NEW: Les Sins - Grind out 18 March on Jiaolong

NEW: FEBRUARYNIGHTS by Eli & Fur mixtape

FEBRUARYNIGHTS by Eli & Fur by Oki-Ni on Mixcloud

London DJ duo Eli & Fur compile a mix of early-AM tracks for dark February nights. Easy on the eye and the ear, Eli Noble & Jennifer Skillman delight from either behind the decks or in the studio, with their polished pop and electro sounds. For their mix, the girls reveal their darker side, with a collection of moody house and techno tunes to soundtrack dark February nights, blurring into early February mornings. Here's what they have to say about their mix. "Sometimes it feels pretty claustrophobic in a big city, even a bit lonely, especially as the days are short and it's freezing outside. I guess this mix sort of takes us away from that: picture a road at night, leaving all the bright lights behind till it's just the moon that lights up everything around you. These tracks would be our choice to listen to after dark, in a club or at home."

OLDSKOOL TRACK OF THE DAY: Shawn Christopher 'Make My Love (Kerri Chandler Mix)' 1994

STREAM: DEEP SPACE NEW YORK 23.04.12 (greg wilson live mix)

STREAM / DL: DJ CTZN V41N Stars & Rockets Mix 03.03.04

I was delving into the nether regions of my physical collection the other day and I found the master of quite possibly my best ever recorded DJ Mix. It’s a mix of soul, funk, hip hop, beats and grooves. I haven’t got the tracklisting together yet was too far into the groove the first listen round. If you know any of them please leave a comment.

STREAM / DL: Greg Wilson, Derrick Carter, The Revenge Mixes

Been grooving to these all week and yes I know I've been absent but a boys gotta eat. Check these out while you wait for a fresh update.

ALBUM REVIEW: V/A 'The Wurst Music Ever' out now on Wurst

Upfront modern underground house and disco does not get too much better than Wurst right now. This 10 track compilation is real showcase of some of their best talent right now. I love 'Ur Oskinni' by Name In Lights. I think I'm right in naming the xylophone as the key instrument used in this one. It's an unusual choice that works well. My favourite track has to be the sublime 'That's The Thing (To Do)' by Great Weekend. The vocal hook and riff is a killer. Reminds me a little bit of Moodyman twisted with an early piano house vibe but not cheesy at all. A serious hypnotic groove.

This might be a little too underground (see Peanuts not Working) for the casual consumer and it's not mixed either. I think this one is more for the heads and the aspiring DJ. If you are of those then seriously dude/ette get a hold of this now. Environ, Metro Area, Wang heads will love this there are some serious gems on this (See Tase The Wizard).

7/10

CTZN V41N

LISTEN:

STREAM: Morgan Geist 'Personal' mix

Although this was posted on Mixcloud over a year ago, we just discovered it and it is a must listen for any electronic music fan. Morgan Geist is one half of seminal NJ/NYC duo Metro Area, Environ boss man. If you don't know Metro Area then you need to check their legendary self-titled 2002 album out now.

Morgan Geist - Personal by Red Bull Music Academy Radio on Mixcloud

DOWNLOAD: The Revenge 'Throwing Shapes Mix'

Warm HQ did did a big update on their Soundcloud page. Three new mixes were added including this superb mix by The Revenge. Stream / download below.

DOWNLOAD: The Revenge 'Throwing Shapes Mix'

The Revenge - Throwing Shapes Mix by warmhq

DOWNLOAD: Zutekh Podcast 003 - Tristan Da Cunha - Come Into My House!

TDC tearing up the 1 and 2's in the usual legendary fashion, this time for the Zutekh Podcast Series. He is spinning there on 9th October 2011 so get to it if you are in the Manchester area.

DOWNLOAD: Zutekh Podcast 003 - Tristan Da Cunha - Come Into My House! 

Zutekh Podcast 003 - Tristan Da Cunha - Come Into My House! by Zutekh

Here's what he had to say about it;

Here’s a new mix with and old school flavour from myself i did especially for a forthcoming gig at ZUTEKH in Manchester on 9th October. It’s their 3rd Birthday and i’ll be jamming alongside my good friend Adam Shelton (One recs) and Tiefschwarz .

When i was asked to do a podcast for Zutekh i started to think about what kind of mix i should do for it. Do i play this do i play that? I have so many different flavours that i am into but i didn’t want it to be a mish mash of all of them. So with this in mind i decided to pick a certain style and go with a particular vibe. I listen to Ad Shelton’s ace podcast again so i didn’t do anything similar as i wanted to present something that would be different than what was done previously. I thought about doing something cutting edge with loads of new promos and unreleased stuff, i thought about doing a 90′s deep house mix as i have loads of weapons on that tip too…. but what i realised is there’s lots of those mixes floating about so i decided to go for one of my favourite vibes … An Old School House Party Mix.

