After a fairly big weekend that saw us take in Hyde’s 1st birthday party at the brilliant Oval Space on Saturday night, we’re in need of a something to zone out to today. Luckily for us, and you if you’re taking a similarly tentative approach to this Monday, composer/producer/performer/DJ extraordinaire Jon Hopkins was on the Essential Mix on Friday night.
It’s a superb selection, that includes some brilliant tracks from Daniel Avery, Recondite, James Holden and this stunning Moderat remix of Hopkins’ ‘Abandon Window’.
Chances are, if Joy Orbison and Tim Sweeney get behind a record, it’s going to be a cracker. Barnt’s ‘Chappell’ was first aired in Joy O’s essential mix back in July (well worth a listen) and has since featured in Sweeney’s Beats in Space 15th Anniversary compilation. It’s an intense percussive workout that alternates between powerful stabs and the full range of clicks and snares. Mesmerising stuff.
Barnt is the latest signing to Joy O and Will Bankhead’s label ‘Hinge Finger’, with ‘His Name’ becoming the 5th vinyl-only release. The B-side is pretty tasty too, yet more weird and wonderful drum-machine sounds.
Ten Walls has only gone and produced the scariest tune of the year. ‘Chains and Shackles’ is the full package of howls, glitches and jerky breakdowns that build on each other to produce a captivating banger. It’s 10 minutes of intense techno, showing off the mysterious artist’s ability to craft an atmosphere like few others.
The perceptive amongst you will have heard this spooky thumper in Ten Walls’ essential mix last month. If you haven’t had a listen yet and fancy having a seriously productive hour, get it on:
He has unexpectedly released this one on a free so grab yourself a copy while it lasts.
Selector superduo Can U Dance swung by Glastonbury on their European tour last week, and blasted out an hour of music to get you PUMPED:
Put out there as an Essential Mix, it’s Oneman and Jackmaster at their very best, racing through tunes from INXS to The Streets and clearly enjoying their new project. In fairness, who wouldn’t? It’s basically an opportunity for them to play wall-to-wall bangers at festivals all summer.
Firstly a tune which is already enormous but will surely explode this summer. Frank Wiedemann and Kristian Beyer of Ame have remixed Sailor & I ‘Turn Around’ and it’s absolutely stunning. We loved the Aril Brikha remix of Sailor & I’s ‘Tough Love‘ a couple of years back but we think this is superior. And this is despite the only version currently available to the man on the street being this rip from the BPM festival in Mexico. We think you can get the gist though.
Due for release ‘soon’ on the excellent Life and Death (who are really spoiling us at the moment after giving us the awesome ‘Requiem’ by Ten Walls at the end of last year.)
(You can now hear the full, un-ripped version on Human Drizzle here…)
The second Germanic selection we want to bring to your attention sees David August return in some style, after a breather away from these pages.
Normally associated with the Diynamic stable, we are under the impression that this one will be out on Innervisions this year. No great surprise there – it was featured on the Innervisions boss Dixon’s Essential Mix last year. Which gives us yet another opportunity to point you in the direction of this…
You are all probably gearing up for your Christmas hols by now. In the process, you’ll no doubt be shelving your self-respect as you sit in your office, bedroom or on the tube listening to Cliff Richard Christmas songs, telling yourself this is what this time of year is all about.
Please.
We celebrate Crimbo a little differently here at HD. Whilst we’re partial to a bit of Wham! at this time of year – George Michael is the most talented male vocalist of the late 20th Century in our eyes – we still know that there are tunes to be found, and they won’t necessarily be the sort that you can stick on between Mariah and Shakin’ Stevens whilst you try and photocopy your arse at the office bash, if you know what we mean.
Step forward Marcus Worgull and Peter Pardeike. Innversions have had an incredible year. Brilliant live performances have propelled label-head Steffan Berkhahn aka Dixon to number one spot on the Resident Advisor top DJs countdown, a gong we can find no error with, and he was ably supported by long-time collaborators Kristian Beyer and Frank Wiedemann of Âme. On top of this there was the towering success of Agoria‘s ‘Scala’, a gorgeous, driving piece of piano house, fitting perfectly into the mould of intensely beautiful tracks that have become the MO of Innervisions releases.
There was also Dixon‘s shudderingly epic Essential Mix which really has to be carefully studied if you haven’t already.
One of the tracks that Steffan featured in his mix back in September was ‘Lenoix’ by Marcus and Peter, although at that time no one outside of the label knew what the track was, even though it stood out as a highlight amongst many great moments over the two hours. It’s a quietly monstrous banger, building stealthily to a brilliant crescendo.
The good news is that it’s already out and you can grab it from all good retailers. The bad news is your gran might not like it when you insist on playing it whilst waiting for Death Comes to Pemberely to start on the Beeb this Xmas. She should know better.
We recommend, nay insist, that you head over to the Radio 1 website and listen to producer-extraordinaire Todd Edwards’ Essential Mix. Get it HERE whilst it’s hot (and legally available).
It’s two hours of mostly originals, including this exclusive version of Daft Punk’s ‘Get Lucky’ and ‘Something About Us’:
