LWE’s Top 5 Non-Commercial Mixes of 2008


For our fourth year end column, staff writer Will Lynch rounds up his top five non-commercial mixes of 2008.

In the past few years the advent of “podcasts” has affected all sorts of music, but none so significantly as dance music. For us beat-mongers lurking in the blogosphere, commercial mix CDs and albums tend to be the exception rather than the rule, while unofficially released material dominates our music libraries. But as great as podcasts and bedroom mixes are, the relative ease with which they are created and released leads to serious over-saturation (there came a point where I simply had to stop browsing the DJ/Livesets section of mnml.nl). In the never ending torrent of downloadable DJ sets, a personal recommendation can go a long way. So, here are five non-commercial mixes that really stood out to me over the year, and didn’t get too much mention on other blogs.


Photo by Melvin Kobe
Martyn, Mary Anne Hobbes Mix
For those of you who haven’t heard, Mary Anne Hobbes is a really cute British chick with a great urban music show on the BBC, which showcases everything from Bassline to dubstep (I was particularly pleased to hear the Beat Pharmacy remix of “Over Here” by Appleblim and Peverelist on last week’s show). Martyn’s guest mix is the best half hour of dubstep I think I’ve ever heard. This Dutchman has a very unique take on the genre; hot, breezy atmospheres and wispy vocals color most of the mix, replacing the absurd bass warbles that lard so much of the genre. An amazing artist on a solid radio show; if you’ve slept on either one so far, this is a great place to start.


Seth Troxler, The Bunker Podcast
Seth Troxler is one of house music’s most promising young DJs at the moment, and this mix shows what he brings to the table. Recorded at Sunday Best in New York a few months ago, the style on this one is very colorful and lighthearted, focusing on relatively vocal heavy tracks like Johannes Heil’s “Aum” and Troxler’s own remix of Antony and the Johnsons, as well as about a dozen mystery tracks whose identities I would love to uncover (first two tracks, anyone?).


Appleblim, Rinse Podcast 02
“Dubstep Allstars Vol.6” was probably the best dubstep mix CD of 2008, but this radio mix is far better. In the first hour, Appleblim casually spins favorites from all genres — post punk, avant-garde, and 70’s rock as well as techno and dubstep. The second hour focuses on new dub plates (many of which have been released since this podcast’s appearance last April), all of which reflect the lush aesthetic of Punch Drunk and Skull Disco. But the first hour is what’s really kept me coming back this one — something about the track selection feels so honest and off the cuff. “Feel Flows” by the Beach Boys is somehow the keenest selection here.


Move D, Synaptic Blueberries
Over the summer, I listened to this mix at least a couple of dozen times. Move D’s knack for track selection far surpasses his mixing technique, but that hardly detracts. Everyone went ga-ga over his Sunday Best mix, but this one is infinitely better in my opinion. As usual, very sunny, sexy house.


Tama Sumo, LWE Podcast 05
In the interest of journalistic integrity, I decided initially not to include any of LWE’s mixes, but at the same time it would be simply dishonest of me to leave this one out. Tama Sumo’s podcast was undoubtedly one of my favorites of the year. Much like Move D, Tama Sumo has a talent for track selection that makes for some truly magical moments. Very easy to imagine dancing to this lady for eight (plus) hours…

Andrey  on December 17, 2008 at 9:36 PM

Hey! Thanks for selection!
Seth Troxler is not from Sunday Best though – it’s from the Summertime Rolls party at the same place – the Yard, which I heard is sadly no more.

Chris  on December 17, 2008 at 10:21 PM

First track on the Troxler mix is Melchior Productions – “I Believe”, on Playhouse.

Thanks for the tips on the other four! :)

chris  on December 17, 2008 at 10:23 PM

bunker podcast is full of goodies.
i myself really loved the shed one, but troxler’s was quality as well.

martyn’s set is also awesome, but mary ann hobbes’ voice can sometimes get on my nerves.

neilc  on December 18, 2008 at 3:57 AM

I’m a bit of a latecomer to your podcasts but I couldnt agree more with your selection.

The LWE 5 flows like gravy on my roast. Thanks guyz

colin s  on December 18, 2008 at 7:02 AM

Nice idea, Will! I’ve only got one of these. (That’s about to change).

eric cloutier  on December 18, 2008 at 7:28 AM

first track on seths mix is…

melchior productions – i believe [playhouse]

one of my fav’s.

Fan  on December 18, 2008 at 7:30 AM

The Martyn mix is easily my most played of the year.
I’ve really enjoyed Santiago Salazar’s mixes this year. You can find them on his Myspace.

Try the Flying Lotus Essential mix too.

Any links for the above sets?

Will Lynch  on December 18, 2008 at 7:55 AM

they’re all linked, just click on the title

dan  on December 18, 2008 at 9:27 AM

some choice picks i certainly need to check out. also topping my list would be Shed’s mix for the mnmlssg blog..

littlewhiteearbuds  on December 18, 2008 at 9:28 AM

The SSG guys have definitely had a good year for mixes. Their Norman Nodge one is perfect from front to back.

dan  on December 18, 2008 at 9:30 AM

agreed, that was another favorite of mine as well as that Leonid mix that was posted here.

