Air Valley – James Welsh

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

Wayward

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

Time For Us – Nicolas Jaar

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.

Too Much Information (Laolu Edit) – Dele Sosimi Afrobeat Orchestra

It’s no longer November! The freedom! The joy! Here’s some Afro house from 2002 to heat up your Winter.

https://open.spotify.com/track/1mHdnrcPMlhwFqMrsS9Kbx?si=B-PU2Sj1QdOclWLtL3TBgg

Like what you hear? Well crank up the thermostat and get your teeth into this playlist of like-minded tunes

https://open.spotify.com/user/browneh/playlist/4TflgbhinqGI3abGJ28txn?si=72bZfmEsRLCtG6m_CCUbGQ

Spayce – Andhim

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.

Heartbreaker (Feat. John Legend) – MSTRKRFT

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

Let me take you back to 2009. Barack Obama has just become President. Chrysler has just become bankrupt. Ireland are on their way to a Grand Slam. And that heavy electro-house is in vogue. Here is MSTRKRFT’s finest work.

Two things before I leave you: first, a big shout out to Al for the suggestion. Secondly, this fact: the band took the vowels out of their name to avoid trademark infringement with Mastercraft, a Canadian tools company. Have a bit of that.

Mander House, Vol. 1 – Letherette

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

I’ll be honest – I got real lucky with this one. The new Letherette album came out (it’s great) and after a quick Google it turns out that one half of the UK duo has a ‘tash! Joy!

Right, so what have we got? Funky loops, soulful samples, dreamy piano chords and solid basslines. It’s cool, it’s clever, and it’s fun. Two highlights are You Like to Dance? and my fave, Major.

DJ Harvey

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?

This guy is revered as a bit of a God in the house scene. Famous for genre-bending sets of epic proportions. DJ Harvey is London-born but now travels the world as a superstar of the scene. Highly recommend. And boy, what a moustache.

Also, one of my favourite quotes of all time. “You can’t understand the blues until you’ve had your heart broken by a woman. And you can’t understand my music until you’ve had group sex on Ecstasy.”

Radio – Felix Da Housecat

Felix Da Housecat releases a lot of music and if I’m honest most of his stuff doesn’t really do it for me. But in Radio we have a peppy banger of an exception. It’s that Digitalism style electro-house that peaked around 2008, and it’s good. Enjoy.

Moodymann – Moodymann

Moodymann is a bit of a freak, and he wants you to know it. He makes sultry, loose grooves from Detroit, and they’ll get you going nicely. Highlights on this 27-track monster of an album are Lyk 2 Use 2 and Freeki Muthafucka. But really, this album is best listened to as a whole – let yourself drift and float and groove.