Easier Than A Comedown

For your weekend delectation, an hour long mix of favourite tunes from the last couple of years, with a few samples and stems thrown in to spice things/mask some dodgy segue-ways (delete as applicable).

Persevere and you will get some wonderful tunes courtesy of Róisín Murphy and The Orielles, an unexpected appearance from Annie Hogan with Kid Congo Powers, a rather good cover version/remix of Groove Armada's Superstylin' and living legends David Holmes, A Certain Ratio and Humanoid. I've also dusted off a song by Iklan featuring Law Holt. If the band name isn't familiar, you will undoubtedly have heard of them in their previous incarnation, when they had a rather big hit with this song.

 

I just went with the flow, so the mix is all over the place BPM-wise and I'm not sure if you're supposed to dance, relax or just arch your eyebrows at various points throughout. If it makes you smile, shimmy, sigh (happily not dejectedly) or, even better, all three then my job is done. You can see why I don't do this for living, can't you?!

 

1) Look For What's Looking: Alex Donofrio (2021)

2) Maneki Neko (Watch Sample): Miss Kittin (2013)

3) Into The Madness: Mundo D (2022)

4) sT8818r (Yage Remix By Brian Dougans & Garry Cobain): Humanoid (2022)

5) "...a ghost": Lord Of The Flies OST (1963)

6) Kingdom Of Ends (Album Version By Crooked Man aka Richard Barratt): Róisín Murphy (2020)

7) Stelele (Sakdat & Balaur Remix - Dub): Unu' Marika (2021)

8) No Use: Iklan ft. Law Holt (2020)

9) Superstylin' (Rob Smith aka RSD - Remix) (Cover of Groove Armada): Rude Boy ft. Kardi Tivali (2021)

10) "...you're nicked": John Thaw (The Sweeney OST) (1975)

11) It's Over, If We Run Out Of Love (Working Mens Club Remix): David Holmes ft. Raven Violet (2022)

12) Get A Grip (Maps Remix By James Chapman): A Certain Ratio ft. Maria Uzor (2021)

13) Yuka (Ranga Remix By Coen Helfenrath & Ted De Jong): Flamingods (2017)

14) My Career (Mekon Remix By John Gosling): A.M Hogan ft. Kid Congo Powers (2021)

15) Prince Introducing "Purple Rain": Prince (1984)

16) Sjaj (Dan Wainwright Remix): DJ Magija (2020)

17) Dancing Flame '21: Faint Waves (2021)

18) Bobbi's Second World (Confidence Man Remix): The Orielles (2020)

19) Looking (VC Man Swell Stem): Tosca (2013)

20) Deeper Space: Pye Corner Audio (2020)

Easier Than A Comedown (1:00:30)

 

We All Need Something To Live For, Baby

A short mix, long on uplifting beats and featuring a bunch of tunes that have had me dancing around the house - and occasionally in the garden, to the mortification of my family - this summer. 

I know very little about Mundo D, other than he's a producer from Valencia called Edmundo De Diego Del Castillo. He has released a few EPs and remixes in the past few years, including this little gem, which came out via Nein Records at the end of May. Argentinian DJ & producer Cosmosolar aka Alejandro Gamba is also new to me but the two come together wonderfully on this opening track.

 

Holiday is the only track on this selection from 2021 but I belatedly bought it this year after falling in love with Confidence Man's second album, Tilt, which came out in April. Remixers Bruise are a duo comprising Christian Campbell (Sona Vabos) and legend Darren House (aka Diesel of Rocky &... and X-Press 2 fame) and they do not disappoint on this version. If you didn't catch Confidence Man's Glastonbury set, I'd highly recommend checking it out, including this energetic version of Holiday.

 

I featured YouTube videos of Yuksek's remix of Adama by Omri Smadar in early May and Neu Tech by D.S.D. aka Damien Doherty a couple of weeks later and both tracks have remained on heavy rotation at Casa Khayem since.

Richard Sen has been particularly smashing it with some superb remixes in the last few years for Rheinzand, Unloved and GLOK. Lata Mangeshkar was his contribution to Paisley Dark Records' charity compilation Shelter Me and a highlight of a frankly superb album from start to finish. 

 

David Holmes has already released one of 2022's top tunes, It's Over, If We Run Out Of Love. Not content with that, there's a new 22-track double album from Unloved called The Pink Album, coming in September. Lead single Mother's Been A Bad Girl hit the ground running in June, with a clutch of remixes, including vocal and instrumental bangers from Horse Meat Disco.

 

Bringing things to close is a track by Luxxury aka Blake Robin that's so new, it came out in the last 24 hours. I Need Somebody features on Luxxury's brand new 11-track album Alright. If you're quick, you can pick up the digital Deluxx 27-track edition on Bandcamp for a tenner (US or UK), featuring bonus instrumental versions.

 

And, before you know it, your 45 minutes are over. Worth another spin? You'll be the judge of that. 

 

More summer sounds tomorrow.

 

1) Fight Your Enemy (Cosmosolar Remix): Mundo D (2022)

2) Holiday (Bruise Remix): Confidence Man (2021)

3) Adama (Yuksek Remix): Omri Smadar (2022)

4) Neu Tech: D.S.D. (2022)

5) Lata Mangeshkar: Richard Sen (2022)

6) Mother's Been A Bad Girl (Horse Meat Disco Remix): Unloved (2022)

7) I Need Somebody (Album Version): Luxxury (2022)

2021: Holiday EP: 2

2022: Alright: 7

2022: Mother's Been A Bad Girl EP: 6

2022: Phase Of Motion EP: 3

2022: Shelter Me: 5

2022: Thee Wild Army Vol. 6 EP: 4

2022: Your Enemy EP: 1

We All Need Something To Live For, Baby (45:00)