This volume was not intended to be a non-stop mix, even though a series of misadventures and unfortunate events dictated there wouldn’t be enough time to record a full commentary. Then, as we put the playlist together it became obvious that the music we had selected worked so well segueing from one cut to another. In fact, it was almost as if the music we curated would only work as a nonstop, continuous mix. Listen, and follow along with details here.

⁠Toby - Aint It (ft. Chelsea Warner)⁠⁠

We begin with a delightful (familiar?) sounding uplifting electro-house cut from Toby Nolan from Australia’s Gold Coast, featuring superb vocals from Sydney singer/songwriter Chelsea Warner. “I initially started writing this song in mid-2020 during the height of the Covid lockdown. A few months later I decided to share it with Chelsea to see if she’d be interested in doing some vocals for it. I’ve always thought she had an incredible voice and I thought she would be the perfect fit,” says, Toby.  We agree and top marks for those busy bees at Mammal Sounds for sharing Ain’t It with us.

Faunix - 2Soleils

Mr Ashtree and Phoenix de Pandore are Faunix out of France who enjoy delving into ​​a hybrid crossover of styles. Clarinets, piano, strings, basses, drums, polyphonic voices are all included on their self-titled album. On 2Soleils they conjure up a tasty dub, they describe as “Sun, energy, vibrations, between shadow and light”. Make sure you check out all the cuts.

⁠Vudufa - Lo Que Soño El Margay

Staying in France we head to Radio Chigurio Records out of Paris to hear from Francisco de Los Heros who explores his Afro-Peruvian musical heritage by fusing it with ambient, hip-hop and electronic music. Vudufa creates a magical collision between machines and Peruvian folklore, also paying homage to the Amerindian tribes of Amazonia, mystical ceremonies and subgenres of Afro-Peruvian music such as marinera, festejo, landó, tondero, zamacueca or toromata. Vudufa is inspired by the rhythms inherited from the Peruvian natives and the African slaves of the colonial era. Essential listening.

⁠Perpetual Void - Tree House⁠⁠

The vocals are in there somewhere, “Go to a place. Where no one can hear me scream. They can't see me cry. In my hiding tree” This Glasgow outfit describe their sound as an ambient band creating ethereal, emotive soundscapes. No reason to argue with that, but I do wish that the afore mentioned vocals were w wee bit more pronounced.

⁠Voice Actor - SLUSH 77

This one is on the intriguing Stroom label out of Belgium, who have the byline, “The Girl That Won't Return Your Love But Is Totally Worth It” Here we have music by Noa Kurzweil  (Supertalented) & Levi Lanser (Ludittes) presenting as Voice Actor. The album Fake Sleep is certainly worth your time investigating. There is a lot going with each track, SLUSH 77 being a fine example. Once upon a time this may have been classified as weirdly odd - and that’s a good thing. Interesting sleeve artwork by Luca van Grinsven. Yes, Fake Sleep has been on repeat play at Life Elsewhere Tower once the power came back on.

⁠Exit Rituals - A Fluid Portrait⁠ 

Written by Alan Myson & Anneka Warburton Blinding Void is the first EP by Exit Rituals; a new collaborative project from producer and composer Ital Tek and vocalist/songwriter Anneka. This six track EP is a first glimpse into the married pair's ongoing musical experiments, drawing from a much larger body of material as they work towards their debut album. The question is she actually singing “Pink fat, meat bone”? No matter, I like what this Brighton-based couple are doing. Cool sleeve artwork by Anneka

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