Favorite Mixes from February 2021
In the past year, most of us have been spending most of our time at home. Having good music playing during the day, even in the background, is something that kept us sane during these crazy times. This is the list of mixes we enjoyed listening in the past few weeks. The list is diverse, so you can find something that fits your current mood.
F-on and Adhémar - Alpenglühen#56
What a 5hr marathon this is! Alpenglühen Records founder F-on invited super talented French producer Adhémar for the 56th edition of Alpenglühen radio show. Instead of the usual 2hr which are pretty much the standard for radio shows, we have five hours of excellent selections by these two DJs. During the first two hours, Adhémar created a calming and pleasurable atmosphere with its slow-paced tribal grooves and deep emotional undercurrents, and organic, warm soundscapes. The second part of the mix, the master of dark deepness, F-on, deliveries another perfect mix. F-on's consistency is absolutely phenomenal.
Sentre - isolatedmix 108
This is a beautiful soundtrack for your next car ride. The mix by Sentre (Dennis White and Dave Gardner) hits all the right spots for a proper downtempo mix. When a mix has such a brilliant track selection and story behind it, the only thing you should do is relax and enjoy it, and be happy you stumble upon it. Hats off, guys!
Ario- vurt podcast 28
Not so long ago, we featured an incredible ambient mix from Astral Industries mastermind Ario. We have something different from him for this month's list, but with the same level of radiance, a creme de la creme techno excursion made for popular Seoul-based nightclub vurt. and its podcast series. These 60 minutes of driving techno, made of complex drum programming and trippy undertones, are the remedy for dull days spent at home.
Laura BCR & ASC - Rinse FM
There was a child-like excitement when I saw the announcement of this episode. Laura has been on the top of her game with a curation of her show on Rinse FM since the beginning, and the February edition with ASC is yet another shiny star on that beautiful starry night sky Laura created over time. During the first hour, Laura presents the finest hypnotic deep techno with tracks by Forest on Stasys, Mohlao, and 'that Estrato Aurora remix' that everyone is going crazy about. Towards the end, Laura shifts gears with a track from her guest ASC and brilliant addition from Owl. The second hour of the show was reserved for legendary James Clements, better known as ASC, who's been making quality electronic music for more than 20 years now. It's pointless to define ASC's style in the studio since he's been making everything from Ambient to Techno to Trance to Drum & Bass and beyond with the same brilliance and bull's eye accuracy. For Laura's show, ASC takes listeners for a ride through hi-paced techno and energetic breaks, with constant switches in rhythms that make this mix a great running partner.
Citizen Maze - Sure Thing
This collaboration could've gone only in one direction - the right one. Immaculately curated podcast series Sure Thing welcomed Naarm/Melbourne-based artist and one of our favorites in the past year or so, Citizen Maze. Citizen Maze created something special, a 75min story that reveals a new character with each new melody that fades in, a new twist in the story with each change in drum programming. The story has a nice and smooth flow, and it's great listening on both headphones and speakers.
Calibre - RA 765
Just a few weeks before his phenomenal LP 'Feeling Normal' hit the shelves, one of the true pioneers of drum & bass, the Belfast-based maestro, Calibre, made this outstanding mix and prepared us all for what's coming. This mix is one of those that would've been released on CD if we are in the early '00s. The one that would stay for you for a long time, to listen to it over and over again. A flash of pure brilliance from a true legend!
Tammo Hesselink - Animix Twenty Eight
Nous'klaer Audio affiliate and one of the most exciting artists that emerged from the vibrant scene in Amsterdam, Tammo Hesselink, contributed to the Animalia's podcast series, Animix. This mix that's a bit shorter than 2hrs is a very well-balanced journey in terms of pace and rhythm. It slowly evolves from minimal and dub in the first third of the mix to trippy breaks that keep morphing with each new track that is introduced.
Polygonia - The Memoir, Page 60
Slowly but surely, the Münich-based Polygonia stole our hearts with her hypnotic deep techno style and incredible feeling for rhythm. Polygonia shines in the best light in her latest live set she made for the brilliant podcast series 'The Memoir.' Besides the tracks released on Lawless, IO and Valian Kollektiv that made us fall in love with Polygonia’s style, this mix features a lot of unreleased and forthcoming music from this astonishingly talented artist.
