Remix of the Day: 'Utopia (Jana Hunter Remix)' by Austra

'Utopia' is the first track from 'Future Politics', the new Austra album which is released on January 20th. Here Jana Hunter (Lower Dens) remixes it, and in doing so she somehow make me thing of Eurythmics. It's definitely got an 80s vibe to it, have a listen and see what you think.

Track of the Day: 'Wrong With Us' by Matthew Dear

Created in collaboration with Simian Mobile Disco, this is Dear's state of the nation address over a deep and dark house groove. "As time marches on I don't know what else I can do" he sings, "maybe something's wrong with us". Unfortunately he's probably right.

This track is featured on Dear's forthcoming DJ-Kicks collection which is out on January 27th through !K7.

Recommended music: 'Says Hi' EP by sir Was

With his full length album debut due in a couple of months this is a good time for you to get to know the lush eccentricity of sir Was. Swedish multi-instrumentalist Joel Wastberg is the man behind the name - he's worked with the likes of Jose Gonzales in the past but has now found the courage to strike out on his own.

This introductory EP dropped last year and serves as an open door into his world. From the snatched of Gaelic fiddle at the start of 'A Minor Life' you're immediately taken into an indefinable genre. 'Falcon' is even better - beat driven, with spoken and sung vocals a bit like early Beck. Other things this EP reminds me of include Money Mark, Larry Gus, old trip-hop records, Ibizan sunsets and Scandinavian fjords. I can't wait for 'Digging A Tunnel' to escape in March, but in the meantime I'll have this on repeat.

Remix of the Day: 'Tiny Cities feat. Beck (Lindstrom & Prins Thomas Remix)' by Flume

Swooping in on the wings of 2017, this 10 minute, uplifting and extremely danceable remix is sure to banish the January blues. Flume's star is really in the ascendancy at the moment and this will definitely help keep up the momentum.


I can't help but be reminded of 'Wide Open', the track that Beck did a couple of years ago that was my favourite song of 2015. In case you missed it, here's the Joe Goddard mix of that track for you to listen to.

Mash-up of the Day: 'Shadow The Jewels' (DJ Shadow vs Run The Jewels) by DJ Skarface

DJ Shadow and Run The Jewels are two of my favourite acts in the world. So what could be better than a mash-up of 'Endtroducing', a snatch or two of 'The Private Press' and 'RTJ1'? Pretty much nothing, this is fucking perfect apart from the fact that it's only 20 minutes long - I could happily listen to this all day. To top it off you can download it for free so grab it while it's hot AF.

Track of the Day: 'Odd Fish' by KRTS

Taking from the forthcoming Project Mooncircle 15th Anniversary compilation this is a chiming, fluid track underpinned by some deep and dark bass. It's a bit like swimming over a reef which then drops away to reveal a bottomless chasm beneath you.

If you're a fan of vinyl releases you're going to love this compilation. Limited to 500 copies it contains 5 coloured LPs with over 35 tracks, in a box with a t-shirt, cd and download codes. I think I'll have to start saving up to get a copy! You can buy it here.

Recommended music: 'Golden Tongue' EP by Magana

 

This haunting 4-track EP was released towards the end of last year on the reliably independent Audio Antihero label. It's the debut release from Jeni Magana, currently based in Brooklyn as a musician and photographer, and over the space of four songs it slowly pulls you in and absorbs you.

My favourite track here is probably 'Inches Apart', a sparse track which is mostly  just guitar and vocal and which really gives her voice the space to captivate you.

This is a really promising debut, one that leaves you disappointed with its brevity as much as satisfied with its charm. Lyrically it's intriguing - this line from 'The World Doesn't Know' is one of my favourites: "Every cell in your body belongs to the thought in my brain" - while musically it hints at the sort of depth of career that St. Vincent or PJ Harvey have carved out.

I'm hoping we'll get to here more from Magana in 2017 but in the meantime you should really give this debut a listen.