Otherworldly (09)

Otherworldly (09)

12 September 2024

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Number 09 in the 'Year of Music' series is now 'Otherworldly'. The cover photo I have used is the same photo that I used originally, just with a different edit applied. The photo is one I took in Tenerife while going up the volcano Mount Teide. To me, the image is very 'Otherworldly', and when you are there in person it feels that way too, at least for me, coming from a country with lots of rolling green hills and heather covered mountains.

This is a mix that skirts around the edges of ambient and electronica, or that's the pigeon hole I would use, you might say different, I still get lost with all the different labels that are constantly changing and being added to when it comes to genres.

If you want to know what that 'Year of Music' thing I mentioned is about, then there's a short description [HERE]. If Soundcloud is your thing, then you can find this mix over [HERE].

 

Tracklist 

01. Brian Eno - A Clearing (Editions EG) (We Are On The Fucking Moon Version) (via The Onion)
02. Ben Woods - Space & Time (Not On Label)
03. Okada + duenn - Hana To Midori To Hikari (UP-04) (Newhere Music)
04. Michael Stearns - In The Beginning... (Emotional Rescue)
05. Alexandra Hamilton-Ayres - Relent (Headphone Commute)
06. Lord Of The Isles - Zub (Emotional Response)
07. Cicely Irvine - Organ & Buchla Duet (eilean recs)
08. Seabuckthorn - The Observatory (eilean recs)
09. Karamika - Ton 2 (ESP Institute)
10. Billow Observatory - In A Stream (Felte)
11. Jo Johnson - Ancestral Footsteps (Further Records)
12. High Skies - Au Debut Du Voyage (Microscopics)
13. Anzano - Movements II (Throne Of Blood)
14. duenn - Hal (Past Inside The Present)
15. Joel Mull - Alden Plateau (Parabel)
16. Jonathan Fitoussi - Andromede (Further Records)
17. Carbon Based Lifeforms - Metrosat 4 (Leffield Records)
18. Findthings - Curio (Self Released)
19. A Positive Life - The Calling (Loved 'Ub Mix) (Music From Memory)

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The Beauty In The Broken (10)

The Beauty In The Broken (10)

10 September 2024

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Number 10 in my 'Year of Music' series is now ' The Beauty In The Broken', and it has a fresh cover to tie into that title.

The cover is a combination of Ai and my own tinkering about with graphic design apps and it is a representation of Kintsugi. It's a process that uses gold, silver or platinum to repair objects, like pottery, in a way that shows and even celebrates the repairs as a part of the objects history. I always knew of it as a Japanese tradition, but when I've read up on it I learn that it is a feature throughout Asia in one form or another.

I liked the metaphor of applying the philosophy of this approach to us, whether it be a broken heart, mind or body. Is metaphor the right term, I don't know, but I'm sure you'll know what I mean. Perhaps it'd be better if we didn't always try and hide the things that scar us, but accept they are a part of us. That's the thinking behind this title and cover, I think it fits in well with the music.

There's a short description on the 'Year of Music' thing over [HERE] and you should find a Soundcloud player for this mix over [HERE].

 

Tracklist 

01. Andy Rowe - Vienna, Aug 2015 (Self Released)
02. Karen Vogt - I Know It Is Hard (Past Inside The Present)
03. Creation VI & Endless Melancholy - Winter Without Snow (Hidden Vibes)
04. Field Recording - Thunderstorm (Unknown)
05. Ben McElroy - Wolves Dance (Slow Music Movement)
06. Harry Towell & Guy Gelem - Sefad (Polar Seas Recodings)
07. Stefano Guzzetti - Aurora (Home Normal)
08. Olivia Belli - From Your Garden (Headphone Commute)
09. Rachel Grimes - Patsy (Instrumental) (Headphone Commute)
10. Ôlafur Arnalds ft Arnôr Dan - Say My Name (Late Night Tales)
11. Penguin Cafe - Coriolis (Erased Tapes)
12. Gläsbird - Greenhousing (Whitelabrecs)
13. Caught In The Wake Of Forever - Carousels (Archives)
14. Luke Howard Trio - Shame/Shame (Reprise) (Hobbledehoy)
15. Ryuichi Sakamoto - Aqua (from Playing Piano For The Isolated) (Ahead Of Our Time)
16. WW Audio - Hammersmith Morning Ambience (Self Released)

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Lost (11)

Lost (11)

8 September 2024

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This mix was originally #11 in my 'Year of Music' series. I've used the same photograph for the cover as was originally used, with a slightly different edit, and although it might look like it's had a heavy edit applied, it's a very faint filter that darkens the edges. It's a photo I took from a ferry leaving the Netherlands in 2022.

