December 21, 2011
2011 - End of Year Mix by JC

JC'S End of Year Mix for 2011

(Click above link to access the Soundcloud Page)

Following a ‘Best Of’ list for albums, inevitably it would have been rude not to do something similar for electronic tracks. Any extra motivation I needed was whetted by Resident Advisor’s usual gargantuan ‘Top 50’ effort, which, whilst not being too succinct or palatable, also got it horribly wrong with their number 1, Blawan’s unforgivably shit and appropriately named ‘Getting Me Down’. It was a pretty good year for ‘CHEWNS’ on the whole, and what better way to stylishly mix them into a format where they’re best served, in an accurate and tasty digestion of how good a year it was?

I don’t possess the necessary ‘tekkers’ (more utterly 2011 terminology) to create as masterful a set as this, but thankfully JC does, and this End Of Year Mix is a stunning reflection  of some of the best aural club delights experienced. Some of the gems include a bit of Melbourne synergy between Francis Inferno Orchestra (My tip for 2011) and Mic Newman, some favourite’s endorsed by Maya Jane Coles, arguably one of the DJ’s of the year, and a Metronomy remix, a fitting accompaniment for my Album the Year(see below for that list).

This mix also contains my own personal undisputed top three tracks of the year, in some form or other. Ame’s remix of Osunlade’s ‘Envision’ had everything, above all a sticking power that made overplaying impenetrable. The chugging juggernaut of Todd Terje’s ‘Ragysh’ was worth the 5 years follow up to ‘Eurodans’ and ‘Italian Stallion, and tested the durability of Funktion 1 Soundsystems across Europe for the last 6 months. My personal choice for top spot however, may be a left field one, but Jacob Korn’s ‘She’ blew me away time after time. An ominous, almost industrial like intro, once it gives way to the razor sharp hi hats and bass drum, melts away into a euphoric cocophany of xylophone and exuberant keys. Who knew they could have gone so well together? Jacob Korn obviously did, and the song continues to surge towards sheer, drenched in emotive bliss.

This mix, as a consolidated piece of music, brings all of these together, and reflects all the individual expertly chosen tracks; varied, melodic, distinct, consistent, enduring, and above all, containing all the necessary emotion only alluring electronic music can have.

Brilliantly done. Enjoy. And See you in the Long Hall.

1. Cut Copy - Blink and You’ll Miss A Revolution (A Chicken Lips Instrumental Malfunction) / Osunlade - Envision (Ame Acoustic Remix)

2. Francis Inferno Orchestra - I Need It (Fantastic Mans Electric Boogaloo Remix)

3. Metronomy - She Wants (Javi Redondo & Carreno is LB Re-Edit)

4. Bostro Pesopeo & Pional - Yes

5. Session Victim - Large Professor

6. Frank Roger - After All

7. Storm Queen - It Goes On

8. Scuba - Everywhere

9. Tiger & Woods - Love in Cambodgia

10. Noir & Haze - Around (Solomun Vox)

11. Maya Jane Coles - Parallel Worlds

13. Kink & Neville Watson - A Saturday in November

13. Todd Terje - Ragysh

14. Jacob Korn - She

15. Solomun - He is Watching You

16. Cant - The Edge

3:31pm  |   URL: http://eclecticpicnic.tumblr.com/post/14563045468/2011-end-of-year-mix-by-jc
(Notes: 134)
  
Filed under: Sets Best Of 2011 
August 21, 2011
Stevie Russell Indian Summer Set

Its been a while since I posted a set of any description, and thats probably because there hasn’t been too much blowing my mind recently, apart from perhaps the outstanding Maya Jane Coles Esssential Mix, but anyway… The reason why I’ll encourage the following is not just because its a little bit closer to home, but mainly because I just prefer it because its so damn good.

Stevie Russell is known by most as an outstanding new filmmaking talent in both the commercial and creative realm, but on the side, he’s recently begun to show off a little bit of DJ tekkers, producing the odd intriguing and eclectic set, to showing up the likes of Benoit and Sergio in Dublin’s Pygmalion. This latest ‘Indian Summer’ set is the best thing I’ve heard him put together so far, and it is custom built for repeat listening. Its brilliantly constructed and flows seamlessly. After an initial build, It has a fantastically consistent rhythm, drive and bounce throughout, whilst maintaining a total freshness (I think I only recognised one of the tracks from before) So clearly, while there’s an ear for the great individual tracks, the nous and knack for what it takes to build a meticulously crafted and flowing set is there in abundance. I’m going to listen to it yet again, you should too… ‘Serious Bop’

Only problem is if this progress keeps up he might have to reconsider which one is the day job…

