Favorite Mixes from December 2020

During the lazy December days, we enjoyed many mixes that are ‘home listening,’ and you will notice that they dominate this month’s list. There are, of course, some magnificent party mixes on the list as well, so you won’t miss out if you decide to dance it all off.

 
 

SO - The Bridge [20:59:40] The Space Between

This mix was arguably the one that our Delayed crew internally raved about the most in the last few weeks. Satoshi Aoyagi, better known as SO, made this special mix reminiscent of his set at last year's Waking Life festival. This 104min extended mix is a true driving force through progressive techno that keeps the tension during the whole ride making this mix an ideal workout partner.

 

Sebastian Mullaert - The Memoir, Page 56

When it comes to Live sets, very few artists can match Mullaert's brilliance. Marathon live sets are a rarity but not so much for Mullaert. I had the privilege to hear it in person a year or so ago in Brooklyn when Sebastian Mullaert played an all-nighter live set! It was mind-boggling, and this recording he made for "The Memoir' series brought back all the feels from that unforgettable night. Enjoy the 4hr journey through the carefully constructed, intricately layered, and organically arranged magic of Sebastian Mullaert.

 

Parris - Animix Nineteen

Idle Hands and Trilogy Tapes affiliate, an incredibly talented artist hailing from the UK, Parris is known for his unique bass-driven productions that usually blend different musical styles and create something extraordinary. Behind the decks, Parris always takes us on a ride, and the mix he made for Kia's Animix series is no different. The mix is warm with a positive vibe to it. Eclectic, from hazy house to breaks and bleeps, this mix fits perfectly for hot summer days in the Southern Hemisphere.

 

Polygonia - OB10

Incredible mix from Munich-based Polygonia. The latest installment of On Board Music's podcast series sees OI Records co-founder exploring depths of drone ambient and slow deep tribal techno. The mix has smooth progression and a trippy atmosphere.

 

Vlada - 53100 Mix #1

A resident of Moscow's promo crew Arma17 and one of the masterminds behind the city's Mutabor club, Vlada is known for her uncompromised groovy, minimal style behind the decks. Her style also connected her with Giegling crew, with whom she plays regularly. For this occasion, we have something a bit different from Vlada. This mix is meant for home listening and showcases Vlada's non-dance floor side that takes us for a journey through obscure Avant-Garde Jazz, Japanese Ambient, Experimental, and IDM.

 

Nuno Dos Santos - Yearmix 2020

December is the time when some of my favorite DJs do their 'Yearmixes.' Nuno is one of them, and his take on 2020 reflects through an ideal balance of new and some older tunes he rediscovered throughout the year. There are some nice flashbacks in the mix, but when Superpitcher's remix of Dntel came in, it put a huge smile on my face. So good.

 

Amandra - Inveins Podcast 074

Amandra, the French producer, is a virtuoso when it comes to the 'rhythm section.' Both his productions and sets revolve around intricate grooves that are carefully put together to create ever-evolving machinery. Amandra's contribution to Inveins podcast series is a spellbinding blend of techno, breaks, and ambient that continually evolves and keeps the listener engaged.

 

Nadia Struiwigh - Hardware Liveset 11.21.2020

This recording is quite a treat for everyone into hardware live sets and the mesmerizing style of Nadia Struiwigh. Nadia created a unique sonic escapade that bends genres and time and takes a listener to outer space. Here's what Nadia said about this set: 'I feel it is the right time to share this one with you guys. To be honest, I was always too shy to post a full live recording and play on a keyboard Live, because I can be quite critical towards my own work haha. It's time to let that go... and I hope you enjoy this time travel. This Liveset is based on different cultures, but also different times. It is a mixture of future sounds and old-school vibes. I love to follow the flow from our bodies, the way we breathe, the way we walk, the way we speed up with busy time periods... and that combined with strong emotions. Life is just one big journey, and for me, focusing on one genre is not natural.'

 

Martinou - Navengante w. Kraumur Guest

Sewer Sender co-founder, Martinou brings hypnotic, dubby vibes to the latest episode of Navegante on Mutant Radio. 

