Ransom Note

It's always interesting when a musician or producer decides to embark upon an alternative route, channeling their creativity through a new outlet with which fresh opportunities await. This is exactly what the Delta Rain Dance project is all about, an open, original display of honest musical expression without the stereotypical personal associations.

Based in Berlin, the Delta Rain Dance project is an alternative approach to electronic music and is advertised as being a "hybrid puzzle of melodic cuts, DJ tools and drum tracks." These musical works have also been created with the purpose of reinvention and remix in mind, the music is open to all and free for reuse and reinterpretation. Encouraged even.

The music itself features a mix of delicately tuned electronics, some feature melodic development whilst others simply operate as soundscaopes and loops. It would appear that the releases will act as freeform works within which playful experimentation is the focus, the result is honest, humble and intriguing.

With all of this in mind, we felt it was a good time to invite a mix from Delta Rain Dance, recorded as a rhythmic yet beatless experience it is the perfect soundtrack to a moody, cold Monday.

Glenn Astro is Delta Rain Dance.

London is a notoriously difficult city in which to hold a residency, it's tough, busy and the odds are stacked against you. However, that's not to say it doesn't happen...

Sean O'Daly is a disc jockey based in the capital who has been a resident at The Jazz Cafe for a while now, each month he is presented with the rare and exciting opportunity to showcase his music all night long at one of the most prestigious spots in the city. His own musical taste is diverse, sprawling between elements of funk, soul, disco, jazz, house and electronics. As a selector he is well versed with a perception and awareness that not all possess. With a keen ear and delicate selection he is able to set the perfect tone.

We invited him to deliver a mix as part of our Wednesday Alternative series, oh and it's his birthday so be kind and listen closely.

Lehult is a record label which has moved from strength to strength having become firmly supported by a Scandinavian contigent of house and techno dj's who continue to experiment and inspire. Since 2014 the imprint has released music by the likes of Liem, Tony Rainwater, Johan Kaseta, Eddie Ness and more. Run by a collective of disc jockeys and producers the imprint has become synonymous with high quality house and techno, drawing upon the influences laid before by the likes of Studio Barnhus, Sex Tags and as far back as the early days of Chicago. Each release carries a distinct personality and is often built upon a distinct deep, club focussed persona.

The label has been well supported by both dj's and listeners, drawing in an array of critical praise and air time with several of the records fetching a pretty penny on discogs.

We are delighted to be able to showcase an exclusive mix with a collaborative contribution from brotherly duo Lucky Charmz and Dj Assam. This one is for the house heads who like to dig deep.

For those of you who may not be familiar with how we do things on a Monday then let us explain for you... For the past few years we have invited some of our favourite disc jockeys, musicians and artists to create a mix of sorts to see you through the most disheartening day of the week with sultry ambient tones and beautiful soundscapes. There isn't a rulebook as such but more a sense of sound..

Ex-Display Model are a duo made up of David Best of Fujiya & Miyagi and Ed Chivers of AK/DK. Together the Brighton based pair have collaborated to establish a new musical outlet allowing them to channel their deepest most influences, the likes of Velvet Underground, Harmonia and early work from Modern Lovers. Their musical education was inspired and built upon firm foundations by the likes of John Peel with whom they describe having listened to religiously once upon a time.

The music they then recorded as Ex-Display model was built upon layered instrumentation and experimentation, built upon the use of guitars and broadening the palette with electronic expression. The self titled album was released in October of last year and is well worth your time.

We invited the pair to record a mix within which they draw for records by the likes of Franco Battiato, Willie Burns alias Black Deer, Terry Riley and more.

Those who take themselves too seriously are lame. Those who like fun are better.

Niklas Wandt is a Berlin based instrumentalist, producer and disc jockey who has worked on a sprawling array of musical endeavours across years. As the founder of the Smells party at Sameheads in the German capital he has found firm friends amidst the likes of Jan Schulte, with whom he released a collaborative album on Growing Bin Records last year, Cass., Kris Baha and Sascha Funke. The latter of which he has recently worked alongside to produce a new record for the ever exciting Multi Culti Record label.