The new title 'Lost' reflects how I feel about a lot of things, not just at the moment, but in recent years; since I lost my Mum really. Life heavily revolved around her and finding my own path, or new purpose, well it's just not happened. Events since she departed have really added to it and some of these more melancholic mixes I think reflect where I find my mood. Having said that, I do think they always carry moments of light and hopefulness, and although the light feels diminished, there's always hope to be found somewhere, it's just harder to find at times.

Even with what I am doing here, in my own small space on the internet, I just don't know the right thing to do. I'm carrying on with this process, but I'm forever questioning the point, even which platform to be committed to.... none of them are perfect, they all have different plusses and minuses. Mixcloud. Soundcloud. Hearthis. Is it worth doing any of it??

We'll see how it pans out, but if anyone has thoughts or opinions, drop me a line, it might help me find a little clarity of though. For now, I'm posting the Hearthis player and linking in to Soundcloud, you'll find that [HERE]. If you haven't been here before, then you will find a little info on that 'Year of Music' thing I spoke about by clicking [HERE].

 

Tracklist 

01. Roger Eno & Brian Eno - Cerulean Blue (Deutsche Grammophon)
02. Abstract Aprils - Playing Records On Sunday (Unknown Label)
03. Good Weather For An Airstrike - Two Miles Of Uncertainty (Rural Colours)
04. Julianna Barwick - Safe (Ninja Tune)
05. Alex Bober - Friendly Raindrops (Hidden Vibes)
06. Brambles - In The Androgynous Dark (Nest Version) (Serein)
07. Lauge - Pine Trees Covered In Fog (Echoes In The Valley)
08. MLO - Shadows Of Life & Thought (Music From Memory)
09. WW Audio - Deep Woodland Ambience (Self Released)
10. Mondkopf - The Call (Tigersushi Records)
11. Aisha Burns & Jake Woodruff - The Reservoir (Headphone Commute)
12. Daniel Pemberton & FSOL - Behind The Eyes (Ahead Of Our Time)
13. Sun Electric - Love To Love (Music From Memory)
14. Pawel Pruski - The Sound Of Oars (Krysalisound)

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I See What I See (12)

I See What I See (12)

16 August 2024

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This is one of my personal favourite mixes that I posted for my 'Year of Music' series in 2022, mainly because I think that the flow and atmospherics just came together really well and it felt like I'd really nailed an ambient mix. As these things go, it didn't get much attention, I didn't push it well and it didn't get any reposts by larger accounts. It is what it is, and it doesn't stop me from enjoying it and I still feel pleased with it when I listen to it regardless of the low play counts and interest. I pulled together a mix I felt (dare I say it) proud of.

 

The image is the same photo I used originally, just with a slight edit to take care of the new title. This was originally #12 in my 'Year of Music' series and I named it 'I see what I see' which is a line from the Jeff Bridges spoken word track that I used in the mix, where he speaks about what he does when he has trouble sleeping. This photo was taken during a bike trip through Europe in 2022 and it's a car park next to the train station in the stunningly beautiful town of Grindelwald. The way it was lit, the industrial nature of it, settled the valley of the most stunning landscape, it just seemed like a juxtaposition I needed to make use of somehow.

 

If you want to know more about the 'Year of Music' series that I keep mentioning, then you'll find a short explanation [HERE]. For the moment, you can find a Soundcloud player [HERE] if that's your preferred platform. 

