THE BEST MUSIC: NEW & OLD
What has happened to Hackman? He burst onto the scene making original, polished house music back when Soundcloud was big, and seems to have pretty much vanished since then. Come back Ben Hackman!
This is my favourite of his EPs, from 2013 on Futureboogie. The title track is a banger perfectly set to the Winter months. Enjoy.
Two utterly colossal tracks today from UK duo Casino Times. Both released in 2012, they are slow-building house numbers – based on yearning vocals, shimmering synths and (eventually) a warm thudding bassline.
First up, I Wanna Know.
Secondly, That’s The Truth. A beautiful re-imagining of De La Soul’s All Good. A huge shout out to James Prescott for the recommendation and playing it outside my room at all hours of the night.
Some super glidey electronic from Yorkshire producer James Welsh. This was his breakout EP on Losing Suki from 2012 – it feels fresh and smooth in a way not many artists manage.
My highlight is Talk, where the bass takes a backseat to a simple soulful sample (Baby I’m For Real by Motown group, The Originals). Top marks.
Bonus track: since this EP James has released music on a pretty A-list set of electronic labels (WOLF, Hypercolour, Futureboogie) but he has moved towards a stripped-back darker style that I think loses some of the charm of his earlier work. Having said that, I am a fan of this Lancelot-y number. Enjoy
This UK duo have popped up from under the radar to be one of my favourite producers of 2018. They’ve released a load of beautifully trance-inducing, goosebump-raising electronica. The music sounds like an embrace. Think of them as a bit like Four Tet’s housier/trancier cousins.
This EP on SilverBear has a whole bunch of gems.
Bonus track: I couldn’t help myself. Orissa is simply stunning. It is named after an Eastern state of India, and uses a beautiful chanting sample. I’ll say it again, stunning.
Photo credit: Nathan Greenwood
Find the best speakers you can and turn this one up loud. Do it right and this track will demand your full attention. SMD & Bicep recorded it during a joint jam session, direct onto analogue tape, and you need to hear it properly. So yeah, loud – I’m not joking.
If you’re liking these deep sounds then check out this playlist I put together. A bunch of house tracks full of thick noises to smother yourself in.
Here’s a pace change-up for you. A new track from UK D&B royalty Shy FX. It’s nothing but a classic jungle/breaks rumbler. Simple really.
Bonus track: it’s Shy FX y’know. Let this one fizz you into the weekend.
I could have posted any number of Nico Jaar tracks but this single from 2010 on Wolf + Lamb takes the biscuit. He specialises in slightly unsettling, deep electronica with long builds and deep drops – and this has to be the best example: Time For Us drops at 75 BPM. 75 BPM! Now that’s some slow house. Feel it soak your bones. Mi Mujer is a bit more upbeat and exotic to boot – influenced by his Chilean roots. Get your Latin hat on and groove out.
Bonus track: there has to be a bonus track with Nico doesn’t there. Make no mistake, the man has a deep discography for someone born in the 90s. This is the album Nymphs from 2016 – the first two tracks in particular are subtly, and heartbreakingly beautiful.
Go on a road trip – it looks fun – play nice though…
Every Sunday I bring you something a little more downtempo to ease you back into the world.
Romare specialises in taking samples from Afro-American culture and reimagining them into super original, modern electronic tracks. Given that he’s a London-born white man there are some that think his approach is a little disrespectful. I’ll leave you to decide where you sit on that subject. Either way, it’s definitely worth a listen (and if it is your jam, you’re in luck – there’s a second album).
I’m growing a moustache to raise money for the Movember Foundation. So this month I will be honouring some of the best moustaches in music. You can donate to my mo here: https://mobro.co/harry-mo
What’s your favourite music video? This is up there with mine – a delicious mind-bending sci-fi number. And this song? Well this song is just 100% housey pumping goodness. Turn it up and enjoy.
Bonus track: Andhim are pretty decent you know. Here’s some more feel-good house from the German duo.
HARRY'S MUSICAL EMPORIUM 