1. Laurent Garnier – The Man With The Red Face
This is simply the biggest track ever made in the history of electronic music in my opinion. No need to say Laurent is my favorite DJ/Producer ever, right?
2. Jamiroquai – Space Cowboy
I’m a huge fan of funky and disco, and the first approach I had with this kind of music was thanks to Jason Kay aka Jamiroquai. I literally love every track from him but Space Cowboy still gives me goosebumps. (Both the original and the legendary Morales mix)
3. Depeche Mode – Stripped
I inherited a passion for Depeche Mode from my parents and they are still my favourite band. I’ve been 4 times to their concerts already, which is almost once each tour they did since I was over 18. Stripped is something you can definitely call “Old but Gold”!
4. David Bowie – Space Oddity
One of my biggest regret is that I didn’t have the chance to attend at least one concert of this icon which is David Bowie. Still, we’re all grateful he left us masterpieces like this.
5. Lunedì Cinema – Lucio Dalla
I lived for 7 years in Bologna. If you live there and you have at least a small amount of taste, it is impossible for you not to fall in love with the genius which was Lucio Dalla, one of the biggest musicians in the whole of Italian music history. Here is Lunedì Cinema, a small intro he made for the Monday night movies which were aired in 90s (even 80s but I wasn’t born yet) on the TV.
6. Unknown Artist – Shimmy Sham Sham 002 – Side A
My dear friend Guillaume & the Coutu Dumonts made this huge track sampling Grace Jones’ “La Vie En Rose”. The result is simply 100% beauty, perfect for sunrises. I can guarantee you the result on the dancefloor 🙂
7. Larry Heard Presents Mr. White: The Sun Can’t Compare (Long Version)
The track which will never leave my sets: simply perfect. Acid touch, amazing vocals and the master Larry Heard making it very special.
8. Tears For Fears – Head Over Heels (HQ Video)
Tears for Fears are a huge part of my childhood – yeah, thanks again mom and dad! – and this track especially as it’s featured in my favorite movie, Donnie Darko.
9. Change – Glow Of Love ( 12″ Extended )
I’m lucky enough to know personally the genius behind this music (he’s the father of a very close friend). Everytime I have some doubt about how music should be and should make you feel, I listen to this!
10. Radiohead – Idioteque
I’ve always been a huge fanboy of Radiohead as they are, in my opinion, the most talented and futuristic band in the music business. Creep was my first love, but Idioteque got me in the next days!
Speaking Minds & Amarcord – Mermaid’s Chant (My Favorite Robot Records)
Leading Canadian imprint My Favorite Robot welcome Speaking Minds back to the family for a third time, two years after the Italian’s previous EP on the label. Here he links with Amarcord, while Man Power and Boot & Tax step up with remixes.
Speaking Minds has a slick tech, funk and dub heavy house sound that has seen his music get plays from big names like Dixon and Mano Le Tough. He has released on the likes of AEON and Music Autonomica and is now part of the global DJ circuit, playing all the key clubs and festivals.
‘Mermaid’s Chant’ is the fine first offering here. It’s a tense track with lots of great synths stepping up and down the scales. Sci-fi chords and slapping hits bring more energy and the whole thing will get the club in raptures with its real sense of dynamism. The excellent ‘Circe’ is another intense and fulsome track with bright, reflective and arresting synths filling the airwaves as forceful techno drums pound away below. It’s a peak time tune that really explodes with emotion and colour. A brilliantly trippy and transcendental Rave Mix of ‘Mermaid’s Chant’ is also included. It’s more stripped back, with rolling snares bringing tension and celestial voices floating way up to the skies to make for some serious spine tingling next to the wonky acid line.
First to remix is current hot property Man Power. The Me Me Me label boss comes off the back of a huge charity compilation ‘We We We’ and is known for his expressive and twisted sounds on labels like ESP Institute, Futureboogie and Correspondant. His version of ‘Mermaid’s Chant’ has a heavy bassline bringing brooding vibes, while pixelated keys twinkle up top to cosmic effect. Last but not least, Italian pair and Optimo Trax associates Boot & Tax bring their rugged disco grooves to another innovative remix. Corrugated bass, kaleidoscopic keys and a sense of building tension all make it a standout version.
Seaking Minds & Amarcord – Mermaid’s Chant (My Favorite Robot Records)
Release: 22nd June 2018 Cat. No. MFR172
