Summer of Love 2023 Mix Selection
A selection of dancefloor-oriented recordings to soundtrack your warmer moods
Going back for a new mix selection piece I noticed how I naturally gravitated towards mixes that are heated, moving, and ultimately heavily dancefloor-oriented. Have I just been in a bit too much of a party mood lately? Or is the intensive touring that many DJs have been on for a while now helping to develop great party music recordings? I’m not completely sure, but it felt natural to collect these under the umbrella of a summer of love moods. So, make sure you got sunscreen, that your sunglasses are within reach, and prepare your Mojito, iced coffee, or whatever is a must-have summer drink to dive into the Summer of Love 2023.
Transmission to Tisno: Ogazón b2b Elias Mazian
Let’s start things off with a safe bet - I found this back-to-back set between the respective Berlin and Amsterdam sensations, Ogazón and Elias Mazian, to be quite a vibe for Summer days’ home listening. The mix, which was published in a connection between Love International and Crack Magazine, takes its time to build up a captivating vibe. It traverses through some incredibly nice deep house in the beginning and gradually introduces darker shades of tech-house and warm techno, all while maintaining a truly soulful atmosphere. A refreshing two-hour delight.
PP#37 BY NICE GIRL B2B EDEN BURNS
I particularly enjoyed this mix by Nice Girl & Eden Burns for Public Possession. The two set the mood with very atmospheric tracks - stylistically venturing into leftfield realms, merging dubby sounds on various rhythmic solutions. The mix gradually builds up, leading to some playful house tracks, while keeping listeners engaged in its progression as things become more harmonic and groovy. The final ten minutes or so are then a nice climax of once again hypnotic grooves, with tracks focused on their rhythmic parts while adding on some party-heated vocals. Interesting and juicy.
Truancy Volume 310: Miles Mercer
I've been following Miles Mercer's productions ever since his entry for the Guerrilla Bizarre Ukraine charity compilation (which, by the way, is still online and donating all of its revenue to charity). Miles' productions are exceptional and gaining more and more attention, and turns out his DJing is no less impressive. This mix for TRUANTS is pure dancefloor ecstasy - the tracks flow like a waterfall, taking you down and deep. Miles maintains a certain lysergic touch to all the tracks he selects, adding a unique depth to the loopy groove of this mix. I have a strong feeling that we'll be hearing the name Miles Mercer more frequently in the coming months.
Bizarre Trax with Mari.te and B.Love - 17 June 2023
The first comment I stumbled upon on Soundcloud while listening to this mix reads "dreamteam," and I couldn't agree more. I have a particular fondness for both of these artists, as they were the creators of two of the first STUNTS mixes of our series. The first hour, by B.Love, features groovy basslines, clean percussion parts, and quirky vocoder funk. In the second hour, Mari.te takes over, and the mix becomes more house-oriented while maintaining a major funky and groovy pathos in the selection. The two hours of Bizarre Trax broadcast radiate summer vibes in all shape and forms.
Jennifer Loveless @ The Lot Radio 06-26-2023
Great records on this one for New York’s The Lot Radio, Jennifer Loveless has been killing it lately and here it lines up some amazing dubby tech-house which later into the mix ascends into 90s dreamhouse. I’m completely sold as Jennifer lines up some early 90s Italian dreamhouse (this all timer by KGB) with right after the beautiful 1989’s “I’m in Love” by Sha-lor. Very very nice selection and mixing.
Apranik Records - AIDA ｜ HÖR - Jun 2 ⧸ 2023
This AIDA recording via Apranik Recording’ broadcast for Hör is a pure burst of party flavor from start to finish. Apranik Records is a label run by Nesa Azadikhah and AIDA herself, founded as a response to the Woman, Life, Freedom Movement of the 2022 Iranian Revolution. This one-hour mix perfectly embodies the spirit of what a Summer of Love should sound like, featuring thrilling 90s House music throughout. The records have a pleasantly raw quality at times, just as any good 90s record should. AIDA beautifully sequences the tracks, especially in the second half, where the mood delves deeper, with a few truly special selections (notably, the dream-house groover around the 35-minute mark). One to dance to.
Adonis w/ Marie Malarie 090623
I absolutely loved the energy on this Marie Malarie mix for Adonis’ show on NTS. In this one, you will find neat house that does not hold back on heavy basslines, jacking grooves, progressive pianos. All while staying out of pure cheesiness and providing some serious heat. Major good vibes for your next sunset drinking session.
Oddysee 054 | 'Blissful Haze' by Fais Le Beau
This mix for the Oddysee mix series by Fais Le Beau is a blissful journey into the faster BPMs side of things. Diego Cozzi, aka Fais Le Beau, is one of the promoters behind the Gay Haze parties and proves to be a serious party-deliverer himself, as evidenced by this recording. These 70 minutes provide a seriously sweaty nightclub vibe, with a selection that explores positively charged fast-house territories. Well done, Diego!
Rave In Italy Vol. 2 - Franco Falsini (Open Space Live Recording) 1994
Finishing things off, I just had to include this original live recording from 1994 as well. Prior to discovering this recording, I was not familiar with Franco Falsini. Although listening to a mix from almost 30 years ago may feel like a history lesson, diving into these 90 minutes was enthralling and exciting. The music style is blissful and somewhat experimental, leaning more towards the techno side of things but it incorporating different creative elements and atmospheres that evolve throughout the recording. The mix is accompanied by a very well-researched feature by Satelliet on Franco's background, which I highly recommend checking out. This mix was truly inspiring, and I commend Satelliet for their exceptional work!