His roots lie within a sea of abstract music, experimental discoveries and tall tales. His influences range from dub to Kosmisch synth excursions, balearic to jazz, percussion freakouts to abstract pop and the wide realm beyond. As a result this mix and his own approach as a disc jockey is far reaching with a playful edge, the journey should cast a smile, the sounds simply a reflection of his personality and taste across a lifetime spent discovering new noise.

Don't say we aren't good to you. Ending the year with a bang we bring you a special mix from the one and only Steve Rachmad, the longstanding Dutch techno veteran. A pivotal figure in dance and electronic music, he has cast a spell upon techno in a manner unlike any other, his music championed far and wide by a sprawling array of dj's. Never one to stand still he has channeled his creativity across a number of personalities and guises having released as A Scorpion's Dream, Adverse Match, Black Scorpion, Continuous Cool and of course Sterac.

His music is machine driven, drawn on a wealth of experience and experimentation through hardware and analogue equipment whilst in the booth his approach as a dj is versatile and constantly changing.

This mix was recorded at Thuishaven as part of the close of their winter season.

Beneath the surface of big names, famous faces and extravagant parties there is a wave of disc jockeys and producers who have earnt a wealth of respect from all the right places. Heidi Lawden might be the perfect example. Based in California she has amassed a reputation as a talented selector and party starter having been championed and supported by the likes of Bicep and beyond. Oh, and did we mention she's played a very key and crucial role in the development of a certain DJ Harvey's career.

As a selector she digs deep, travelling through the realms of balearic bliss, elegant house, disco and into late night mischief. A party starter who hosts a regular show on Dublab, which is well worth a listen by the way, we highly recommend this one.

Recorded live at Sunset Campout earlier this year, this is a treat.

It's always nice to be greeted with an enigmatic selection of music fron an unsuspecting source. Kristian Birch-Hurst is a disc jockey and producer emerging from Birmingham. From a musical perspective he digs deep, blending an elegant array of style, genre and sound in a well rounded presentation which will leave toes tapping and ears intrigued. As a contributing writer here at Ransom Note he has expressed a wealth of fierce knowledge as well as an awareness sometimes lacking from a musician working in such an environment. As the co founder of Voyage Events he has helped push and promote a spectacular array of talent through his parties with the likes of Mehmet Aslan, Haai and more all gracing the booth.

This mix is a subtle blend of disco, funk, soul, house, techno and abstract electronics and should demonstrate just why we are excited by him as a disc jockey. Lock in.

On Monday we like to do things a little differently... After the excess of the weekend it can be nice to ease into the week with something a little more subtle and contained.

This month marks the release of a new EP on Ransom Note Records, one of which we are very proud of. Anna Lann is a multidisciplinary artist, producer, musician and disc jockey who caught our ear upon first listen. Her teasing take on pop music left us intrigued and inspired, it offered something very different amidst a market which can become heavily saturated and repetitive. Latvian born and Tel-Aviv based she is well versed across an artisitic spectrum working as a composer, singer, videographer, visual artist, dancer and beyond. There are no bounds.

'Embodiment', Anna’s first EP on Ransom Note Records, does its utmost to evade description, existing in a state of perpetual motion and terminal formlessness. Over four singular tracks she projects a thrilling blend of techno, experimental electronics and left-field pop music, realised in pristine and often brutal sound design.

As such we invited her to contribute to our mix series, Monday is now okay.

We've been given little information about the mysterious Aguila, a fresh faced producer from Chicago who caught our attention with what can only be described as pure euphoria on his latest EP. Trance tinged music is back in a big way at the moment and his new release on Lobster Theremin offshoot There Is Love In You has had us listening on repeat. Uplifiting free flowing house music at its very best.

We expect that this may be the beginning of something special for the producer and as such it seemed like the right time to invite him to contribute to our ever growing mix series. He delivers a progressive mix of house, techno and rave in what can only be described as a set with 'big feeling'.