11:30am  |   URL: http://eclecticpicnic.tumblr.com/post/9202594619/stevie-russell-indian-summer-set
(Notes: 37)
  
Filed under: sets stevie russell 
March 31, 2011
James Cooper, Royal Arcana March 2011 MIX

I know very little about James Cooper, apart from that he’s an Aussie living in Berlin, and that he’s a friend of a friend. But what I do know now is that he’s just provided us with one of the most composed, thoughtful and intelligently built sets I’ve heard in a long, long time. Funny how I was crying out for a memorable Dixon-esque set, full of slightly leftfield choices, a meticulously gradual build up and a resonance that will demand repeated listening long into the future. Just to encourage potential listeners, some of his choice cuts include tracks by John Roberts and Nicolas Jaar, but on the whole, as any memorable and daring set that tends to linger in the memory, this plays like one epic track that keeps giving and giving. Hopefully we hear more from this guy in the future, keep your eyes/ears on his Soundcloud. Thanks L Kav, you’re the best.

8:28am  |   URL: http://eclecticpicnic.tumblr.com/post/4228838193/james-cooper-royal-arcana-march-2011-mix
(Notes: 2)
  
Filed under: Sets 
December 7, 2010
Francis Inferno Orchestra Melbourne Deepcast Mix...

Hot off the shelf, an outstanding new mix courtesy of Melbourne’s Griffin James, aka Francis Inferno Orchestra. (Click the link above…) Having created a blitz of excitement in the last few months due to his own slick productions on Soundcloud, he’s firmly in pole position to be my big tip for 2011.

http://soundcloud.com/fio

‘Meet Me In Salt Lake City’ has been mentioned here already, and thankfully has been picked up and spun by people like Mark E, while the amount of people flocking to his page is rapidly increasing. His production midas touch certainly belies his age, and the appetite for more has definitely been whetted.

This brand new Melbourne Deepcast mix is the first real chance we’ve seen of him DJ, and its an absolute corker the whole way through. A perfect blend of old school and brand new, the sound of the whole set is brilliantly consistent and a virtuoso showcase of some bona fide lush house. In a deserved compliment to James, his own new tracks sit perfectly in sync with some expertly chosen classic cuts from the likes of  KDJ/Moodymann, Pepe Bradock, Sound Stream and Romanthony, with each individual mix showing a nice variety of how he likes to dip in and out of his tunes and conduct each mix.

Thoroughly enjoyable and a brilliant tour de force through old and new house, particularly for one with such tender years. I’m now wishing my hopes for FIO are fully realised and 2011 sees him explode worldwide… Could definitely do with seeing him in the flesh. Check out some mutual shared love for him and this particular set today over at http://www.thehouseofdisco.com

5:29pm  |   URL: http://eclecticpicnic.tumblr.com/post/2133460364/francis-inferno-orchestra-melbourne-deepcast-mix
Filed under: Sets Francis Inferno Orchestra 
July 27, 2010
Giles Smith Mix

Giles Smith is always more referenced as the dude who ‘organises’ the Secret Sundaze parties, rather than being recognised as a DJ in his own right. Fact is, he’s a pretty bloody fantastic DJ, and has selected probably my favourite CD Mix ever (The Secret Sundaze Mix Volume 1) He’s also supplied probably the best set I’ve personally enjoyed out this year, whilst supporting Todd Terje at Secret Sundaze atop the Centre Point. In fact, thats him in the ‘On Air’ photo I took below. So obviously I’m a big fan, and he would easily rank as one of my favourite House DJ’s going. I’m a man of simple pleasure, but if you’re competent mixer, and you have as good a taste in top quality house as Smith does, then I’m hardly going to nitpick. Given he’s only starting to become more active in producing now, and never really plays the likes of Fabric, Smith’s name is never mentioned in the same breath as other prominent House DJ’s and Producers. If you’ve never heard any of his mix CD’s, or have always been too casually (and in East London) fashionably late to catch him at a SS gig, here’s a chance to sample some expertly selected house with this sterling mix. Just click on the title to check out and download a recent set  he did for audioFAMILIES. In classic Smith style its a mellow and very deep starter, but you’ll realise why I big him up when you hear the Moodymann drop, and where he takes the set from there. Its sumptuous stuff, with some exquisite records garnished throughout. Enjoy. It could even make you think you’re in Cork in 1997, like… 

Pint of Beamish there bud…

11:55pm  |   URL: http://eclecticpicnic.tumblr.com/post/867694327/giles-smith-mix
Filed under: Music House Giles Smith Sets Secret Sundaze DJ