Best New Mixes from November 2019

The list of mixes we enjoyed the most in November is here. From live recordings, radio shows, studio mixes, and all-nighters, there are plenty for various occasions and times of the day. Enjoy the ride.

Janosch @ Nachtdigital Mint

Nachtdigital Festival continues with posting recordings from its final edition last August. You might be puzzled who Janosch is, but don’t be fooled, this magnificent mix comes from none other than an incredibly talented artist whom we’ve been supporting and following for the last couple of years. German producer CMD Q decided to forgo the moniker and use his real name, but apart from that, not much has changed, and why would it? As a popular saying goes - if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, and with this set, Janosch shows he’s well aware of it. The mix is forward-thinking electronic music at its core. With no need to label this mix with genres, music like this puts a smile on my face. It reminds us that there’s still so much uncharted territory in the electronic music realm and Janosch’s talent is a perfect example of it. His mix is 100% original material of exceptional quality and without a doubt one of my favorite mixes this year.

Birds Ov Paradise - Live from home

Nordics have always been a ‘fertile ground’ for quality music. From jazz and pop to underground electronica, artists hailing from the Northern part of Europe always bring something unique to the proverbial ’table'. In the last few years, a producer that impressed me the most is Birds Ov Paradise. A Gothenburg based, multi-talented artist that has developed a recognizable style of trippy, deep techno best suited for after-hours and dark basements. A few weeks ago Birds Ov Paradise uploaded a recording of his ‘home jam’ and it’s cremé de la cremé of deep techno. I could listen to this mix on repeat.

Objekt @ Dekmantel Selectors 2019

TJ Hertz or Objekt how most of you would recognize him is in a ‘real deal’ category of DJs. His sets are forward-thinking, often eclectic, genre-bending and immaculately executed. It’s rare to hear a DJ that seamlessly blends different genres as Objekt does it. His mix from this year’s Dekmantel Selectors Festival is a perfect example of his mastery. It’s very enjoyable and fun listening, and you might find some new music that you didn’t know you needed in your life.

DJ Voices - Truancy Volume 254

Brooklyn based, DJ Voices is one of the DJs that keep Brooklyn’s scene fresh and intriguing. The Working Women co-founder likes to take risks behind the DJ booth with her uncompromising track selection but also keeps the crowd and listener constantly engaged with complex rhythms and mood changes. The mix she did for popular platform Truancy is intricate and evocative. Starting off with a couple of pitched down tracks that afterward evolve into a voyage that can easily rock the dance floor but at the same time sound very compelling and pleasant for listening on headphones. I highly recommend listening to it in full from start to finish.

Gacha Bakradze - The Ransom Note Mix

When I see a new mix from Gacha in my feed, it’s an instant bookmark. Lately, his mixes have been one of the most fun to listen to, due to Gacha’s refined talent of seamlessly blending different genres and ‘going places’ during the mix. His mix made for popular music platform ’Ransom Note’ uses the same proven recipe - house, techno, left-field and electro immaculately blended into a coherent music tale. Never a dull moment when listening to Gacha.

Karima F - Oscillate Podcast 35

Schloss Records co-founder, Karima F shows her versatility as a DJ with the latest mix she made for Oscillate’s podcast ahead of her performance at their 5 Years party. Taking place at ://about blank, Karima will be sharing the decks with Marco Shuttle, Johanna Knutsson, Kate Miller, and Auntie Flo to name a few. The mix is a ’slow burner’, in 100 bpm range, eclectic and very well executed. That Lords of Underground moment was quite a surprise and it fits so perfectly in the mix.

Carsten Jost - Short Attention Mix 017

If Carsten Jost continues publishing mixes monthly, I won’t have a problem having ‘Carsten’s corner’ in our monthly list of best mixes. Jokes aside, the Dial co-founder is seriously on fire lately and properly paving the way for the upcoming world tour with his label comrade Lawrence happening in 2020 to mark Dial’s 20th anniversary. The mix Carsten made for the Short Attention mix series is a true homage to deep house. I understand that nowadays “deep house” as a term is probably misused a ton, but for everyone who is wondering, THIS is how genuine deep house sounds like. It’s the sound of artists like Move D, Iron Curtis, Fred P, Ripperton and, of course, the aforementioned Lawrence and Carsten Jost, to name a few. All of them have been modeling an ‘evergreen’ genre that holds a significant place in electronic music and there is always a right time and setting for a real deep house experience.

Ripperton - Groove Podcast 230

There are a handful of producers whose work over the years, has influenced my music taste as much as Ripperton’s music. No matter if it’s dancefloor-oriented music, remixing (one of the most impressive bodies of work on the scene IMO) or ambient and more experimental-ish music. Ripperton always has that ‘x-factor’ in it that makes his music timeless. As a DJ, Ripa doesn’t compromise and stays true to himself. Recently he made this mix and answered a few questions for popular German publication - Groove Magazine. The mix itself is very pleasant listening that slowly evolves from warm ambient into a classic deep house, something that has become Ripperton’s staple over his 20-year career. This mix is an essential home listening.

