What’s worse is I could’ve picked any number from this incredible record. ‘Yes I’m Changing’, ‘Love/Paranoia’, ‘The Moment’ or the huge ‘Cause I’m A Man’. If you like great music, this won’t come as a surprise, but ‘Currents’ at it’s heart, is pop. The huge tipping point in this song, is what you’ll be singing all day. ‘Currents’ itself has hidden philosophical meanings. The first half, recalling the best parts of a relationship, the second, the reoccurring mistakes that plagued it in the first place. I’ve given you 2 favourites from the previous records, but I urge you to pick this up, one way or another. Whole thing also goes down nicely with some wine. Huge. RUSTIE - ‘Big Catzz’ Major return from Glaswegian don Russell Whyte. The man responsible for one of the best albums I’ve ever heard (In ‘Glass Swords’) brings out a huge wave of chords and drops that made said album such a mindblowing treat. Second album ‘Green Language’ may have been a touch overwhelming in places, but this is just what people needed to hear to put them in their place concerning the mans credentials. After a mindblowing remix of a Gammer track a while back too, the future looks coated in all the musical sugar one could possibly want, yet again.

SEVEN DAVIS JR - ‘Sunday Morning’ “Bet you never had a love like this before”. Say hello to the words that won’t leave your head for the next couple of hours. Gospel robotics from Seven and jacking house beats welcome you to the party that is the ‘Universes’ album. Seven is in his own lane here, drunken party music that jams you hard. In amongst disco, funk and soul numbers, ‘Sunday Morning’ is far and away the house joint. The robotics of the beat are the puppet master, and move Seven’s vocals around, stopping, starting, jacking, whatever. It’s also worth checking out his FACT Mix from last year once you’ve come down from the album high. Featuring some wonderful numbers from all the genre’s i’ve mentioned already.

FETTY WAP - ‘Trap Queen’ This track is huge in the US at the moment. I’ll hold my hands up it’s not exactly new nor is it a secret or hidden gem. Damn its a summer anthem though. Those in the UK who’ve heard this can’t stop jamming on it. It’s not truly infiltrated our radio yet either. With a cute little beat and sunny hook, it won’t be long. The only success of this mainstream fame comes with Fetty’s look. People who need “PERFECT” this, “PERFECT” that, who are used to seeing the “PERFECT” popstar can’t seem to listen to this track without commenting on the issues surrounding the hitsters gluecoma. ‘Trap Queen’ aside, everything else i’ve heard, is equal to if not better than ‘Trap Queen’. People need to learn to realise what really matters in life. Now jam this in your car and turn it up!

SINGIN’ CRAZY - ‘Don’t Harass Me’ Now I can give you a hidden gem! Stones Throw records released a super-stonked up compilation in ‘Multiply - Volume 1′ by The Duppy Gun clan late last year. I could’ve picked anything from I Jahbar, Fyah Flames, Dayone, Bookfa, Cerassieta or even the dope dubs of Big Flite & Velkro Waftt Riddim. This however seemed to stick out like the naughty child in a class full of well behaved children. Much like Fetty it has a tidy little beat, more cosmic fusion dub than old skool reggae. Singin’ Crazy wailing this way and that. The whole thing may well have gone over my head, but Duppy Gun Productions own every joint with sloped futuristic dubs and sun soaked instrumentals. I really hope we get a Volume 2, ‘cause I’m jahmin’ this. DR. DRE - ‘Rat-Tat-Tat-Tat’ I thought I’d finish with a g-funk classic from the West Coast with Dre, from ‘The Chronic’ era. The sample that greets us is tarred up (”Nigga is you crazy?”) letting Dre swing on by, Snoop & the Death Row crew come in for a gun totting gang call “Rat-tat-tat-tat tat ta tat like that, and I.. Never hesitate to put a nigga on his back”. This is one of those tunes nobody would hesitate losing their shit to at a party, mainly because of the aforementioned hook. Dre may well be a millionaire now but anyone who hasn’t heard this, but own’s a pair of his cans has to be committing some major crime.

Until next time, ta ra bit… CTA.

P.S. She’s not that kind of a girl...