 

Tracklist 

01. Cat Tyson Hughes - Almonta (Past Inside The Present)
02. Rime Trails - Reality's Dark Dream (Not On Label)
03. Madloch & Subnode - Abyssal (Reprise) (Crossfade Sounds)
04. Jeff Bridges - Seeing With My Eyes Closed (Squarespace)
05. Tess Said So - One Eye Open (Preserved Sound)
06. Carbon Based Lifeforms - Somewhere In Russia (Leftfield Records)
07. Julia Kent - Spring Snow (Headphone Commute)
08. Biosphere - Biosphere II (Biophon)
09. James A. McDermid - Sepastia (Mailbox)
10. Thomas Newman - Horse (Late Night Tales)
11. Jonathan Fitoussi & Clemens Hourriere - Vague (Obliques/Traversales Disques)
12. Abul Mogard - Half Light Of Dawn (Ecstatic)
13. IKSRE - Seeds (Headphone Commute)
14. Agnes Obel - Stretch Your Eyes (Ambient Acapella) (Late Night Tales)
15. David Cordero - Isolation (Archives)
16. Hoshiko Yamane & Mikael Lind - Beyond The Hidden (Time Released Sound)

 

 

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Adrift In Isolation (13)

Adrift In Isolation (13)

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Number 13 in my 'Year of Music' series is now 'Adrift In Isolation'. The cover is almost the same, it is the same photo, just with a light edit to accommodate the new title.

 

This was actually the most played mix of mine on Mixcloud, thanks to my friend Matt Foord, who tagged a few influential ambient artists, which in turn led to it being shared by the excellent 'Low Light Mixes'. I'm not great at the tagging, marketing and pushing myself out there, I tend to feel I'm not good enough and not worthy of doing that. In the back of my mind is the fact that it might attract the trolls which I've had to deal with before, and although I like to think I can let it all blow over me, it definitely planted seeds of doubt and led to me doing less mixes and posts. 

 

Anyway, as you might have gathered, this mix and the next few I post are various shades of ambient. My original intention on the 'Year of Music' series was that there would be a flow or connection from mix to mix and month to month. By this stage that thought had evaporated into thin air... it was pretty challenging doing weekly mixes for a year and trying to keep it interesting and try and drum up interest. On that point, you can find out more about the 'Year of Music' series [HERE]. Also, if you prefer a Soundcloud stream, then you can find that [HERE] for the moment.

 

 

Tracklist 

01. Christopher Franke - Electric Becomes Eclectic (Virgin)
02. Danny Scott Lane - One (Shimmering Mood)
03. Andy J Dobbs - Birds & Waves (Self Released)
04. Yui Onodera & Vadim Bondarenko - Cloudscape 1 (Serein)
05. Willits & Sakamoto - Completion (Ghostly International)
06. Rime Trails - Soothe By Silence What Words Cannot Heal (Not On Label)
07. Turtle - Heathland Haze (Warm)
08. Malibu - Held (PAN)
09. Soundstory - Rainstorm (Self Released)
10. Ashan - Blue Pulse (Inner Islands)
11. Toshi Tsuchitori - Ishiura (Abridged) (Light In The Attic)
12. Nest - Tides (Serein)
13. part-timer - A Guest (Self Released)
14. Mikael Lind - Piano Says Goodbye (Whitelabrecs.)
15. Robert Cole Rizzi - Garden Dawnchorus (Luftrum)

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The Battle of the Sexes - Parts 1 - 4

The Battle of the Sexes - Parts 1 - 4

7 August 2024

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Originally #14 through to #17 in my 'Year of Music' series, now Parts 1-4 of 'The Battle of the Sexes'. It had long been in my thoughts to do a few mixes which were for the most part based around being by or about men and women and to give it the tongue-in-cheek title that I've gone with.

Given the way that gender / sex has been turned into a toxic political football in recent years, aided and inflamed by the likes of Musk and an army of internet trolls, I was a bit unsure about going with it, but I'm casting my concerns to the side, it's music, it's edits, it's either by or about women or men, and it's about music that'll make you want to dance.

 

As always, I try to link up my tracklists as best I can so that you can support and follow the artists / editors / labels etc. The nature of lots of these edits mean that a lot have long since disappeared from the internet, but I will provide links as best I can and I'll ad a Discogs link for the original artist (on the track numbers) so that you can explore and dig around their discographies. Oh, and one more point, these are all unplanned, one take recorded mixes, there may be a glitch or two, the recording software occasionally got bogged down with my aging computer, but I don't think there's much to seriously disrupt the listening experience for the handful of people that will lend their ears.

