Favorite Mixes from December 2023
Dive back into the diverse music tales that resonated through Delayed last month. Relive the sets that had you dancing under the stars with electrifying mixes from Paral.lel, Dekmantel, Draaimolen, Mostra, and The Crave Festivals. Escape the ordinary with ambient mixes that paint aural panoramas of tranquility. Or take a peek into the creative labs of studio-made podcasts. December offered a mix for every mood!
Katatonic Silentio - Paral.lel Festival 2023
In 2023, the winds of musical discovery blew fresh, and one name swirled on the tip of every discerning tongue: Mariachiara Troianiello, the Italian sound artist better known as Katatonic Silentio. Her Mantis release was a revelation, a portal cracking open into a universe of vibrant soundscapes. And so, with hearts thrumming with anticipation, we ventured into the heart of the Paral.lel Festival, to witness her magic firsthand.
It was a Saturday, sun dappled amongst the Pyrenean peaks, the weather as changeable as a dream. Ario and Pontiac Streator spun a shimmering web of frequencies of experimental, ambient, and electronica, warming our senses while we sprawled on blankets, remnants of Friday's revelry clinging to our souls. Then, as if conjured by the gods of rhythm, Katatonic Silentio took the stage. And what followed was a masterclass in sonic sorcery.
Her set was a symphony of flawless transitions, tracks mixed together with the precision of a spider's web, each beat landing with an electrifying throb. Rain fell, a fleeting caress on the sun-warmed skin of the dancers. But not a head drooped, not a foot stilled. Slowly, mesmerically, the horizontal gave way to the vertical, bodies undulating in unison, lost in the pulse of Katatonic's sonic vortex.
This is the kind of set that lingers, a phantom melody echoing in the memory, a treasure chest bursting with jewels to be rediscovered with each listen
Purelink - RA 917
As the curtains fall on a year bursting with sonic treasures, Purelink steps out, spotlight in hand, and delivers a final masterpiece. This podcast, crafted by the very minds behind Peak Oil's unforgettable "Signs" (one of our 2023 darlings!), isn't just a mix – it's an experience.
It's a journey woven from threads of eclectic brilliance, each track meticulously chosen to weave a spell around your heart. Prepare for downtempo beats that melt into dub techno's ethereal whispers, punctuated by the pulsing thrum of UK garage. Every transition is a seamless glide, highlighting Purelink's uncanny ability to bend genre to their exquisite will.
Think of this mix as the cherry on top, not just of the holiday season, but of the entire musical year we've savored. It's a final, dazzling flourish, a reminder that the art of sonic storytelling still holds boundless magic. It's the perfect farewell to 2023, and a shimmering hello to the musical adventures that await.
Garçon at Dekmantel Festival 2023
Garçon's Dekmantel opening set is a masterclass in polyrhythmic mastery. Amenthia's co-founder builds a sonic labyrinth with surgical precision, each layer of quirky samples and mind-altering synths meticulously placed to create a heady, hypnotic journey. It showcases Garçon sheer creative genius, a set that will leave even the most seasoned music aficionados speechless. It's pure wizardry, bottled and unleashed - the only thing better is experiencing it firsthand.
Binomi (vinyl set) Introspective Electronics x Mostra 23
This unique set stole our hearts during our visit to Barcelona for Mostra 2023. Surrounded by dark walls of Hangar, while relaxing on giant pillows on the dance floor, experimental, psychedelic and avant-garde music selection by outstanding Spanish duo Binomi (Joan Gila and Jordi Aparicio) took us on voyage through time and space. This is not your regular DJ mix, this is art, this is exploration of sound and atmosphere in its finest form.
Polygonia - 你吃了梅 Ni Chi Le Mei
A polyrhythmic alchemist, Polygonia brews heart-thumping concoctions and mind-bending mixes, each a fresh gust of artistic oxygen. Now, she dips her brush into a palette of low bpm hues, crafting a musical saga that unfolds at 103, a seductive whisper inviting you to step into her sonic sanctuary.
Orion - Zenaari 008
On Zenaari Mix 008, Simone Baratta and Nicolò Chenet aka Orion trade their usual dancefloor flair for a deeper dive into experimentalism. The mix, a perfect embodiment of Zenaari's ethos, pushes boundaries across genres, from ethereal drones to Italian crooning, all stitched together with raw, sequential artistry. Expect a nostalgic yet thought-provoking journey through their musical archive, a powerful collage that's both affecting and subtly playful – a true mark from Milan's enigmatic duo.
JakoJako - Groove Podcast 401
JakoJako, the queen of the Berghain's twilight hours, conjures an hour of liquid techno gold. This mix, born from the ashes of countless closing sets, flows like molten neon, each track a searing ember driving you forward. Feel the bass drum kick like a piston in your chest, the hi-hats whispering promises of daybreak. JakoJako's techno symphony isn't just for your ears; it's fuel for your feet.
Batu b2b Donato Dozzy at Draaimolen Festival
The Draaimolen festival's Aura stage became a portal on Saturday night, a gateway to the realm forged in the fires of an unexpected b2b collaboration. Bass maestro Batu and techno-wizard Donato Dozzy, two titans from different sonic spheres, collided in a b2b set that transcended genre. For two and a half hours, they created a universe of their own, with grooves that pulsed with quirky details and raw power.