[coletaylorarkinstalll]

The Playlist - (Round 2 - 18/07/2015)

Welcome to Round 2! I still got more tracks than I needed for this edition, I had to cut a few, add a few. It was hard work but I’ve got some ace cuts this week. I’ve also changed the name of this blog as a whole, “The Playlist” just rolls off the tongue better doesn’t it? I’ll bring the number down more next time, so it makes it easy for y'all to digest. Recently got the new Bonafide magazine issue. They celebrated their 10th issue with a 90s rap edition recently, with plenty best albums to check out. It got me thinking about how big a role hip hop plays in my life. With this in mind I may also do a best hip hop albums post myself. So keep an eye out for that if I get can get round to it. As well as this I also saw the Samurai blood bath that is the 1980 film ‘Shogun Assassin’. For anyone who doesn’t know, GZA’s legendary 'Liquid Swords’ culled a lot of samples from it. I could hardly watch it, these are pieces that have a deep resonation with now, it sent shivers down my back. I suppose I could give you a pre-warning to the next edition. Tame Impalas ‘Currents’ album has just been released, and with all the positive press, I’d be surprised if I don’t fill this blog with every track from it. I won’t, but I can’t make promises. I’ve also ditched the mixes section. If anybody liked it let me know and I’ll bring it back, but I felt it was a waste of time for everyone. Enjoy the tunes!

TRACKS

BEST FRIENDS - ‘Nosebleeds’ Rocking little ditty from this rambunctious Sheffield 4 piece. Tagged in a lot of places as “garage pop”, they certainly have the ear for a squirming hook, even if I can’t agree with the “garage” tag. They do have a somewhat noisy output, album title ‘Hot. Reckless. Totally Insane’ can confirm this, but ‘Nosebleeds’ is somewhere in the middle of their sound on said record. Hooked in, it’s fast, has enough of a pop edge but is over and onto the next in a trio of minutes, leaving you humming for the next “garage pop” wonder. Can’t wait to see these in Birmingham Tonight!.

HOOTON TENNIS CLUB - ‘Jasper’ The band named after the Lawn Tennis Club drop their second offering. Apparently this sounds far to much like Teenage Fanclub to enjoy. Personally all I heard for 3 minutes was a glorious breeze of indie rock. The video is a fine hoot on top of that. Set on a beach, the solo a third of the way through is hilarious to watch for the lead guitarists histrionics alone. So to the debate! I find people spend time listening to new music thinking this band sound like this, they sound like that. Why not just listen and either hate or enjoy, music like this is damn near hard to find. It also sets up the bands forthcoming debut long player ‘Highest Point In Cliff Town’ (Out August 28th) as a highly exciting prospect.

ROME FORTUNE - ‘Patience’ The best cloud rapper on the planet maybe? A lot of hip hop nowadays gets far more stick than it deserves. This track beats that and even touches upon the progressive jazz nature I’ve already touched upon (listen closely…). It’s short and has an easy going high point - “I know a lot of things don’t make sense…”. ‘Tropical’ & ‘Sunset In Benzes’ follow next on the mixtape and show how agile ‘Beautiful Pimp II’ (and indeed its predecessor ‘I’) is without resorting to a “hit single” or “trap rattler” most producers/rappers fall into. ‘Beautiful Pimp II’ has to be one of my favourite hip hop albums.

JACQUES GASPARD BIBERKOPF - ‘Age Of Aquarius’ Part club, part new age synthetic computer music. This is the moment the Lithuanian producer’s gold 'Ecologies’ EP/Mini-Album(?) meets its climax. Rattling around for the best part on a spooked jungle beat that’s not quite there yet. It manages to explode 2 and half minutes in, when it does it’s as if a forest has been unleashed on your ears. It spends the rest of the track & indeed EP, slowing us all into a reprisal, very much worth your time and cash. J. G. Biberkopf is a producer challenging very much the way we all think of club music, by just guiding the sound in on itself. DEECEE - ‘What You Know About’ The Square crews youngest member chalks up some spitfire riddims over a dirty, skanking beat. 3 minutes simple and sharp. DeeCee warns us that “like d double e, I’m bad to the bone” and that he’ll “make an MC go home, if he really wants to diss my lyrical tone”. While the rest of the track is D showing us he can chop up a killer palette of rhymes that matches on a jacking tune produced by fellow Square Novelist. With every second that passes by this guy sells. Found this on Oil Gangs recent RinseFM show for Boxed, and was equally surprised at how young he is (see that pic below.). Now turn that fire up and skank!

