Favorite Mixes from July 2023
Our monthly roundup from July features some truly outstanding DJ mixes and live sets exploring various electronic music genres. Put your headphones on, and dive in.
MNMT Recordings: Absis x Mostra
The recording of ABSIS' mix has been eagerly anticipated by our editorial team ever since experiencing the unforgettable performance at this year's Mostra Festival in Barcelona. ABSIS, a prominent figure in Barcelona's underground music scene, mesmerized the audience with a boundary-pushing set that expertly blends low-slung, deep techno with half-time drum & bass. The artful precision displayed during the mix is unparalleled, crafting a seamless musical narrative that feels like a dynamic live performance.
Forest Drive West - CNC Live
Recorded live in May '22 at Club Nigh Club party in Brooklyn, the phenomenal Forest Drive West mix is a well-paced 'midnight to peak time' set. Like blending a mixed drink, Forest Drive West expertly combines 1/4 cup of techno, 1/4 cup of dub, and a generous 1/2 cup of jungle and drum & bass. The mix starts with dreamy, sparse club loops, creating a hypnotic ambiance, and gradually accelerates into a pulsating frenzy of strobe-lit jungle and drum and bass mutations.
Kato De Vidts and J Noon live at La Nature 2023
The Delayed usual suspect Kato De Vidts and J Noon recorded this marvelous live set at La Nature Festival in Belgium. As you embark on this 53-minute and 42-second journey, find a cozy spot to lie down, gazing at the ceiling with eyes wide open while slipping on headphones. Almost instantly, you'll be whisked away to an interdimensional realm, perfect for moments of profound self-reflection. Kato and J Noon will guide you through a transformative and reflective space where time seems to transcend its usual boundaries. Prepare to go on a deep musical odyssey that will leave a lasting impact on your soul.
nthng - Mega7000
Just before the highly anticipated album by the Dutch producer nthng on Transatlantic hit the shelves a few weeks ago, we had the pleasure of listening to his live set from Późno Kolektyw's party in Wroclaw. A shy of an hour, this set is a beautiful atmospheric journey made of deep emotional undercurrents driven by smooth breaks and a recognizable 'nthng melancholy' vibe.
Laura BCR - Crack Mix 505
Our dear friend, a phenomenal producer, DJ, label owner, and booking agency boss, Laura BCR, takes us on an eclectic, 'drum'n'dub atmospheric ride made of the unreleased tracks and tracks she's been playing out lately. Great track selection, coherence, and unpredictability make this mix a must-listen.
Pillen @ Sables Mouvants & Alpenglühen presented Aa Sudd
At the Sables Mouvants & Alpenglüchen party in Madrid, Pillen's opening set took the crowd on a music escapade through half-time and atmospheric drum and bass, setting the perfect mood for the headliner, Aa Suud, who was making his highly anticipated Madrid debut that night. The mix skillfully navigated diverse soundscapes, constantly fluctuating in energy yet maintaining a remarkable cohesiveness.
Ripperton & Ly Sander back to back at Solarsoundsystem Festival
The back-to-back set by long-time friends Ripperton and Ly Sander was a real treat during our trip to the Long Island beaches, filled with nostalgic vibes. Despite being their first time performing together, you wouldn't have guessed it from the seamless flow of their set. As we listened to the recorded three-hour excerpt from their music marathon at the Solarsoundsystem Festival in Lausanne, it became evident that these long-time friends had an innate understanding of each other's musical tastes. The mix showcased an exquisite blend of R&B, reggae, dub, blues, and disco, thoughtfully selected from their extensive record collections. Each track transported us to a different era, evoking a feeling of driving with the windows down and letting the warm breeze carry us through a journey of timeless soundscapes.
Severja - Hyperterranean #018
The Midgar Records' own Severja delivered a deep, psychedelic mix for the Hyperterranean podcast series that unfolds from low-slung techno into melancholic electronica, hypnotic breaks, and goes back to techno with a sprinkle of acid towards the end of the road.