Will Lynch  on December 18, 2008 at 9:39 AM

yeah, no doubt about ssgs… the last half dozen have been incredible

harpomarx42  on December 18, 2008 at 12:37 PM

@Eric
Thanks. I was looking for that one.

harpomarx42  on December 18, 2008 at 1:38 PM

Top 5 non-commercial (for me anyway)
1. Beats In Space: Prosumer
2. Resident Advisor: Pigon
3. mnmlssgsmx: Shed
4. LWE: LWE In The Mix
5. Sunday Best: Move D

Sam  on December 18, 2008 at 3:13 PM

I’m loving the Appleblim mix here!

Can anybody ID the track that comes in just after the 49 min mark – electro styled drum pattern, but with “glitchy” and very low-res percussion samples throughout, building to a simple chord line after a few minutes. This track is simple, spare (..minimal in the true sense), low-res and completely, totally great! Anyone…?

kuri  on December 18, 2008 at 6:18 PM

wow, that Martyn mix really blew me away. thanks for the tip.

Mix-wise I really enjoyed what I heard from the likes of Santiago Salazar, Chymera, Matt Chester and that Murmur RA Podcast.

colin s  on December 18, 2008 at 6:38 PM

Appleblim tracklist for the first hour:

1. A Made up Sound – D1 (unreleased)
2. Resilent – 1.2 (Chain Reaction ’96)
3. Shed – Warped Mind (Ostgut Ton ’08 )
4. Alice Coltrane – Journey in Satchidananda (Impulse ’70)
5. Bill Conti – Reflections (off Rocky III soundtrack)
6. Beach Boys – Feel Flows (EMI ’71)
7. Mr Fingers – Stars (Alleviated ’87)
8. Fun Boy Three – Faith Hope & Charity (Chrysalis ’82)
9. The Clash – Magnificent Dance (CBS ’81)
10. 2 Bad Mice – Waremouse remix (Moving Shadow ’92)
11. Davey Graham – I Cannot Keep From Crying Sometimes (Decca ’64)
12. Advanz vs Gescom – Viral (Skam ’98 )

sam500  on December 18, 2008 at 9:39 PM

Norman Nodge’s Mixmag.ru mix was also a winner:

http://mixmag.livejournal.com/80702.html

as was Appleblim’s RA mix.

teleost  on December 19, 2008 at 3:35 PM

Prosumer’s Beats In Space
Marcel Fengler’s SSG mix
Marcel Dettmann’s Mixmag.ru
Ben Klock’s Bodytonic podcast
Kate Simko’s Spectral Sound WMC set
Steffi’s RA podcast

some amazing mixes!

Eric  on December 19, 2008 at 7:40 PM

that melchior productions record on playhouse is really really hard to find. i’ve been looking for it casually for like 2 years.

SiCK  on December 20, 2008 at 4:44 AM

Move D mix very nice… and yes: “Selection is everything, Mixing is (almost) nothing.” 😉

Check my mixes if you want:
http://www.sickmix.altervista.org/

Will Lynch  on December 20, 2008 at 10:11 AM

for what it’s worth, that melchior track is on beatport. also, the first track on that appleblim mix, by a made up sound, is on the recent Cottage Industries comp. it’s called “density.”

Ryan  on December 21, 2008 at 3:56 PM

alabama blues!

ace.

Eduardo  on December 22, 2008 at 7:59 AM

Ghislain Poirier – Bring The Fire Mix

Resident Advisor posted some dank podcast this year:

RA 117 – Bodycode/Portable
RA 112 – Mark E
RA 123 – Black Dog

kylemore  on January 7, 2009 at 5:54 AM

Whats the first track on Move D’s mix please?

benjamin  on February 6, 2009 at 4:58 PM

hello…
i listen the awesome seth troxler mix and zhe song that starts at 40min hämmert so….what is it…please please help…thanks a lot

Proper-Gander  on February 24, 2009 at 3:11 AM

Hey

There is a few track ID’s for Seth’s set here:

http://www.residentadvisor.net/forum-read.aspx?id=50841

That what I have found so far…

benjamin  on April 14, 2009 at 8:20 AM

thanks a lot propergander…so far….still searchin

Proper-Gander  on August 18, 2009 at 2:46 PM

Heya

There is a few more track ID’s for Seth’s set here:

http://www.residentadvisor.net/forum-read.aspx?id=50841

Still looking though… Anyone has anything I don’t please msg me

Cheers

j  on December 18, 2009 at 8:06 PM

Klock fact mix was top banana!

Trackbacks

Syrpu Syrpa #4 « Raf- og danstónlist á Íslandi  on December 18, 2008 at 5:08 AM

[…] lokum má svo tjekka á bestu mixum ársins 2008 að mati Little White Earbuds hér. Við ættum kannski að gera syrpu syrpu ársins 2008 hérna við […]

End of year charts (not mine!) « Librarianstep  on December 22, 2008 at 6:51 AM

[…] lots of free music check out the best mixes of the year listed on Little White Earbuds and Fact Magazine. Posted by Jack Filed in Uncategorized Tags: bass, dubstep, hip hop, […]

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