BIG L - ‘No Endz, No Skinz’ An educative cut from ‘95. To put it into Big L’s words “if you don’t got money you won’t scoop a honey”. From the get go he fly’s in, “When your pockets are thick, mad chicks be on a brother’s tip”. Later on his rhymes get even tighter, “That’s why you can’t talk to just any whore. Leaving brothers for the next man, cause he’s got a penny more”. More tales are woven through L’s rich tapestry on the subject. This is golden era hip hop at its finest and you could do much worse than copping his only album ‘Lifestylez Ov Da Poor & Dangerous’. Unfortunately Big L’s life was cut short at 24 when he was murdered. Thankfully he left a mark on the world in his years that many never manage in a 100.

JESSY LANZA - ‘You Never Show Your Love’ The honeyed smooth as silk voice of Jessy Lanza strikes again, in what is possibly her best song to date. The skitty production by Spinn & Taso works an absolute treat. Its a surprise given the subject matter, one that works so well with the vocal take. Lanza swoons by, building and building up to the beautiful but lazed refrain of the title. This is modern R&B done properly. The Spinn & Taso hook up is a really clever move, one which hopefully brings more fruitful results in the future. Additional points for the outro, that is so far beyond laid back it hurts. This comes out on the 24th, i’m buying.    

DJ CLENT - ‘The Wickedness’ Just when I thought there wasn’t anymore solid stoned out footwork to unearth I find this. If Jlin & RP Boo’s records don’t sell you, and the shangaan electro of Nozinja doesn’t this surely will. This, I find is more fried up and relaxing, as is the whole 'Last Bus To Lake Park’ LP. Tracks like 'Hyper Feet 2’ & 'Planet Marz’ have a fair bit in common with a hazy hip hop instrumentals, but there’s just enough here to keep those toes and legs moving in weird and wonderful ways. Not to dismiss the former producers in any way but this may, just, have the edge in the “best of” list come December. ZINJA HLUNGWANI - ‘Nwa Gezani My Love’ Shangaan Electro or Juke on an African tip. This track is full on bonkers. Found upon the FACT Magazine Best Tracks of the decade so far, it nearly slipped by unnoticed (The name & title is mind boggling isn’t it?). If you have any prejudices or stereotypes towards African music you will hate this. Stay away its gorgeous sunny vibes don’t need you! From what I can make out its some form of a love song towards a loved one or someone Zinja needs to love. Nozinja dropped an album (’Nozinja Lodge’) with this of sort style of music back at the tail of May, but this is better because its so damn catchy. The video is brilliant as well and somehow works with the music - Low key but brilliant (Aren’t all the best videos?).

DAN DREHN - ‘Get Free [Major Lazor Remix]’ The original version of this track has to be one of my favourite songs ever made. Once I pass on, it also needs to be my exit song (Along with The Doors’ ‘Break On Through (To The Other Side)’). The story behind discovering this was to look for a track that dubbed up the original more and just slowed its pace to a crawl. So behind all the (Pardon my French) poor as hell trap and silly as shit dubstep edits, there was a mountain of them (I’m talking Everest amount), when Id almost gave up wading through the mire, I heard this. It’s what I suspect drugs might feel like. Endlessly tinkering on the instrumental hook, the vocals slowed down, warped and sugared in auto tune was discovery GOLD. It was everything and more that I was searching for. It’s only usurped in plays by the original and I still get full usage out of its charms, 330 odd views on YouTube does NO justice.  KC & THE SUNSHINE BAND - ‘I Get Lifted (Todd Terje Re-Edit)’ You know, those of 'Baby Give It Up’ fame. Todd Terje pulls together a couple of edits of Sunshine Band tracks (The other being 'I’m Your Boogie Man’). Taking the original 1976 track he turns them into funky cosmic groove jams. The original just as groovy but far more swift, almost a radio edit. Terje Olsen makes it far more slinky giving it a better run time, allowing the movement of The Sunshine Band to just float on a cloud for as long as it needs. A simple approach you could say, which can be seen in the Benji B disco dub version of the massive chart smash 'Uptown Funk’. Stripping away anything extra and making the groove the focal point.

