Roska has blown up big on the UK funky scene apparently. I am still not entirely sure what UK funky is, but I don’t really care because I know this mix is rad. Killer percussion and bad boy rhythms abound on this hour long promo mix for Sonar radio. It incorporates a bit of dubstep, some broken beat, a touch of house, and a whole lot of awesome.

Stand out tracks for me are the opener, a Roska mix of dbridge & Martyn’s beautiful track ‘These Words’, Roska’s own Jackpot (which I could imagine absolutely destroying a club), and the wicked melodic vibe on his tune ‘Tomorrow is Today’. All in all though, a pretty banging party vibe, good for prepping for a big night out, or plowing through some spreadsheets at the office. Don’t take my word for it though, give it a hoon for yourself.

Roska – Sonar Promo Mix 2010

  1. Martyn & dbridge – These Words (Roska’s Speechless Mix)
  2. Zinc – Nexx!
  3. Roska & Jamie George – Love 2 Nite
  4. Crazy Cousinz – Always Be My Baby
  5. Roska – Jackpot
  6. Deadboy – If U Want Me
  7. Roska – Squark
  8. Dj Naughty – Firepower
  9. Roska Ft. Anesha – I Need Love
  10. Laidback Luke – Step By Step (Roska Edit)
  11. Roska & Jamie George – Wonderful Day
  12. Zinc – Blunt Edge
  13. Geeneus & Dynamite – Get Low (Roska Special)
  14. Roska – Tomorrow Is Today
  15. Bingo Players – When I Dip
  16. Youtam Avni – Coke Bouquet
  17. Fingaprint – It’s On You
  18. Brackles – El Gordos

Get hold of Roska’s Sonar Promo Mix 2010 here [right click, save as].

Special mentions this month also go to former mix of the month artists Lenzman & ASC who both put out killer mixes this month that have been on high rotate for me too. Check Lenzman’s Reprise Agency Podcast (featuring the beautiful vocal talents of Riya) for one of the best liquid drum and bass mixes I have heard in a while & ASC’s Club Muse podcast for some awesome 90’s hip hop/experimental/dubstep/140bpm grooves.

Thanks to Nivin for the heads up on the Roska mix.

jz

I have to confess that I have only just discovered James Zabiela (thanks to my man Troy). According to the Internet he is one of the finest technicians of the CDJ in the business, and I am not about to argue. Having gotten hold of his Radio 1 Essential Mix I haven’t stopped playing it all month.

James takes tracks of a whole range of electronic tempos and blends them together into a beautiful musical story. In this case, complete with samples from sci-fi film Moon. It just doesn’t get old.

James Zabiela – Radio 1 Essential Mix 03/04/2010

  1. Danjel Esperanza – Walking In Dirt [Backdoor Beauty]
  2. Alex Smoke – Harmonious [Lux]
  3. Altair – Collateral [Covert Operatons]
  4. Modeselektor – My Anthem [B Pitch]
  5. Nosaj Thing – Light #1 [Alpha Pup]
  6. Ned Coleman – Uncovered [Flying Flowers]
  7. James Zabiela – Burnt Bridges [Renaissance]
  8. Clint Mansell – 117 [Black Records]
  9. Steve Bug – Like It Should Be’ [Poker Flat]
  10. Star You Star Me – A Place In My Heart (feat. Erland Oye) (Jori Hulkkonen 2004 Remix) [Soundz]
  11. Christian Smith – Beluga [Tronic]
  12. Carl Craig – At-Les’ (Christian Smith Remix) [Planet E]
  13. Dusty Kid – Moto Perpetuo (Extended Version) [Boxer]
  14. Lusine – Near Sight [Ghostly International]
  15. Extrawelt – Leaf 43 [Damage Music Berlin]
  16. Mondkopf – Bones Club [Asphalt Duchess]
  17. Clark – Growls Garden [Warp]
  18. Ellen Allien & Apparat – Rotary [B Pitch]
  19. Headhunter – Prototypes (Modeselktor’s Broken Handbrake Remix) [Ammunition]
  20. Clint Mansell – Welcome To Lunar Industries [Three Year Stretch]
  21. ASC – Floating Point [Vampire Records]
  22. Tycho – Send and Receive [Merck]
  23. Ruxpin – Oceanus And Tethys [MIkrolux]
  24. Clint Mansell – Two Weeks and Counting [Black Records]
  25. Plaid – Two Rooms [Warp]

Don’t take my word for it, listen for yourself by downloading this bad boy [right click, save as]

the-roots-dilla-joints-mixtape

Usually Free Music Friday is a random collection of tunes that are thrown together from all over the show, this time round though we have a very special edition.

I am sure I don’t need to say anything to hype either of these acts. One of the greatest musical hip hop acts of all time, The Roots, paying tribute by covering some of the biggest hits from the late great J Dilla.

There is no question that this should be in your collection, get amongst.

The Roots – Dilla Joints by Hypetrak

Via hypebeast