Keep The Vibes Alive

Max Essa aka UK-born, Tokyo-based artist Max Bruce appeared on my radar last March with his stunning trio of remixes of What Do You See In Me? by Andres Y Xavi. I'm typically late to the party, as Max has been doing his thing since the early 1990s and has released a ton of albums, singles and remixes in the 21st Century alone whilst also running his own label, Jansen Jardin.

Completing the triangulation of sound, the UK and Japanese influences are bathed in Balearic sunshine, creating a groovy yet meditative sound that transports the listener back to the late 1980s/early 1990s. No surprise that there's a track called Blame It On Rea.

I've picked a ten song, one hour selection, mostly Max's own songs, mostly from the last couple of years, all available on Bandcamp. There are a few remixes along the way - Cantoma (aka Phil Mison), MCLD (aka André Mcleod), Natural Hugh (an Essa alias) and Charles Webster's remix of Max's Come Come The Rain, the latter especially apt as that pretty much sums up the weather here at home for the past week.

The Christmas and New Year celebrations are officially over at Casa K. The tree's been removed, the decorations packed away and we're all back at work today. This is my oasis/escape for an hour, at least.

1) Hearts In Flood (Alternative Version): Max Essa (2021)

2) Jigsaw Moon (Single Version): Max Essa (2021)

3) North Shore (Max Essa Instrumental): Cantoma (2011)

4) Fingers & Thumbs: Max Essa (2021)

5) Canopy: Max Essa (2021)

6) Lovers Then Strangers (Vacation Edit): Max Essa (2015)

7) Fountains: Natural Hugh (2021)

8) Love FM (Max Essa Remix): MCLD (2021)

9) Come Come The Rain (Charles Webster Remix): Max Essa (2018)

10) Blame It On Rea: Max Essa (2016) 

 

2011: Out Of Town: The Remixes: 3 

2015: Lovers Then Strangers EP: 6

2016: Blame It On Rea EP: 10

2018: M.O.D.F.D.M.V/Come Come The Rain EP: 9

2020: Palmetto Green LeMans/Fountains EP: 7

2021: Jigsaw Moon/Jules Y Cynthia EP: 2 

2021: Love FM EP: 8

2021: Miró In The Bathroom: 1, 5

2022: Fingers & Thumbs/I Can't Sleep EP: 4

Keep The Vibes Alive (1:00:35) (Box) (Mega)