DREAM 2 SCIENCE - ‘My Love Turns To Liquid’ My 12″ record of this features a sticker which tells me “Dream 2 Science is a lost nugget from the innocent days of NYC House music. AS GOOD AS IT GETS…”. An apt description if there ever was one. House, Techno, Club music now all has certain clichés or sounds that those tracks and producers can’t live without. This sounds like the sound of a style of music that is just beginning. A slight vocal feature underpins it all, one that doesn’t confirm to any given style, it just is. The rhythm is house music at its finest. The 12″ was a complete gamble for me, based on the cover art alone. I’m not a big gambler with records, but this was an instant hit as certain as the needle hit the groove. TSUNGA - ‘Cica Lights’ 6 minute banger from Tsunga. Very excited about this future World Series entry for House Of Trax. This sounds like a jungle tune which has more going for it than it being a “jungle tune”. The percussion sounds like tin pots being hammered ten to the dozen. It has club music attributes also, but quite simply it rips. Go figure. CHARANJIT SINGH - ‘Raga Bairagi’ Finally, and quite sadly, to a musical loss. Charanjit Singh died on the 5th July aged 74. The man responsible for accidentally creating the glorious sound of acid, he is classed by many as an electronic music pioneer. The ‘Synthesizing: Ten Ragas To A Disco Beat’ is an electronic odyssey, any young producer should at least listen once to this masterpiece. Personally I’d say listen to it all, but I had to pick at least one track from said album as the stand out. I’ve gone with ‘Raga Bairagi’. No need to explain, just listen.

Until next time, ta ra bit… CTA.

  P.S. LOOK AT ALL THESE BOTTOMFEEDERS….

[coletaylorarkinstalll]

Top Tracks & Mixes - 1st July 2015

It’s been a while Tumblr. Thought I’d return to you, my former love! Cutting the bullshit, I've pulled together a bunch of musical gems and odysseys to talk about. Hopefully I say some sort of praising words about them, link them up and let the good people of the worldwide web eat them up! I can’t make any promises, I rate what I write about, if you don’t then I suggest you recommend me something that’s of note (seriously I’ll listen to it!!). Only tracks for now, hopefully you get time to delve into each one (if you don’t, I'm telling you.. your far too busy!) I've added a neat section at the bottom for mixes, sets & radio shows. Hopefully some warm up material for the weekend. Or the gym even, maybe your a crate-digger looking for a new jam, whatever you please. You could call this a special edition I guess, the bumper issue if you will. Depending on how much I can consume I will try writing every week but don’t be surprised if it’s every fortnight. No way can I post 20 solid tunes every week. Last thing to add. These aren't tunes that all came out yesterday or better? today, they’re simply tunes I've been digging on a lot recently. A list of great tracks without genre, era or time restraints. Links are in each of the headers, any other additional stuff is also linked, so click away... .. .. ... .. Enjoy!

TRACKS

JAMMZ - ‘Final Warning’ Still Rinsing this track hard since I first heard it at the tail end of April. As if Finn’s ‘Keep Calling’ wasn't brilliant already. Here it’s paired up with Fallow’s 'Keep Ballin’’ remix, as well as one of the UK’s most hyped MC’s in Jammz. It’s 3 minutes of the MC firing out shots at women to stop calling his damn phone, it’s breakneck stuff and proof that grime is back on top once again.

RP BOO - ‘Freezaburn’ 'Fingers, Bank Pads & Shoe Prints’ came out this past week. The album inspired me to start this blog again. I was hearing too much good music, and the first half of this record showed that. 'Freezaburn’ is so tight knit even for a footwork mastermind like RP. 'Legacy’ was a great record but felt difficult to bare with at times, his production on not only this track but the record brings out the best parts of his material and makes the music easier to listen to without losing any of footwork’s wild momentum. 

LONE - ‘Twilight Groans’ Exactly what you’d expect a track called 'Twilight Groans’ to sound like. This unreleased beat is filthy as, and while I question whether or not the “ass slaps for snare drums quote” is true or not it’s dirty all the same. One of 14 unreleased gems Matt Cutler posted to his Facebook & Soundcloud sites last month. There’s more solid unheard of beats from 2003 to 2008 prior the classic 'Lemurian’ era.

