Midweek Mixes (21/07/21)
A run-down of some of the mixes and radio shows that have been soundtracking my existence – from the box-fresh to the tried-and-tested – all guaranteed to brighten up your week.
Gabrielle Kwarteng: Love International 031
This one was released during the lockdown winter but has now really come into its own in the heat of summer. Steamy chicago house, chuggy italo and breaks and plenty of proto in-betweenness (appearances from ‘The Story’ by Dr Phibes and ‘Andromeda’s Dance’ from Psyance in particular brought a smile to my face). This is what I want to hear pretty much every time I go out.
Kwarteng is a resident at NYC’s The Lot Radio and has a host of guest mixes from other stations, most recently Moxie’s NTS show last week.
Chima Hiro - Antù Mix Vol. 5
Chima Hiro, whose Nyce & Slo series I’ve covered before (here), comes back with an N&S-adjacent mix for Antù, a new space in Lisbon. Sub-80bpm jams is the order of the day, classic funk rubbing shoulders - or thighs? - with contemporary R&B and beyond. There are moan-heavy contributions from Minako Yoshida and Sylvia Robinson (always welcome) and a slice of lo-fi 80s roadtrip nostalgia from Space Ghost.
A Psychic Yes - The Oxbow Lake
One of my favourite producers at the moment, A Psychic Yes is also an intriguing DJ whose sets, like his music, usually have a faintly pastoral and psychedelic edge to them. They always make me think of The Wicker Man, Electric Eden, druids, etc.
In this particular episode of The Oxbow Lake on LYL Radio, the mood conjured by the music also finds voice in two mysterious poems by Ben Osbourn, which were written especially for the show. Dive into this, then revisit his Third Place mix from last year, still on heavy rotation over here.