January 2019 Playlist
The weather in Sydney has been a weird one - Cloudless blue skies and brutal heat mixed with cool wet days, and some soupy humid ones too. I’m structuring this playlist to start with the cool wet days vibe and slowly building into some energetic summery tracks, with exceptions to the last track. The last track is an older club favourite of mine.
Starting off the new year slowly, we have a very cruisey track by UK DJ and Producer Laurence Guy. I know, I know. I keep featuring this guy (pun intended), but if he keeps producing great tracks, I can’t ignore that. It would be remiss of me not to allow your ears the privilege of his splendid skill. Belong is one of those tracks that places my mind into a state of drifting. The mellow repetition of the piano, consistent throughout, soothes the soul, while the rim-click snare injects (for me) a soft, jazz-like quality. A coarse sounding synth melody moves in and out of this journey, while the bass fills out the vacant space between the arrangement. Perfect for a drizzly highway drive.
Next up, we have a track intricately woven with different textures, by Frenchman, Leon Revol with Analog in Transit. Beautiful lazy days come to mind when revisiting this track. The smooth bass-line glides and holds this track together as so many whimsical, odd and glitchy sounds enter from the periphery. The gradual shifts and movements in sound give the track a light sense of ‘transit’. Light and easy, like an afternoon sea breeze on the beach, pondering what’s beyond the horizon.
As the sun bursts and penetrates our souls, so does the energy of this next track by LA based musician Never Dull, with In My Soul. From the start, this track has a catchy and curious creation that maintained my attention. I wanted to see where the track would lead me – It lead me into a swirling build and a creamy drop. The repetitious vocals and transitions in this tune are masterfully executed. Bass always gets me. Every. Time.
Building again on the energy, UK born (Germany based) DJ and producer XXXY brings it with his track, Fleeting Moment. This track will not be a fleeting moment on your future playlists at house parties. Don’t be thrown by the beginning – The hard, round, driving bass introduced is one of the stars of this track. Amongst the stars is a distinctive collection of samples, flawlessly arranged into perfect repetition. I’ve mentioned this before that I’m a minimalist at heart, and this tune is a great example of just that. The discipline and restraint used here to create a catchy and engaging piece of music is famously done.
Last, but definitely not least, is an oldie, but a goodie. Granted this track was only released in 2013, but for me that feels like forever ago. The German house duo, known as Booka Shade have blessed us with some absolute cracking tracks throughout their long and successful career. And Love Inc. is no exception. The reason why I have this song on the playlist is because I have the privilege to see Books Shade at The Metro Theatre in Sydney, March 22. Grab yourself a ticket while you can. You have to listen to Love Inc. to understand my deep appreciation for their supreme talent.
Until next month – slip, slop and slap on some tunes. Great morale boosters.