I don’t really know where to begin in relaying any type of accurate account of the past two weeks. My friends had tried to warn and prepare me, but how do you get ready to visit an entirely alternate world? I’ll have to sit with my thoughts and experiences for a while longer before I can make any real sense of what it was. The enormity of the city (yes, it’s a fully functioning metropolis) was so great that even after constant exploration, I saw maybe 1/3 of it while I was there. Music (especially BASS) was constant- from all angles, at every hour, loud as hell. While I was somewhat correct in my fear of too much dubstep (and trance), I managed to find plenty of alternatives. I’m already scheming how to bring my own soundsystem out there next year so that the presence of good music will not be an issue. The whole experience was so much bigger than the music or a festival. At it’s core, what I took away, and what I’m already missing, was an overwhelming sense of pure freedom and expression. I feel extremely grateful to have access to that. Sorry, hippie rant over.

In other news… I was very sad to hear about the loss of DJ Matthew Africa. His Soul Boulders mixes were staple listening for me. O-Dub has written some really nice things about him.

Also, for anyone in the LA area, tomorrow night I’ll be kicking off my new Saturday residency at the Virgil alongside my homie and mixmaster comrade Canyon Cody. Come out ready to sweat, cause it’s a dance party!

Pretty Lights :       Fill Your Eyes ,       High School Art Class , &       Double Love
this dude is the un-official soundtrack of Burning Man. Aside from a couple cuts I hadn’t been that crazy about his music, but now I see where it comes from and how it fits in, so I guess I’ve been converted.

Hot Chip :       Look At Where We Are Now (Major Lazer vs Junior Blender Remix) &       How Do You Do (Todd Terje Remix)
as if these guys weren’t good enough already, they went and got remixed by some of the best

Maddslinky :       Special ft. Omar (Simbad 4x4 Remix)
great dub version of this tune as well. Shouts to Garth Trinidad for turning me on to it

Little Dragon :       Sunshine
they can do no wrong

Midnight Magic :       Same Way
nice mid-tempo space disco jam perfect for lazy afternoon beer drinking

Robin Hannibal :       Sneak Preview
somehow I slept on this gem from the guru of smooth

Hiatus Kaiyote :       Nakamarra &       The World It Softly Lulls
great soul jazz & future beat album from these Aussies.

Mishal Moore & DJ Fonti Project :       Let's Roll
don’t know how I got this, but I dig the minimalism meets 808’s

AlunaGeorge :       Your Drums
another hit from these young Brits. Very much lookin forward to more

Young Wonder :       Orange
great mix of electronic styles on this heavy head nodder

Anthony Valadez :       Sunny Spot &       Walking Away ft. Damon Aaron
taken from a very nice and surprisingly mellow album by this LA DJ who I’ve seen rock parties on several occaisions

I’ve done more than my fair share of partying this Summer, but the biggest and baddest fiesta of the year begins this weekend and I have a lot of preparing to do. The word from Burning Man organizers is that this is looking like one of the hottest and dustiest years ever. It will be my first time experiencing the insanity and I’m very much looking forward to it, but I can’t lie, I’m a little bit nervous. I have plenty of experience camping and roughing it in the wild, so that part should be no problem. Artists, hippies, nudists and freaks tend to get along with me just fine, so as far as fitting in and making friends I’m not worried. But the one thing that truly frightens me, is overdosing on dubstep. I love a little wobble here and there, but I also need my funky shit. Hopefully I’ll be able to hunt down the good music and even have a few opportunities to drop sets out there- help spread the MTR bug. If you or any of your friends are gonna be there, or have connections to a soundsystem, holler at me!

The Busy Twist :       Friday Night
feel good Ghanian club tune out now on Soundway

Gappy Ranks :       Stinkin' Rich (Thornato Remix)
this man is staying busy putting out all kinds of heat.

Los Rakas ft. Raka Stylo :       Hablemos Del Amor
yall already know I’m a fan. Determined to collabo with these cats soon. This new video is fire too.

Hardhouse Banton :       El General
simple club banger that works wonders. Considering how many times I’ve played the OG version, this is sure to come in handy. Shout out to Breixo in BCN for this one.

Buraka Som Sistema :       Peaches
big new tune from some of the reigning champs of global bass.

DJ Self Help :       Gingko Biloba
nice bouncy electro-afro-funky cut from this dj/producer out of Ohio

Maddslinky :       Special ft. Omar (Simbad 4x4 Dub)
little late on this, but so glad to have it. The whole EP is pretty solid.

Walker & Royce :       Little Things (Eli Escobar Remix)
another lovely old-school house nugget taken from the latest EP on Dither Down records.

Gus Gus :       You Make Me Feel
I can’t say I’m a huge fan of all these guys’ material, but this is the first song I heard from them and the bassline won me over instantly.

James Blake :       Limit To Your Love (Alex Dimou Remix)
kinda awesome that Mr. Dimou openly admits to having made this remix just because he couldn’t get his hands on the DB “Limit” track. Sometimes that’s how great things get made.