 

Pablo Bolivar - Music Para Estar vol 18

If you check my December posts from previous years, you'll see that I always rave about 'Musica Para Estar.' Pablo Bolivar's 'end of the year mix' is one of my favorite annual series. For the 2020 edition or 18th in the series, Pablo prepared a little throwback with records dating from 1999 to 2012. Deep and dubby house extravaganza.

 

KMRU - Eotrax Mix Series #11

Nairobi-based sound artist and experimental ambient musician, KMRU, had a fantastic year behind him. His brilliant album 'Peel' got recognition from peers, press, and fans around the world. KMRU closes down 2020 with this evocative ambient mix exclusive for the Eotrax record label and its podcast series.

 

Upsammy - Positive Messages #53

Perks and Mini's podcast series 'Positive Messages' welcomes Upsammy, who brings a chilled dubby mix made of hypnotic breaks that go so well as home listening.

 

Bocksrucker - SI013

Neubau co-founder, Bocksrucker made this mind-bending live set exclusively for Struma+Iodine podcast series. This is what Bocksrucker said about the mix: "I recorded this set over the last weeks while being locked up, away from "normal life," during the pandemic. The approach was to play a bit with granular synthesis. Using all kinds of different sources. Field recordings, electromagnetic distortions or diffuse signals I receive with my multi-band radio. For me, this has more the feeling of a collage than a live-set. Look at it as something similar to a guided meditation, rather than a failing attempt to simulate the experience of a club."

 

Olesia Elfa - The Conjunction

Our recent 'Artist Of The Moment,' Kyiv-based Olesia Elfa, made this beautiful ambient mix inspired by 'The Great Conjunction' - a conjunction of the planets Jupiter and Saturn that occurs every 20 years when two planets appear closest together in the sky. The mix is an interstellar journey made of sonic currents that warp time and space and place you into an interdimensional portal.

 

Call Super - Affair 22

Teheran-based music platform Zarabat welcomes a phenomenal Call Super for the latest installment of their podcast series 'Affair.' The London virtuoso brings a one-of-a-kind eclectic excursion that is 'so Call Super.' Clear your schedule for the next 90min and let Call Super takes you to places you have never been before.

 

Sunju Hargun - Karma Kast 047

Siamese Twins Records founder and our dear friend, Sunju Hargun, stepped behind the decks of the Mooban Wonderfruit Festival in Thailand a few weeks ago and delivered this gorgeous mix. The mix has an outstanding balance of hypnotic dub techno, progressive techno, and trance, which, we are sure, caused proper damage on the dance floor.

 

Ario - Patterns Of Perception 77

Astral Industries founder Ario made this exclusive mix for the lovely Patterns of Perception series. He creates dark drone ambient with rich atmospheres, deep emotional undercurrents, and organic, tactile soundscapes. You should listen to this mix on your headphones because it requires and rewards thoughtful focused listening.

 

Varuna - Anecumene @ 9128.live

Basel-based Varuna was one of our favorite discoveries in 2020. After hearing their release on Delsin's Mantis series, we dug deeper into their work and found great stuff on Amenthia Records and A Walking Contradiction. This recording is from Anecumene - an online event hosted by A Strangely Isolated Place, CALMA, MNMT, and Oslated a month or so ago. This one-hour long mix consummately strikes a balance between careful sound design & raw emotion, melodic sensibility & textural aesthetics.

 

Svreca - Sure Thing Mix 100

Semantica Records founder, Svreca, mixed a jubilee 100th edition of Sure Thing mix series. During this almost 3hr long journey, Svreca deliveries creme de la creme of deep hypnotic techno, which has become a trademark of Semantica over the years.

 

Uncanny Valley - UV Funk 075: Merry Ambient Christmas Special Part SIx

Dresden-based record label Uncanny Valley delivers the sixth edition of their annual 'Merry Ambient Christmas Special Mix.' A few words from the label about the mix: Here's the annual soul stroker that we can certainly use after this year. Philipp collected some of the finest wallpaper sounds, that 2020 had to offer. New, re-released or newly discovered. This is Ambient Music for silent airports, lazy home offices, and deep excursion into our selves. If you feel this, check out part one, two, three, four, and five. Stay healthy and Merry Ambient Christmas!