‘Back To School’ Mixes Collection
Our new mix collection picks our best listens from the month of August inspired by a bitterweet yet enthusiastic end of the Summer mood
I’ve always hated and loved the end of the summer. School starting again and colder months incoming, but at the same time an ideal time to start new projects and endeavours - everything feels fresh at this time of the year; people are usually more relaxed than ever, and most importantly focused on what they want to do and the new that’s coming their way. In these last weeks of Summer, even the laziest kids in school looked like they couldn’t wait to hear about the first science class project. Perhaps for some the ending of this summer tastes particularly bittersweet, thinking of times to come and perhaps further Winter complications with the pandemic… I argue there are always reasons for staying positive, but whatever your feeling is, here there are some mixes to inspire you in your endeavours. I hope they will help you to make at least one little step outside of your comfort zone, being it the one of your music taste or galvanising the right energy for your new September project. Much love from Guerrilla Bizarre.
OPEN PORT CLUB Mix Series - Paquita Gordon
At the 8-minute mark I was already completely absorbed into this mix by Paquita Gordon for Open Port Club - the suspended mix of crickets chirping and dub bass of “Astralasia - Jongle Kakano” got me nearly hypnotised. The mix mostly features electronic dub and slower beats in general, although it moves through quite a variety of influences and incredibly interesting tracks each in its own uniqueness. I can’t tell where or which time most of the tracks are from and I love it. A much recommended listen for giving a psychedelic touch to your morning. Make sure to have a read to the brief yet interesting interview by Open Port Club as well.
Childhood Mixtapez Vol. 18 - Jonas Köksal "Easy Buckets"
Adding on quality listens for the morning hours, for its latest mix Childhood Intelligence brings you a recording by Jonas Köksal, founder of O Mato event series. The “Easy Buckets" mix starts off with some jazzy instrumentals as smooth as they come. The progression in the selection touches on some beautiful climaxes before introducing some tighter beats and eventually falling into a complete hip-hop moment in the second part. What I like about the records selected here is that they seem to follow a similar instrumental aesthetic (in their samples) to the selection of the first part. Yes, it’s a completely different genre, but it’s punctually cohesive in the taste of the selection. Make sure to listen until the end, in the final bits you’ll get some extra groovy g-funk gems.
Sundowner. Mix #06 "The Ascendant" - Tonchius
I wasn’t familiar with Tonchius before this mix for the Sundowner mix series popped up in my feed. The DJ hailing from Norway co-runs the label Continually other than providing great selections. I love how this mix captures different states of mind: there’s chill & cool, there’s meditative & dreamlike, there’s dark & eccentric. But overall: calm, focused, yet lightly wistful. Perhaps more than any other recording in this list, this perfectly matches the mood peculiar to this time of the year described in the introduction. A great home-listening recording that does not need to get louder just to impress. Sundowner keeps the level of its deliverance high in the mixes posted as much as in the quality of its parties. Plus, there’s also a nice interview on their website that you can read as you listen.
Preparation Dimension Vol. 7 - Milch
I have been following Milch for some time now but sure how I stumbled upon her music (so if you are the friend who introduced me to her, please do not get mad, the summer was intense and my memory is failing me). Anyhow if you never heard of her, get ready for “an eclectic mix of wonky, wavey, industrial, synth, and 1980s oddities” (excerpt coming directly from Milch’s Soundcloud description). This mix for the label ‘Muy Muy’ pretty much features everything I crave from disco-oriented 80s stuff: jazzy chord progressions, off-centered thrilling grooves, fascinating vocals from unusual languages. Simply an outstanding selection.
Radio Pager Episode 28 - International Mac
International Mac, and in general the 192 crew, are one of the best forces coming from the underground in recent times. Their output is so consistent, and in particular, I started looking forward to the next International Mac mix with distinct anticipation. This one is a mix that particularly struck me: it’s incredibly playful, funky and crisp. No need for an edgy electro moment, no need to aimlessly go dark or weird; this mix is as groovy as it gets, with many climax moments keeping the excitement high. Maybe this one is more for the summer rather than for the end of it. So put your sunglasses back on, and make sure to play it on as soon as the sun shines this September reminding you that we still have some time before it gets dark at 5 PM.
CMYK - Hidden Gems for Pioneer x Lauwd
The concept of this CMYK mix for Pioneer is simple: only records bought for less than a fiver. This concept for a record connoisseur such as CMYK was bound to be something special: the quality of the selection is as top-notch as it is various. Here you will find some atmospheric house gems, absorbing rave breakbeats, daydreaming electro, and even some wild club hitters (winking at the quirky ‘Booty’ track starting around the 28-minute mark). The mix was released in the context of a special mix series Pioneer organised for Record Store Day 2021 - here you find also a short-video interview made as a part of the project where he shares some digging tips.
Subwax Distribution Podcast 15 - Jessica
Berlin-based DJ Jessica’s two hours for Subwax gave my party mood a proper boost - this recording will quickly get you from being focused on your work desk to thinking about plans for the upcoming weekend. Through fresh groovy patterns and breakbeat integrations onto techy house, the mix strikes all the right chords to create the kind of progression I’d love to hear in a party situation once it will get too cold to party in an open-air setting. All in all, this is the kind of set that would be perfect to stumble upon on the first night out in a club, which makes it feel like a perfect fit for this end of the summer collection.
LIS PODCAST 006 - AMADEUS K
One thing for sure: you’ll listen to some exceptional records in Amadeus K’s mix for the Struggart collective Lost in Sound. The Molar label’s head starts here from some smooth house beats mixed with some breakbeat but quite quickly proceeds to absorb the listener into a vortex of old school tech-house starred courses. I particularly enjoyed the second half of the mix where his selection goes in turbo-mode with some heavy and bleepy timeless house hitting hard. I didn’t know Amadeus K before this mix but I’ll start following his next endeavours.
MASS | 34 - Denaila
I started listening to Denaila’s mixes sometime ago while digging for new up and coming DJs on Soundcloud - I immediately liked the mix of melodic styles and old school dreamhouse classics she provided (I’m thinking for example of her mix for RA+RE which I very much enjoyed). This mix for UK’s podcast series Mass shows a different approach to her mixing style - fast tempos and sharp sounds, the melodies as well as the vocal parts in this mix are rare, giving more space to experimentation and most of all deliriously pumping grooves. A fresh, highly energetic mix, perfect for the last dance before putting a full stop to Summer 2021, and to look forward to the rest of the year with the right energetic outlook.
