Nahawa Doumbia (Ben Gomori / Tom Jay Edits)

Here we have three quality edits on Sterns; the vocals of immensely talented Malian singer Nahawa Doumbia being given the treatment by Ben Gomori and Tom Jay. Rather good.

Fuse – Hudson Mohawke

I’m taking it back to 2009 (HudMo was just 23 at the time).

And you have just never heard a track like Fuse before. Butter, the album its taken from, is a pretty fidgety affair – quite hard to listen to – but boy does Fuse go off. Chuck it on next time you go to a magical elvish party to dance with some nymphs at dawn.

P.S. I only just noticed that on the cover the hawks have mohawks. Very clever. Perhaps.

High (Feat. Nicole Millar) – Peking Duk

This one definitely falls into the ‘guilty pleasure’ category. It’s Aussie electronic duo Peking Duk doing what they do. When the sun comes out and I want to rampage it does the trick. Serving suggestion: super loud.

You Are the Light (Feat. Jem Cooke) – Hot Since 82

Oh I love a big house rumbler I do. Hot Since 82 (Daley Padley) dropped this beast a couple of months ago on his Knee Deep in Sound label and I can’t really get over it.

Daley is on a pretty tasty looking Summer tour of Europe right now. If you like what you hear, check it out at www.hotsince82.com

Bonus ~~track~~ album: fuck it, have the whole album, why not.

Bells Creek Road – Jad & The

Today I’ve got some dreamy, floaty numbers coming at you from everyone’s favourite Australian-born, Berlin-based electronic music producer, Jad & The.

It’s a more circumspect, instrument-heavy release than what you would normally expect. And probably because of that, it’s fucking beautiful. His production skills come to the fore as spiralling trumpets and flowing pianos abound. Reminiscent of Rhythm Section or Laurence Guy, which ain’t no bad thing.

Tough to pick a favourite, but Matano Trumpet Jam and Bells Creek Road just about stand out from the crowd. Enjoy.

Fun fact: he used to be called Jad & The Ladyboy: went through a rebrand a dropped the last bit. Probably wise.

I <3 U SO – Cassius

A little late to this one, but a couple of months after the death of Keith Flint, the world of dance music mourns another loss – Philippe Zdar of Cassius. In what appears to be a tragic accident, Philippe fell from a window to his death at the age of 52.

Here is the release that means the most to me. I ❤ U SO. It includes a hefty dubstep-and-breaks inspired remix from Skream – you’ll know it.

Bonus track: I can’t find for sure if there is any link between this track and the man, but it’s a banger from Digitalism that I hope might be a tribute to the impact Philippe has on the French electronic music scene over the course of the last couple of decades.

By Your Side – Will Saul

Something a whole lot deeper coming at you today. It’s a dark rumbling beast of a track from Will Saul. This UK scene stalwart has music in his blood – he was born in Glastonbury and is the founder of Simple Records and Aus Music (who released this beauty).

Turn it up 90 seconds in and feel it come at you wave after wave.

Do You Love Her Now / He – Jai Paul

Jai Paul! He’s back! He’s released a couple of characteristically airy, cool electronic numbers on XL Recordings. And to accompany them, a weird interactive website that he’s designed himself: www.jai-paul.com I’d say he’s a better music producer than wesbite designer, but that’s just me.

Bonus tracks: because, obviously.

Signs – James Shinra

Ever wondered what it would sound like if Roger Federer played against Novak Djokovic in the 2019 Wimbledon tennis final, except instead of Wimbledon it was outer space and instead of tennis it was synths? Then look no further. Masters of the interstellar game.

As always, shout out to Ben Gomori for the tip.

Masekela – Tom Demac

Two of my favourite things combining on this one. Tom Demac and Hugh Masekela. In Tom’s own words, it is a “sun burner gurner” and who am I to argue? It lifts the vocals from Don’t Go Lose It Baby and shunts them alongside one of those foot-stomping basslines. Top marks.