If you want to know a little more about the 'Year of Music' series, there's a very short write up over [HERE]. If you prefer to listen to your streams via Soundcloud, then for the moment, you can find them here - [PART 1]  //  [PART 2]  //  [PART 3]  //  [PART 4]

 

Right, onto the music... 

 

Tracklist 

01.  Sade - Love Is Stronger Than Pride (Vin Sol & Matrixxman Remix) (Stamp)
02.  Cole Medina - Cosmic Annie (Anthony Mansfield Edit) (Whiskey Disco)
03.  Yse Saint Laur'ant - Psychedelic Woman (Whiskey Disco)
04.  Marti Caine - Love The Way You Love Me (DJ Steef Edit)
05.  Martine Girault - Revival (Northern Rascal Rewind)
06.  Nina Simone - Nobody's Fault But Mine (Rocknrolla Soundsystem Edit)
07.  Esther Phillips - And I Love Him (Matthew Kyle Acid Jazz Mix)
08.  Marlena Shaw - Women Of The Ghetto (The Owl Edit)
09.  Diana Ross - Brown Baby (DJ Reverend P Edit) (G.A.M.M)
10.  Donna Summer - Love To Love You (Late Nite Tuff Guy Edit) (Tuff Cut)
11.  B.G. Baarregaard - Tokyo Nights (Whiskey Disco)
12.  Mary Jane Girls - All Night Long (Unknown Edit)
13.  Plush - We Got The Love (JM Rework)
14.  Unknown Artist - Man's Best Friend (Love Fever Records)

 

 

 

   

Tracklist 

01.  Steve Miller Band - Fly Like An Eagle (V Slips Into The Future Edit) (Vehicle)
02.  Steely Dan - The Fez (Laura Ingalls WTF Is A Fez Edit)
03.  Rodriguez - Sugarman (Rocknrolla Soundsystem Edit)
04.  Old Nick - Mad Summer
05.  Jamiroquai - Too Young To Die (LNTG Capricorn Edit)
06.  Marvin Gaye - Make Me Wanna Holler (Magic Hat Edit)
07.  Al Green - Simply Beautiful (DJ Steef Edit) (Superbreak)
08.  Donny Hathaway - Valdez In The Country (Jkriv Deekays Edit) (Razor n Tape)
09.  Average White Band ft Ben E. King - A Star In The Ghetto (Disco Tech Edit)
10.  BB King - The Thrill Is Gone (The Reflex Stems Revision)
11.  Leon Huff - Tight Money (Disco Tech Edit) (Editorial)
12.  Duff Disco - Gimmee Some Bucks (Duff Disco)
13.  James Brown - Papa Don't Take No Mess (Pied Piper Instrumental Regroove)
14.  The Impressions - We're A Winner (Jski's Movin' On Up Edit)

 

 

 

 

Tracklist 

01.  Petula Clark - I'm Not In Love (Luxxury Edit)
02.  Chaka Khan - Some Love (Scrimshire Edit)
03.  Aretha Franklin - Rocksteady (The Owl Edit)
04.  Thelma Jones - How Long? (DJ Prime Boogiefied Edit)
05.  Esther Phillips - Home Is Where The Hatred Is (V's Junkies Twilight Edit) (Vehicle)
06.  Paula Cole - Feelin' Love (Psychemagik Edit) (Psychemagik)
07.  Chantal Curtis - Get Another Love (Phunktastike Edit)
08.  Sade - Hang On To Your Love (AC Re-edit)
09.  Alison Limerick - Come Back (Real Love) (The Reflex Dub Edit)
10.  Donna Allen - Serious (Fingerman's 80's Beatdown Edit)
11.  Mona Raye - Do Me (Munga Done Did It Edit)
12.  Sharon Redd - Can U (Late Nite Tuff Guy Rework)
13.  France Joli - Gonna Get Over (Pontchartrain Get Over You Edit) (Whiskey Disco)
14.  Diana Ross - Love Hangover (Armstrong Edit) (Armstrong)