Just got home from a long weekend in the SF Bay Area where I had tickets with some friends to Outsidelands. I’m not normally a big fan of these massive festivals with endless crowds of highly intoxicated teens and overzealously costumed post-ravers, however, this was a truly awesome event. Just a few highlights included Michael Kiwanuka, Bomba Estereo, Santigold, Sigur Ros, Amadou & Mariam, Die Antwoord, Antibalas and a very uplifting Sunday night sermon from living legend Stevie Wonder. Honorable mentions are due to Beck, Electric Guest, Fitz & The Tantrums, Passion Pit, and Big Boi. Sleeper hit of the weekend award goes Dustbowl Revival– a grassroots band who started a legitimate hoedown on a tiny side stage in the woods. SO MUCH MUSIC! There’s still bands I’m forgetting and others I didn’t manage to catch. It’s San Francisco in August, so there was way more fog than sun, but honestly it kind of added to the ethereal/surreal atmosphere (especially during Sigur Ros‘ epic Asgardian sounding set). Not much time to write since I have a ton of work to get crackin on, but I’m using today’s playlist of oldies to help come down from clouds 10, 11, and 12.

Wanda Jackson :       Whirlpool

Muddy Waters  :       Tom Cat

Ruth Brown :       I Don't Know

Pastor T. L. Barrett & the Youth For Christ Choir :       Like A Ship... (Without A Sail)

Wendy & Bonnie :       Five O'Clock In The Morning &       It's What's Really Happening

Paul McCartney :       Dear Boy &       Ram On

Travis Biggs :       Tibetan Serenity

Penny & The Quarters :       You & Me

Precious Bryant :       The Truth &       Morning Train

With the addition of today’s 11 nuggets of goodness, we have officially breached the 1000 song mark! Three and a half years ago, I (along with my one-time crew of colleagues– all of whom have now officially flubbed out) began hand picking these little pieces of sonic inspiration, with the general guiding principle that, we love this music, so other people would probably love to hear it too. No hard feelings towards the rest of the crew (who all happen to be my best friends)- they’re all busy with their own work and lives and don’t necessarily obsess about digging up unheard songs to the extent that I do. I had already been blogging for a couple years (anyone remember Captain’s Crate?) and I don’t see this habit disappearing from my weekly routine any time soon. I’ve made music my life’s business (and my soul’s religion), so it feels karmically right to share, spread and promote the gospel as I hear it. Here’s a big cheers to all of you who enjoy my crazy eclectic tastes, and know that your kind words are always appreciated.

P.S. – the picture above is none other than legendary digger Keb Darge (whose many compilations were life savers in my early days of DJ-ing), and it’s taken from the amazing Dust & Grooves website that is a recent revelation to me.

Ernie Hines :       Our Generation (DJ Nu-Mark Re-Edit)
real nice take on a well-sampled classic from Unlce Nu. If you haven’t checked this man’s tropical travels mixes, you need to fix that!

The Pointer Sisters :       Send Him Back (Pilooski Edit)
another dancefloor burner from this funky frenchman.

Nicolas Jaar :       Mi Mujer
one of my favorites from this highly talented kid.  Minimal house with some nice percussion touches and a very unique vocal that makes me picture a mustachioed latin-lover dancing sleazy style in an attempt to seduce a woman in a dimly lit basement dive bar.

Fantastic Mr. Fox :       Pascal's Chours
more minimal electronic for you… this time from a Berliner. The whole EP is brain juice. Drink up.

Little Dragon :       Little Man (An-Ten-Nae Remix)
ah yes, indie-crunk. For a whole lot more 808’s, check it out.

Vybz Kartel :       My Crew
wow. This hook +  insane beat by Dre Skull = summer anthem status.

J Boogie :       Motto Moombah ft. Los Rakas & E-40
the first time I heard this was in a packed club, and I was like, “wait a minute, THIS BEAT SAMPLES ME!?!” Crazy mash-up steez courtesy of Bay Area big daddy J Boogie with a Digable Planets sample, Drake bassline, and butter-smooth vocals from Los Rakas. If you ever need help making a party dance, play this, trust me.

Grupo Socavon :       Homenaje a Justino (Thornato Remix)
more South American banger’s from the Cumba Mela crew. The whole EP is free, thank them not me.

Sola Rosa :
very nice rootsy steppers production from one of the main moovers and shakers here in LA, señor Sole.

The Decoders :       Reasons ft. Love-Logiq
with each new song released by these LA locals, I get more excited to hear the whole album. If you’re in the area this Friday, be smart & catch them live.

Kitty, Daisy, & Lewis :       Messing With My Life
shouts to the Calamari Moon crew for putting me onto this group. When I first heard the song I figured it was a forgotten old 60’s folk funk record ala Ellen McIlwaine, but it’s good to know that there’s some eccentric British siblings keeping the simple rawness alive.

Happy to see this remix I did a little while back getting a proper release from Akwaaba music. R2Bees is one of the biggest groups in Ghana right now. They’re pushing a new “Afrobeats” sound (not the same thing as Fela & Tony Allen) and I really like some of the songs they’ve been putting out. I took the minimal og in a very club oriented direction, so prepare your eardrums for a heavy pounding of bass… afro-electro-moombah steez.

For the latest installment, I present you with a big mix of global bass and other funky ish from my homie in Deutschland! Daferwa (aka Daniel Wahl) is one half of the Mash It Up! crew in Cologne, Germany. They throw an insane monthly party that goes til the sun comes up AND they are responsible for this recent compilation that features exclusive tracks from some of the biggest names in the world of Global Bass. On his own, Daferwa handpicks and programs music on Germany’s biggest and best alternative radio station- Funkhaus Europa. On top of everything else, the man can throw down in the kitchen and he’s a genuinely good dude. Full tracklist and download available on the Brooklyn Radio page.