GLENN ASTRO - ‘Throwback’ This doesn't feel much like a house track but it is. The patchwork broken beats litter the track to give a slotting groove. The sample at the top makes it jam together. The album is much in the same vein, adding jazz structures in some parts. Hip hop fans will either love it or hate it. it all depends on how they like the genre itself to progress. Kendrick Lamar is a perfect example of a forward thinker for this, instrumentally Astro has made a good turn here. It’s best heard through earphones though.Check/Download his Hyponik Mix from last year too. Much of the same sort of feel going on.

PINCH & MUMDANCE - ‘Big Slug (Feat. Riko Dan)’ Mumdance & Pinch team up again for more bassweight. The fact Riko Dan is on this track is just another reason to hit the play button, but the moment he spits out the “LONDONN CITTY WAAARLOORRDDD” line you know the man is about to go in hard. His hook ups with Wen ('Play Your Corner’) & Rabit ('Black Dragons’) last year are fuel for this, but for this tracks duration there literally is NO let up. It probably makes no financial sense but why Riko hasn't hooked up with the cream of the current grime and bass production for a full length is beyond me. Slaying it! ONRA - ‘We Ridin’ (Feat. Daz Dillinger & Olivier Daysoul)’ Proper summertime hip hop jam. One that harks right back to the 90s. This is music for hanging your arm outside the window of your Mustang (or more likely Peugeot 206/Ford Fiesta) and feeling the breeze pass through your hair. Preferably cruising with your friends or chick/hunk. The whole Onra 'Fundamentals’ joint features laid back hip hop and r&b smoothies. Here’s hoping for a hot British summer.

ISLAND - ‘Ay’ ‘Nokia’ was released a couple of months back now. Originally it passed over me but after revisiting the 'Joints Mixtape’ last week, I caught this track at the almost end. I'm not even sure what to call it. Is it house? Is it grime? Is it club?. I’d say it’s the work of a group or duo of producers who have honed they’re craft very well. They’re the perfect fit on Crazylegs. Not only is this and they’re EP banging but DJ J (At least one of ISLAND’s members) did a set for London’s Radar Radio a couple of months ago, you could do a lot worse than losing yourself in it.

DOUBLE HELIX (LHF) - ‘Fugese (Feat. Ragga Twins)’ A 6 minute skonkathon. This track has some serious bounce in it. That’s before the vocal feature with the Ragga Twins even lands. I don’t get much of a chance to get to raves in London or any of the cool places that host decent club nights but I'm pretty sure this is what they’d possibly be losing it to at 2am on a Sunday morning.

OPALA - ‘Make It Shake’ This floats. It reminds me of the same feeling I get when I hear Jai Paul’s ‘Jasmine’. I heard this through Chico Dub’s amazingly curated Hy Brazil series. This was on Volume 3. As soon as I heard it I thought “WOW!”. Music floats while wavey vocals slide over the top, akin to Peaking Lights in a way. As I mentioned the Hy Brazil series is ace. Its worth checking out all of them but if I had to recommend 2? Volume 2 (Experimental long form drone sounds) & 6 (A variety of killer electronic odysseys and club joints) ALL from Brazil origins.

THE HEAT TAPE - ‘Rich Man’ Finally got round to listening to the 'Raccoon Valley Recordings’ album the other week. Stored on my computer for years, it’s garage rock in the same vein as Black Lips et al. 'Rich Man’ is a simple hook about “breaking” someone’s “heart” and getting rich off the back of it. Set to a ripping minute and a half. Unfortunately it seems the album was the last thing (save for an EP) they've released since 2011. We can still get drunk and rock to tracks as awesome as this mind.

KMD - ‘Sweet Premium Wine’ AKA MetalFace DOOMs early 90′s project before going it alone. This is one of a number of highlights from a near flawless hip hop record. The samples are as classy as anything off any Wu-Tang record and the rest is superb rhymes stacked to the rafters. The record itself 'Black Bastards’ should be up with all the classics. Re-released this year especially for Record Store Day.

