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1. Amadou & Mariam – ‘Filaou Bessame’ (10lec6 Remix)

   A light hearted sounding and irrepressibly upbeat little number with lovely voices and percussion. The little breakdown reminds me of the one in ‘Holy Ghost’ by the BarKays, sort of. Anyway it’s a little cheesy, and even has a low-key disco pew-pew noise but I like it.

2. Pandreas – ‘Den Litle Tromme, Gut’

   An assist from The Average Man, it’s a lovely bit of robo-funk. A perfect bit of organic-cyber action with just the right amount of cowbell and sentient sentiment.

3. Ibaaku – Sanza Nocturne Remix

   This one is not fucking about at all: straight out of the traps and into a locked groove.
   Chromatic percussion and a driving beat. The track trances out and the rhythm switches up and about a good bit. I’d love to see the reaction to this in a rave.

4. TLC Fam – Gida Mjitha (African_Resto)

   Again, not an overcomplicated track. It’s a nice atmospheric tranced-out bit of Gqom with just the right amount of cowbell. Also, whistles.

5. great dane – dirty daddy

   A hot rhythm with vocals that are processed to fuck and auto-tuned into an exotic scale. Doesn’t outstay its welcome either.

6. Life is Better Blonde – Mine

   A nice soulful pop tune to finish on. More vocal fuckery. The artist may have a James Blake record or two (which is of course a recommendation rather than a slight).

The post June appeared first on Actino.

1. Nightwave – Lava

   A gloriously pummelling and life affirming tune with a pretty refrain and everyone’s favourite bass drum.

2. THE HEIGHTS – HUMBLE 18

   THE TUNE of the year, remixed once again for your listening pleasure. Kicks off like a Spacemen 3 tune from way back then morphs into a footwork version of THE TUNE.

3. Tony Quattro — Fuerza (feat. Nani Castle)

   Massive flute tune. They come around every few years. Simple and effective damage following a time tested template.

4. PG Baur – Find You

   Banger. Reminds me of a few of the later Bonesbreaks 12s I used to have (10 and ??). Raw house.

5. Kendrick Lamar – HUMBLE (Spekulate the Philosopher Remix)

   Wavy as fuck. Cleverer than it could have been.

6. Minke — Gold Angel (Savoir Adore Remix)

   Classic late 90s vibe done better.
   That voice coming over the bassline though, so hard. Also, cowbell.
   The bit at 2.22 can fuck off though, unless my mdma just kicked in. It seems that Vince Clark pitches in to lend a hand about about 3.40, saving the day.

7. Bonus: Dazed Mix — Nightwave

   Dope. A stone-cold classic mix. I love her aesthetic.

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• Mura Masa – Have Faith In Me
• SNØW x ZED BIAS Ft FOX – 24/7
• Promnite – Holiday w/ Tsuruda
• Sudan Archives – show me
• KKING KONG – Pega No Phone
• Clark – Peak Magnetic

The post Six in the cloud appeared first on Actino.

Play the video above to start the playlist or jump to individual songs by clicking the icon in the top left

1. Busy Signal – ‘Ghetto Life’

   A stone-cold, sparse and simple riddim, over which Mr Signal advises snitches to keep their own counsel and of the relative merits and dangers of the ghetto. Rapped verses and sung choruses, in a good way.

2. Rocket – ‘Way Back’ (Prod. By Filthy Gears)

   Mario themed bars over a Mario themed riddim. Works a lot better than it sounds like it would.

3. Baloji – ‘Spoiler’

   A bit cheesy maybe, but the good lady wife has been battering this one for a while and I can resist no longer. An irrepressibly cheerful afropop tune rapped over in a combination combination of French and I think Swahili?

The post Half-measures appeared first on Actino.

Play the video above to start the playlist or jump to individual songs by clicking the icon in the top left

1. Kcee ft Tekno – ‘Tender’

   Quite the most infectious pop tune I’ve heard in a bit from Nigeria’s Tekno.

2. Los Wemblers – ‘La Danza Del Petrolero’

   Psychedelic Cumbia from Peru, released in 1976. I heard this last year on a Native Instruments “Tropical Frequencies” documentary about Dengue Dengue Dengue! last year and have had it lodged in my head ever since.

3. Sam Gelliatry – ‘Jungle Waters’

   Lush strings and punishing bass. A winner.

4. Distruction Boyz – ‘Shut Up & Groove’

   An absolute banger. The best Gqom record I have heard thus far. Video is great too.

5. Ray BLK – ‘5050’

   Another tune that’s been lodged in my head since last year. A rich tune with an imaginative structure, simple melody, sparse rhythm, beautiful vocal, and a great bassline.

6. Aidona – ‘Banga(Raw)[2face Riddim]’

   Not exactly revolutionary, but still, it is a top flow on a top riddim.

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