 

Tracklist 

01.  Ed Wizard & Disco Double Dee - Rollin' On (& On) (Editorial)
02.  James Brown - Rapp Payback (Unknown Edit)
03.  It's A Small World Disco - Heartbeat
04.  Al Green - That's The Way It Is (Dave Allison Edit)
05.  George Benson - The Ghetto (Rocknrolla Soundsystem Edit) (Alpaca Edits)
06.  Donald Byrd - Love Has Come Around (Deep & Disco Version)
07.  Sweet Pea Atkinson - Girls Fall For Me (The Reflex Dub Edit)
08.  Charles Earland - Live & Let Live (Otherlover Edit) (Disco Deviance)
09.  Columbus Circle - If You Read My Mind (The Reflex Edit)
10.  Chaz Jankel - Glad To Know You (Todd Terje Edit) (Tirk)
11.  Barry White - I'm Gonna Love You Just A Little More (Man Power Edit) (Stamp)
12.  Prince - Wanna Be Your Lover (Tim Zawada Edit) (Tugboat Edits)
13.  War - Youngblood (Cosmic Boogie's You Don't Know Me Edit) (Cosmic Boogie)
14.  Who's Who - Hypnodance (Love Creation Edit) (Love Creation)
 

 

 

 

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Colours (18)

Colours (18)

4 August 2024

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This mix was #18 in my 'Year of Music' series and it barely had any plays, which is a shame because there's some great tracks in the mix. I say barely, it was literally single digits on Soundcloud though marginally better when it was on Mixcloud, but it is what it is.

I've given this a new title of 'colours'. The first reason for that being that in the original Radiohead track, remixed on here on track 1, there is a line 'there are two colours in my head'. Secondly, given the current state of division that's going on as I type, it seemed particularly apt to design a cover that tapped into the fact that division by skin tone is unfortunately very much still around and it's distressing to see when the world is in such a mess on such a huge scale. When people are fighting over their skin tone and religion, then it doesn't bode well for the state of our species and the planet more generally. Anyway....

If you want to know more about the 'Year of Music', you can read a short post on that [HERE], if you prefer to use Soundcloud, then you can find that over [HERE].

 

Tracklist 

01. Radiohead - Everything In Its Right Place (Hubert Kirchner Remix) (Self Released)
02. Adriatique ft. Delhia De France - Home (Mind Against Remix) (Siamese)
03. Andrea Olivia - Rio (All I Need)
04. Yotto - Moving On (Extended) (Odd One Out)
05. Rüfüs Du Sol - On My Knees (Cassian Remix) (Rose Avenue / Reprise)
06. Ben Böhmer - Fade To Blue (Matador Extended Mix) (Anjunadeep)
07. Monkey Safari - Safe (Joris Voorn Remix) (Spectrum)
08. DJ Pone - Heart Swing (Ponar)
09. Konstantin Sibold - Madeleine (Innervisions)
10. Acid Pauli - Nana (Pampa Records)
11. Tal Fussman - It Was Misunderstood (Innervisions)

 

 

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In To The Groove (19)

In To The Groove (19)

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The rate of catching up with the task of repopulating the blog / rebranding some of the 'Year of Music' mixes has fallen off a little recently. Between having a lot going on, the accompanying headspace and the fact that interest is limited, the motivation has been knocked a wee bit. That said, I am still determined to get this process finished before too long, so here is number 19 in my 'Year of Music' series, now called 'In To The Groove'.

If you want to know what that 'Year of Music' thing was about, there's an explanation over [HERE]. If you prefer a Soundcloud link, then for the moment, you can find that over [HERE].

