FEATURED FREE DOWNLOAD: Miguel Campbell’s Radio FG Volume VIII *NEW*

Miguel Campbell released his final guest installment to the Radio FG Mix Series! Campbell is the sleeper artist you don’t want to miss. You may know him for his floor crushing “Rockin Beats” song, but if you don’t, then please get acquainted. Being a member of Hot Creations, one could argue that he is overshadowed by label bosses Jamie Jones and Lee Foss. That’s not completely true though; his appearance on BBC Radio’s Essential Mix proved to be one of the top rated releases associated with the label that year.

Campbell comes off a tad more humble than his party-hardy colleagues in some ways. He certainly has that psychedelic brand of deep house that only HC could deliver, but he introduces a lot more romance into the formula. We don’t really want to say disco-house, because those connotations don’t resemble his music, or even his mixing. This artist takes intrinsic deep house grooves, and colors them with blissful segments of disco, pop, and ambient terrains. Like everyone else on that label he has experimented with some different styles, but in the last year he seems to really have it pinned down. Everything clicks. That description is fairly accurate, but we do want to warn you that this mix does have some attitude to it. Grab Miguel Campbell’s final mix for Radio FG below! Enjoy!

FREE DOWNLOAD: Bonobo Essential Mix Just Dropped!

Last week the eclectic British producer Bonobo was the guest star on the BBC Radio One Essential Mix, and today he released the mix for FREE DOWNLOAD! Simon Green, the man behind the Bo, has been making quite a name for himself over the last couple of years. Just last year alone, he played over 140 sold out shows. Primarily performing as solo DJ, he’s also toured with a 10+ member live band (varies from 5 to 16 members). Audiences at festivals like Coachella, Camp Bisco, Bonnaroo, and headlining events around the world have all walked away with whispers of accolade.

This guy has a vision for his career and he hasn’t strayed from that path in the slightest. Over a decade ago he signed to Ninja Tune Records,and he really hasn’t had the need to go anywhere else, it’s the perfect place for a musician like this. They carry a stark reputation for unique musicians, to say the very least. NTR is currently home to producers such as Amon Tobin, FaltyDL, Blockhead, and Machinedrum. If you have any familiarity with those artists, then you could maybe start to form a small basis for comparison between them and Bonobo. Oh did we mention he’s American?!

Todd Terje Essential Mix: The Limitless Disco Review Edition #1

For any musician in the electronic circuit, regardless of class or rank, it is an honor to be invited to BBC Radio One Essential Mix.  Just this past week, Todd Terje hit the decks for his edition of the exclusive two hour mix. Pete Tong and his show always seem to bring out the best in artists’ abilities, and this installment is no exception. Over the last few months we’ve noticed a high demand for good disco. We join fans with the artists that have something of value to bring to the table, and you’ll find a lot of disco on this website. Just in case our fellow fans of the groove have forgotten, we’re going to do something extra for the disco fans. Tits and Acid Reviews would like to present to you the first entry in our Limitless Disco Review Series.

Todd Terje reigns from Norway, along with fellow disconquistadors Lindstrom and Prinz Thomas. Since he grew up land-locked in a small village where access to new music was scarce, influences weren’t really part of his initial evolution as an artist. Early in his adolescence he started making jungle and house music with a basic PC, until experimenting with disco at the turn of the millennium. From there on out he would embark down a path that he would never quite stray from, breaking boundaries and pushing the envelope with each step. His niche in disco laced house and ear for creative mixing has earned him the attention of Prinz Thomas who has continually worked with Terje since 2001. Over the years he has carved a permanent place into the history of the Norwegian electronic music culture.

