Jungle Drum (Jai Paul Remix) – Emiliana Torrini

Whipping you back to 2010 for Jai Paul’s edit of Emiliana Torrini’s Jungle Drum. He takes the original and blesses it with his warm electronic goodness.

I have written about Jai Paul before, so let’s focus on Emiliana. She is a Icelandic singer-songwriter who specialises on wistful folk. If you are a fan of Bjork or Laura Marling then she is definitely worth checking out. You can pick up the same melancholic fisherman’s wife thread running through their work. Me & Armini is my pick, and is the third of her six albums.

Pizza Guy – Touch Sensitive

Throwing it back to 2013 for Touch Sensitive’s Pizza Guy. It’s an optimistic electronic track with heavy 80s synth vibes. It’ll lift your mood, and brings enough Future Classic freshness to feel exciting even though it is a homage to another era. Enjoy.

Something Good ’08 – Utah Saints

Sometimes a bit of club trash can do us all good. Utah Saints’ ’08 cut of Something Good is just that. The video even comes replete with a busty slow motion dancer. It’s no Destination Calabria, Call On Me or Infinity 2008 but it’s not far off.

If mid-noughties club hits are your thing then I have just the playlist for you

And finally, Utah Saints were known for taking samples out of tracks that had no business being on the dancefloor. Something Good is no different. Skip to 1:03 to for the original.

U Already Know – DJ Seinfeld

DJ Seinfeld has announced his second full length album Mirrors will be released on Ninja Tune in September. The first single, U Already Know is out now and hints at a bit of a shift in style.

Whistful female vocals are still in, but his signature dusty style is out, in favour of punchier electro elements. If this is any indication of what the rest of the album will sound like, I’m very much there for it!

My thoughts on his debut album Time Spent Away From U here.

BONFIDO

Over in the UK the sun is out and I’ve been listening to nothing but these 3 EP compilations by Greek label Bonfido Disques. They describe their sound as “nostalgic Exotic Disco and Afro Cosmic House reworks for the dancefloor”, which hits the nail on the head. Enjoy.

Shout out to Ben Gomori’s Turned On podcast for the tip.

Do Your Thing – Basement Jaxx

If you are looking for a track that is Just. Pure. Vibes. then look no further. Fun and joy and happiness and laughter.

P.S. Why are Sony sleeping on SSX? Sort it out.

When Radio Was Boss – Soulphiction

News has come out over the past couple of days that German DJ / producer / label owner Michel Baumann (aka Soulphiction, aka Jackmate) has died. He was associated with big labels like Playhouse and Pampa, and founded his own, Philpot. RIP

Photo credit: Martijn Barzilaij

Why Won’t You Make Up Your Mind (Erol Alkan Rework) – Tame Impala

Why won’t you make up your mind?
Give me a sign.
Am I wasting my time?
Living in my head?
You’ll be sorry when I
Make up mine instead

The emotion of this Tame Impala track is taken up a notch by Erol Alkan. While the original lasts 3:19, this goes for a full 8:14, extending the band’s painful limbo and magnifying it to fever pitch proportions. And the lead electric guitars, already gripping, are elevated into full Ratatat-level raucousness. It’s a monster.

Finally Moving – Pretty Lights

I guarantee this one will take you back. As hooks go, it is pretty iconic. Etta James and William Bell samples taken to their 21st century electronica potential – impossible not to love.

Bonus tracks: here are those aforementioned samples in their full glory. First up the wonderful Etta James

Next: American soul artist William Bell

Pick Your Shots Clean – Pedestrian

Sometimes in music, as in life, you need a bit of dirt. Pick Your Shots Clean delivers that in spades. 90s outdoor rave meets Berlin club. Turn it up and grind it out. Oosh.

The flip-side Airs & Graces is new to me, and has a completely different kind of appeal, but its very nice too – impossible not to notice the Maribou State connection. Enjoy.