DA’s Sunday Morning Medicine: Vol. 135

by: Michael Cooper May 22, 2016

Sunday Morning Medicine is a feature from Dancing Astronaut dedicated to the mellower side of electronic music. We bring you our favorite therapeutic selections — old and new — in an attempt to alleviate the agonizing effects of a long weekend of partying.

1. MadBliss’s production for Naji leads off Vol. 135 of Sunday Morning Medicine. Rain samples add ambiance to a rotating selection of smooth chords from an electric and minimal percussion. Shuffling hi hats add forward momentum while Naji’s optimistic lyrics and loose delivery soothe the listener.

2. Detroit’s very own Steelix owns the second spot with an older production “saturn~.” A twinkling piano melody anchors the track, first on its own and then accompanied by electronic elements. Rolling, ethereal pads, a rounded off kick drum, and gently rising arpeggios give this track a lazy, euphoric feel.

3. “Karlek.” by ℓuminance, a late-breaking entry for this week, veers sharply from the vibe of the first two entries. Starting with sampled bird sounds that accompany a piano patch — with a hint of delay that adds wobble —, the track meanders as it sets the mood. Breathy vocal samples heighten the subdued atmosphere, before giving way to dueling basslines that play this somber production out.

4. Next up is “vantage point” by Luminate — no relation to the previous entry. An eccentric intro featuring sampled oceans sounds, eclectic percussion with heavy verb, and repetitive lead give way to a drop dripping in mystery. Gently swirling pads on the periphery are joined by busy percussion elements while a simple synth line hangs above.

5. Ending Vol. 135 is “blue” by pools. An airy affair, pools relies on repetitive vocal samples to drive the production forward. The rhythm section bubbles underneath, rising and falling with the beat to add energy. Subtle tweaks in the track’s final third keep the listener engaged without overdoing it, maintaining the gentle sway throughout.