Lynx is hands down one of my favourite producers, and a stand up guy to boot. Having burst on the scene a couple of years back with a plethora of huge tunes that destroyed dance floors worldwide he has since proven he is anything but a flash in the pan. For lack of a better word he is one of the most precise producers in the game. His sub troubling tunes just sound so crisp, with as much attention given to what isn’t there as to what is. The result is often versatile tunes that are equal parts heavy and atmospheric. As a result you will hear them in all kinds of sets, from dark tech to fruity liquid.

This is a promo mix for his new label Detail Recordings. Set up with the aim of showcasing a variety of sounds, and promising to deliver some interesting collaborations between Lynx and other artists from across the musical spectrum. The dubs that are appearing in mixes like this are pure heat, so I can’t wait to see what else he has up his sleeve. His regular vocal partner Kemo also makes an appearance, although mostly just to hype Detail. It might be a touch on the short side, but this mix is a sweet little journey. This one was on high rotate for me as I tripped around Canada.

Stand out tunes for me are Lynx & Malibu – Bangin Arcs, Helios – First Dream (Stray Remix), Lynx’s killer remix of the Alex Reece’s classic Pulp Fiction, Lynx & Sense – For the Rebels, and the first tune released on the Detail Recordings label ‘Keep it Low’.

Lynx – Detail Recordings Promo Mix, May 2010

1. Lynx & Hellrazor – First Winter – Detail Dub
2. Breakage Ft Kemo – Temper – Digital Soundboy
3. Raiden – Danzen – Voodoo
4. Kelpe – Skylla – Ex Aquarium
5. Lynx – Chess Funk – Detail Dub
6. Zero T Vs Dwele – I Think I Love You – Bootleg
7. Lynx & Malibu – Bangin Arcs
8. Helios – First Dream (Stray Remix) – Medschool
9. Lynx & Hellrazor – Silver Glide – Detail Dub
10. Alex Reece – Pulp Fiction (Lynx Remix) – Dub
11. Lynx Ft Sense – For the Rebels – Detail Dub
12. Subterra – Gutter Mouth – Dub
13. Lynx Ft Kemo – Keep it Low – Detail Dub

Don’t sleep, get your hands (& ears) on it right here [right click, save as].

Possibly Related posts:

1. Mix of the month July 2009: Bop
2. Mix of the Month January 2010: dBridge & Instra:mental
3. Mix of the Month May 2010: Roska

I realised a couple of weeks back that I have now been doing the Mix of the Month series for over a year. I am amazed that I have yet to share this mix.

You probably haven’t heard of Snax, but he is a great DJ (and an all round great guy) based out of Wellington right here in New Zealand. You will find him playing everything from tear out gash to the lushest, most beautiful atmospheric beats.

This mix of his is one of my all time favourites of any mix, from any DJ. An emotive blend of classic mid-90′s atmospheric drum and bass, it’s perfect for cold nights, long train journeys, and a little bit of introspection.

Snax – Snaxmospherics

1. Chameleon – Links [Good Looking]
2. PFM – One and Only [Looking Good]
3. Total Science – Algebra [Good Looking]
4. Tayla – Dimensions [Nexus]
5. Big Bud – Pure remix [Good Looking]
6. Big Bud – A Way of Life [Good Looking]
7. Big Bud – Indian Summer [Good Looking]
8. MI5 – Experience [Lucky Spin]
9. Voyager – Hypersleep [R & S]
10. Jodeci – Feenin’ (LTJ Bukem remix) [MCA]
11. Seba & Lotek – Universal Music [Good Looking]

Get your Snaxmospherics fix right here [right click, save as]

Possibly Related posts:

1. Mix(es) of the Month June 2009: Doc Scott
2. Mix of the Month July 2010: Lynx
3. V3 Mix of the Month September 2010: Coldcut

The Autonomic camp has been growing as of late. Along with original members dBridge & Instra:mental it now also includes Kiwi lad Consequence, and this guy, ASC.

I have been an ASC fan ever since I was given one of his infamous ‘Warm Radio’ mix sessions by my good friend Jga. He writes some incredible music, really beautiful electronic soundscapes. I was not surprised to see him getting in on the Autonomic act.