Tammo Hesselink - Club Rooted #7
In the last couple of years, Tammo Hesselink has been one of the most inspirational producers and DJs hailing from a vibrant Dutch underground scene. Traversing genres with constant change in rhythm section, Tammo keeps things fresh and interesting, In his most recent mix for Club Rooted, Tammo invites listeners on a whimsical odyssey, guiding them through a hypnotic exploration of broken rhythms and off-kilter synths.
Priori (live) - The Sizeable Mix Vol. 16
Basking in the electrifying energy of The Crave Festival, Priori's live set ignites a spark on even the gloomiest day. This live set is a shot of pure joy, guaranteed to lift your spirits and send you dancing into the sunshine.
Seunghee - Spontaneous Affinity #054
Bidding farewell to the concrete canyons of NYC, our urban jungle that cradled her dreams for a time, Yulheim Electronics co-founder Seunghee sets sail for fresh horizons in Europe and Seoul. Before vanishing into the horizon, she leaves behind a mixtape for Spontaneous Affinity, a genre-bending techno voyage that paints the spectrum from ethereal ambiance to subterranean depths, culminating in a pulse-pounding crescendo.
ABSIS - AF091
Hailing from Barcelona, Salva Coromina, known by many guises, is a sonic alchemist sculpting mind-bending music tales. His expertise, whether in the studio or behind the decks, lies in crafting deep electronic journeys that traverse the spectrum, leaving listeners both inspired and entranced.
December saw two new mixes emerge from one of Salva's latest monikers, ABSIS, but it's this two-hour slow burner for Anodynic Frequencies that truly set our hearts ablaze. A masterclass in the art of the atmospheric journey, ABSIS expertly navigates from ambient lulls to halftime grooves, culminating in the hypnotic depths of deep techno. It's a sonic feast for the soul, guided by a captain who knows the electronic landscape like the back of his hand.
Kim Kenis - Precept 045
Hailing from Belgium, Kim Kenis is celebrated for infusing her sets with a unique blend of quirky after-hour vibes, igniting a distinctive energy on the dancefloor—an energy that has become synonymous with her name She effortlessly brings the mosaic of deep and dubby sounds to the forefront in her latest mix for the Precept podcast series.
Neel (hybrid) - Paral.lel Festival 2023
Sunday in the Pyrenees, during the Paral.lel Festival was a sunny one. The energy from the Day Star was welcomed by festival goers who were ready for the "last dance" of a three day music marathon. The Italian weaver of hypnotic spells, Neel, delivered a mind-bending hybrid set, perfectly suitable for the time slot and setting we were at. Hypnotic in a true meaning of the word, this set was like a star exploding in slow motion.
Ina Kacz - Résilience Podcast 022
When Ina is behind the decks, we listen. No set of hers is an afterthought; each one explodes with electrifying energy, her creativity twisting and turning rhythms like a kaleidoscope on overdrive. Kacz's talent? Undeniable. And "Résilience Podcast 022" is a masterclass in electrifying fusion. Brace yourself for Ina Kacz at her most incandescent.
Forest Drive West - Dekmantel Festival 2023
Forest Drive West effortlessly commands attention and requires no elaborate introduction here at Delayed. A maestro of intricate grooves, whether weaving the realms of techno, tribal rhythms, drum and bass, or the mesmerizing depths of UK bass, each new performance by FDW elevates the standard of conventional electronic music by a noticeable notch.
In his latest spellbinding set from the Dekmantel Festival, Forest Drive West immerses the audience in an odyssey characterized by broken beats, tribal influences, and an unwavering surge of relentless energy.
Patricia Wolf - AI Series Mix #012
Nestled in the heart of Portland, where rain whispers against windowpanes and fog paints the streets in soft grey, Patricia Wolf conjures a perfect soundtrack for introspective moments. When the sun surrenders to winter's icy grip, and days shrink beneath a cloak of pewter clouds, Patricia Wolf's mix for AI Series unfurls layered soundscape woven to soundtrack your reverie.
Mirella Kroes - Inveins 104
In her latest mesmerizing mix for Inveins, the Amsterdam-based DJ Mirella Kroes effortlessly catapults listeners from a serene state of tranquility to an exhilarating tour de force of techno. With seamless transitions and a masterful selection of tracks, Mirella guides you through a sonic journey that is as refined as it is dynamic.
Huerco S. at Casa Montjuic, Barcelona (3 September 2023)
Like a celestial kaleidoscope, Huerco S.'s diverse mixes whisk you through a boundless aural expanse. Each twist and turn reveals a new treasure. His aural passport stamped across every corner of electronic music, Huerco S. curates sonic journeys with an alchemist's touch. This mix unfurls like a sun-drenched nebula, perfect for hazy afternoons spent drifting in rhythmic bliss.
Efdemin @ Pax Romana, Radion, Amsterdam (July 1, 2023)
In a climactic crescendo, the German techno virtuoso Efdemin orchestrates an unforgettable experience during his closing set at Amsterdam's Radion. Unleashing a meticulously curated three-hour techno odyssey, Efdemin conjured a kaleidoscope of sound, where driving techno morphed into ethereal breaks and back, all bathed in the strobing glow of the dance floor.