Shoal - Orb Podcast 062
Shoal doesn't stop to impress us with his artistic output, whether an original production or DJ set. This time, the mix he made for Orb Magazine took us on quite a journey. And it was not easy listening, but right after the last moments of 'Reef,' the closing track by Mere Mortals, I smiled from ear to ear. Shoal took his time and slowly got us into psychedelic, polyrhythmic bliss guiding us through experimental, electronica, and ambient beforehand. Dedicate two hours to this; it's well worth it.
Timnah - MNMT 377
The Amenthia affiliate, Basel-based Timnah, keeps pushing the bar with each new mix we hear from her. The latest one, for Monument's podcast series, sees Timnah further explore complex and intricate rhythms that blur the lines between techno and drum and bass. The atmosphere is dark but comfortable, perfectly suited for late hours on a dance floor.
Simone Bauer b2b E L A @ Perpendicular 2023
This year's Perpendicular Festival hosted a wide array of talent. In the past several weeks, we've been enjoying the recordings posted online, and the latest one from Simone Bauer and E L A is yet another musical gem that many should hear. In their b2b set, Simone and E L A strike a perfect balance between 'four to the floor' and breaks, keeping the tension throughout the journey.
Gent - Harmony Rec. Podcast
Vargmal Records and Orb Magazine founder Gent delivers a mix that unfolds from dub and tribal into deep and hypnotic techno with ease. With its smooth flow, the mix is an ideal soundtrack for your next subway ride.
Mary Yalex - isolatedmix 122
Ahead of her debut release on consistently good A Strangely Isolated Place in upcoming months, Mary Yalex made a wonderful ambient/downtempo mix for the label's podcast series. This looks like a 'match made in heaven' collaboration, and we can't wait to hear the album that Mary and ASIP have prepared for us.
Joan Gila - Into The Abyss #043
The mastermind behind HOC Radio and one part of the marvelous duo Binomi, Joan Gila, takes us on an unconventional journey through experimental music which requires and rewards thoughtful, focused listening. This set feels like a thought-provoking theater play and showcases Joan’s talent for finding obscure records and putting them in a cohesive storytelling order.
Vand @ Perpendicular 2023
Another gem from Perpendicular Festival landed in our feeds a few weeks ago. And it was from our long-time favorite, Vand. 'Saturday night prime time' Vand delivers a driving and quite hypnotic techno journey that keeps the energy levels high for most of the trip.
Na Nich - DSH #136
A class mix from Rhythm Büro founder Na Nich. It's deep, and it's groovy. It's atmospheric, and it's hypnotizing. This mix will get you out of that chair very fast.
Garçon at Waking Life 2022
This incredible tour de force set by Amenthia co-founder Garçon was recorded at last year's Waking Life festival. During these two hours, Garçon doesn't let the foot off the gas and, at the same time, warps reality with carefully constructed percussive elements that keep things weird and fun.
Kia - Harmony Rec. Podcast
Harmony Rec crew organized 'label nights' at Prague's nightclub Ankali accompanied by a radio show on Infame Radio where they had a panel conversation on the community and the music industry with music contributions from Kia, Lychee, and Polygonia. We enjoyed listening to the mix from Animalia's boss, Kia, who shines in her brightest light in this mix. The mix is a 'polyrhythmic paradise' with obscure percussions and hypnotic synths.
uu rhythm - The Musar Show #59
The latest mix in Musar Show podcast series comes from uu rhythm. Hailing from the elusive UK concept label, Unknown - Untitled, uu rhythm brings a thrilling 60-minute mix that traverses the diverse landscapes of the UK sound. Brace yourself for a rollercoaster ride through melodic breaks, powerful bass hits, futuristic trance, bubbly acid, and rhythmic percussions.
Ryogo Yamamori - Animix One Hundred & Thirty Four
Tokyo-based Ryogo Yamamori delivers an energetic and trippy techno mix for the always reliable Animix podcast series. Ryogo paints different shades of techno with incredible precision creating an intergalactic journey that will keep you engaged until the end.