This is his March studio mix, showcasing some of his own beautiful music, along with a whole lot of up front tunes from other amazing producers. I would love to tell you who and what they are, but as of yet there is no tracklist for this mix, apparently this stuff is just too up front to let the cat out of the bag just yet. Don’t let that put you off though, this one is more than deserving of a place in your play list.

Also look out for his forthcoming LP ‘Nothing is Certain’. You can catch a little preview of this over on his Soundcloud profile.

ASC – March 2010 Studio Mix

(no tracklist available, it is top secret)

Download the mix riiiight here [right click, save as]

Possibly Related posts:

1. Mix of the Month January 2010: dBridge & Instra:mental
2. Mix of the Month May 2010: Roska
3. v3 mix of the month November 2010: Girl Talk

There is no doubt that dBridge & Instra:mental are at the top of their respective games right now. Through their Autonomic Podcast, DJ sets, NonPlus+ label and soon to be Autonomic label they have been writing, playing and supporting some of the most beautiful music being made anywhere right now. It was no surprise that they were asked to step up and produce the next installment of the legendary FabricLive mix series, FabricLive 50. If this promo mix is anything to go by, the actual mix is going to be something truly incredible.

I seriously can not recommend this mix highly enough.

dBridge & Instra:mental – FabricLive 50 Promo Mix

1. 0:00:00 Instra:mental — Forbidden – Applepips
2. 0:03:10 Instra:mental — Vicodin – Naked Lunch
3. 0:04:30 Skream — Minimalistix – Nonplus+
4. 0:06:45 Vaccine — Cascade Failure – Nonplus+
5. 0:08:08 Skream — Unknown
6. 0:10:28 Consequence — Snakes and Skulls – Nonplus+
7. 0:11:37 Instra:mental — Voyeur – Disfigured Dubz
8. 0:13:30 Skream — Siminimal – Dub [Riya accapella tease]
9. 0:15:55 ASC — The Depths — Autonomic
10. 0:19:33 They Live — What we promise — Exit
11. 0:20:43 ASC — Reality Check
12. 0:25:12 dBridge — Lost Shadow — Exit
13. 0:27:26 dBridge — Rendevous — Exit
14. 0:29:41 Oak — Chizra – Unknown
15. 0:31:11 Asc & Consequence — Fade away seasons – Nonplus+
16. 0:33:05 Consequence — A man and a woman — Exit
17. 0:35:57 Vaccine — Nurse — Dub
18. 0:36:27 Instra:mental, Skream & dBridge — Arcacia — Autonomic
19. 0:37:59 Synkro — Letting go — Autonomic
20. 0:40:14 Abstract Elements — Apocalypse — Dub
21. 0:42:19 Genotype — Sunday — Dub
22. 0:44:55 ASC — Focus Inwards – Nonplus+
23. 0:46:40 Instra:mental — Unknown – Unreleased Dub
24. 0:48:20 Instra:mental — No Future [ASC Mix] — Dub
25. 0:50:20 Abstract Elements — Basic Substance — Dub
26. 0:55:52 Instra:mental — Watching you – Nonplus+
27. 0:58:07 Instra:mental — Photograph — Darkestral

Get it in to your grubby little hands right here [right click, save as]

Bonus good news for us NZ folk: They are about to bring their Autonomic sound to town for a series of gigs up and down the country, including the awesome Splore festival. Be sure to get along and check it out.

Possibly Related posts:

1. Mix of the month August 2009: Instra:Mental
2. Mix of the Month March 2010: ASC
3. Mix of the Month July 2010: Lynx

Without further ado, here is issue #1.