Earthen Sea - Deep Breakfast 100
A jubilee 100th episode of the Deep Breakfast series comes from Jacob Long aka Earthen Sea. He created a wonderful music tale that's like an embrace of stillness and naturally occurring beauty. This music tale is carefully constructed and intricately layered, making it an essential lazy day listening.
Perko - Fact Mix 795
Scotsman in Copenhagen, Perko is building his reputation as an incredibly talented artist with each new release and each new DJ set we hear from him. After a fantastic album 'Galerie,' which was released a few months ago and on heavy rotation in our HQ, we hear again from Perko, this time in the form of a DJ mix. Exclusively made for FACT Magazine, Perko creates a dancefloor-friendly escapade that explores different shades of percussive Techno and Breaks.
Surgeons Girl - SWU.FM 31.Jan 2021
Livity Sound affiliate Surgeons Girl presents two hours of her current favorites in the radio show on SWU.FM. This episode features tracks from Vril, Vladislav Delay, Avalon Emerson, and KLone, among others.
IT-XPO - Live at the Dresser
Our fellow New Yorker IT-XPO deliveries an hour of House music spectacle. The mix is all his original work played live. It's outstanding. Hopefully, we'll be able to hear him playing out this year, here on our home turf. Here are few words about the mix from the artist himself: 'For the past few years I've been writing so many songs, so many loose endings. Knots created out of thin air, tumbling into one another. As time went on, the music naturally felt inclined to a live set, something spontaneous and magical. "Live at the Dresser" was the result.'
Roman Flügel - Rinse FM
We made a break of featuring Flügel's radio show for couple of months, but one can't ignore brilliance for too long. One of the game's finest players curates two hours of spellbinding tunes, so sit back, grab a pen and paper, and listen to professor Flügel.
Birds Ov Paradise - Live at UtD festival
It was such enjoyable listening to these 45min of new creations from Birds Ov Paradise's laboratory. The Swedish magician knows that delicate balance of rumbling rhythms and ever-evolving melodies, never reaching a dull or cheesy moment. This live set was part of the UtD festival, and it should be on your 'must listen' playlist.
Lil’Dave at Diskothek Melancholie 2
This mix is reminiscent of the days we could carelessly lose ourselves on the dance floor. Maeve co-founder Dave Redmond aka Lil' Dave, recently posted this recording from a Sweat Lodge party at Diskothek Melancholie in Berlin from 2019, and it's a feel-good disco house extravaganza. While we are still surrounded by the dullness of winter weather and spending most of our time inside, this mix does wonders for your well-being when listened to loud on your speakers.
Oslon - Art Bei Ton Podcast 033
A man behind outstanding record label Oslated, Oslon brings all the feels with this mesmerizing ambient mix, exclusively made for Art Bei Ton's podcast series. The mix creates space somewhere between the ambient and the cinematic, with the balance of careful sound design and dreamy atmospheres.
Goddard & Villete - Downtown Groove Sessions 097
February edition of Downtown Groove Sessions is a two hours well-spent in front of your speakers. Its host Goddard invited Amsterdam-based Villette for this relaxing 'double-header.' During the first hour, Villete creates marvelous tranquility with her carefully curated ambient tunes, which Goddard accepts with both hands and further builds on it with chilled Break-House vibes that are ideal home-listening.
Claudio PRC - HATE Podcast 226
Let the Sardinian-born Berliner by choice, Claudio PRC, instantly transport you to the sweaty dance floor of Berghain with this mind-bending mix he made exclusively for HATE podcast. The mix is dark, deep, and driving, an ideal late nighter.
Pierrot & Lilli Zylka - Unexpected Delight
Two hours well-spent! A wonderful episode of 'Unexpected Delight' show on Operator Radio. Its host, Pierrot, and his guest Lilli Zylka played two beautiful, eclectic sets that covered a broad spectrum of music. It's refreshing to listen to well-curated world music sets. Well done, Pierrot and Lilli.
Andrea - RA 767
Illian Tape affiliate Andrea broke every possible beat in his latest mix for RA. Joke aside, Andrea made a fantastic mix that continually shifts between techno, breakbeat, drum & bass, and jungle, layered with hypnotic melodies that make this journey such a pleasurable listening that fits various settings.