CRETA KANO - ‘Skyway Motel’ Managing to ID tunes on mixes or radio shows that don’t have tracklists can really grind you down. Most of the time Shazam won’t pick up a fresh edit or remix. This however, I got lucky with. A smooth house shuffler i heard on Shanti Celeste’s (Keep an eye out for that name) NTS Radio monthly slot. Hearing it in context with some proper house whips I thought it may date back to the early 90′s. To my surprise this came out last year. It’s another one to burn out in the summertime. Think of it as the solar opposite to Drexciya’s aquatic 'Andrean Sand Dunes’. RABIT & MYTH - ‘Lonely Backseat Love’ The moment where R&B enthusiasts Rabit and Myth team up to partially sample Ciara’s 'Backseat Love’, loop it into infinity and set the tone to dark, lonely and afraid. It’s still incredibly hot and you will lose your shit to this if you've never heard it, or at least I did. The outro loses the sample and plugs away at the isolation in the electronics. One for the road, obviously.

FUNKINEVEN & FATIMA - ‘Phone Line’ Proof that the best pop music isn't always being made overground. This is a few years old now and I found it after wading through some of Alex Nut’s mixes. Well written but fly as you like. Fatima’s delivery is so coy, but then Funkineven comes in 3/4′s of the way through and brings a whole load of effortless groove. It doesn't seem like much on first listen but I guarantee it’ll stay in your head all day. NUEVA COSTA - ‘Cancer Del Cobre’ This band still fly under the radio. Being from Chile possibly doesn't help. Yet their debut LP 'El Gran Espritu’ had sugared psychedelic vibes that you could hear coming from the 60′s a mile away. This track and the other 2 from the EP (their most recent) is a tinkering jam, that has you pictured sat under a tree on a late afternoon in summer. Pure haziness.

GLASS CANDY - ‘Digital Versicolor’ I may be in a minority here but I loved the film about Charles Bronson. Titled just 'Bronson’ the film had a scene midway through which featured a darkly lit room/club with mirrors and women. This track soundtracked that scene and nailed it right in the bulls-eye. It sounds hopeless but chugs away with singer Ida No cooing about colours. Not only did it work perfect in that scene but it’s perfect to drive to late at night when it’s just You, your machine and streetlight.

JOSÉ PADILLA - ‘Day One’ Basically, chilled out bliss. Cafe Del Mar man Padilla serves up a long player of sunset vibes or anything you could associate with the word “sun”. 'Day One’ kicks off the ‘So Many Colours’ LP and is the perfect start to introduce these Balearic yet cinematic sounds. DARK0 - ‘The Past’ Dark0′s productions have always had huge melodies set to some taut grime beats, and they always feel cinematic and tug on your emotions. However barring the 'Sweet Boy Tears’ edit he did for the first Different Circles compilation last year he barely does beatless tracks. 'The Past’ rectifies this. Straight off the back of the recent and rather ace 'Solace’ EP, its described by Hyponik as “An enchanting new piece from Dark0 that can only be described as a cosmic lullaby from the future”. I couldn't have put it any better myself.

BULLY - ‘Brainfreeze’ I'm in love with 'Feels Like’ at the moment. Its not just it’s casual length It’s the songwriting genius of Alicia Bognanno. Awesome pop rock with nods to the grungey girl groups of the 90′s. The way a song like 'Brainfreeze’ has been written gives it space to breathe and pushes the “song” right to the front. This and the album stick out like a sore thumb, I'm guessing that was Alicia’s aim.

CIRCA WAVES - ‘T-Shirt Weather’ Not sure whether you could call this a guilty pleasure but it feels like one. A perfect 3 minute indie pop song that would fit on any daytime radio show. Caught this on the Glastonbury highlights recently. It’s such a catchy tune I think I'm starting to turn on it. The hook is undeniable. Sits easily as the sound of this year’s festival circuit tag.

