Whilst everything seems so doom and gloom this Christmas, I’ve been feeling very inspired at the moment, with new post ideas coming to me every day, as with no pubs or clubs to visit I have more time to write. With this post being the first, I’ve decided I want to write a monthly post and share with you my favourite tracks I’ve been loving each month, both new and old. Starting with December, in no particular order:
James Pepper – Stampede (Of the Elephants) – Probably one of my favourite releases from the whole of this year, this deep house groover from Pepper’s All My Wrongs EP is packed full of massive basslines and opening up with some huge synths and subby kicks, creates space for a whole lot of attitude throughout. A real head bopper, I cant wait to hear this in a club space one day.
SBTRKT – Kyoto – Next up is SBTRKT’s (pronounced subtract) Kyoto from his 2016 release Transitions. I discovered this not so long ago on one of my Spotify daily mixes and liked it instantly. I never really listened to SBTRKT properly before until I heard this track other than his previous collaborations with Sampha or with Little Dragon on “Wildfire” which is his most notable work and most played on Spotify, with over 75 million hits. Electric and almost dystopian, a powerful piece of work which is slowly making him one of my favourite producers.
Mr Sosa – So Much Funk – Another one I found from my Spotify daily mixes; this one from Bournemouth based Mr Sosa’s (not to be confused with tech house DJ Sosa) Wayfarer EP features a gorgeous soulful sample and gives off a tropical house vibe perfect for a sunset setting with the sun beating down over a few cocktails – something I’m really missing. I’m a massive fan of Lo-fi, it’s one of my favourite subgenres of dance music overall so this one really stood out to me. Melodic and chill, I’m very much looking forward to future releases from him, I love this track.
DJ Planet Express – Take Me – Recommended to me by a Twitter mutual, Toronto based DJ Planet Express is a lo-fi producer I’ve found and loved recently. This track in particular, described as a “euphoric bop”, hits the nail on the head. Six minutes long and sublime, dreamy pads and simple but effective synths it’s a really nice and relaxing track, definitely one for the afters.
Sharda – Dreamer – A UK Garage track, Dreamer was recommended to me by a friend after I heard him play it in his car and I LOVED it. I’ve been getting into a lot more garage this year too as well as house and techno (predominantly after watching People Just do Nothing) and this track released on Conducta’s Kiwi records by Manchester based Sharda is an definite wobbler with some clear DJ EZ influences. Frankly, until clubs are open again, this should be played in kitchens across the nation in the early morning hours; it is an absolute stinker of a tune.
Azealia Banks – 1991 – A controversial character to say the least, one thing Azealia Banks also is, is iconic. After Liquorice came back into the light thanks to TikTok, I have fallen in love with this EP all over again and have rekindled my 2015 Azealia Banks obsession. Her lyrical flow is like no other; she is one of the greatest female rappers I have ever heard, if not the best and the beats behind the lyrics in the opening track of 1991 are serious hip shaker inducers.
Wajatta – Runnin’ – Slightly more upbeat, this is yet another recent discovery from my Spotify daily mixes and happy, joyful vibes flow throughout. From the 2018 Casual High Technology album by duo Reggie Watts (also actor and comedian) and John Tejada, Watts’ booming vocals which are arguably instrumental and Tejada’s production create the perfect combination of sound that makes me feel like I should be dancing away a Detroit club.
Bicep – Saku – I can only imagine everyone’s surprise reading that I have mentioned Bicep on this list, not. This is the third single released from the new album which comes out in January, after Atlas and Apricots. This is definitely my favourite release from Bicep so far from the new album. The vocals from Clara La San are absolutely stunning and I really like the lyrics in this one too. There is a lot of emotion captured within this one which tends to be the case with their music, partly why I adore them so much. I’m absolutely itching for the new album and am counting down the days for my pre order!
MRD – Reach My Hand – Norweigan MRD is definitely one of my favourite techno DJs of all time and this recent release on Amelie Lens’s Exhale records on the Exhale VA001 compilation album proves why . MRD does not hold back on this track, going straight into thumping beats like a lot of his other tracks, but mellowing out slightly around two minutes in, creating a sense of harmony and euphoria with some guitar that sounds like something from an indie coming of age film soundtrack (New Order-esque for example) and then back to the more aggressive sounding techno, showing the versatility and range of his musical skills.
Fatima Yamaha – Bar-Bodega “That’s It!” – I won’t say too much about this one as I already have something in the pipeline for a new series I am going to start in the new year which will feature this track and this album, but this one is from Yamaha’s new album, “Spontaneous Order” and is my favourite from it so far. Groovy from the start, it oozes funk and has the same distinctive sound that makes Fatima Yamaha’s music instantly recognizable.
So these were my top ten tracks for December. Thank you so much for reading, I hope you enjoyed this as much as I loved writing it. Here’s to a better 2021 for everyone and lets see what musical discoveries I can make next year. You can find a link below to a playlist I made with all ten December favourites on:
Merry Christmas, Ruthless xxx
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