Our favourite mixes to hit the airwaves in February.
IZCO with FelixCW, Rinse FM - 28 Feb
IZCO invited FelixCW onto his weekly Rinse show to mark the release of their new track with Liam Bailey – ‘Heavy Soul’. The new tune is smooth and stripped back, melting Bailey’s deeply expressive voice over a broken 140 beat. Producers and DJs Felix and IZCO are long-time friends and members of the London-based Brighter Days family. Their selections for the Rinse show are like a mood board for the new track, emphasising acoustic, soulful sounds. For the first half the beats are largely 4 to the floor, with the guys exploring house, funk and soul. Later on, leading into ‘Heavysoul’, they chop things up to push more broken beats, with Liam Bailey’s other tracks also receiving plenty of love. Kick back and have a listen.
Ted Draws 1994 Special III, NTS - 7 Feb
NTS’s resident Hip-Hop aficionado Ted Draws delves deep into his record bag for his third 1994 special. While '94 is (rightly) regarded as one of the best years in hip-hop for the sheer number of momentous albums released that year (Illmatic, Ready to Die, 93 ’til infinity SouthernPlaylistiCadillacMuzik for instance), Draws takes the opportunity to showcase a bounty of (very well) hidden gems from the same era - good luck shazaming these! Expect laid back hip-hop gold from N-tyce, Organised Konfusion, Lords of the Underground and many, many more.
Craigie Knowes and Dream_E, Cahiers Electroniques Hold Up Radio Show, Rinse France – 9 Feb
The growth of Craigie Knowes should touch the heart of any dance music fan. A labour of love from two Perth-based enthusiasts, the label has become one of the most trusted providers of authentic new dance music in the UK. It is a true grass-roots success story. In February, the pair, Max and Mitch, went b2b with one of their contributing artists Dream_E (aka The Burrell Connection) for a 2-hour radio show on Rinse France. The set showcases their characteristically progressive take on techno, washed almost continually in blissful, trancey synths. Check it out for an insight into the taste-setters' current direction.
Fold, NTS Residency - 8 Feb
Fold has had a stellar February. He’s played fabric for long-time pal Joy Orbison’s Just for You club night, his shockingly consistent Well Street Records label announced a new EP from Bristolian UK techno stalwart Yushh, and this month’s NTS show is simply another feather in his cap. Fold’s NTS shows are beginning to become a staple for those looking for a fix of loopy, deep spacey house, and this show is no different - this is two hours of murky, shimmering house music, best enjoyed in the early hours of the morning with an ample supply of long Rizlas.
Words Patrick Harrington (@_patrickharrington_) and Gus Clifford (@quench_____)
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