• A comprehensive template for writing a typical incendiary blog post. Make sure you check the comments for bonus hilarity (via Simon)
• Infographic goodness: Hair distribution as an indicator of previous nights sleep style
  
• New brand campaign for Shimano from REAKT, a communications agency in Chicago. Some of the nicest print work I have seen in a while (via Lisa Frame)
  
• Absolutely beautiful remix of Bop’s haunting ‘Song About My Dog’ from fellow Russian Subwave: Bop – Song About My Dog (Subwave Remix Cut) by SUBWAVE
• What do musicians from different genres sing about? Find out with this handy fleshmap showing the relative frequency of body part mentions in a sample of more than 10,000 songs from different genres. (Warning: contains graphic photos of body parts commonly mentioned in hip hop songs)
• The Feltron 2009 Annual Report is out now. I highly recommend ordering the print version. I have the 2008 one (kindly gifted to me by Gareth), and it is a stunning piece of work. OCD made awesome.
  
• In the mood for some lovely liquid drum & bass? Check liquiddnb.com podcast #5 from liquid lover and v3 favourite Redeyes
• You know what you need more of in your life? Sexy executives.
• In December the awesome Four Tet made his final appearance at Plastic People in London. As a parting gift he made this lovely mix:
  Much Love To The Plastic People (DJ mix December 2009) by Four Tet
• Feed your ampersand obsession with 300&65 Ampersands. New ampersand goodness daily.

Possibly Related posts:

1. v3 Guide to the Interneat #2
2. v3 Guide to the Interneat #7
3. v3 Guide to the Interneat #4

Having said all that though, drum & bass is still the music that I feel more connection with than any other. I have loved the way that the sound has continued to evolve, particularly the melodic, musical & minimal stuff that artists like Instra:Mental, Alix Perez, Lynx, Bop, dBridge, Consequence, ASC, Spectrasoul, Commix, Blu Mar Ten, and more have been absolutely killing in 2009. For my December 2009 mix of the month I was trying to find something that really represented this sound.

This mix from Blu Mar Ten released back in September has been slowly bubbling away on my playlist ever since. It is totally incredible. This is definitely in my top 10 mixes of the year, of any genre. One thing I really love about it is that it is predominantly music from artists that I had heard very little from before (you can read more about the new talent featured on the mix over on the BMT site). As well as showcasing some of the aforementioned minimal, melodic sounds they also work in a range of other stuff, and it is all beautifully put together. This is one mix that is well worth checking out.

Blu Mar Ten: Drum & Bass Mix: Sep 2009

1. D Bridge – Love’s Ugly Child
2. Kharm – Wolf Jacket
3. Circa – Ida
4. Blu Mar Ten – Above Words
5. Logistics – Murderation
6. Stray – Talking About Nothing
7. Sinistarr & Kiat – Black Diamonds
8. Tidal – So Sexy
9. Crisis – Twilight Bongos
10. Stray – Saturday
11. High Speed Dubbing – AMC
12. Blu Mar Ten – Overwhelm
13. Mr Sizef – Seven Tones of Romantic
14. Kharm – Meridian
15. Mr Sizef – Our Most Sincere Feeling
16. Sunchase – Varka
17. Blu Mar Ten – Grey Area
18. Blu Mar Ten – She Moves Through (ASC remix)
19. So;Flow – Long Way Over
20. Vaccine – Radiate (170 edit)
21. Blu Mar Ten – Last Dance

Get your hands on it right here [right click, save as].

If you dig this then be sure to check out the Blu Mar Ten blog, one of the best musicians blogs I have ever read.

Possibly Related posts:

1. Mix of the month August 2009: Instra:Mental
2. Mix of the month July 2009: Bop
3. Mix(es) of the Month June 2009: Doc Scott

dBridge – Memory Park

Download audio file (dBridge – Memory Park.mp3)
dBridge has been absolutely killing it lately, producing some of the most amazing music ever made. Along with Instra:mental he has been bringing awesome vibes on the Autonomic podcast series, and has just released this tune, which featured on Layer 06, as a free download. Amazing atmosphere on this track, spine tingling stuff.

Download here [right click, save as]

Redeyes – Seperate Ways

Download audio file (01 Seperate Ways.mp3)

Redeyes – Miles Behind (Instrumental)

Download audio file (02 Miles Behind (instrumental).mp3)

Redeyes – Float in Time

Download audio file (03 Float in Time.mp3)

Redeyes – Paralells

Download audio file (04 Parallels.mp3)

Redeyes – Born with a Headache

Download audio file (05 Born With a Headache.mp3)
Recent visitor to our shores Redeyes has just released this quality 5 track EP “Seperate Ways” as a free download. All the tunes are great, but my pick is the awesome “Miles Behind”. Lovely stuff from the super suave Frenchman.