 

 

Tracklist 

01. Soulstatejazz - The Ministry Of Universal Redemption (Banoffee Pies)
02. Crackazat - Nominee For Love (Freerange)
03. Lief - Dream Come Twice (Loop Recordings)
04. Max Marinacci - Tape Layer (Jazz In Da House)
05. Snips - Think About It (Barbershop Records)
06. Scruscru - Riders On The Calm (LTDBLBL)
07. Jehan - Good Place (Star Creature)
08. Goldboy - Game Show (Sofa Lounge Records)
09. Daniel Dexter - Work Your Body (Mother Recordings)
10. Danny Howells - Psychotic Bump (Andreas Saag Deep Mix) (Dig Deeper)
11. Fantastic Man - Subject To Decay (22Tracks)
12. Mark Farina & Homero Espinosa - Come On Baby (Moulton Music)
13. Delfonic & Kaptoe - Maison Rejam (Toy Tonics)
14. The Absolutes ft Suzanne Palmer - I Believe (Harry's Golden Era Dub) (Glitterbox Recordings)

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Reach Up (20)

Reach Up (20)

23 July 2024

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Number 20 from my 'Year of Music' series of mixes is now called 'Reach Up'.  This is playing on the title of the previous mix (Get On Down) and the fact it's a bit of a banger of a house mix, some amazing tracks in there and there's one section where it breaks down in goosebumps kind of way. You're a music fan, you know what I mean. Reach Up!

 

The photo in the cover is the same photo as I used originally. It's photo I took in New York in 2012/13, though I've given it a light edit from the previous cover image.

If you want to know more about my 'Year of Music' series, then I've posted a short explanation [HERE]. If you prefer to make use of Soundcloud for streaming, then you can find that over [HERE].

 

Tracklist 

01. LP Giobbi ft. DJ Tennis & Joseph Ashworth - All In A Dream (Counter Records)
02. Rebelski & Madraas - Leaving Places (Erdi Irmak Remix) (Where The Shadow Ends)
03. K-os Theory - Hirayat (Kamai Music)
04. Nico de Andrea ft. Lola Melita & Cherry Lena - She Don't Love Me (Black Circle Remix) (Radiant.)
05. Sante & Re.you ft. Bishop - Road To Nowhere (Ae:ther Remix) (LSF21+)
06. Yotto ft. Sansa - Silohuette (Reflections)
07. Mattias Herrera - Naeza (-102°c)
08. Royskopp ft. Alison Goldfrapp - Impossible (&me Remix) (Dog Triumph Profound Mysteries)
09. Sebastien Leger & Tim Green - Duel (For A Memory)
10. Sina Bathaie - High Bridge (Hoomidaas)
11. Hidden Empire - Comoja (Stil Vor Talent)
12. Stimming - Alpe Lusia (Robag Wruhmes Troi Sdett) (Tulpa Ovi Records)

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Get On Down (21)

Get On Down (21)

14 July 2024

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Originally number '21' in my 'Year of Music' series, which you can find out more on [HERE]. I've given this the new title of Get On Down, which to me evokes images of discos, mirror balls, lights and flares. It ties in well with the music in this mix which is very much on the funkier side of house, with some great feel-good tunes.... though it's not had many plays, so perhaps not so feel good. If you prefer a Soundcloud link, then you can find that [HERE] for the time being.

 

Tracklist 

01. Sister Sledge - Lost In Music (Dimitri From Paris Remix) (Glitterbox Recordings)
02. First Choice - Let No Man Put Asunder (Dam Swindle Remix) (Salsoul Records)
03. Purple Disco Machine with Bosk! ft Kaleta - Wake Up! (Columbia Local)
04. Sugar Hill - 4me (Transa Records)
05. Bohannon ft. Dr Perri Harris - Let's Start To Dance Again (Dimitri From Paris Remix) (Unidisc Music)
06. DJ Manuel - Oh Baby (Disco Machine Records)
07. Hotmood - Taste The Music (Pina Colada Records)
08. Marvin - I Know Your Ego (V Gentle Edit) (Vehicle Recordings)
09. Chic - Le Freak (Dimitri From Paris Remix) (Glitterbox Recordings)
10. Durand Jones & The Indications - Witchoo (Supertaste DJ Edit) (The Basement Discos)
11. Supertaste - What D'You Know About Me? (The Basement Discos)
12. David Penn ft Romona Renea - Stand Up (Defected)
13. Purple Disco Machine - Emotion (Club Sweat Records)
14. Sylvester - Over & Over (Kon Found A Friend Remix) (Kontemporary)

 

 

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