Living legends Massive Attack recently paid a visit to the BBC studios to record quite the eclectic mix for BBC 6Music. Massive Attack is currently celebrating 21 years since the release of their groundbreaking album, Blue Lines and took to the opportunity to craft a mix that both represents the inspirations for that album and the four subsequent albums they’ve released in their long careers. Blue Lines features the single “Unfinished Sympathy,” a song commonly regarded as one of the very best dance music songs of all time.
This mix features a refreshingly few number of Massive Attack originals, really allowing the listener to get a feel for the wide range of sounds 3D and Daddy G love and appreciate. Click through and listen to the likes of Pink Floyd, Kraftwerk, Addison Grove, Flying Lotus, Man Parrish, Mos Def, and Björk.
This week, Hardwell stopped by the BBC Radio 1 Studios to get behind the decks of Pete Tong‘s Radio 1 broadcast. Recently voted the 6th Best DJ in the World by the infamous DJ Mag poll, this Holland-based producer has been putting out electro/big room hybrids since he first got his start in 2007. In the last 2 years, with tracks like “Spaceman” and collaborations with Tiesto and Nicky Romero, Hardwell has seen a meteoric rise to superstardom, one that was fueled by his bootleg-heavy sets and the type of indescribable style that he himself proclaims as “Hardwell music.”
On his Essential Mix, Hardwell showcases his prowess for dismantling and reassembling familiar tracks with surprisingly unique results. Countless bootlegs and mash-ups, like his combination of REM’s “Losing My Religion” with “Three Triangles,” make up the foundation of the mix. Featuring cuts from his own Revealed Recordings artists and his upcoming track “Apollo,” Hardwell’s Essential Mix is big room at its best. If there was any doubt that his placement at #6 was ill-deserved, this Essential Mix should squelch the non-believers.
Today is Thanksgiving. It’s a time to give thanks for good health, good friends, good family, and, of course, good music. We thought we’d take the time to pay tribute to our favorite parts of dance music culture on this day of thanks, not only for the guys who slave over turntables while we get to party, but for the dance music scene in general and its constantly expanding fanbase. This one’s for the EDM acts that put their heart and soul into it, the clubs that go all out every night of the week, and the people who live and breathe house music. It’s the least we can do.
Lee Foss, one half of Hot Creations and one quarter of Hot Natured, debuted a stunning Essential Mix this past weekend on Radio 1. A native Chicagoan, Foss introduced the mix as a showcase of his history and upbringing, but also as a tribute to Ben Wilson, a promising high school basketball player whose sudden death sparked a social uprising during the urban crack heyday in 1984.
The mix is dynamic and emotive, keeping both an eye on the past and the future much as Hot Creations’ originals seem to do. Be sure to check out Foss’s preview of his own title track from his Electricity EP due out next week on the label. The entire body of work is worth a dedicated listen, but we’ve also pulled out some more of our highlights below.
Thomas Gold has firmly cemented himself in the hallowed halls of dance music history with his very first Essential Mix for BBC Radio 1. Showcasing his innate ability for creating delicately balanced mixes, the German music-auteur stormed BBC’s airwaves last night with a barrage of exclusive cuts including the debut of his remix of OneRepublic’s “Feel Again.” Known for his incredible mash-ups, Thomas wastes no time before jumping into a slew of unique sonic combinations on his Radio 1 debut. The mix is one of Thomas’s best to date and marks a milestone achievement in the German producer’s career.
Dancing Astronaut favorite, Thomas Gold, will be premiering his first Essential Mix this Friday on BBC Radio 1. This achievement marks a milestone in the prolific producer’s career, joining the illustrious list of top-tier DJs that have come before him. Be sure to tune in early as Thomas plans to debut some brand new tracks, including an exclusive from Daddy’s Groove, a special version of “In My Mind” and his brand new remix of One Republic’s “Feel Again.”
Skream’s latest track “Sticky” got a debut on his and Benga’s BBC Radio 1 show last night. The track, which was only previously heard on the Skreamizm tour, goes in with some of his typical dubstep vibes. Things start off with a wonky rippling bassline before the hi-hats chime in to form a production seasoned with Skream flavor. It has been a while since we heard an original production by the dubstep OG and this track stays true to his old school style.
One of the many new tracks Afrojack previewed for us in the studio last week, “Annie’s Theme” finally has a proper preview and release date. The track, which balances a hefty amount of bleepiness with melodic chord progressions, is a prime example of ‘Afrojack music’ — a sound that’s distinctly different than what anyone else puts out but remains distinctly Afrojack in its composition. The working titled has apparently stuck after being officially previewed on Annie Mac’s BBC Radio 1 show, making her one of the only people on the planet to get an Afrojack song named after her (to our knowledge). Here’s to hoping Afrojack does the same when it comes time to release the “Dancing Astronaut song” we’ve been obsessed with since EDC New York. In the meantime, “Annie’s Theme” will be released on Wall November 5th.
Qulinez’s remix of “Sweet Nothing” was previewed last night on Danny Howard’s BBC Radio 1 show. Departing from the hard-hitting, whiny synth sound we’ve heard in “Troll” and their multiple remixes, the Swedish duo maintain Calvin Harris’ leads and bouncy chord play while super-charging the progressive builds in the drop. Check out the rip below and stay tuned for the release on October 14th alongside remixes from Tiesto, Burns, and Dirtyloud.
Calvin Harris’ upcoming album 18 Months is sure to feature a number of impressive vocalists alongside Calvin himself, and one of the first singles off the album is “Sweet Nothing” with Florence Welch (AKA Florence and the Machine). Annie Mac debuted the Tiesto remix of the track on her show earlier this week, and the production feels like a truly combined effort between the three musicians. Calvin Harris’ original melody lends itself nicely to Tiesto’s usual synths and percussion elements, but Florence’s vocal tops it all off with a gentler touch. A full remix package for “Sweet Nothing” will be released October 14th, including versions from Qulinez, Burns, and Dirtyloud.