Download a zip of the whole EP here [right click, save as]

Michael Jackson – Butterflies (A Sides MJ tribute remix)

Download audio file (Butterflies (A Sides MJ Tribute).mp3)
I know that his passing is now well and truly old news, but this is a lovely little rework of one of my favourite MJ tunes from A Sides. Great little number for the d floor, a little something to get people moving.

Download here [right click, save as]

Possibly Related posts:

1. Free Music Friday #4
2. Free music Friday #2
3. Free Music Friday

This is a little review I put together a couple of months back for the excellent NZ music and culture mag RealGroove. I thought I would publish it here for posterity.

The Fabriclive mix series is intended to showcase the signature sound of the biggest DJ talent in the world. Good Looking Records head honcho LTJ Bukem provides us the latest installment, and he delivers.

Through his label Bukem created and nurtured a unique melodic, atmospheric sound. More recently however Good Looking went through some hard times, and it is only in the last 18 months that they have begun releasing tunes again.
This mix draws almost exclusively on tunes signed to his label, which he had cut to dubplate and recorded live. This is refreshing change from today’s culture of cut and paste mix CDs. More importantly though, it works, this really does sound like what you get from Bukem live.

Don’t expect anything groundbreaking, but what you do get is a solid mix of jazzy, upbeat drum and bass, dripping with strings and keys. A mix that despite drum and bass’s reputation, is equally at home on a Friday night, or a lazy Sunday. Good Looking Records is back (and so is LTJ Bukem).

3/5

You can preview the tunes and/or buy it over at the Fabric label site.

UPDATE: Check out this awesome little promo interview with the man himself from the Drum & Bass Arena crew. Some interesting insights into the history of Good Looking and what this mix is all about.

Possibly Related posts:

1. Make this mix part of your life
2. Version3.0 Interview for Bassdrop: Redeyes
3. Mix of the Month June 2010: Snax

Even if you don’t like drum and bass I challenge you to not like this tune. It even has words you can sing along with!

Big up DJ Marky and Stamina MC, come back to NZ soon.

Possibly Related posts:

1. Version3.0 Review for RealGroove: Fabriclive 46 Mixed by LTJ Bukem
2. More incredible music: Plus Ultra
3. Version3.0 Interview for Bassdrop: Redeyes

There isn’t really much I can say about Instra:Mental that hasn’t been said already. Their music is totally amazing.

I have already written about their Autonomic Podcast which they put together with D Bridge (under their Plus Utlra super group alias), but this is a mix of their own recorded live at Reach, a night in Dublin.

Instra:Mental – Live at Reach Dublin

1. Consequence – Pseudo Echo [Exit]
2. ASC – Starkwood [Non Plus+]
3. Instra:Mental – No Future [Non Plus+]
4. ??? – ??? [???]
5. System – El Sunrise [N/A]
6. ASC – Porcelain [Non Plus+]
7. SpectraSoul – Melodies [Exit]
8. Abstract Elements – Wrong Way [Exit]
9. ??? – ??? [???]
10. ASC – Focus Inwards [Non Plus+]
11. Mr Sizef & Unquote – Hours Have No Reverse Motion [Hospital]
12. Abstract Elements – Vortex Field [Exit]
13. Instra:Mental – Watching You [Non Plus+]
14. Abstract Elements – ??? [Exit]
15. ??? – ??? [???]
16. Abstract Elements – Fourth Dimension [Exit]
17. D-Bridge, Instra:Mental & Skream – Reflections [???]
18. ??? – ??? [???]

Get it here [right click, save as bro]

Possibly Related posts:

1. Mix of the Month January 2010: dBridge & Instra:mental
2. Mix of the month December 2009: Blu Mar Ten
3. Mix(es) of the Month June 2009: Doc Scott