While this list is far from comprehensive and certainly from only one person’s perspective, these are ten of the best mixes I’ve heard so far this year, hopefully offering some signposts to where you can find some soon-to-be favorites for yourself.
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LWE Podcast 53: Nebraska
June 28, 2010 – 12:01 AM
Now that the world has caught up with the music of Nebraska, we felt it was time to invite the man behind the moniker, Ali Gibbs, to answer a few questions and contribute a mix for our 53rd exclusive podcast.
LWE Podcast 16: Mike Shannon retires this week
June 27, 2010 – 10:01 PM
Make sure to grab LWE Podcast 16: Mike Shannon this week before it’s put in our own vaults on Friday, July 2 at 10 am CST.
Curator’s Cuts 08: Chris Miller
June 21, 2010 – 12:01 AM
LWE’s Curator’s Cuts podcast series features our reviewing staff mixing together recent favorites and providing explanations for their selections. Assistant editor and writer Chris Miller mixed together Curator’s Cuts 08.
LWE Podcast 52: Andre Lodemann
June 14, 2010 – 12:01 AM
Steering clear of misguided Civil Rights vocal samples and those same old Rhodes riffs, Andre Lodemann has instead found warmth through some of the most colorful and utterly heartfelt melodies that have been pressed to vinyl in a hot minute. The Dessous, Freerange, and Simple veteran — and Best Works boss — solidifies his deep house credentials on the exclusive, gorgeous mix that is LWE’s 52nd podcast.
LWE Podcast 15: Duplex retires this week
June 13, 2010 – 10:01 PM
Another week, another of our favorite podcasts heads off to the archives. This time it’s podcast 15 by Dutch duo Duplex, who blew us away with one of the best mixes of techno and house we’ve ever heard — then and now. Make sure to download it before it retires this Friday, June 18th, at 10am CST.
LWE Podcast 51: Matthew Styles
June 7, 2010 – 12:01 AM
It’s our great pleasure to bring you LWE’s 51st exclusive podcast — more than an hour of expertly mixed and cunningly catchy house music — by Matthew Styles. It took more than a year to orchestrate, but this irresistible mix proved well worth the wait.
Curator’s Cuts 07: Peder Clark
May 24, 2010 – 12:01 AM
LWE’s Curator’s Cuts podcast series features our reviewing staff mixing together recent favorites and providing explanations for their selections. Contributing writer Peder Clark mixed together Curator’s Cuts 07.
Talking Shopcast with Frozen Border/Horizontal Ground
May 17, 2010 – 12:01 AM
Eschewing personality in favor of strict quality control has helped both Frozen Border and its more varied sibling Horizontal Ground stand out among swarms of white label imprints. Their owner, Jeff, was relatively guarded in his answers but shed a bit more light on one of contemporary techno’s darker corners. He was also generous enough to send us a top notch live set by Horizontal Ground artist 19.26.1.18.5 (aka Szare), which speaks just as loudly as Jeff’s carefully chosen words.
LWE Podcast 50: Mike Huckaby
May 10, 2010 – 12:01 AM
Even if we could ignore all his considerable undertakings and accomplishments, Mike Huckaby would still be an LWE favorite for his refreshingly level-headed and thoughtful perspectives on the electronic music industry. We tried to coax a few of those out of him in the Q&A that follows, and we’re honored and thrilled to present, as LWE’s 50th podcast, an exclusive 78-minute mix from one of the crucial artists of our time.
LWE Podcast 13: Paul Frick retires this week
May 9, 2010 – 10:01 PM
As one of Paul Frick’s early advocates we were extremely pleased to host one of his excellent strings-and-things live sets as our 13th exclusive podcast. We hope you have another gander at one of our favorite mixes before it’s placed in the vault this Friday, May 14th at 10 a.m. CST.
Curator’s Cuts 06: Jean-Robert Saintil
April 26, 2010 – 12:15 AM
LWE’s Curator’s Cuts podcast series features our reviewing staff mixing together recent favorites and providing explanations for their selections. Contributing writer Jean-Robert Saintil was in charge of putting together Curator’s Cuts 06. We will post the tracklist later in the week, as each curator discloses and describes the tracklist as part of the podcast.
LWE Podcast 49: Dan Curtin
April 19, 2010 – 12:01 AM
In anticipation of Lifeblood, his ninth album, we grabbed Dan for LWE’s 49th exclusive podcast — an hour of “Dirtysexxxy” house and techno, as he put it. Mr Curtin was also generous enough to answer a few of our questions about how his surroundings have impacted his sound, the importance of hip-hop, and his tireless thirst for sonic innovation.
LWE Podcast 48: Aaron-Carl
April 12, 2010 – 12:01 AM
We’re proud to present our 48th exclusive podcast from Aaron-Carl, a light but thoroughly gripping mix of unexpected house cuts and some of his own savored selections. This is also our first podcast offered at 320 kbps, something we look forward to continuing in the future.
LWE Podcast 11: Simon Flower retiring this week
April 11, 2010 – 10:01 PM
New Zealand native Simon Flower mixed up LWE Podcast 11 way back in 2008. Don’t miss your last chance to download it as it retires this Friday, April 16th at 10 am CST.
LWE Podcast 47: Agnès
March 29, 2010 – 12:01 AM
For LWE’s 47th exclusive podcast, Agnès brandishes his considerable DJing talents across an hour of achingly well mixed house music, including a clutch of hot unreleased tracks and remixes.
LWE Podcast 10: Andomat 3000 retires this week
March 28, 2010 – 10:01 PM
With a raft of unreleased material flowing through his controllers, Andomat 3000 crafted LWE’s 10th podcast. Make sure to catch this whiplash ride through the producer’s material before it retires this Friday, April 2nd at 10am CST.
Curator’s Cuts 05: Jordan Rothlein
March 22, 2010 – 12:01 AM
LWE’s Curator’s Cuts podcast series features our reviewing staff mixing together recent favorites and providing explanations for their selections. Staff writer Jordan Rothlein was tasked with mixing together Curator’s Cuts 05. We will post the tracklist later in the week, as each curator discloses and describes the tracklist as part of the podcast.
LWE Podcast 46: Donnacha Costello
March 15, 2010 – 12:01 AM
LWE caught up with Costello for a quick chat a bit about the album as a format and his love for old gear while he provided LWE with its 46th exclusive podcast, a trip through his early influences and favorite records.
LWE Podcast 45: Stacey Pullen
March 8, 2010 – 12:01 AM
LWE spoke to Stacey Pullen about that album which lead to a bleak period of disillusionment, the early years at Transmat and feeling reinvigorated again with a basket-full of new music to unleash on the world. He was also kind enough to put together an exclusive mix for LWE of tracks he has been feeling lately.