I decided to ditch the pelski playlists a while back – what with the blog’s newfound focus on mature, longer-lasting music. I feared the exhaustive list of downloads would devalue each individual track. However, a bulging backlog of tracks sent to my inbox (and others cleared for blogging) has built up, and so, reluctantly, I’m going to post a bunch of them. Many of these tracks have been reduced in bit-rate as part of the conditions under which I may post them, while some others are full quality. Pelski highly recommends them all.
This first track comes courtesy of my Pipedown homies. It’s a clattering, soulful slice of percussive funk. Upbeat and uplifting – it’s hard to resist breaking into a grin:
Slim Pickens – The Tighten Up
Fabric’s Mackaveli introduced me to Pariah’s ‘Orpheus’ in his latest mixtape; a skippy, juddering dubstep remix with real soul. It’ll be getting a release soon, so hold tight, but for now check out his murky remix of The XX’s dreamy vocal crooner:
The xx – Basic Space (Pariah Remix)
Whilst everyone’s going Joy Orbison mad, I suggest you also check out 2562 and his new album (on the excellent Tectonic Records) – full of eerie and enchating 2-step dubstep. Here’s an album highlight he’s giving away for free.
2562 – Flashback
One of my favourite albums of the year is DJ Vadim’s hip-hop/reggae-dub record ‘U Cant Lurn Imaginashun’. ‘Soldier’ is just one of many highlights – I’d love to post the original but unfortunately don’t have permission:
DJ Vadim – Soldier ft. Wretch 32, Kyza Smirnoff, Orifice Vulgatron (Foreign Beggers), Sabira Jade & 5Nizza (UK Flex Remix)
I’m a big fan of Kid Kaio, and although this remix is effectively a lesser version of ‘This Sound Is’, the plinkety conga beats still make for hugely satisfying dancefloor ammo:
Daliano – Baaz in de Club (Kid Kaio & Lucky Charmes Remix)
The kindly fellas over at Think 2wice label have sent over their sixth release. A rolling synth line and fervent bmore drums clatter amidst a steely 90′s vibe. Buy the full release here:
Tactic – Valhalla
Detroit’s newest star Lee Curtiss utilizes the vocal sample from Seth Troxler’s ‘Aphrika’ in this uptempo house groover from the famous Wolf + Lamb label. Generous lashing of funk are provided by some twanged slap bass:
Lee Curtiss – South Afrika
Brackles caused a stir with his ‘Get A Job’ EP, and now he’s foraying into remix territory. Brackles percussion dances around unpredictably, transforming the original into a charming soother. Keep your eyes peeled for his remix of Crystal Castles:
MSTRKRFT – Heartbreaker (Brackles Remix)
Mowgli is on fine form right now – his deadfish label can do no wrong. This punchy offering of minimal house is deep and bouncy in equal measures. For your tribal fix check out the Camel remix:
Mowgli – Nu Skool
A rumbling, rolling slab of techno bass dominates Max Cooper’s remix of this 2004 techno classic:
Abe Duque and Blake Baxter – What Happened? (Max Cooper Remix)
The Crookers’ original can not be defended as ironic or even gleefully tongue-in cheek. No, it’s just shit. So shit, in fact, that only Solo’s dub can save it – or transform it, even, into a bouncy, blippy house banger:
Crookers – Put Your Hands On Me (Solo Dub)
Wolf ‘n Wax was founded by two young guys from Thuringia/Germany in 2008, and they’ve sent over a demo of their first demo – a blippy, rolling slice of techno – incorporating horn samples and ticking beats:
Wolf n Wax – Trombasa
Here we have another former d’n'b producer (along with Clipz and Zinc), who’s converted to house. He sent me this simple re-edit of Afrojack’s classic ‘Pokadots’ last month, and while it’s hardly a radical rework, the added percussive flairs certainly inject some new life. Buy the original here.
Afrojack – Polkadots (Kevin Focus – Remade & Rebuilt)
This is one from the summer – a kuduro remix of the much-hyped ‘Sabali’. Sublime and serene:
Amadou & Mariam – Sabali (Dakunt/Candongueiro Kuduro refix)
A fantastic unreleased grime tracks from the Roll Deep boys, with the original vocal of Wiley’s seminal ‘Eskimo’ riddim, featuring Dizzee Rascal, Wiley, Flowdan and more. They’re giving it away to mark the release of their ‘Street Anthem’ mixtape:
Roll Deep – Eskimo (Vocal)
I meant to post this a while ago. Helsinki’s Renaissance Man are running the blogosphere, with their inventive, kooky brand of tech-house. The chipper handclaps and tropical melody remain, but RM get rid of the original’s slightly cringy vocal ramblings:
Nicone and Sascha Braemer – Nur Mal Kurz (Philip Bader Remix) Renaissance Man International Edit
Zomby switches from IDM dubstep to 8-bit through 90s house to 2-step. This time Zomby arrives at some fun-loving baltimore club:
The Brown Acid – Try Humanity (Zomby’s Vitamin E Remix)
UK Funky’s picking up pace, even receiving attention from the likes of dubstep purveyors Hyperdub. Roska’s been at the forefront of this sound from the beginning, and Fabric sent over this skippy conga-driven track. Even better is Roska’s remix of Erol’s new signing Boris Dlugosch:
Roska – Hey Cutie
I’ve reduced the bit-rate right down to 128 for this one – to encourage you to buy the damn thing. This is arguably Four Tet’s finest moment since ‘As Serious As Your Life’. The ethereal female vocal sample is gently cut-up in sync to shuffling drum patterns, enforced by a thrumming house hook. And as for Joy Orbison’s remix…it’s simply stunning:
Four Tet – Love Cry
Thanks go to Riva Starr for this one – Hijack brings some jackin’ bump to Falcon’s whirring disco synths, cutting the delicious vocal sample into a bouncey, glitchy snippet:
DJ Falcon – Untitled (Hijack Remix)
This offering, handed out for free by Sbtrkt, sounds similar to some of the more tribal dubstep Untold and Ramadanman have been pushing lately. Energetic, upbeat and skippy rhythms:
Sbtrkt – rekorda
Half a year old, but now Fabric have handed this album title track over for blogging at the full bitrate. The chunky synth groove provides a delicious old skool house vibe:
In Flagranti – Brash and Vulgar
This is satisfying, laidback house music, with some tribal flairs added to the clattering percussive beats. This is a real grower. Set it on repeat:
2000 and One – State Of House (Matthias Tanzmann Remix)
Samantha Fu is a cheeky alias of Soulwax’s – you’ll have heard this on many a dancefloor, or perhaps just on that seminal 2many DJ’s mix. Mixhell add some punchy drum kicks and provide a funkier sheen, but retain and cut-up that familiar vocal: “some say they come looking for drugs, dirty dancing and pounding, pounding techno music….”
Samantha Fu – Theme from Discoteque (Mixhell Edit)