MIXES & SETS

TNGHT (Hudson Mohawke x Lunice) - Mission Statement Mix I couldn't start my first round up on mixes without the one that started it all. I can hear you screaming everywhere “not that trap shit!”. I frankly, do not care, these are tunes that HudMo & Lunice sold me by the bucket load, the tracks that I go ape to once heard. Mainly though this mix taught me that an hour of tunes by a bunch of DJ’s isn't as monotonous as it sounds. Firstly most of TNGHT’s EP features here. A solid EP but on here, next to gold bar bangers like Chief Keef, Drake, 2Chainz, GOOD Music as well as instrumental flavours from the likes of S-Type and Ross Birchard himself, they work you ten times as hard. Hell even John Carpenter opens the mix! During their live set back in 2012 I witnessed someone do a back-flip (NO SHIT! - Check it out here.) to TNGHT’s very own ‘Higher Ground’, testament to how these tracks really do go off. DETROIT SWINDLE - BBC Radio 1 Essential Mix Christ! Do Detroit Swindle know hot to lay down some hot hot house grooves. I still go back to their Session for Mixmag last year far too much. When the news broke that these guys would be laying down 2 solid hours of favourites, fresh edits and their trademark for BBC’s Friday night staple I was damn excited and hell did it deliver. It might be a tad lengthy but this is great warm up material to your forthcoming night out! Prepare to get absolutely loaded!

NIGHTMARES ON WAX - Boiler Room London Set From 28/08/2013 Boiler room sets are odd affairs. If they’re an evening set, they tend to feature a room full of pretentious people far too lucky to have tickets standing like statues to DJ’s dropping some fine heat. They’re also of the moment sets and can easily end up seeing a DJ falling flat on their face. This however is an afternoon bliss out in the August sunshine. George Evelyn AKA Nightmares On Wax presents us with 90 minutes of cosmic shape shifting, taking us on a journey through quite literally, everything. Funk, Soul, Underground Pop, Balearic, you name it. The tunes flow through a cosmos of beats allowing everything to slide on by with ease. Without a tracklist I can’t tell you much of what’s on here at all, so you’ll have to lend it your ear. Mixes like this make you wonder why anybody bothers with the album format. I mean this is a free download for goodness sake. Anyway enough babbling, feel free to dance or stand like a statue as you please. THE HEATWAVE - XLR8R Podcast 109 Or simply, the ‘Funky Bashment Mix’. Just like it says, this is straight to the point and doesn't mess around for the whole of its duration. I can’t lie I know very little about bashment as a genre (got to start somewhere right?) but this mix goes straight in from the off and if your not prepared will catch you completely off guard. This is sticky weather/club music for when your overcome with alcohol & tobacco intoxication. It’s also an early entry in the XLR8R Podcast series. Of which I have become quite the regular visitor. They’ve put down some top mixes in 2015 alone, with great entries from M.E.S.H., Lena Willikens, Dance Spirit, Jason Kendig, Fort Romeau, JETS & The Brothers Zenker. NICKY SIANO - Live At The Gallery Parts 1 & 2 Serious time machine alert! Closed my eyes during these 2 sets from way back in October 1976. Recorded at The Gallery in NYC. This is disco and the early sounds of house wrapped up into a neat package. You can feel the disco ball on the ceiling turn, as it fragments light on to dancers the room over. I even felt like Disco Stu from The Simpsons while dancing to it. Here’s for a part 3 sometime soon but I'm more than happy buzzing off this perfect slice of history right here. Transport yourself back and get lost in the boogie of times gone by.

TRIM & RIKO DAN - Slewing Demon RinseFM Set 10/04/2005 Another great set. From a time not so long ago as Siano’s. There’s a ton of these radio rips from London radio station Rinse on the YouTube link that features. Irish label Glacial Sound tipped this, and as I’ve mentioned already Riko Dan knows what's up. He was still as venomous 10 years ago as he is today. Talking about Riko any more would do a disservice to Trim, who along with the former has to be one of the most underrated MC’s, I at least, know about. Both spit lines like razors and in sharp concession. It’s a set where if you don’t know the pair, they’ll be your favourite guys on the mic after. Great warm up primer for a night out at London or Manchester’s many grime and bass nights. 

NIGHTWAVE - Truancy Volume 118 Heka Trax label boss Nightwave’s recent mixes have been far and away killing the competition. Maya’s own productions too seem to get better with every release. In an interview for this very mix she is asked about the music selected and how her “own mixes are, in the purest form, a collection of tunes that are fun to play and dance to”. Simply she answers “I usually try and make something for people to stick on at a house party or on their way to a club”. After a similarly solid set for FACT Magazine back in February, this mix continues the vibe and lays down joints in juke, techno, ghetto, grime and the new school of rap. It may be manic and not to everyone’s taste but there’s some heaters in this 45 odd minute set right here.

Until next time, ta ra bit… CTA.

  P.S. You know that moment when time stands still…