Terje might as well be signed to DFA with a tasty vintage mix like this one. Bereft of anything tied to modern chart hits, this extremely diverse collection features classics like Jim Morrison, Paul Mauriat, Herb Alpert, Tanner Ross, and Steve Miller Band being worked into a very unique environment(sorry we’re going light on the spoilers). After a delicate introduction and a mix of smooth soul and gritty space, things start to get heated up around a half hour in. His edit of Traks- “Wild Safari” is worked into the mix perfectly, and will without a doubt throw you into a dancing frenzy. Followed by that is the Chuck Norris dub of Men At Work- “Land Down Under”, which let’s face it, is timeless and just plain awesome. Now he has your attention, and just in time for him to really unleash the funk. What ensues is a mammoth stretch of vintage glamour beats executed by a true professional.

Todd Terje’s Studio

There is production, there is the eternal live aspect, and there is the concept of an authentic DJ. Todd Terje has nothing to prove in regards to the first two contexts of musicianship. The recently released collaboration with Lindstrom, titled “Lanzarote”, will echo through the airwaves for eternity. His piano soaked original “Strandbar” , released in three different versions, has been recycled by artists like Drop Out Orchestra, The Beat Broker, and The Magician. His releases on the Soul Jazz, Full Pupp, and Olsen Record Labels are solid additions to his resume as well. When it comes to his skills as a real DJ though, he has simply swept us away with this Essential Mix. The man is a storyteller. Whether you’re an aficionado, or simply throwing this on to fill up the silent air, the mixing is noticeably immaculate. The transitions flow without any friction, carrying each song into the next as if part of an oceanic current. There are certain formulas you can pick up on in a lot of DJ mixes, though it is clear that Terje doesn’t. The arrangement is certified genius.

Over the last few months people’s flare for the modern disco seems to be fading. Now don’t get us wrong, trend is never our focus, and to each their own, but we figure it’s our responsibility to make sure the general public has access to real musicians. What the basic listener’s demographic doesn’t realize is that this extremely vague genre has been experimented with for over 4 decades. This narrow view makes sense in the grand scheme of the revival of the EDM craze, since most of these fans are looking through the scope of one decade. The lens on that scope needs some adjusting however. Disco is indeed a set genre, but it can reach any mood, whether it be solemn or invigorating. It can breach any atmosphere, and fused with any style to reach all regions of the mind, body, and soul. If you stick to the charts and go to the same watering hole every time, you’re going to get bored. Think of it as the car you drive everyday. You might be in the same car, but the destination could be different every time. This is now the DJ’s responsibility to bring you new and old music that you wouldn’t of heard otherwise. If a DJ hops on the decks and spins nothing but the hits you hear in every other mix, then what motivation is there to dig deeper?

We’re aware of the on going dilemma, but that’s why we are here folks. Todd Terje is a great start to broadening your horizons, even if you’re familiar, this mix will open some doors. The disco scene in Oslo, Norway is smaller than some, but the members of that community are heavy hitters indeed. What the genre and fans need is imagination, and that our funky readers, is abundant if guided in the right direction. So along with the plethora of various artists that we feature on here, T&A will bring you a special look at some of the Disco oriented musicians worth a first, or even 2nd viewing to fuel the fire. Keep an eye out for The Limitless Disco Reviews here on T&A.

Juan Maclean: Radio 1 Essential Mix

Yes, it is true! Juan Maclean has been given the honor of hopping on the decks for the latest Radio 1 Essential Mix ladies and frogs. For those unaware, Juan Maclean is simply a master of music production. As one of the first artists to be signed to DFA Records, and longtime colleague and collaborator of James Murphy, he is the label’s secret weapon for house music. You may recall his sudden and epic appearance as an astronaut DJ during LCD Soundsytem’s final performance at Madison Square Garden, which you can view on the Shut Up And Play The Hits DVD. Reaching far beyond the boundaries of an ordinary DJ/producer, this bearded beast is adept in playing multiple instruments and records all his tracks himself. He fully embodies the “Too old to new, too new to be classic” motto of DFA.

The mix ignites with a fierce smack to the face and extends into the flawless perpetuity one craves with old fashioned club house. Slide some Dr.Scholls into your shoes and enjoy the…

FREE DOWNLOAD: Juan Maclean – Essential Mix