Paquita Gordon @ Dekmantel Festival 2019

Paquita Gordon has built a name for herself as a DJ who covers a wide spectrum of electronic music when performing, and often goes to explore jazz and dub territories if the setting allows it. Her mix from this year’s Dekmantel festival is a beautiful voyage of house music, from classic house to deeper, soulful and, in moments, acid. This mix is made for listening on a sunny day, but it can also cheer you up during a tedious winter outside.

Justin van Der Volgen - BIS Radio Show #1018

What a treat we have here. My Rules head honcho Justin Van Der Volgen made this special mix for the 20th anniversary of Tim Sweeney’s Beats in Space radio show. Few words from Justin about the mix: “For the BIS' 20th anniversary I chose a favorite record from each year it’s been on the air (1999-2019) that I have a nice memory of - either buying, hearing in the club, or playing when it came out. So if you’ve been around for a minute like myself you may have your own memories of these records and if you’re new to dance music hopefully you find a new favorite jam.”

Flora FM - Rotation 023

Kalahari Oyster Cult affiliate, Seattle based Flora FM made one of my recent car rides quite enjoyable. The mix that he made for On Rotation podcast series is fun, 'feel-good' blend of groovy house, breaks, and electro. From Flora FM’s own words: "This one's an introverted mix for alone-time on the bus, the plane or the train. As the days get shorter and the sun is obscured, I often find myself lost in thought about what could have been and what's coming next. These tracks are all long players with delicate, beautiful journeys of their own, meant to soundtrack those solo journeys of life.”

Galcher Lustwerk - On Cue

Galcher Lustwerk is back with yet another brilliant album, this time on infamous Ghostly International. In the light of the release, Galcher made this mix for DJ Mag which represents his style in the best, house music equally suited for listening in a club, car ride or on your headphones. Low-key hip-house all the way.

Or:la - RA.702

Deep Sea Frequency and Céad head honcho, Or:la mixed the latest podcast in Resident Advisor series. This incredibly talented producer hailing from Northern Ireland, based in Berlin delivered a powerful set that connects bass-house, electro, techno and everything in between. Or:la describes it best: “I wanted to shed some light on tracks that might get overlooked in a festival setting or during a headline slot, and at the same time provide an example of how I build upon the energy and in turn, break energy in my sets. There's a lot of stuff from around '93-'96, a couple of bits from a compilation CD I found in Japan, some Florida breaks and a few of my own live edits/tweaks. I decided to bookend the narrative with a dreamlike, nonsensical soundscape with the aim to try and transport the listener's mind back to those hazy, nonsensical moments that sometimes surround a night out.”

Grant - Delicast #46

Ahead of his debut album on phenomenal Lobster Theremin, Grant aka Anthony Collins made this beauty of the mix for French platform Delicast. Deep, soulful house from one of the industry’s finest. Very pleasant day listening.

Mano Le Tough - Lux Frágil, Oct 12, 2019

Mixes like this are a rarity. All-nighter by maeve co-founder Mano Le Tough is an absolute must to listen to. Recorded at Lux Fragil, arguably the best club in Portugal, this mix shows why clubs should follow this practice and let DJs play all-nighters more often. This is Mano in his prime.

Eli Verveine @ Waking Life 2019

In the last couple of years, Waking Life festival in Crato, Portugal has become the epitome of a curated and well-executed festival. The line up is mostly oriented around music quality and DJ sets arranged with one another musically rather than by booking of names to ’sell tickets’. For this month’s list, we have a deep and groovy mix by Swiss Eli Verveine, who over the years refined her versatile style to fit any given time slot or setting. This mix has all the right ingredients dating from the future and from 10-15 years ago, can you tell which one is which?

Axel Boman @ DGTL BCN Festival 23.08.2019

Uplifting vibes right here from Studio Barnhus co-founder, Axel Boman. This is a recording from his set at DGTL Festival in Amsterdam that happened in August, the mix brings much-needed warmth during this chilly and long holiday season.

Perel - live from the Village

German-based Perel has been in the spotlight since her DFA debut EP ‘Die Dimension’ in 2017, which was followed by a full-length LP a year later. Her ‘hybrid’ sets are known for working great on the dance floor. They are usually an ideal blend of her hypnotic original productions and groovy, neo-wave synth oriented style. Enjoy some Perel magic sprinkled with Marvin & Guy, Lauer and Gerd Janson’s touch.

Skatebård - Smalltown Beat | Champagne 2019

Yet another incredible DJ hailing from Scandinavia and another mix from a ‘feel-good’ direction. Skatebård is synonymous with a good party, and whoever attended this year's Smalltown Beat festival in Cape Town says that this mix was a highlight. For all of us who were elsewhere, this recording will transport us to that moment, well will transport at least one of our senses. Skatebård at his finest!

Evigt Mörker - Smoke Machine Podcast 136

Taipei based record label, Smoke Machine continues with a style in its podcast series. The latest mix comes from Scandinavian techno producer, affiliated with Northern Electronics and Semantica, Evigt Mörker. This mix will find a place in the hearts of fans of dark, deep and hypnotic techno. Major late-night material right here.