I’m busy back in the Los Angeles hustle, but I wanted to sneak in a couple handfuls worth of new music acquisitions. What ties these songs together today? Not a lot, except that there’s a bit more Brazilian sauce in the mix. Some older tunes that snuck through the cracks, some new material for the dancefloor, everything with a solid groove to keep you in boogie mode through the weekend.

Biggabush :       Ilu Baje

Tim Maia :       Vou Com Gás &       Terapêutica do Grito

Hot Chip :       Easy To Get

Spoon :       Was It You (Home Demo)

Souleance :       Ratatouille

Nod One’s Head :       Secret Love (Extended Mix)

Flume :       Never Be Like You ft. Kai (Disclosure Remix)

Nora En Pure :       True

Rhythm Staircase :       Ritual

Sonzeira :       Bam Bam Bam ft. Seu Jorge & Giovanca

Céu :       A Nave Vai &       Sangria

Sometimes it takes a surprising amount of prodding to do something that I know I want to do anyway. That’s the case with this mix I made for the great website Metron Creative Studios. They have a wonderfully curated mix series featuring soulful, spacious, organic sounds from DJ’s from around the world. As I started listening to some of the other mixes (El Buho, Chancha Via Circuito, Barda), I realized pretty quickly that this would be an opportunity to get away from the high energy, fill-up-the-dancefloor tracks that I’m often known for playing in my live Captain Planet sets. It’s been far too long since I made a mix focusing on the slower, deeper, more introspective songs that I love,  taking listeners on a journey inward rather than just across the dancefloor. So that was what I did, and I’m quite satisfied with the result. Whether this mix provides the soundtrack for a roadtrip, or a yoga practice, or a design session in your own creative space, I hope the beauty of these songs help you connect with someplace deep inside. Check out the full tracklist and accompanying interview here on the Metron page.

Download of the mix available here

It’s pretty easy to be disheartened by the state of affairs in my world right now, but I’m relying on my music to do what it always has done, since our ancient ancestors were banging sticks on stones and coming together around a campfire despite whatever famine was upon them, despite the sabertooth tiger that had recently stolen their sibling, despite the ice age that couldn’t have been cozy before the invention of long underwear. But music was there and they were using it, not simply to escape their reality, but to create an alternate dimension right there around them, filling a shared space with positive energy while physically transforming molecules with rhythmic vibrations. When the problems seem immense, I often like to search the infinitesimal for light. Positivity is a transformational force no matter how small the act that produced it. I like to think that something as simple as sharing music can go a long way. For more information on the beautiful Cueva de los Cristales, pictured above, read here.

Disclosure :       Molecules
glad to hear these guys singing on their own productions, always top notch

Bob Moses :       Hands To Hold
deep soul from the circuitry, from this duo

The Acid :       Ra (David Agust Remix) deeper still, this one takes you past the stratosphere thanks to this Berlin dj

Jungle :       Time (Darius Remix) very nice dancefloor ready remix from this funky Frenchman

Kraak & Smaak :       Mountain Top the ever trustworthy K&S

Detroit Swindle :       Live At The Cosmic Carnival deep tribal percussive house music, thanks DJ Gozar for this one

Polica :       Lime Habit very interesting alternative sounds on the latest album from this group

Santigold :       Chasing Shadows &       Before The Fire been waiting paitiently for the new Santi, and although I’m not crazy about every song, the good ones are really good.

Manatee Commune :       Simple Lessons really beautiful organic vibes from this new artist on the Bastard Jazz label, check the full EP and stay tuned for a full-length soon.

Sam Gellaitry :       Dreamscapes more heat from this wunderkind

Jack Garratt :       Worry &       The Love You're Given something about the old Irish folk meets moody electronic vibe here is really working for me

Just a quick installment of songs from near & far, intended to help carry you away someplace sunny. Most of this week’s selections have been pickpocketed from my many DJ friends. Shout out to DJ Gozar, Maga Bo, Mr. Assin. Pic above was taken on the little island of Ubin, just north of Singapore. If you ever find yourself there, riding bikes on the trails through the jungle, look out for a beautiful Buddhist temple and ask someone there if you can feed the fish.

Sam Gellaitry :       Long Distance this young kid is killing things right now

ÌFÉ :       3 Mujeres (Iború Iboya Ibosheshé) electro-roots from Cuba

FurmigaDub :       Saudadidela electro-roots from Northeast Brazil, peep the whole collection

Sidestepper :       Fuego Que Te Llama &       Magangué I’ve been a fan of this Colombian crew for many years, happy to hear this latest effort

Tabu Ley Rochereau :       Hafi Deo holy lord, this 10minute jammer from the late 80’s Congo is pretty much heaven

Baaba Maal :       Fulani Rock (Henrik Schwarz Remix) new album from Senegal’s finest, produced by Radioclit, get’s a nice deep dancefloor mix

DJ X-Trio & Calado Show :       Acorda Nani the real deal from Luanda

Yuri Da Cunha :       Atchu Tchu Tcha huuuuge pan-African hit from a couple years back that I’m just catching up with

St Germain :       Real Blues new album from France’s chillster supreme dives deep into African sounds

Matanza, Acid Pauli & Jo.Ke :       How Strange (Nicola Cruz Remix) the man Nicola took this one to outerspace and back, BRAVO!