THE BEST MUSIC: NEW & OLD
This one is pretty special. ALFOS / Sean Johnston has played it the last couple of times I’ve seen him and both times it has been one of the set highlights. After the second listen last weekend Sean very kindly ID’d it for me, and so here we are. Talking Heads and LCD Soundsystem brought together in beautiful harmony. Enjoy.
If you are a regular reader you’ll know of my love affair with A Love From Outer Space. If not, you’ve got some catching up to do.
This track is something of a beauty from Irish producer Swoose. Out now on Feel My Bicep, so if it reminds you of them then that will be no accident.
Bonus track: I’m in a giving mood. The intergalactic flow of Hyphae got me thinking about Emotional Ty’s Edge of Horizon. More sofa, less club, same feels.
Brining you a mini-doc produced by Resident Advisor on the London club scene from 2017. It’s visually great, and covers a lot of issues that are more relevant now than ever – including loved venues closing, drug use, and the value of the clubs as cultural centres in our city.
Update: here is a direct link if the video breaks again
A couple of bonus tracks that feature in the video:
You don’t need me to tell you that a lot changed in the world between August 2018 and August 2022. That time period also marked the gap between the second and third edition of Houghton Festival. 2019 fell victim to ‘high winds’ and 2020 and 2021 were both casualties of COVID.
The 2018 festival was the first time I came across A Love From Outer Space, the project of Andrew Weatherall and Sean Johnston. They delivered a transfixing set, which felt both completely at home in, and completely distinct from, the house music surrounding it. Fast forward four years and we are now without Andrew Weatherall, who tragically died in February 2020.
Sean Johnston has been keeping the spirit of the duo alive by playing under the ALFOS moniker, and returned to play one of the closing sets at Houghton 2022. It was highly emotional, studded with tributes to his dead friend, and once again utterly transfixing. As well as some ALFOS favourites, Sean played Canto Della Liberta by 3rd Face. This was probably the most memorable tracks of the festival for me – bizarre, punchy and loads of fun.
Sean Johnston is playing as ALFOS at Phonox in December. Trust me, not one to miss if you can help it.
Long time no see listeners. I’m back with a triple-helping of Dusky goodness.
First up, one of my fave tracks from 2012, their remix of Cloud 9’s Don’t You Want Me Baby. This’ll be sure to get a smile on yer face.
But look, this is Dusky we are talking about, and it all really began (just over) a decade ago with Stick By This. Earlier this year they released a deluxe 10 year anniversary edition with some tasty little edits. Here. You. Go.
And finally, they released a new album just last week. Maybe you were at EartH this weekend for the launch party. Anyway, Pressure is a tribute to the sound of their youth, which is… garage. I have to be honest, most garage isn’t really for me – but for these guys I’ll make a small exception. Check it out here.
With the sun out as it is today, there’s a lot to like about this record.
Manifest Bliss is the debut single from United Freedom Collective, a new project from Mathieu Seynaeve, WaiFung Tsang and producer Robbie Redway. They say their music draws on the clinical work of Seynaeve and Tsang while also taking influence from worlds of Zen Taoism, Chinese plant medicines, and worldwide healing traditions. Lofty goals, but it really does come through, in a Bonobo and Maribou State kind of style. Enjoy!
I’m highly aware that this is skating just on the ride side of cheese (kind of Loods’ MO) but sometimes you’ve just got to let go. If you do that, you will be rewarded, because this feels real good. Definitely a track to be enjoyed in the sunshine after a drink or two. There’s not much subtlety about it, just strings and horns working to full effect. Summer 2022 baby!
The track is out now on Steel City Records. He’s not from Sheffield, he’s from Newcastle. But not that one, the one in Oz. Which is actually known as Steel City. Who knew?
If you are after a moody house track that might just give you bass face then I have what you need. Would LOVE to hear this one out. Out now on Ben Gomori’s Monologues Records. Listen to it loud.
I’ve been sitting on this for way too long. Please forgive me.
It’s UK duo Overmono with Gunk. They stood out at Wide Awake festival and this track was the one with the biggest impact. It has a ravey Jacques Greene kind of vibe that hits right.
They are getting well stuck into the European festival circuit with a UK tour to follow in the Autumn (including Koko in September) – don’t miss out.
Bonus track: this was my first exposure to the duo – an incredibly powerful remix of an incredibly powerful track. Full write-up here.
This is my go-to track right now.
I’ve been a TEED fan for a long time, and it makes me really happy that he is back on the solo production train after some well-publicised time away and ups and downs. His two latest singles tell me that his second album is one to be excited about. Where the Lights Go will be released in July and has a mammoth 17 tracks. A lot more TEED to look forward to.
Bonus album: 8th June 2022 will mark the 10-year anniversary of the release of Trouble. And here it is.
HARRY'S MUSICAL EMPORIUM 