Once i’d decided my direction i wanted it to be something that would be good for after parties when people are hanging out, vibing off the night they just had. An old school vibe i thought would be great for that as most of the time i hear all the fresh stuff in the club and love pulling the oldies out at the crack on…Without being obvious with the usual party joints i aimed for something fun and familiar that can hopefully get people on their feet as they get lively in the lounge or bubbling in the kitchen. Some beats for the boys and some grooves for the girls.

There’s some new tracks that sound old mixed in with some old classics that i love playing all the time in my sets. Because of the nature of these older tracks they are always a bitch to mix and get a really good smooth flow going… so, i used my trusty Technics 1200′s, Traktor and some FX to get it all grooving together and to have more control over the way i can mix and blend . Using loops and delays to make them fit a bit better. So i pressed record and this is what came out.

I hope people enjoy the mix and have a good time listening to it. See you on a dance floor or in a house party near you soon Throwing some Shapes .

Peace Love & Housiness 2 U All.

X

DOWNLOAD: Throwing Shapes Party, Feat.Tristan da Cunha & Frenchy (Derrick Carter warm up)

Check out part 1 of a 6hr recording of Tristan da Cunha & Frenchy warming up for Derrick Carter at one of their favourite venues in Leeds, Distrikt Bar, where they host regular Throwing Shapes parties. The intimate venue was rammed and jumping from the word off as Derrick Carter was in town and this mix was the perfect warm up.

DOWNLOAD: Throwing Shapes Party, Feat.Tristan da Cunha & Frenchy (Derrick Carter warm up)

Throwing Shapes Party by Throwing Shapes

DOWNLOAD: BBB 'Sounds I Feel VII: Delectronic Soul' MIXTAPE

Check out this awesome mix from Ben Brophy aka BBB. For those of you who don't know Ben used to run the legendary Play Music record store in Leeds and I was privileged to have personally experienced the great vibes and positive energy, music and good times of a special era with Him. This mix is really special and although Play Music is no more the spirit and vibe is really kept alive in this mix. Ben says;

"Sounds I Feel VII: DelectronicSoul - A smattering of the deep, electronic soul I've been feeling (among much other goodness) in recent months. Pitched around the 120bpm mark for more chilled home / cruise groove. Dedicated to all the producers, artists, radio stations, Dj's, promoters and dancers who keep the scene alive and my friends around the world with whom I've connected through music. Thanks for listening - all feedback / comments / shares welcome. With gratitude - always, Ben"

DOWNLOAD: BBB 'Sounds I Feel VII: Delectronic Soul' MIXTAPE

TRACKLIST:

