Catherine Ribeiro + Alpes — Alpes 1
Not a lot of Catherine Ribeiro’s music is particularly soothing but this is pretty mellow. I love repeating patterns (see my remixes) and this one really digs in after the intro.
Alessandro Cortini – La Sveglia (Drum Version)
This feels like it’s going to get really gnarly but I’m glad it doesn’t. It holds back from going out of control. The drums seems to rein the track in when they come around the halfway point which is perfect for those post-club moments.
Botany – Gleaning Gleaming
I think we can go ahead and call this modern new-age music, right? Maybe it’s enough already with the labels and whatnot. Either way, this is swell. Both positive and melancholy at the same time.
Deux – Golden Dreams
Something about Deux makes it possible to play them in every conceivable time & location. I saw James Murphy drop Everybody’s Night at Morgan’s Pier in Philadelphia and it was a proper moment (for me, anyway). This track is upbeat and yet chill at the same time. Go figure…
Nosaj Thing – Eclipse/Blue feat. Kazu Makino
Another melancholy one. Hell, I’ll be honest, that’s me all over. This one threatens to get really epic but holds back and keeps you wanting more.
astor T.L. Barrett & the Youth For Christ Choir – Nobody Knows
Finally some hope! Nothing like gospel to get you out of a funk.
Thelonious Monk – I’m Getting Sentimental Over You
Ok so the title and the superficial sound of this is pretty sorrowful but Monk’s playing style takes this to a place where he’s happy to be sad.
Charles Mingus – Goodbye Pork Pie Hat
An incredible man with an incredible life (read his autobiography if you can find it) you can really feel the big man’s sadness here. I think I might have very different post-club experiences than most people…
Lichens – Faeries
A proper anxiety-reliever, just let this one wash over you. Reminds me a lot of Popul Vuh. Catch this man live if you get the chance.
Jóhann Jóhannsson – A Pile Of Dust
A truly sad loss when he died earlier this year. I first heard his work on the Sicario soundtrack which was one of those rare moments where a composer breaks all the rules and the film is better for it. This track takes all the edges off. The final track of a long night/early morning.
Rocky Steps ‘End Zone’ album via Static Caravan this July
As one half of Free School, Rocky Steps released the critically acclaimed albums ‘Tender Administration’ (4/5 – Mixmag), and ‘Dancing On The Dark’ (4/5 – The Arts Desk), four EPs featuring remixes from Richard Norris (The Grid), Mark E (Ghostly) and Maps (Mute) as well as a string of remixes for the likes of Roots Manuva, Phil Oakey and Maps.Now, taking Nils Frahm, John Hopkins and Nicolas Jaar as inspiration, Rocky Steps has produced a soothing, calming and dreamy album entitled End Zone. Touching on easy listening, scarred pop and improvised piano, the album seeks a hunkering down, a safe space, somewhere warm to take refuge. Following surgery and bouts of illness, the album title End Zone invokes both despair and accomplishment, a journey taken step-by-step to achieve progression.With its tension and resolution, melodies and space to lose yourself in, End Zone was beautifully mixed and co-produced by Simon Weaver (Victories at Sea, Goodnight Lenin, Free School). Lyrically drawing on the convictions of the Lunar Society and Benjamin Franklin, the albums also sees the debut of vocalist Lucy Graham who appears on 4 tracks and contributes a spoken letter to a passed relative for Play Action.
The album also sees Rocky Steps’ relationship with label Static Caravan (Hannah Peel, Tuung, Beth Jeans Houghton (Du Blonde), Memory Band) continue, following his production work on albums by Victories At Sea, Goodnight Lenin and the release on Static of the second Free School album. With live shows supporting Ulrich Schnauss & C Duncan under his belt, Rocky Steps is also quickly establishing himself as a go-to remixer, remixing Editors’ ‘Ocean of Night’, ‘Future Gold’ by Victories At Sea & ‘Bread’ by Hoopla Blue. Rocky Steps founded the DJ collective Birmingham International in 2016 and maintained a residency at new Birmingham bar 1000 Trades (another Lunar Society-era reference).
Following the hugely successful Free School clubnight ‘Tender Administration’ (featuring Mark E, DJ Dick (Rockers Hi-Fi), Steve Cobby (Fila Brazillia)), Rocky Steps DJ’d at Brooklyn’s Bossa Nova Civic Club (Jamie XX, Mike Simonetti, Tim Sweeney, Best Dance Club – NY Mag, 50 Coolest Places in NYC – Complex) in 2014.
Free School featured on the shows of BBC 6Music’s Lauren Laverne, Steve Lamacq & Gideon Coe in addition to supporting Editors, Andrew Weatherall, Walls, Ulrich Schnauss and Fujiya & Miyagi live. As well as playing the Supersonic Festival & The Garden Festival (Croatia), Free School headlined the Rise Of Birmingham show to celebrate the launch of The Library Of Birmingham in October 2013.
Rocky Steps ‘End Zone’ album via Static Caravan this July
