Flying Lotus – RobertaFlack ft. Ahu
Could be anything from the album ‘Los Angeles’ or ‘Cosmogramma’ really. Even if I’d listen to it today, I’m still hearing new elements each time. The man is a genius and I’m always wondering how he made those beauties.
Underworld – Two Months Off
Underworld is one of my all time favorites. ‘They Brought Light Into’ my life literally with this track when I was around 14 years old. The repetitive vocal lines combined with the deep synths and driven beats, make it a timeless track.
Bonobo – Flutter
Bonobo just keeps getting better and better. It’s hard to pick just one song but I love ‘Cirrus’, and a flashback to my youth: my brother and I relentlessly searching and discovering LimeWire for ‘Flutter’.
Massive Atrack – Karmacoma
Such a strong and powerful track. My parents were spinning this so loud in the living room that I couldn’t ignore it. I love their refined productions. Seeing them live in 2009 with all those political texts was overwhelming; what a show.
Aphex Twin – Windowlicker
What do I need to say about this classic track? What a 6-minute trip.
Little Dragon – Ritual Union
I could have chosen any song from Little Dragon from the first three albums really. I love their unique songs, Yukimi Nagano is amazing.
Steel Pulse – Soldiers (live ’81)
My father was always playing a lot of reggae music when we were young; it varied from King Tubby, The Congos, Burning Spear, ‘The % Dynamite Series’ and of course, Bob Marley. He had a very rare recording of the band called Steel Pulse, of their gig at the Sunsplash festival of 1981. Their chemistry live, the lofi quality of the recording (my father recorded it live from the radio, red.) and all those rhythms glued together inspired me so much.
Four Tet – Love Cry
This inspired me so much to dive deeper in a more experimental way of producing. The way Kieran creates organic atmospheric sounds with human touches, like recording his girlfriend singing. Love the drums and the long buildup in this one. Absolute masterpiece.
Mount Kimbie – Made To Stray
I love Mount Kimbie. Period. It’s such a unique sound, I like how they combine acoustic instruments with an electronic texture.
The Clonious – One at a Time (Funked Up) ft. Muhsinah
Very unknown and imo, a very underrated artist from Austria. The whole album ‘Between The Dots’ is stunning. On this album he also works with Cid Rim, Zanshin and Dorian Concept, all originally from Austria as well.
Disclaimer: Doing this made me realize how (nearly) impossible it is to choose the ten all time favorites (I challenge you to do this yourself). I personally went with mostly electronic influences. However, much remains unnamed such as albums and bands from my youth and musical journey that I didn’t mention. To name a few: The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Nirvana, Lou Reed, Miles David, The Stranglers, Radiohead, Zero 7, Atjazz, Herbie Hancock, Fatboy Slim, Thievery Corporation and Debussy. Instead, I chose what inspired me as a producer for Feiertag.
Feiertag – Heal EP / La Parisienne (Sonar Kollektiv)
Dutch artist Feiertag heads into a busy period of releases that will culminate with a new album next Summer. It kicks off with a four track EP, Heal, followed a month later by new single, La Parisienne. Feiertag is the alter ego of the Dutch live-act Joris Feiertag. Recording and performing since 2015, his sound can be described as electronic yet warm, and with a preference for innovative syncopated rhythms combined with fragments of instruments such as the harp and kalimba. His background as a professional drummer with respected act Kraak & Smaak resonates in his liveact, which is always intense and dynamic on stages such as Down The Rabbit Hole, Pitch Festival and the Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE). Feiertag has released with the likes of Last Night On Earth, Boogie Angst and Kitsune and now lands on the acclaimed Sonar Kollektiv. The excellent Heal EP kicks off with ‘Without You’, a busy track that soars to the heavens on dreamy pads and trumpets as sensuous male vocals add to the lullaby effect and really melt your heart. The gorgeous ‘Hush’ pairs swaying claps and heat-damaged chords with found sound percussion into a languid and summery groove filled with emotion thanks to the stunning piano. Oli Hannaford features on ‘Hold Your Own’, with an angelic vocal that sits high above the live sounding drums and tumultuous synth waves which are rich, cosmic and soulful. Last of all, ‘Bliss’ picks up the pace with bristling drums that are overlaid with off -beat hits and run through with bright chords. It’s another seamless fusion that shimmers and shines beautifully as a meandering bass line wanders underneath it all. The single opens up with ‘La Parisienne’, a joyous track with dubby rhythms and organic bass guitar twangs that send you into a loose-limbed dance. Add in cosmic synths and you have a timeless fusion of funk, hip hop and plenty in between. The lush ‘Saviour’ sinks into a slower, deeper, more romantic and late night groove with churning drums and steamy trumpets drifting up top while noodling chords bring the heat.