1. Meet Me In Salt Lake City (Original) - Francis Inferno Orchestra (Under The Shade - UTS019)

2. Deep Wading (Huxley Remix) - Ooft (Raw Cutz - RC010)

3. Night Drive (Original Mix) (Low Latency EP) - N-Zino and Frank! (Paul's Boutique Records - PSB011)

4. Bedwetter (We Get By With A Little Help (Part 2) -Lewie Day (House Is The Cure - HITC010)

5. City Night Crowd - Aki Bergen (Plastic City - PLAC080-4)

6. Work It (N'Dinga Gaba Remix) - Muzzaik feat. Zaida (DubLife - DUBLIFE022)

7. Glory (Atjazz Remix) - Halo feat. Maiya (City Deep - CD19)

8. Who Am I (Atjazz Love Soul Remix) - Boddhi Satva feat. Athenai & C. Robert Walker (Vega Records - VR104)

9. Chasing Part 1 (Atjazz Remix) - C.9ine feat. Kholi (Atjazz Record Company ARC-028-SD-1)

10. Now! (Souled Remix) - SoulParlor (Tokyo Dawn Records - TDR11-003)

11. Singer of Songs (The Viny Ears Mix) - Irfan Rainy and Rex Leon feat. Vaceo (Restless Soul RSDIGI-0030)

12. Dema (Delano Smith Transit Dub) - Jay Tripwire feat. Boddhi Satva (Grooveland Music GM-015)

13. Magic - Delano Smith presents The Smith Hall Project (Undertones UT002B)

14. Anates (Contra Communem Opinonem Remix) - Bostro Pesopeo (Permanent Vacation PERMVAC 066-1)

15. Scream (Nina Kraviz Remix) - Okain (TsubaRecords - TSUBA050a)

16. Million Dollar Feeling - Session Victim (Delusions of Grandeur -DOG12A1)

17. Lovin' (Andre Lodemann Remix) - Prommer & Barck feat. Lois Longerling (Best Works Records BWR010)

18. Summer Breeze (Atjazz Astro Dub) - N'Dinga Gaba feat. Sahffi (Foliage Records - FOLIAGERREV1)

19. A Love Like This - Jimpster (Freerange - FR074)

20. Learning To Love Me (P's Deep Soul Mix) - Charles Webster feat. Diviniti (Miso MISO014)

21. Darkness Falls (2011 Remixes - Suite 2216 Mix) - Nick Holder feat. Gentle Aura (DNH DNH-170)

22. Set Them Free (Rocco Spectral Mix) - Kenny Bobien (Soundmen On Wax SOW495)

BBB - Sounds I Feel VII: Delectronic Soul by BBB

ALBUM REVIEW: Deniz Kurtel 'Music Watching Over Me' out now on Crosstown Rebels

An enchanting opening to this debut artist album in the form of the wonderfully deep 'Music Watching Over Me' mightily impressed me. A deep house bassline with some simple but effective old school keys really set the tone of the album, or so I thought. Eclectic electronica appears to be more the vibe here as the second track Makyaj went down a more industrial electronic route. Good for a soundtrack or an accompaniment to a visual project this most certainly is. Apparently Kurtel identifies herself foremost as an audio visual artist. It would have been nice if there was perhaps some visual to accompany this. Maybe this should have been released in DVD format with visuals?

'My Ass' is another example of this tendency towards the obscure. I like this but I'm not sure if it going to sell well. Then again does anything underground actually sell well? This certainly is not a cross over type of project thankfully. Art for the sake of art is rare but we have a prime example here.

'Best Of' provides some dancefloor friendly sounds with yet more old school vibes imprinted all over it. 'L Word' comes up trumps with a similar format. This could be my stand out tune. That or new-wave sounding 'Vagabond'.

I'm not sure if this release should be listened to in the home environment. I am pretty sure it is not intended for that purpose. I would heartily recommend this to any DJ's / Gallery owners / filmmakerr but for home listening It was not really working for me.

3.5/5

CTZN V41N

ALBUM REVIEW: V/A Souvenir Pres. 'In The City' out 29 April on Souvenir

O.K, Souvenir = great label quality tunes etc etc from Berlin the hippest place on the planet allegedly never been so can't really say live in Paris but that's not the hippest so yeah who gives, right? 

Best thing about this is not the amazingly generous 13 track unmixed disc featuring tracks from Rampa, Amir Maher Daniel etc but the dopedy dope disc 2 a 19 track MIX - yes MIX from everybody's favourite Germans, the mighty Tiefschwarz. I've been listening to these guys rock it for over a decade and this mix is no exception. It builds up slowly like a good DJ set should and they really tear it up like the consummate professionals they are with some really infectious grooves and beats. This is worth getting just for the bonus CD so don't miss out on a master-class in DJing. I Can't resist this one and the voodoo you do to me Tiefschwarz is out of this world, so thank you.

5/5

CTZN V41N

ALBUM REVIEW: V/A 'Werkshau' out now on BPitch Control

A little stock take of the last 12 years of this well respected label throws up a few gems that you may have missed or never had the fortune to hear at all yet. Take 'Aiming For Destruction' by Dillon and Coma. A great little track with a super vocal which is immensely danceable without being massively in your face. A little reminiscent of the classic 'Bushes' by Marcus Nikolai but with a less quirky and more Bjork-esque sounding vocal. It's gems like this that you don't always get rounds to picking up unless you are really dedicated and Werkshau is full of them. There is some great new stuff on here too. I really dig the folky tech-house sounds of Paul Kalkbrenners new track 'Platscher'.

Certainly it's not for everyone and the chances are you wont like every track but then that what pushing the envelope is all about and this label has been doing that for over a decade, so successfully that you've got to tip your hat to them just for managing to exist in this climate without producing commercial crap like some once well known underground labels that shall remain nameless ended up resorting to.

4/5

CTZN V41N

ALBUM REVIEW: Steffi 'Yours & Mine' out now on Ostgut Ton

This is one for the deep house heads. Steffi opens up her creative heart from the get go with a stunning example of deep house entitled 'Lilo'. There is an ethereal warmness to her synths (think Demarkus Lewis) that exude love, life and most importantly a danceable 'oneness' that makes you want more more more. This track was 7 minutes long but I could have listened to it for at least 30 mins. Steffi manages to completely transport the listener into her musical world. It's a world that I would like to visit time and time again.

She really has got it locked down to perfection. Next track 'Piem' is completely different yet generates the exact same feelings. This process is repeated in multitudes throughout the album and for those of you connoisseurs of house and deep house reading this make sure you add some of sounds to your playlists pronto.

5/5

CTZN V41N