Summer Farewell Mixes
Our mix selection series is back - let’s enter autumn in style
For me, the summer of 2022 was one of a kind: this is the first Summer I fully spent in Berlin, working my way through every week (and often through the weekends). Putting aside all the frustration of seeing friends' IG stories sharing airport departures, beautiful Mediterranean sunsets, and festival crews partying, I have to say that living through the post-covid Berlin summer in full force came with a lot of highlights. I had the chance to see Azimuth on an island close to Berlin (props to the O Mato crew), helped run a CDV event, played some music here and there, and enjoyed a full-on morning set by the one and only Joe Delon at Panorama Bar, and, most recently, I even stumbled upon an unexpected Moodymann set in one of my favorite Berlin venues.
Besides, a lot of blissful music helped me endure this busy summer - with this article I want to share some recent mixes that alleviated some tougher days. So let's give a proper goodbye to the summer as September sends the first colder nights from around the corner. After I compiled this selection I noticed all the mixes are very much club-oriented: usually I try to keep it more varied in these selections but I guess I just spent too much time in clubs this summer so you are going to have to put up with it on this one.
A special farewell to this Summer goes to the 9€ monthly tickets for German public transport - which not only supported my constant go-around in the city but also allowed for a weekend escape to Dresden. Here’s to cheaper public transport!
Aliana - Trommel InSession 080
Aliana’s Trommel session came with uniquely enthralling energy. The BPMs are high, the drums roll, and the sound is rich and punchy. Aliana’s selections have a certain retrofuturistic vibe to them, leaving the listener to wonder whether the record was found in her latest digging session through the 90s tribal techno section or it's actually a soon-to-be-released Small Hours bootleg. This mix from the Ukrainian DJ is just a perfect mood lifter for the days when the energies are too low.
Phonica Mix Series 98: Eden Burns
I would name Eden Burns among my current favorite DJs without thinking twice: the Big Beat Manifesto preacher shows a selection style that nicely matches the lively, house-centered yet cross-genre vibe that I often look out for a fun night out. During this mix for London’s Phonica Eden doesn't shy away from quirky 90s house, melodic Italo overtones, spacy and deep hypnotic tech-house. Watch out for the ecstasy flashbacks.
Albion Tapes 039 - Thorgerdur Johanna
Thorgerdur Johanna's recent delivery for the Albion Tapes series didn’t disappoint for a second. The Iceland selector provides an hour of pure underground heat - navigating through groovy and trippy house, atmospheric electro, and trancy hypnotic moments, Thorgerdur provides a seemingly effortless example of her good taste and skills as a DJ. I hope I can catch one of her sets in a club soon!
Nicola Cruz & Cosmic JD @ The Lot Radio 08 - 13 - 2022
Both hailing from Ecuador, Cosmic JD and Nicola Cruz took over The Lot radio for a combined session last month. As groovy as it comes, their selection is generally dubby - at the same time, you’ll find it occasionally melodic, roughly minimalistic at times, and even diving into pure blissful digital dub in certain instances. I’ve listened to these two hours twice and they definitely made some long S-Bahn commuting much more pleasurable. Highly recommended, this mix is as enjoyable as it is original.
Carly Zeng (Mix for Faciendo)
Carly Zeng has to be a top choice when it comes to my favorite selectors of the moment. Her last mix for Say What had just struck me for its originality and boldness, touching on some odd 80s records that match my weirdo sound taste when it comes to those years - this mix features some of this style but feels a bit more 90s rave-oriented, especially in its second half. I really like what Carly is playing at the moment: one thing for sure, she’s digging at all the right places!
Crack Mix 462: Rubi
Rubi’s Crack mix blends some IDMesque sounds with deep house features in a majestic way. Despite its length of 50 minutes the recording manages to combine some quite diverse feelings under Rubi’s mindful spectrum; breakbeats come in just at the right time you even have some finishing climaxes with wild arpeggios and melo-robotic introspective vocals on the last couple of tracks. A really nice work - we can just thank Rubi for the colorful trip.
Ratcast 003 Stonem B2B Elías Sternin
Uruguay’s Stonem and Elias Sternin deliver a b2b for the Montevideo label Ratiug Recordings. This heavily underground mix balances out the right amounts of dark and groovy, tough and sexy. In Between some neat electro and hypnotic dark house you’ll find some true genre-bending gems - one that I’d recommend for your next workout session.
Ogazón | Nation of Gondwana - July 23 / 2022
An end-of-the-summer mix series wouldn’t be complete without some festival recording to remind us of the good times. Despite not being present at Nation of Gondwana (a festival close to Berlin), Ogazón’s recording easily captured my attention as a highlight I would have loved to witness in person. I’ve been quite fascinated by this DJ’s selection for quite some time, and this live recording featuring her most straight-up techno side hits all the right chords. Usually, I get bored quite fast by techno but most tracks here had an element of interest, being it a peculiar hi-hat/kick contrast or a particularly lysergic chopped vocal. The three hours flow like well aged wine.
Farci cast #1 - Alina
I want to give the last farewell to the Summer with Alina’s debut mix (also debuting the mix series of the clothing brand ‘Farci Studio’). The mix touches on pretty much every type of music that I’d like to enjoy sipping prosecco while admiring the last August sunset; you got funky disco basslines, 2000s style house music, deep microhouse cuts. Watch out for what’s coming next from Alina.
